The School Gates
by A A Chaudhuri
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Pub Date 5 Jun 2025 | Archive Date 26 May 2025
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Description
First comes gossip … then comes revenge
When single mum Lola Martinez’s son, Luca, starts school, she feels that she’ll never fit in with the yummy mummies in the playground. Confident, married to wealthy men, with ample free time, they are everything she isn’t.
However, Lola is invited into the inner circle, surrounded by seemingly friendly people, even if Lola’s silence about her child’s father puzzles them. Despite herself, Lola quickly becomes involved in playground politics, making as many enemies as friends.
But then Lola is brutally murdered, her death rocking the close-knit community. As the police investigate the case, they discover that Lola was hiding many secrets – as are the mums in her new social circle. But who had the most reason to kill her? And who else might unwittingly hold the answers to what happened that night?
An addictive psychological thriller with an end twist that will make you gasp, for fans of Lisa Jewell, T.M. Logan and Frieda McFadden. If you loved Big Little Lies, you’ll adore this.
Advance Praise
'Packed with hidden secrets and clever reveals, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.' C.M. Ewan
'This close-knit community murder mystery is told with scalpel-sharp character insight and a brilliantly tense atmosphere. I loved it.' B P Walter
'Grips you immediately and doesn't let up...Secrets at the school gate, intrigue and revenge. A brilliant and twisty thriller. Anna Mazzola
'Secrets, lies and deception among the people you think you know the best, a great cast of characters where no one can be trusted.' Catherine Cooper
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9781804369845 |
PRICE | £2.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 368 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

Wonderful thriller by AA Chaudhuri. Lola and her son Luca move away to start over. Lola is running from a threat on her life and her parents. As she starts to make friends with the other moms, lies come out and everyone is mean to her. Then she ends up dead. Why? Who is out to get revenge? And what is the secret she ran away from?

A enjoyable read with twists and turns galore that never stop. There are secrets and lies and the school mums made me shiver with revulsion. Like the parents are bullies so what do you expect from the children. The mystery was a good one and it had me eagerly reading. Despite the unlikeable characters the plot is intense.

I really enjoyed her first book and then didn’t like her next few as much. But I loved this one! Lola takes her son Luca and moves far away to start over. She encounters her own mean girls at the school gates with older moms who are essentially intimidated or jealous of her. One night Lola is murdered. Lots of lies come to light that she told. Connections are made between people. Great suspense.