The Truants by Kate Weinberg
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'In the vein of Agatha Christie herself. Startling' - Irish Times
'Magical in every way ... One of the best novels I’ve ever read’ - Fearne Cotton
'As much a coming-of-age tale as a murder mystery ... An impressive debut' - The Times
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AN OBSERVER, i AND NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
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During the first year of university, a group of friends discover the cost of an extraordinary life in this captivating debut about obsession, rivalry and coming of age
Jess Walker, middle child of a middle class family, has perfected the art of vanishing in plain sight. But when she arrives at a concrete university campus under flat, grey, East Anglian skies, her world flares with colour.
Drawn into a tightly-knit group of rule breakers – led by their maverick teacher, Lorna Clay – Jess begins to experiment with a new version of herself. But the dynamic between the friends begins to darken as they share secrets, lovers and finally a tragedy. Soon Jess is thrown up against the question she fears most: what is the true cost of an extraordinary life?
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'Hypnotic . . . An uncommonly clever whodunnit' New York Times Book Review
'Deftly plotted with vivid, compelling characters' Jojo Moyes
'One of the standout books of the summer' Stylist
A coming-of-age story and campus novel rolled into one . . . With deft characterisation, plenty of mystery and twists in the tale, it had me gripped * Daily Mail *
As much a coming-of-age tale as a murder mystery . . . An impressive debut * The Times *
Smart and exciting and funny and mysterious -- Dawn O’Porter
Like a wickedly brilliant Donna Tartt, Agatha Christie and Liane Moriarty all mixed into one -- Scarlett Curtis
Weinberg's debut is a page-turning tale of love, death and betrayal on a university campus that riffs on Donna Tartt's The Secret History while exerting a subtle pull of its own * i, Books of the Year *
After surprising twists, Kate Weinberg provides a satisfying conclusion while asking the question: does a mystery lose its magic once it’s solved? * Guardian *
Think The Secret History meets Agatha Christie * Red *
A must read for fans of mystery novels . . . Cleverly written and relentlessly intriguing, The Truants is the perfect novel for inquisitive minds to escape into * Marie Claire *
In this mesmerising debut, Kate Weinberg confidently combines literary suspense and deftly executed narrative, slowly unravelling a tangled tale about first love, obsession and the boundaries of self-identity . . . A riveting read * Scotsman *
This satisfying coming-of-age novel jives to a thriller-like beat. It’s a debut, though you wouldn't necessarily know it from its assured tone. While Donna Tartt’s The Secret History is a clear influence, it’s Agatha Christie whose work is most explicitly referenced, stoking an ominous sense of impending calamity * Mail on Sunday *
There are more than a few nods to Donna Tartt’s The Secret History here – the band of student misfits with dysfunctional backgrounds, the professor with oddly intimate student-teacher bonds, plus an overall sense, skilfully seeded by Weinberg, that things are about to take a wrong turn … Threaded into the story are references to Agatha Christie’s novels, with their mysteries and murders and love triangles. The Truants borrows some of these murder mystery tropes, leading us to a dark conclusion that feels satisfying to reach * Evening Standard *
Set to be the book of the summer * Town & Country *
The book you’ll fall in love with. With a small band of overly intimate students, a mysterious-yet-inspiring tutor, obsession and a whodunit, there’s much to place it in the same bracket as Donna Tartt but there are also nods to a much-mentioned Agatha Christie. There’s also an ending that’ll leave you thinking and thinking about this plot for weeks, if not months, later; one of the standout books of the summer * Stylist *
You know those summer books which draw you in immediately and unyieldingly into their world? That bury you into the characters so nose-deep that when you’re finished, they leave you yearning for the intimate world you’ve just left. Well, The Truants, a debut novel by Kate Weinberg, is exactly one of these. We couldn't put it down -- A Little Bird
This is a remarkably assured debut, deftly plotted and with vivid, compelling characters that leap off the page. I had no idea where it was going to end up – but I knew I would be satisfied, and I was. I look forward to seeing what Kate Weinberg writes next * Jojo Moyes *
In this mesmerising debut, Kate Weinberg confidently combines literary suspense and deftly executed narrative, slowly unravelling each thread that tangles first-love, obsession and the boundaries of self-identity. The Truants is as charismatic as the characters within. A riveting read * The Herald *
Weinberg weaves intrigue worthy of Agatha Christie – you'll love getting lost in The Truants' web of mystery, desire and deceit * M. L. Rio, author of If We Were Villains *
The Truants teases, seduces and thrills but ultimately it's about the best kind of love affair – allowing for the freedom to be yourself * Miranda Hart *
Lays bare the lengths to which we will go to feel seen … At once thrilling and heartbreaking * Meghan MacLean Weir, author of The Book of Essie *
Reminiscent of Muriel Spark and Donna Tartt. A stunning debut! * Carol Goodman, author of The Lake of Dead Languages and The Night Visitors *
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781526600134 |
| ISBN 10 | 1526600137 |
| Title | The Truants |
| Author | Kate Weinberg |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
| Year published | 2020-06-01 |
| Number of pages | 352 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |