Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman

Arcadia Falls is a modern gothic mystery filled with plot twists and a little bit of romance; it's the kind of book that keeps you up past your bedtime because you only have two more chapters to go. Its protagonist is Meg, a recently widowed teacher who has uprooted herself and her stubborn teenage daughter in order to accept a position at a boarding school in upstate New York. Meg is fascinated by the Arcadia and its history: it was originally founded as an artists’ colony by two women who wrote and illustrated the classic fairy tales that Meg has been researching in her PhD program. But Arcadia’s history is more troubled and secretive than she could imagine, and it has left its imprint on the school in the present day. When a student dies mysteriously on the first day of classes, suspicions run high among the staff and students. And when Meg discovers the long-lost diary of one of the school’s founders, two interrelated mysteries begin to unfold, revealing the dark side of a seemingly idyllic institution.

While clichés abound in this novel, and the plot twists are never quite surprises, this is a delightful page turner. Goodman’s writing is beautiful and lyrical, even when it veers deep into melodrama, making this a perfect gem of a guilty pleasure.

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Recommended by Sara D.