School for Murder

by Robert Barnard

When Mr. Crumwallis, the obtuse and penny-pinching headmaster at Burleigh School, selects obsequious but evil-minded Hilary Frome to be head boy, disruptive pranks soon become life-threatening

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature

201 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Aka Bernard Bastable.

Robert Barnard (born 23 November 1936) was an English crime writer, critic and lecturer.

Born in Essex, Barnard was educated at the Royal Grammar School in Colchester and at Balliol College in Oxford. His first crime novel, A Little Local Murder, was published in 1976. The novel was written while he was a lecturer at University of Tromsø in Norway. He has gone on to write more than 40 other books and numerous short stories.

Barnard has said that his favourite crime writer is Agatha Christie. In 1980 he published a critique of her work titled A Talent to Deceive: An Appreciation of Agatha Christie.

Barnard was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger in 2003 by the Crime Writers Association for a lifetime of achievement.

Under the pseudonym Bernard Bastable, Robert Barnard has published one standalone novel and three alternate history books starring Wolfgang Mozart as a detective, he having survived to old age.

Barnard lived with his wife Louise in Yorkshire.

Series:
* Perry Trethowan
* Charlie Peace

Reviews

[Jill H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good little British mystery to read for a break. Not a lot going on but enjoyable with a very curious ending. I kept thinking that the author/detective was covering up something and that what happened really wasn't the complete truth. Oh well, at least it was rather surprising but something was missing.

[🐴 🍖]

works better as a satire of lousy school administrators (who e.g. don't wanna throw out the shepherd's pie just bc a little broken glass was found in it) than as a mystery: despite a neat bit of misdirection it was still p clear whodunit in advance, & the detective is just kind of a cipher. has a peeeerfect last couple sentences however which always garners bonus pts in my book.

[Karen Loucks]

Great Story.

[CAROL · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun murder mystery set in a British private school, or what they call a public school. Very interesting commentary about the role of schools in educating the young. Masterful writer.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Burleigh School is cursed with a headmaster who is nothing but Manner and imperceptiveness. It is further cursed with the son of a local doctor, whose charisma conceals a singleminded search for egotistic gratification. The rest of the staff are the usual mixed bag, though the emphasis in the text is on how terrible Burleigh school is.

Only one other student gets any real attention, because his medicine is poisoned. Why would someone want to poison such a nice little boy, when the eminently murderable Frome is on hand?

SCHOOL FOR MURDER is a laugh-out-loud satire with a satisfying resolution. Highly recommended, especially when you are still young enough to remember your own schooling.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the best books in Barnard's list, this is a satiric send-up of British education, particularly in the marginal privately-owned schools. Certainly no Dotheboys Hall, but not where you'd want to put little Algernon, either. A good mystery although the perpetrator was easily picked out. I enjoy mysteries with school settings (must be all those Dana Girl stories from my youth) and especially like those books which skewer the education system. As a former teacher, I find it highly amusing. Oh, and a decent copper helps to move the book along nicely.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Barnard writes books that are very readable. I get into the story quickly and I enjoy staying there until it is over. There were quite a few characters inhabiting this school for boys when you count the teachers and many of the students but once I got them straight it didn't seem like that many.

Barnard does poke fun at the English educational system and a bit at all education. There is an quiet but serious undertone that brings depth to the story. I recommend it.

[Mar Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this a lot, especially as it's a break from the grim sort of mysteries I usually like. He dealt with a large cast of characters, staff, police, and the boys, so deftly I came to admire what a good writer he is. Each of them was distinct, which is quite a trick. But then I like sly academic settings.

[Gingernut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book manages to be creepy, funny and downright... odd... all at the same point in time. The only complaint I have is that the 'mystery' itself is rather predictable, though that still dosen't make it any less enjoyable.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was obvious who the killer was fairly early on, and I am usually surprised by these things. But it was a fun read!

[Terry Steinborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical Robert Barnard mystery. A student at a poor excuse for a private school in England is murdered. The victim was the apple of the headmaster's eye, although he was strongly disliked by the faculty and most of the students. Within this framework, Barnard has established the mystery and has the police set about finding out the truth of what happened and who was responsible. The usual Barnard touch of subtle sarcastic humor runs throughout, with some particularly nice touches, such as a concert violinist named Holmes. The book provides a rather low-key reading experience, although ultimately satisfying, as are all of Barnard's many books.

[Hugh Heinsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny satire and a murder mystery rolled into one. Barnard is the best at this sort of thing - a small group of eccentrically mediocre people thrown together try to figure out each other's motives and means for getting through the day.

[Ron Kerrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barnard's writing is always a good experience. I think this one really needed one of those Cast of Characters lists since he throws so many teachers and school people at you right away. The detective isn't as endearing as Perry Trethowen but solves the case adequately.

[Collin Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could be more suspense. In my opinion Nancy Drew books are better.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read other mysteries set in British boarding schools, but this is the best because Barnard loved to skewer all such institutions in his books. The teaching staff are an interesting mixture of young and old, progressive and conservative, intelligent and not-so-much. It is stated from the outset that the Burleigh School is not the worst school for boys, but it's far from the best. Which makes one wonder by Dr. Frome would be sending his son, Hillary, there as a day student, since he obviously thinks that Hillary is very special. He is, but not in the way his father thinks: smart but calculating in how he undermines the teachers and uses the other boys for his own ends. So when he is poisoned, there is no lack of possible suspects for his murder, and not much sadness within the school.

June 3, 2024: this was just as much a fun read as the first time. Such an interesting mix of characters!

[Leslie Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe a 2.5. Couldn't really get into this one. Characters somewhat thin.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too silly for my taste--just okay.

[Julieann · Rating 4 out of 5]

always enjoy this one.