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Author: Jakeman, Jo

Crime & mystery

Published on 6 March 2025 by Little, Brown Book Group (Constable) in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 432 pages
197 x 129 x 29 | 296g

‘Packed with explosive twists, this captivating murder mystery will keep you reading late into the night’ Womans Own ‘I loved it! Throw a murder into the politics of the school gates and the parents WhatsApp groups and you have a witty, insightful and thoroughly entertaining murder mystery’ Jo Callaghan, author of In the Blink of an Eye———-One murder. A school full of suspects… Welcome to Aberfal Boys High School., independent jewel of academic and sporting excellence in the South-west — until the headmaster is murdered in his study. And now the Year Seven school mums’ WhatsApp Group really does have something to talk about…

Clare Withoutani: OMG have you heard about Newhall?!!! Becky Rupertsmum: Helen-Louise just texted. Can’t believe it.

Asha: Not heard anything. What’s happened? Pam Geoffreysmum: What’s he done this time? They’re going co-ed, aren’t they? I knew this would happen.

Clare Withoutani: Can’t believe it, Becky. I’m in shock.

Pam Geoffreysmum: Are we going co-ed? Becky Rupertsmum: No, Pam. Newhall died.

Pam Geoffreysmum: Oh GOD. Seriously??!! Can’t believe it. So sad. He’ll be such a loss to the school. The boys will be devastated. Will the school be offering grief counselling? Rose Oliversmum: Anyone know what pages they’re meant to do for chemistry? Ollie’s homework diary says ‘do questions 1-4’ but no page numbers! As the resulting police investigation reveals more and more of Aberfal’s long-hidden secrets, the list of suspects who wanted the headmaster dead grows by the day. And far from being a glittering jewel of exclusivity and excellence, it would appear Aberfal Boys High School is rotten to its core…

———- ‘A superb mystery with perfectly drawn characters, plenty of twists and turns, and a suffocating school experience that ultimately, even inevitably leads to murder’ Katy Watson, author of The Three Dahlias ‘Loved this; a fun and twisty mystery peopled by characters you’ll recognise if you’ve ever been part of a parents WhatsApp group!’ Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request ‘Absolutely loved this witty, wicked and cleverly plotted story, with its sharply-drawn characters and skewering of privilege and class. At its heart, though, ONE BAD APPLE is a classic murder mystery – and one that will keep you guessing to the very end’ Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies