The Art Teacher: Shocking. Page-Turning. Crime Thriller

by Paul Read

'A fast-paced and gritty read.' --The Daily Mail

'An impressive feat' --Publishers Weekly

'This is a superb debut... gritty, disturbing and pacy. It opens with thrilling intensity and never lets up.' --Alex Lake, author of After Anna

Patrick Owen managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face.

Unknowingly drawn into a war against his own pupils, Patrick's patience finally snaps as he finds himself the number one target with the boy the school just can't seem to expel.

When one of his Art students needs his help, she unwittingly pulls Patrick further into the line of fire, altering their lives forever.

With the media circling and rumours of his involvement reaching new highs, Patrick must escape the world he lives in, or face the consequences.

A gritty, harrowing page-turner. Perfect for fans of Linwood Barclay and Peter James

Genres: Fiction, Crime

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

After gaining a first in Fine Art at the Kent Institute of Art and Design at Canterbury, Paul Read moved to London, finding employment at Foyles bookshop before becoming a teacher. He has worked in several inner-city schools as an Art, English and supply teacher, both in England and Italy. He received a distinction from City University London for his creative writing MA.

A few years ago, Paul was involved in a hit-and-run incident which put him in a wheelchair for several months and was where he wrote the first draft of The Art Teacher. He lives with Patricia and their two children.

Follow him on Twitter: @paulreadauthor

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Patrick Owen managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face."
What a great first sentence which immediately drew me in.
Separated from his wife, Ana, and missing his three-year-old son, Danny, Patrick - a once-promising musician - is stuck teaching art at an underachieving inner-city school in London dealing with kids with challenging behaviour on a daily basis. Following an incident with one of his pupils and some questionable actions, things quickly escalate as Patrick becomes embroiled in violent gang culture and a police murder investigation during which the media hones in on the once-almost-famous band member turned disillusioned educator.
This is Paul Read's debut novel. Although the author assures us none of this is autobiographical, Mr. Read's experience as a teacher clearly shows. The passages about the art teacher's daily struggle with disinterested students and unsupportive school management were agonizing. Although I was shaking my head at most of the decisions the main character made, I couldn't help but feel empathy towards him. The settings and the characters came across as very authentic.
The prose was vibrant and Read was brilliant at capturing the despondent atmosphere of the school and the rough sink estate troubled by gangs, violence, and drugs. You felt the menace and the despair. Yet, there was humour as well. Some of the protagonist's observations made me laugh out loud.
A gripping read that kept me engaged throughout needing to find out how it would end.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to Legend Press for my ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Patrick Owen had managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face."

So begins The Art Teacher by Paul Read, a gripping mystery centralized around Patrick, an art teacher (of course), and some of the rough students around him. There's really not a lot to say about the story without giving too much away but I will say that I enjoyed the writing more than the story itself. The writing is exceptional and it's an interesting story, better then average, in my opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Legend Press for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author so much. I have joined to follow Paul Read on Goodreads. I adore reading fictional thrillers. If you like reading thrillers too, make sure you order The Art Teacher. Author Paul Read worked in several inner-City schools as an Art, English and supply teacher, both in England and Italy. The Art Teacher contents are not autobiographical. None of the incidents in the pages occurred. There is good reason why this fictional book makes it a page turner it is because it is disturbing how the teacher Patrick has a class that has some violence. And how Art teacher Patrick Owen gets mixed up into one of his girl pupils family. This is a dark thriller not to be missed it will literally appeal to all readers. I do hope you all enjoy reading The Art Teacher as much as I have.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Art Teacher is a portrayal of a blemished world where desperate youths are top of a dangerous food chain and the authorities are slowly losing their minds. Take every streetwise retort and sideways glare fuelled by troubled teenage tribes and simply accept that despite possessing a teaching degree, immense life experience, and your best efforts, you haven’t got a hope in hell of influencing their poor life choices.

An inoffensive Art Teacher wouldn’t normally orbit the infamous Braddock estate except he teaches the majority of the local kids who live at this unfortunate post code, infamous for its recruitment of youths into one of the territorial gangs – little did he know their worlds would soon collide.

Patrick might be paid to turn up every day and educate them on how to throw a pot to the best of their abilities and decorate it afterwards, but ironically all their interest lay in similar pursuits such as hurling clay bricks and daubing senseless graffiti tags all over the neighbourhood.

