Madam

A contemporary gothic debut met feminist edge, Madam invites fans of Naomi Alderman and Madeline Miller into a dark, atmospheric world where power, myth and ambition intertwine. Phoebe Wynne crafts a compelling tale set at Caldonbrae Hall, a Scottish girls’ boarding school perched above looming cliffs and steeped in ancient prestige. At its heart stands Rose Christie, a 26-year-old Classics teacher and new head of department, who must navigate arcane traditions, coolly formidable students and a looming sense of danger that feeds her classroom stories of fearless women from ancient Greece and Rome. As Rose peels back the secrets that throb at the school’s core, the boundary between myth and reality grows hazier, and she realizes the fate of the pupils—and perhaps herself—may hinge on confronting a darkness the institution would rather keep hidden. Madam is a darkly feminist tale with a vividly drawn cast of heroines, sure to resonate with readers seeking suspenseful gothic fiction that questions power and history.

Set within the resonant atmosphere of a prestigious Scottish castle school, the narrative follows a climate of secrecy, resilience and rebellion as the students’ loyalties and Rose’s own truths are tested.

• Contemporary gothic debut with feminist edge
• Caldonbrae Hall: Scottish girls’ boarding school
• Rose Christie, 26, Classics teacher and head of department
• Stories of fearless women from ancient Greece and Rome
• Darkness at the heart of the school, myth and reality blur
• Gloriously dark, with a strong cast of heroines

Features

• Contemporary Gothic debut with feminist edge
• Caldonbrae Hall, Scottish cliffs, ancestral castle
• 26-year-old Rose Christie, Classics teacher
• Stories of fearless women ignite curiosity
• Darkness at the heart of Caldonbrae
• Gloriously dark, gloriously gothic atmosphere