A suspenseful novel about a new teacher at a not-so-elite boarding school who accidentally incites a gender war among the students and staff

THE SWALLOWS
by Lisa Lutz
Simon & Schuster, September 2019

When Alexandra Witt arrives at Stonebridge Academy and insists on moving into a ramshackle cottage in the woods, curiosity among the student body and the staff skyrockets. Who is this young teacher who came here alone, dresses like the kids, and left her last school under a cloud of speculation? With its picturesque campus and classic uniforms, Stonebridge might look the part, but as Alex soon learns, it’s anything but old school. When she advises one of her new students to stand up for herself, the girl takes her advice a little too much to heart. Long-simmering tensions between the boys and girls boil over into a fight. And then total war. By the time Gemma, Alex’s favorite student, starts uncovering Stonebridge’s darkest secrets with the help of some unlikely allies, Alex’s bumpy start has become a nightmare. Cast into a role she never wanted, she watches the spark she ignited consume everything around her. And the only way out might carry an even higher cost.
Told by four narrators, none of whom inspires total confidence, The Swallows unfolds with brilliant timing, puzzle-like plotting, and riveting storytelling that will shock and delight readers everywhere.

Lisa Lutz is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including “The Passenger” (2016), “How to Start a Fire”, and the six novels in the “Spellman” series. Lutz has won the Alex award and has been nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. She is currently a writer on the critically acclaimed HBO series “The Deuce”, starring James Franco.