Gentlemen and Players: A Novel [Paperback]

For generations, privileged young men have attended St. Oswald's Grammar School for Boys, groomed for success by the likes of Roy Straitley, the eccentric Classics teacher who has been a fixture there for more than thirty years. This year, however, the wind of unwelcome change is blowing, and Straitley is finally, reluctantly, contemplating retirement. As the new term gets under way, a number of incidents befall students and faculty alike, beginning as small annoyances but soon escalating in both number and consequence. St. Oswald's is unraveling, and only Straitley stands in the way of its ruin. But he faces a formidable opponent with a bitter grudge and a master strategy that has been meticulously planned to the final, deadly move.

Irresistible . . . Constantly surprising and wickedly fun.With GENTLEMEN & PLAYERS Harris has tapped an unsuspected talent for writing sophisticated, absorbing suspense.[A] disturbing yet strangely rewarding morality tale . . . Not every chess game ends with a checkmate.Riveting . . . The checkmate is a bold stroke -- so audacious as to send readers, including this one, backtracking.[A] masterful literary thriller.Far darker than Chocolat author Harriss previous books, this canny page-turner comes with a satisfying twist.Very good indeed.A complex, well-crafted murder mystery, with its authors trademark blend of wit, wisdom and magic.[An] enjoyable mystery romp.Fun with a neat twist ... its a bit like A.J. Wentworth squaring up to the talented Mr. Ripley.A strong psychological mystery.A literary gobstopper with an aniseed heart.Harris pulls it all off . . . Book groups of the world, watch out.[Harris] turns to the literary thriller, with stunning results . . . This is one hypnotic page-turner.[A] clever story of obsession and revenge . . . .[Harris] has scored another success.[A] gripping psychological thriller. . . . [Harris] cleverly keeps the reader guessing till the very last chapter.One of tlĂ&