by Lisa Jackson
First published 2010
Jules watches her troubled sister Shaylee get shipped off to the Academy, an elite Oregon boarding school with a dark reputation. Several girls have vanished from the prestigious institution, but their parents seem willing to overlook the disappearances. Jules refuses to abandon Shaylee to whatever danger stalks the school's corridors. She applies for a teaching position and gets hired, giving her access to the campus and a chance to watch over her sister. Once inside the Academy, Jules discovers the school harbors secrets far more sinister than academic pressure or teenage drama. The missing students didn't simply run away or transfer quietly to other schools. Something malevolent operates within the institution's walls, targeting vulnerable young women. Jules must navigate the politics of faculty meetings and parent expectations while investigating what happened to the disappeared girls. Her sister's safety depends on uncovering the truth before Shaylee becomes the next victim.
Genres: suspense, mystery, thriller, academic
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Oregon, Academy
424 pages · Hardcover · Kensington Pub Corp
Content warnings: violence