Fam, if you are on the lookout for a chiller that takes place in an elite higher educational institution--exposes the scorpions scurrying around through the hallowed halls--you'll really want to get your hands on Rachel Davis Featherstone's Oxford Blood. It's all that and a whole lot more.
Eva, Featherstone's narrator, for most of her life worked towards a really challenging goal: studying English at Oxford University. She dreams of analyzing the world's great literature in the company of insightful peers and world class professors. It was also her dead mother's dream for her.
Eva and her best friend, George, have been invited to Oxford for Interview Week, a time when they will get a taste of on campus life while being scrutinized by the professors who are looking for the best fits for their programs. Needless to say there are more prospective students than places. Eva and George are at a disadvantage--public school students going up against the privileged students of elite private boarding schools, many of them Oxford legacies. Eva also has the burden of being Black, racially mixed, and female.
Eva quickly discovers that not getting accepted is by far not the worst thing that can happen to her. Walking across campus very late her first night there she stumbles on George's body lying in a pool of blood. The last thing she had said to him was "Fine! You stupid idiot! Do your stupid dare. Go ahead and die." Needless to say she's a suspect. But she's not a detective's daughter for nothing. She's determined to not only clear her name, but learn and expose the identity of the killer.
Except she might not live long enough. She's learning some dark long buried secrets that people in high places will do what it takes to prevent from being revealed.
If it was just a spine chilling roller coaster ride of a chiller Oxford Blues would be a most excellent buy or borrow. But it also touches on important social justice issues. The privileged sons of the rich and powerful have quite a few unearned advantages. And racism is epitomized in the university's refusal to take down a prominently placed statue of an infamous slave owner.
On a purrrsonal note, Thursday and Friday were stay at home work days. Of course I've been binge reading for the readathon, writing, keeping up this blog, and doing the cooking, laundry, gardening, and chores. Keeping precious Tobago company. I'm collecting my readathon sponsorship money 💰. I may be bringing in over $500. And I'm working on getting the backpacks filled with school supplies ready for the kids in the trailer park I am proud to call home. I have no clue what I'm doing this weekend. I'm packed in case it's going to camp. I plan to post this first thing when I get up tomorrow in case Eugene and I go somewhere where I can't post. Like camp.
A great big shout out goes out to my generous sponsors.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my Galaxy
