"Set in an ultra-elite English boarding school, this gripping dark academia mystery tingles with chilling real-life resonance and female resilience."
March 2024 Book of the Month
Bravo to Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé for creating such a compelling dark academia mystery that’s also layered with such potent depth. Though just shy of a whopping 600 pages, the pace and plotting of Where Sleeping Girls Lie is chef’s-kiss superb, with tremendous page-turning power propelling a tale of surviving loss, trauma and abuses of power amidst the dark halls of an elite boarding school.
Shot-through with suspense and escalating menace, the story begins when new girl Sade encounters trouble as soon as she sets foot in Alfred Nobel Academy, and her roommate Elizabeth goes missing. As suspicious eyes fall on Sade, she forms a bond with Elizabeth’s best friend Baz (real name Basil), and they set about finding out what really happened to Elizabeth.
As the duo make dark discoveries, aided by revelations from the ”Unholy Trinity (as Baz has dubbed the school’s “It girls”), a super-rich male student is murdered, which leads to the unravelling of a web of despicable secrets, lies, cover-ups and toxicity, and the unleashing of revenge.
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A great book, a story of mystery, thrill and drama
This was a really good book, the setting was great and an individual take on a relatively generic setting and the plot was also really exciting. It reminded me of other books I loved like Truly Devious (by Maureen Johnson) and I can't wait to re-read it and pick up more about the characters.... Read Full Review
Loved this book, totally sucked me in from the minute I started and is definitely going on my shelf to be read multiple times in the future.
This book does have a trigger warning at the beginning, just to make you all aware and there are definitely bits that triggered me, BUT....
This is an awesome story. I love all the main characters. I feel like the author really gets my generation. The kids in the school are a real mixed bunch and the friendship groups are so like my own school.
Ok, so it's set in a stupidly rich private boarding school, but they all seem to have the same issues.
I really identified with the main character, she is strong and sassy and doesn't just fall in with the crowd, she likes to make her own decisions.
This book was a kind of mixture of high school romance, murder mystery and boarding school antics.... Read Full Review
Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a haunting yet compelling novel that reaches out to every thriller reader. Written by the bestselling author of the Ace of Spades, the book entails a plot filled with rivalry, revenge and mystery.
Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a compelling and addicting thriller written expertly by the author of the bestselling novel, Ace of Spades. The book is a spectacular follow-up full of fascinating spirals of plot twists and events that held me mesmerized for days. The mystical concept of suspense was extremely captivating for a reader. The hidden meaning behind the story was complex and was written for young girls reaching out with the message that healing from deep wounds and struggles is not impossible! Sade Hussein as a protagonist enrols in the all-known prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy home to many aspiring young students. Hussein is carrying with her the whole package of troubles, grief and misery as she steps into the fancy brick walls, polished peaks, and exclusive architecture.... Read Full Review
