The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place - Julie Berry

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: September 23, 2014
Source/Format: Publisher (Thanks!) || ARC
[I received this book for review from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]

The students of St. Etheldreda's School for Girls face a bothersome dilemma. Their irascible headmistress, Mrs. Plackett, and her surly brother, Mr. Godding, have been most inconveniently poisoned at Sunday dinner. Now the school will almost certainly be closed and the girls sent home—unless these seven very proper young ladies can hide the murders and convince their neighbors that nothing is wrong. (from Goodreads)

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place – the title of this novel rolls off the tongue quite deliciously, does it not? Within its pages, Julie Berry spins a tale full of hilarity and hijinks. In fact, it’s really a worthy “British farce”, to use the author’s own term. The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place was seriously funny and clever, and I enjoyed it so.

The plot is reminiscent of the game Clue, albeit a version that’s twisted and backwards. The girls are determined to be free and independent, and so, band together to cover up the two deaths in their home. However, they’re also working to protect themselves, and that involves solving the mystery – who, how, why. The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place constantly amused me, as there are shenanigans and characters aplenty to take in.

Of the main seven girls, Smooth Kitty was my absolute favorite. She’s basically the ringleader of the sisterhood, calm, unruffled and with a very practical take charge attitude. I did enjoy each of the other girls too: Pocked Louise (resident sleuth & scientist), Dour Elinor (who had a macabre fascination with death), Dear Roberta (clever mind + delicate constitution), Dull Martha (simple but kind), Stout Alice (an actress in the making), and Disgraceful Mary-Jane (a flirt but also very optimistic). Together, these seven offered various contributions to their charade – and they were all just really fun to read about.

Sprinkled with other interesting personalities (dead and alive, mind you), laugh out loud moments and so-fantastical-as-to-probably-be-implausible-but-let’s-go-with-it-anyway situations, The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place was a serious delight. It was definitely a fun reading experience! I believe many other readers (younger and older alike) would be thoroughly charmed by these girls and this novel, so consider it one I’d highly recommend!