Pet: The International Bestseller

Set in New Zealand in 1984 and 2014, this follows Justine and her relationship with her primary teacher Mrs Price. The “pet” of the title refers to a teachers pet, which is what Justine wants to be and does become.A very easy read that builds the tension quite nicely. Well written a sly psychological thriller.Need to look up the author and read some more of hers.Thanks to Netgallery for the ARC

‘Pet’ is a psychological thriller set in New ZealandThe main character, Justine is a 12 year old girl who like her fellow classmate’s are all drawn to the new and glamorous teacher, Mrs Price.I was hooked from the start! There’s a lot of questionable behaviour from Mrs Price, but everyone adores her, so she seems to get away with a multitude of things.Justine is obsessed with being her pet, but eventually realised she’s not as perfect as she makes out.A really well written and enjoyable story!

Pet is the teacher's pet in the form of 12 year old Justine and her teacher, Mrs Price. It is set in New Zealand and we meet the motherless Justine as she revisits her elderly father many years after the events that changed their life. The story is told through two timelines: 2014 and the flashback to Justine's childhood in the 1980s.Justine and her best friend Amy long to catch the eye of their charismatic teacher, just like their more attractive classmates do. But when Justine becomes the centre of Mrs Price's attention Amy is not so sure that all is well. Their relationship suffers further when Amy is accused of being a thief. When Mrs Price begins to date Justine's father, who is desperate for love and companionship just as Justine is desperately missing her mother, everything appears to be rosy...Pet is a wonderful psychological thriller with a twist I did not see coming. The themes of childhood betrayal and the hold a charismatic teacher can have on pupils is well described. An enjoyable and intriguing read which kept me guessing until the end. This book deserves to do well and I highly recommend it.

I was a bit staggered at how compelling this book is. It's certainly an easy read which usually means not much will surprise me. However Catherine Chidgey has served up a wonderful slow burner that oozes menace and evil.The story is split into two timelines: 2014 when the adult Justine is visiting her ailing father with her own daughter and 1984 which covers the main event of the motherless Justine's school days.Mrs Price is Justine's form teacher in primary school and everyone wants to be the beautiful and charismatic teacher's pet. But Mrs Price only seems to pick the beautiful children whereas Justine and her best friend, Amy, do not fit into that category.As Justine tries to inveigle her way into Mrs Price's good books a thief begins to take the things most precious to each class member. Nobody knows who is taking things and Mrs Price uses her own special way of ferreting put the truth. As more things go missing Justine has to make a choice of who she believes to be the thief and which way her loyalties lie.Pet is a masterful telling of a story which we could all see in ourselves -- the desire to be admired, the need to be felt indispensable, the overwhelming need to fit in at school. Justine's loyalties are pulled in opposing directions on a daily basis, all while she is trying to come to terms with the loss of her mother and deal with his father's increasing drinking.I got to about a third of the way through this book then found myself staying up way past midnight in order to know how it finished. Catherine Chidgey's Mrs Price is such an incredible character and the way she uses her popularity to manipulate situations is so cleverly done. I spent quite a bit of time talking to the characters to tell them what I thought of them then then next minute wondering if I, like Justine had misremembered a certain event.If anything I'd advise you to read this story carefully and not rush through as you will find yourself wanting to do. This is my first experience of Catherine Chidgey's writing but I'm definitely going to find more. This was excellent. It deserves every bit of praise heaped on it.Many thanks to Netgalley and Europa Editions for the advance review copy.

I loved this! Justine looks back at her 80s childhood, when a charismatic, glamorous new teacher arrives at their New Zealand Catholic school and everyone wants to be her pet.Once I got a few chapters in I just couldn‘t put it down. It‘s dark and twisty, but not in a ‘terrible‘ way like the author‘s recent book, Remote Sympathy; more in a ‘I need to inhale this all in one go‘ way.4.5 stars rounded up to 5