The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place

Berry, Julie. The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place. 2014. 353p. ISBN 978-1-59643-956-6. Available at FIC BER on the library shelves.

Seven young female students reside at Mrs. Plackett’s St. Etheldreda's School for Girls, an austere and dreary place. The girls have been sent here by their families more as exile than as care for their education. Dear Roberta Pratley is at school because her stepmother does not like her. Disgraceful Mary Jane Marshall’s mother worries that her daughter will elope and throw her lot with a penniless lad. Dull Martha Boyle is simply not very smart. Stout Alice Brooks is rather big and could pass for an older person, which will come in handy in this tale. Smooth Kitty Heaton ‘s father is a prosperous businessman who has no son and no interest in teaching his daughter the family business, even though she would excel at it. Pocked Louise Dudley suffered from smallpox and wants to be a doctor. Finally, Dour Elinor Siever is fascinated with death.

When old Mrs. Plackett and her sleazy brother Mr. Godding both keel over and die during dinner Sunday nights, the girls are at a loss. Should they report the deaths, or should they celebrate their newfound independence? The girls decide on the latter course, and begin weaving an elaborate tale to hide to the rest of the world the fact that the school headmistress has passed on. Using their unique skills, the girls quickly realize that the two were poisoned, and that there is a murderer afoot. But why would someone want to kill Mrs. Plackett and Mr. Godding? What were they hiding? And, more importantly, now that Alice is acting as Mrs. Plackett, what can be done to protect her and the rest of the girls from the vengeful eye of the nameless murderer?

This book is well-crafted murder-mystery tale taking place in an interesting locale, a Victorian school house in 1890. You will love this book if you enjoyed The Witch of Blackbird Pond.