A Narrow Door is actually the third book in a series about a school called St. Oswalds. I didn't realise this when I started reading the book but I don't think this affected the overall story. The book was quite slow to start but it was intriguing enough to catch my interest and keep me reading. As the story developed and more secrets were revealed the book improved.

I found this book slow at the beginning. It turned into a gripping page turner. The characters are so believable. The characterisation is done so well. An excellent book with lots of twists and turns.

I didn't realise there were two books before this one, but did that matter, I don't think so.

A good storyline with good characters and recommended.

I know want to read the first two!

I have loved the other books that Joanne Harris has set at St Oswalds but I found this one a bit of a slog. It just didn't grip me in quite the same way and I only made it about two thirds of the way through.

Full disclosure: I did not read the two novels previously in this series. it did not harm my reading of A Narrow Door. Joanne Harris is phenomenal! Her writing is outstanding. I look forward to reading what she does next!

Unfortunately, I never got around to reading this one, but I have seen it spoken of so highly. I'm sure many will absolutely love this.

I'm a huge fan of Joanne Harris as I think she's an exquisite writer who really knows how to craft a well-written book. A Narrow Door continues the Malbry series by extending the world-building and introducing new characters. Highly recommended.

This should have been wonderful, at least the blurb sounded good but I struggled to like any of the characters and therefore didn’t really care about what happened to them and found it a struggle to read .
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

The third book in Joanne Harris’s St Oswald series and I loved it! We go back to the boys school where it’s all changed… girls are allowed and there is a woman running the school. Unfortunately a body is then found in the grounds. I love Joanne Harris’s writing style and she does the best job of ticking away these mysteries and plotting misdirection. I would suggest rereading Different Class and Blue eyed boy if it’s been a while before delving into this one

I had not read the previous two books in the series when I read A Narrow Door, but I did not feel that it was detrimental.

This was a dual timeline thriller set in 2006 and 1989. In 2006 Rebecca Buckfast (formerly Becky Price) is the new head at St. Oswald’s, the first woman in the history of the school to do so. In 1989 Becky Price is a supply teacher at King Henry’s, the rival school to St Oswalds. Roy Straitley has taught Latin at St. Oswald’s for many years and is considered to be a permanent fixture at the school.

Both characters are haunted. Becky by her brother Conrad going missing when she was five years old, and Roy by the memory of his old friend Eric, who was immersed in scandal.

This is a beautifully written thriller with such a gradual reveal that you will keep guessing to no avail until the very last moment.

A story of a woman who has to be strong in a world of male dominated traditions. Rebecca is a brilliantly interesting character- manipulative and an unreliable storyteller - she leads you through the twists of the story.
A master at storytelling Joanne Harris’ writing twists and turns at every point so you’re not sure what’s actually happened or whether it’s in the mind of the narrator.

It's all change at St Oswald's, centuries of tradition are thrown in the air as the new Head allows girls to enter the hallowed portals. Ms Buckfast is a new broom with strong ideas but with a few secrets of her own and Roy Straitley, venerable Classics master, clashes with her on many. However when his form discover a body newly uncovered by the builders creating a legacy swimming pool, her reaction surprises him. As Rebecca tells Roy her story, new light is shown on previous relationships and the true determination of a woman comes to the fore.
This is a terrific tale on so many levels. On the surface it is a simple crime thriller, a body is discovered and the who is it and whodunnit are the core of the book. However the psychological aspect is played well as the two main protagonists spar. The twist is no big twist but the cleverness of the ending is great as it leaves the door open (so to speak) for more. Harris has long been a brilliant writer and this book is no exception.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Love this author so was pleased to read this
It is part of a series and I haven't read the others but this didn't detract from my enjoyment


Superb

Despite being a fan of Harris' writing, i really didn't enjoy this novel. I found it rather cliched and predictable. I appreciate the issues raised about class, gender and prejudice are very important but this didn't really hit the spot for me.

The Narrow Door is the third in the St Oswald series by Joanne Harris Rebecca Buckfast is the first woman Principal through the ‘narrow door’ of St Oswalds , the institution rocked by murder and scandal in the previous books. . She represents its future as the school begins to admit girls as well as boys much to the chagrin of the 'old school' supporters.
The reader is strung along with the plot being gradually revealed, and ,as with the earlier books, there is a pervading sense of foreboding and distrust through out the school. Curiosity drives the reader on to the unexpected conclusion and the author skillfully manipulated our expectations.
Well written and worth the effort but I am hoping that St Oswalds will be left to its own devices now. Surely no school can suffer so much scandal and tragedy in such a short time

Another good read in the Malbry series from Joanne Harris. It is some years since I read the previous in the series, so it did take me a while to bring to mind what had happened previously. Although this is intended to be a standalone read, there is too much reference to what had happened in the earlier books to feel that it ould not be an advantage to read those. But Harris’s superb storytelling gradually got me hooked again and I enojyed the twisty turny nature of the revelations.

Joanne Harris does it again, keeping us guessing right to the end. St. Oswald's is a school with many secrets and surprises, a headmistress with an interesting past, the old guard holding back the tide of modern (languages!) ways of doing things. If you have liked anything else she has written, you will love this.

I found this book a little difficult to get into, and wasn't hooked on it. The classical references were unfamiliar to me and although this can be read as a standalone I would expect having read the series would've helped with the characters. I didn't realise it was 3rd in a series when I requested it.
It's still a good book though and I think it's a case of 'it's not you it's me' with this one.

A Narrow Door is Joanne Harris's latest novel and a compelling, sinister read. Rebecca Buckfast is the new head of St Oswald's school and it's a great moment for both her and the school for there has never been a woman headteacher at St Oswald's before. Roy Straitley is a Latin teacher with many years experience. Both are haunted by their memories and the tale is told using alternating timelines from 1989 and 2006.

This for me is a fine example of superb storytelling. The characters were fascinating and I loved the spooky, menacing images of Becky’s childhood that drifted from the pages. She was such a complex character! There were some surprises that caught me out and though this follows on from two other novels that also feature St Oswalds, Gentleman and Players and Different Class, A Narrow Door can absolutely be read independently. A brilliant, sharp and attention-demanding tale.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Orion Publishing via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

I didn’t appreciate that this was a book in a series and actually commented to my husband that I was somewhat irritated with the author’s assumption that without giving too much description, the reader was expected to know all the many characters and how they fit into the story; so much so that I almost gave up on the book. However I pushed through and started engaging with the story. I think this book is for fans of the series and left me a bit cold. Sorry not one for me.