Yes, the cunning kids featured in The Art Teacher would seamlessly blend into a heckling pack of hyenas circling its prey. Their complacency in the classroom originates from dark, unpredictable motives and that’s the liberally greased slippery slope right there, as any problem behaviour is given a wide birth and their unbridled distain for authority is relatively unchallenged for fear of reprisal.

That is, until Patrick’s dignity is teetering on the verge of non-existent and he confronts one of his more troublesome students. The subject that day was Denis, self-appointed spawn of the devil by nature of his unruly actions. He uses the scar from his hair lip to his advantage to strike a menacing pose before he grunts something obnoxious at Patrick; wearing that scowl like a badge of honour he tallies invisible medals from the dishonourable deeds he’s been engaged in.

It was truly awful to witness Patrick’s downward spiral into oblivion as his spontaneous challenge only resulted in a larger target being placed on his back. While escape from the battle cries of the anonymous students who elected themselves judge and jury is nigh on impossible, retaliation festers behind their smirking jaws but it’s nothing like he (or I as a reader) could ever imagine.

On the flip side of the coin, in a place where hope isn’t snuffed out, Patrick attempts to side step the bad eggs to help one of his students pleading help. Frequent visits to the grim Braddock estate opens his eyes, yet naivety will be his downfall as he’s outsmarted at every turn. This brooding plot aims to turn Patrick into a social pariah, and the intimidation and taunting he suffers attracts the interest of the local police to his door when they are drafted in to investigate a major incident on the estate which will alter the course of his life forever.

The Art Teacher excelled beyond anything I was expecting. The steady and continual layering is most excellently done until the tension is as snap-worthy as Patrick’s patience threshold. There’s a razor sharp observation of everything that has been damaged sociologically within the blink of a generation. Despite the oppressive air of despondency smothering them all the writing is fresh, engaging, and slices through contemporary issues with ease.

(I received a copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review, with my sincere thanks.)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Owen used to be in a band and though not massive like some artists, they did alright at the time. After a bit of a fall out Patrick finds himself in the world of teaching. Now teaching has never been a job that really appealed to me, especially teaching high school students. After finishing this novel it appeals to me even less.

I think the novel, even though fiction, raises the awareness of how vulnerable teachers can be in today’s world. With children having more rights than ever before, it can leave adults and other children a like open to all sorts of unpleasant situations.

Patrick is quite a weak character but you can’t help but have empathy for what he’s going through, though a lot of the time he doesn’t help himself. What starts off as a fairly light read ends up turning into something really dark and disturbing and I was just so glad that what was happening to Patrick wasn’t happening to me.

Denis is a pupil that may well be misunderstood or has issues, either way I feared and loathed him along with all the other pupils and teachers in school. He really is a nasty piece of work. To be brutally honest I had no empathy for his character all throughout the story as there is nothing worse than a bully and quite an evil one at that.

The Art Teacher, like me, may not be your typical genre of books, but, if you love a book to take you by surprise and is quite dark with twists and turns, you are going to love it. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more by the author.

My thanks to Lucy at Legend Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Colette Lamberth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm staggered to read that this is a debut as the writing felt so assured. The whole book had an air of authenticity about it and I don't think there was anything that had me calling up my mantra of 'it's fiction' which I use when authors stretch credibility. The story itself was probably a four star for me but the quality of the writing took it up to five stars.

I received a free copy of The Art Teacher in return for an honest review and my thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for that.

[Sameer Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOURCE
eARC provided by Netgalley and Legend Press in exchange for an honest review.

For more of my reviews, visit : https://www.sameerreads.wordpress.com

REVIEW
Patrick Owen is an art teacher at an under-achieving secondary school in London. He lives alone and is separated from his wife Ana and his three year old son Danny. Once a guitarist for a budding band, he has left it all because of circumstances.

He has to constantly deal with students from the rough neighborhoods of Union City. His life comes to a standstill after a student of his with whom he has issues is murdered in cold blood. How he deals with it forms the remaining part of the story.

MY THOUGHTS
The author’s experience as an inner-city teacher has clearly been shown in the book as he articulates about the gangs in the rough neighborhoods.
Even though the novel is a thriller, the author takes time to point out how children are influenced by gangs and drugs.
The author puts up a stupendous display of technique in his writing.
I couldn’t believe that this was Paul Read’s first novel. The writing was amazing.


If you are into dark thrillers and crime, I suggest you to pick this book right away.

I give the book 4 stars!

[Susan Foulkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great first novel that took me longer to read than it should have...I had to keep putting the book down (or rather my Kindle) to reflect on the storyline.

