Gentlemen and Players - Joanne Harris

"The place is St Oswald's, an old and long-established boys' grammar school in the north of England. A new year has just begun, and for the staff and boys of the School, a wind of unwelcome change is blowing. Suits, paperwork and Information Technology rule the world; and Roy Straitley, Latin master, eccentric, and veteran of St Oswald's, is finally – reluctantly – contemplating retirement. But beneath the little rivalries, petty disputes and everyday crises of the School, a darker undercurrent stirs. And a bitter grudge, hidden and carefully nurtured for fifteen years, is about to erupt. Who is "Mole", the mysterious insider, whose cruel practical jokes ...

Although I enjoyed the film Chocolat, I’ve never been particularly drawn to read any of Joanne Harris’ books. However, as soon as I read a review of Gentlemen & Players, I knew I had to read it. So determined to read it was I that I actually bought a copy – something I rarely do these days, preferring to save paper and borrow books from libraries. Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed. There is an air of mystery about the story that drew me into it and kept me going until I had got to the end. Roy Straitley is Latin master at St Oswald’s, a boy’s grammar school. About to retire, he is expecting to get through his final terms without much in the way of surprises. ...