The Truants

by Kate Weinberg
The Truants cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Contemporary Fiction
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Paperback • £8.99
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Technical
  • ID: 8208
  • Added: 2025-12-20
  • Updated: 2025-12-31
  • ISBN: 9781526600134
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Published: 2020-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

The Truants follows Jess Walker, a middle-class university student who finds her world transformed by a group of rule-breaking friends and their charismatic teacher, Lorna Clay. As Jess experiments with a new version of herself, the dynamics within the group darken, leading to shared secrets, lovers, and ultimately, tragedy. The novel explores themes of obsession, rivalry, and the true cost of an extraordinary life, all while delivering a hypnotic whodunnit plot. Praised by critics and readers alike, this debut is a standout in contemporary fiction, blending vivid characters and deft plotting to create a compelling narrative.

Reviews
MotherBooker Blog · 2020-08-03
good 3.50

The book is a melodrama masquerading as a crime thriller, with a coming-of-age narrative that will not disappoint. The reviewer found the story to be engaging and well-written, with a compelling cast of characters.

The reviewer describes 'The Truants' as a melodrama masquerading as a crime thriller, with a coming-of-age narrative that will not disappoint. They found the story to be engaging and well-written, with a compelling cast of characters. The reviewer also highlights the clever use of themes and motifs, which add depth and complexity to the story. Overall, they highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling and thought-provoking read. The reviewer also appreciates the way the story unfolds, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

Quick quotes

    This is a melodrama masquerading as a crime thriller

    If you go into this wanting a coming-of-age narrative then you won't be disappointed

    The reviewer also appreciates the way the story unfolds, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

Books on the 747 · 2020-06-25
great 4.00

The book is a wonderful homage to Agatha Christie, with layers of lies and twists that keep the reader guessing. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging, making it a great choice for fans of crime thrillers.

The reviewer sees 'The Truants' as a wonderful homage to Agatha Christie, with a clever use of lies and twists that keep the reader guessing. They appreciate the well-developed characters and the engaging plot, which make it a great choice for fans of crime thrillers. The reviewer also highlights the clever use of themes and motifs, which add depth and complexity to the story. Overall, they highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    The Truants is a wonderful homage to Agatha – in ways you are expecting and ways you are not

    But it's the way it layers up the lies and twists that makes it a compelling read

    The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging, making it a great choice for fans of crime thrillers.

Sarah's Vignettes · 2020-06-10
brilliant 4.50

The book is described as hypnotic and mesmerizing, with a brilliant narrative that keeps the reader engaged. The writing style is praised for its ability to draw the reader in and hold their attention.

The reviewer found 'The Truants' to be an incredibly engaging read, with a narrative that is both hypnotic and mesmerizing. They appreciate the way the story unfolds, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The writing style is particularly noteworthy, with a brilliant use of language that draws the reader in and holds their attention throughout. The reviewer also highlights the clever use of themes and motifs, which add depth and complexity to the story. Overall, they highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    hypnotic, mesmerising, brilliant

    I wish I could I leave it there as I would then be able to keep the magic of the book to myself

    The writing style is particularly noteworthy, with a brilliant use of language that draws the reader in and holds their attention throughout.

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