I'm a retired teacher, and whilst I never worked in London, I did teach in deprived areas. I'm sure all teachers have experienced that one pupil they could never get along with, the pupil whose absence would be greeted with sighs of relief.

This was the basis of the novel, but it went so much further. There were twists and turns that couldn't be anticipated by either Patrick, the main protagonist, or the reader.

The writing was so assured that I had difficulty believing this was a debut novel.

The school scenes were authentic, so much so that I could put a name from my own experiences to the teachers and pupils as portrayed.

I wouldn't describe this as an easy read but it hit a nerve and I kept reading.

I look forward to further books from this author.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley and promised an honest review.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me so thankful that my teaching career has never been as horrific as poor Patrick Owen! Once a pop star, he ended up trying to teach Art in an Inner London comprehensive. His wife having left him, taking their son, Patrick's life is depressing. A confrontation with Denis, a member of a local gang turns it into a nightmare. His growing attraction to the mother of one of his pupils further complicates his life as does a murder in the area.

Paul Read captures the menacing atmosphere of the vandal torn estates extremely well. I felt for Patrick as he tried to avoid his pupils on his way home. At times I wanted to yell at Patrick to stop being such a fool. For all his faults I was really hoping that Patrick would get through his hell.

This is not a book to 'love'. It is however a totally gripping read and definitely worth five stars. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review it. I can't wait to see what Paul Read comes up with next.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read’s debut centres on Patrick Owen, the eponymous art teacher. We join him after he has already accepted his life is not what he wanted and has pursued Plan B. He and his wife are separated with his young son in the middle, his days as a musician are well and truly over after what was likely to be a promising career, and instead he teachers at a school that is struggling due to its area and the gangs that surround it.
After being passive for so long, one day Patrick snaps. But its his confrontation with the insolent student, Denis that sets a chain of events in motion that are both thrilling and terrifying.
Read paints a highly realistic picture of the modern day classroom, especially in the portrayal of the behaviour of uninterested pupils and teachers who are tired of a failing system.
The novel really is gripping with many twists and turns along the way that build up tension and all the while keeps you guessing.

[Zoe Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win this brilliant book in a goodreads giveaway. Thank you so much to Legend Press for sending me a copy of this book.

Where the hell do I start? This book is easily one of the best books I've read this year.

I enjoyed everything about this book. The characters are interesting. The story is exciting. The writing is seamless. The style is fast, gritty, pacy and riveting in equal measure.

It grabs you from the first page and just does NOT let go.

Set against the backdrop of underachieving children, in a secondary school that sounds not so dissimilar from my own, it's easy to get lost in the story and feel the sting of reality of some of the themes touched upon in the story.

Very, very, very impressed. I will definitely be checking out Blame.

I would highly recommend this book. For me, it's one of my favourite books of the year.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engrossing book in which the main character's repeatedly misguided choices and decisions have devastating repercussions.

[Katherine Sunderland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Owen had managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face.

Art Teacher Patrick finally snaps under the pressure of repeated taunting, intimidation and complete insolence from one of his students, Denis. As events escalate, another student comes to Owen for help and in aiding and trying to protect her, he finds himself dragged more deeply into a compromising, dangerous situation which finds him facing decisions which will lead to devastating consequences.

The book hurtles towards a dramatic and gripping conclusion with plenty of last minute revelations and recriminations.

This is a gritty read. Its portrayal of teaching in a London school is brutal, as is the frightening reality of gang culture and its impact on teenagers. I'm not sure how I would categorise the genre of this book as essentially it is a story of crime, intimidation, bullying, murder and gangs. It is compelling and there is plenty of tension so it could be defined as a thriller or crime thriller. However, for me, what really stood out wasn't the plot, but Read's writing. His descriptions of characters, teenagers, teaching, schools and the community in which he based the novel, were so vivid, intelligent, insightful and humorous I could have read volumes of it. I found the emotions, decisions and dilemmas of his protagonist Patrick the most engaging and well written passages.

I found the novel easy to get stuck into and really enjoyed the tone of voice and style. The opening chapters focus on the setting of the school, the challenges of behavioural management and the distance and alienation between Patrick and his students:

'Kids today communicated with words he simply didn't understand. It was the same mangling, freeform approach they took to walking, of all things. Denis was doing it now; a lounging gangsta gait. Why was walking in the upright manner which homo sapiens had historically preferred now deemed so embarrassing? ....surely something to do with the unnecessary exposure of boxer shorts. 'Underwear,' he kept telling the. 'You wear them UNDER.'"

