Review: The Upcoming Slowburn Thriller "Madam"

*Madam is set for release in May 2021. I received a free advanced reader copy of this e-book through #NetGalley. Below are my honest thoughts upon reading.

When Rose Christie is offered a position as the Head of Classics at a prestigious boarding school for girls in 1992, she finds it difficult to turn it down. Caldonbrae Hall – known as Hope to the students and faculty – has sat untouched on the Scottish cliffs outside of the harbor village of Kennenhaven for 150 years. Rose quickly realizes that, as the first new hire in well over a decade, she has entered a world of secrets, staunch traditions, and disinterest in modern education.

It quickly becomes apparent that all is not as it seems. It’s obvious there is more to her predecessor’s departure than anyone is willing to share and that a troubled student needs more help than the school is willing to give. The secrets held deep in Hope’s sanatorium are evidence of the school’s perverse nature and the cycle that it’s staff, students, and parents willingly perpetuate. Rose must decide if she can willingly participate in this “education” or face dire consequences. As far as gothic settings go, author Phoebe Wynne knocks it out of the park. She has all of the elements – crumbling ancient home, remote setting, lack of contact with the outside world. The school is housed in an ancient mansion that sits at the tip of a peninsula near the rocky coast, guarded by stone gargoyles and a large, imposing gate. Rose compares it to an “extraordinary gray wedding cake, halls and towers and rows of turrets added like great ornaments, with outlines of flying buttresses to decorate.” She also makes note that the headmaster has removed the chaplain years earlier and the chapel itself is no longer for solace, but recitals and programs.

Author Phoebe Wynne

Rose cannot find support from the local villagers who see everyone associated with the school as strange and unwelcomed outsiders. The feeling of forlorn isolation is intense.

Rose herself is believable and fairly likeable. She is young and naïve and struggling with imposter syndrome, so it’s easy to see how she could find herself in this position. Due to her mother’s worsening illness, she is of little support either mentally, emotionally, or physically. Neither, for that matter, are Hope’s faculty and staff.

They, along with the students, are all so stiff and tight-lipped that they serve the atmosphere well, though not necessarily the plot. Even three-quarters of the way in, there were no answers and no real action. This lack of information and action left me wanting something more. It’s rather frustrating to watch the chapters flip by and you’re still where you were when you picked the book up. That said, I loved the epilogue and would love to read a (slightly more action oriented) sequel!

This is, perhaps, the first outright feminist gothic tale I’ve read. Since “feminism” is thrown around so often, the idea of it put me off. However, the scope in which Wynne uses it worked very well. It was a natural extension of the plot and didn’t feel overly contrived.

A Trigger Warning: This book deals with young girls being groomed for nefarious purposes. When the true horrors were finally revealed, there was one scene I still gag to think about. It was truly cringe worthy.

Similar Books: This book had a strong sense of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (1938).

There was a slow burn of secrets and ghosts of people past. If this is your style of read, consider picking up Mexican Gothic by Silvia Morena-Garcia (2020); The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1892); and pretty much anything by Shirley Jackson and Joyce Carol Oates.