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Pet

The International Bestseller
By Catherine Chidgey
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Pet by Catherine Chidgey is a gripping crime and thriller novel that delves into the disturbing events in the life of a young girl at a seemingly ordinary school. Set against a backdrop of suburban life in New Zealand, the story unfolds as dark secrets emerge, entangling the characters in a web of suspense and mystery. As tension builds, the novel explores themes of power, trust, and the loss of innocence.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this novel if you appreciate dark and compelling thrillers that delve into the complexities of childhood and memory. The story unfolds in a suburban setting, filled with suspense and intricate character dynamics, providing a gripping exploration of secrets and the impact of the past.

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When a charismatic new teacher arrives, everyone longs to be her pet. A gripping story of deception and guilt, set in a Catholic school during the 1980s.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
The new novel from the WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION longlisted and DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD shortlisted author of Remote Sympathy

"Chidgey is a find."-TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

"A writer of formidable resources, a deft stylist possessed of uncanny imaginative acuity."-THE GUARDIAN

Like every other girl in her class, twelve-year-old Justine is drawn to her glamorous, charismatic new teacher and longs to be her pet. However, when a thief begins to target the school, Justine's sense that something isn't quite right grows ever stronger. With each twist of the plot, this gripping story of deception and the corrosive power of guilt takes a yet darker turn. Young as she is, Justine must decide where her loyalties lie.

Set in New Zealand in the 1980s and probing themes of racism, misogyny and the oppressive reaches of Catholicism, Pet will take a rightful place next to other classic portraits of childhood betrayal: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Go-Between, Heavenly Creatures and Au Revoir Les Enfants among them.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781787704732

Publisher: Europa Editions (UK) Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 July 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Europa Editions (UK) Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 336

Collections

2026 Auckland Writers Festival Catherine Chidgey Crime & Thriller Festival Fiction Fiction General Fiction

About the Author

Catherine Chidgey is an award-winning and bestselling New Zealand novelist and short-story writer. Her first novel, In a Fishbone Church, won the Betty Trask Award. Golden Deeds was Time Out's book of the year, a Best Book in the LA Times Book Review and a Notable Book in the New York Times Book Review. Her novel Remote Sympathy was shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award and longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, and her most recent novel, The Axeman's Carnival, was the winner of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2023 Ockham NZ Book Awards.

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