That'll Teach Her - Maz Evans

 

Claudia Stitchwell is the headteacher of St Nonnatus CE Primary School and it's fair to say she is not liked, so when she dies suddenly from a severe nut allergy at a school event, the parents are quick to suspect that all is not what it seems.  With four people emerging as suspects, clues need to be pieced together amongst the gossip to discover who the murderer is.

OH. MY. GOD. THIS. BOOK. IS. BLOOMIN'. BRILLIANT.

I feel that the eight words above sum up everything that needs to be said about this book but I feel the brilliance that is Maz Evans deserves more.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I adore Maz and her writing; she's a genius when it comes to writing comedy that combines deeper messages and That'll Teach Her is another perfect example of this.  After her first novel for adults, Over My Dead Body, was released last year (you can read my review here ), I was giddy with excitement when I discovered I could read an early copy of That'll Teach Her.  The start of half-term proved to be the perfect opportunity, especially as I needed a new book for my flight to a bit of sunshine.  

From the very beginning, this book is a work of genius: the combination of letters to parents from the school, parents WhatsApp group messages, police reports, newspaper articles and narrative all help to weave the plot perfectly.  The WhatsApp group chats, in particular, made me laugh out loud with the perfect mix of characters and gossip.  When my son was at school, I was one of his teachers and avoided the parents' WhatsApp groups like the plague, so being able to get an insight into them here gave me so many laugh out loud moments I was just pleased it was my husband sitting next to me on the plane!  Maz's observations and attention to details are spot on and, whether you're a parent or a teacher, I guarantee you will find yourself giggling and nodding away!  

In amongst the laughs, there is a murder to solve and it's the parents in the WhatsApp group who are determined to get to the bottom of things.  The drama and the plot are unpredictable, with twists that create intrigue and will keep you guessing until the end, but in true Maz style, she also weaves more serious themes through the book that will draw on readers' empathy.  

That'll Teach Her publishes 27th February and is a book you absolutely need to buy.  It's clever blend of humour and  murder makes the book an utterly compelling read.  I have just one question: does anybody know this week's spellings?!