Cornelia Read's The Crazy School is a bizarre read. It is her second book featuring protagonist Madeline Dare, an unabashed smoker, drinker and former murderer (although it was self-defense).

This time Madeline and her husband Dean have moved to western Massachusetts, and Madeline is working for the Santangelo School, a therapeutic boarding school for severely troubled and mentally ill children. Madeline begins to questions Santangelo's practices, particularly after two of the students, Fay and Mooney, are found dead.

Unlike everyone else, Madeline doesn't believe the two committed suicide. She is certain they were murdered, but while trying to solve the mystery, she becomes embroiled in some dark secrets about the school and its founder. Meanwhile, her past comes back to haunt her as she is framed for the two students' murders, and several others.

For help, Madeline turns to her friend and fellow teacher Lulu, a very expensive and preppy criminal defense lawyer, plus several students, one of whom is an explosives-loving, sexually-inappropriate teen with a penchant for violent outbursts.

The Crazy School is a disturbing book; a wild ride involving seriously ill students, abusive practices and cults, both the religious type and those of personality. The beginning is slow-going, but the middle and end pick up as the actual mystery solving begins. Additionally the characters are not particularly likable, including Madeline. She is cold and vindictive, although at times her behavior is warranted. It is difficult to know who to trust, who is good and who is bad, despite the fact that many are caricatures and stereotypes rather than fully fleshed-out people.

However, The Crazy School does have its positives. Some of the ideas brought up are intriguing, particularly Santangelo and the cult of personality, with many of the staff and teachers believing his practices, following his dictates and drinking the laced Kool-Aid. Author Read is a cool new voice, with a unique, albeit realistic writing style, using language that is (perhaps unfortunately) a part of most people's vernacular. The prose is vivid and colorful, painting a clear picture of the school and characters she created.

- Ashley