Read rapidly escalates the already poor relationship between Patrick and his students. The classroom feels claustrophobic and although it is tempting to cringe at Patrick's weakness, the sheer gaul and contempt shown towards him is so intimidating and relentless that it is impossible to not to feel empathy towards him.

"'What's the magic word?' Patrick asked.
'Bender. Apologise for jacking my phone.'"

Roles are reversed. Patrick is not the one with the power or holding the student's attention. It is not him they will listen to. In his own classroom, it is Denis who is calling the shots and controlling the future of Patrick's teaching career. The respect is for the gang - and the lessons they teach, not the professional educator.

......'You can go now.' Desperately he addressed the class. Still, no one moved. They knew there was more to come."

It's painful viewing. But it does ensure the reader will continue to root for Patrick enough to stay with the story to the end, as his few -sorely ill advised decisions -lead him down a path of no return. This is basically the story of an ordinary man; a man who wants to teach but is worn down by the system, the daily challenge of the students disinterest in his subject and is surrounded by uninspiring leadership or support. It shows how quickly anyone could find themselves in a situation where their life is changed forever.

The characters are portrayed with such clarity. The dialogue feels authentic and each character is very three dimensional. No one is particularly likeable, trustworthy or attractive - even Patrick can feel like a man weary with the world, often a little hopeless or short sighted, deeply frustrated and full of resentment and anger. Although his anger and frustration with his students is understandable considering the behaviour, rudeness and taunting he is exposed to daily. No sane person could cope with such cruel ridicule and such unsupportive colleagues.

Read's observational insights show an author who has a skilful command of language; who can conjure scenes with ease and can inform the reader of so much through shrewd comments and asides.

"....he felt the rain of pure hatred upon his back and his quickening footsteps echoed off the walls like gunfire..."

He captures the menacing atmosphere of the estates surrounding the school and the threatening behaviour of the boys involved in the gangs. His descriptions of the school, such as the staff room where teachers aggregated around a computer fuelled on a lifetime of coffee, were so wryly accurate they really resonated with me. I particularly loved the description of the exam hall (which I now frustratingly cannot find) but it evoked such a strong visual image and indeed, memories, that I am very taken and impressed with his descriptions. There is a tight balance struck between the dark, violent, story line of crime and acidic, biting humour and wry asides as Patrick sighs his way through his working day. It's a really effective mix and I liked it.

This is a more literary crime thriller. Patrick's almost mediative thoughts are as compelling as the page turning police investigation.

"They either looked at him blankly, or pretended he wasn't talking. Unperturbed, he explained how backgrounds should be soft and uncluttered, with light, delicate colour-bending. He explained stability, rhythm, depth and calm. All things he used to have in his life, he thought rueful, before the palette changed and everything became conflict, distance; a canvas hanging off-centre from a broken nail."

Patrick Owen is an ordinary man but a very memorable character. Read's writing is very clever; it conveys an atmosphere of depression, dead-end hopelessness, apathy and quite a bleak picture of society through eloquent, striking, powerful images. It's intense but distinct and will leave a huge impression on the reader. It is a literary read with an original blend of menacing yet engrossing characters and imagery. I imagine this book to be a bit like a film captured in black and white, grainy shots that are cut together with deliberately abrupt editing, seemingly improvised and unscripted.

It's well worth a read and I am definitely going to look out for any further novels from this writer. It's an impressive debut. Bold. Original. Controversial. Maybe not for everyone as Patrick is not always an easy character to relate to, but ultimately Read's writing is a treat.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in return for a fair review.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free from a GoodReads give-away. I liked this book but it also left me a little depressed. Paul Owens teaches art in a high school near London. These kids have no respect for the teacher and the teacher has lost interest in the teaching. Now it becomes about surviving each day. While most of the kids just show up, one has become openly defiant, causing Patrick to fear for his safety. Another young woman appears to be threatened by the defiant one draws Patrick into her life and Patrick becomes interested in the girl's mother. This book has a twist at the end that was unexpected and quite depressing. An interesting story about family, gangs, the breakdown of society. The author did a good job of just presenting and left the reader deep in thought about why and how.

[SALLY WHITE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. The story is based around Patrick, who teaches at an inner city school. He has recently separated from his wife and children, and life is not easy. The children have many problems and the writing of this book portrays this vividly. The writing is fast paced and very gritty. The narrative comes from many angles and we get to learn that Patrick was once a pop star, but this did not work out for him. A realistic book and a great read.

