Jess Choudhary isn’t thrilled to be paired with fellow scholarship girl Summer for her gifted and talented project, but together they write a passable murder mystery. Then Heybuckle’s poster boy Hugh Henry Von Boren is killed in exactly the same way as the main character in the story and Jess finds herself under suspicion. Unless she can find out who is responsible for Henry’s murder, she risks losing the scholarship that funds her prestigious eduction. So begins a mystery aimed at teen and young adult readers: first Jess wrote the murder and now she’s solving it.
This story has strong cast of characters who appear at the beginning to conform to the cliches of boarding school murder mystery stories (the sporty boy, the popular and pretty girl, the rebel, the brainy girl etc) but what makes it gripping is how quickly it becomes apparent that there is more to every one of these people than these surface reputations. This sets up some fascinating relationships. One example is the relationship between murder victim Hugh and his ex-girlfriend Milly, which isn’t the fairytale romance that everyone buys into. Another is between Jess and her roommate Annabelle who at first glance appears to flaunt her family’s money and trade gossip in the hopes of keeping in with the kids from generational wealth. Every one of these stories is more than surface deep and this makes the mystery more compelling because Jess soon realises that, to solve the mystery, she’s really going to have to get to the bottom of every person’s character.
The other compelling storyline is that of the Regia Club – and this will appeal to fans of Netflix hit Wednesday which also has a secret society that only a small elite may join. Traditionally, the Regia Club has been comprised only of students descended from generational wealth. It runs the school with its system of setting pranks and meting out punishments to those who fail to fulfil them and it also has a great deal of sway with the teachers. This storyline is brilliant for two reasons: firstly, rumours about the Regia Club circulate in whispers and code which leaves Jess trying to work out what has changed recently to upset some of the members and how far this might be connected to Hugh’s murder. Secondly, it supports the recurring themes of elitism and abuse of power by showing that societal advantages often begin at a young age. It makes it easier for teen readers to understand what is going on in the police and press and even the school board when they can compare the power held by the Regia Club leader to the powers held in these different organisations.
It is wonderful to have a boarding school murder mystery with an authentic British-Asian main character. We see Jess (real name Jesminder) dealing with racism in different forms but we also get a glimpse into her everyday life – the texts from her mother promising proper food in the holidays and checking in on every aspect of Jess’s life offer light in some of the story’s scariest moments and remind the reader that there are more important things in life than money and power.
There has been a recent spate of YA mysteries set in boarding schools and this taps into some of the dark academia vibes while remaining suitable for teenage readers. The emerging friendships and family ties brighten the murder, murder and teenage angst and I think readers from the target age group will relate to the complexities and ever-shifting relationships found in any high school. A strong premise that holds out and a great cast of characters make this a treat for teenage sleuths.