[Rayna Forman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Art Teacher is set in the UK but could just as easily been set in any US impoverished area. I picked this book up in the library as it was on the "Our Librarian Recommends" shelf. A scary view of teaching in an "inner city" school and of the teen drug and gang culture, the art teacher gets drawn into his students' lives.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow amazing book, can't say too much without giving the game away but honestly this is a must read. The 1st sentence is just the start and this book will take a hold of you and not let go until the final sentence!! Even then it will stay with you a while....great read!!!

[Doreen Ashbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been in my "to read' pile for a while. I didn't expect to like it, but it was engaging and held my interest. It made me a bit edgy when the main character starts making very bad decisions, but the decisions set the stage for the surprise ending.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you. The book drew me in from the start. It was scarily believable, made me care for the characters and what happened to them with an unexpected twist at the end. I would definitely recommend

[Judy Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Read’s THE ART TEACHER, a twisty edgy and gritty debut from a new voice in fiction. With a mix of literary and crime suspense, a school teacher gets caught in the middle of a war between his pupils--gangs, drugs, intimidation, bullying, and murder.

Patrick Owen teaches at London’s Highfields Secondary School. Denis Roberts was one of the more problematic members of his Year Eleven Art group. As a child, he had an operation to repair a cleft lip and the scar remained, running angrily up the left side to his nostrils. (you definitely do not feel sympathy toward this character).

Patrick found the kids of today communicated with words he simply did not understand. From their walking to their exposure of boxer shorts. Control was something that had gone out the window. From confiscating mobile phones to breaking up fights. An ongoing battle.

We also hear about Patrick’s past and his personal life. Separated from his wife, Ana and his three-year old son Danny whom he misses dearly. He was once a musician- a guitarist for a band.

Soon a student is murdered in cold blood. Patrick is drawn into the investigation.

Read captures the realistic classroom and the brutality of the environment of the school, teachers, teens, and the emotions. A total chaotic nerve racking stressful out of control world. With youths taking over and the teachers are at their mercy.

Read is also a teacher which lends itself to insights of today’s troubled teens. Patrick is drawn into dangerous situations, horrific cultures, classroom tensions, and devastating consequences. Not a lot of likable characters and difficult to read at times.

The book also includes a sneak preview of Blame, his second novel centering around a man called Lucas, with a job in pharmaceuticals.

A dark disturbing psychological suspense of social issues, violent gang cultures and a police investigation, centered around an educator in an inner city school culture.

A special thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

JDCMustReadBooks

[Sharon]

Paul Read’s The Art Teacher is a compelling thriller centred on Patrick Owen, who is stuck teaching art at an underachieving school in London, dealing with the pupils’ challenging behaviour on a daily basis. Following an incident with one of his pupils, Denis, Patrick reluctantly finds himself caught up in violent gang conflict and a murder investigation.

The most striking aspect of this novel is just how believable the characters are. Read excellently captures exactly what it’s like teaching in a London school, in part of a city where gang culture is at a high, scarily conveying its impact on teenagers. This is testament to Read’s writing as his descriptions of characters, teenagers, teaching, schools and the community in which he based the novel, were so vivid, brutal yet humorous at the same time. The opening chapters focus on the setting of the school, the challenges of behavioural management and the distance between Patrick, his students and even between his wife and son which draws you into his chaotic life straight away. It’s a portrayal of a flawed world where fraught youths are taking over and the authorities are losing control.

The novel brilliantly captures the ominous atmosphere of the estates surrounding the school and the aggressive behaviour of the boys involved in local gangs. The writing style was simple yet realistic through the dialogue incorporated within the novel, where this ‘teenager vs. authority figure’ rivalry is clearly highlighted. Read's experience as a teacher really shows through in his tense descriptions of classrooms disrupted by troubled students and the helplessness of teachers who have no support from their colleagues.

The Art Teacher’s steady and continual build up is brilliantly done, mirroring the tension to Patrick’s low level of patience. Read provides a clear-cut observation of everything that has been damaged in society by conveying the differences between the two generations. It is everything a brilliant thriller should be: engaging, intense and a real page turner.

[Chloe Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Art Teacher is told from the perspective of failing art teacher, Patrick Owen. He is at that stage in his life where he is looking back on everything that could have been, everything that has happened and realising that, to all intents and purposes, he has failed in his own life. He has hit a slump. Not only does he work at a school where the pupils are troublesome and part of city gangs, but he doesn’t enjoy this job and his wife has left him, taking his son to far away Argentina.

It comes as no surprise then that, at this moment in his life, everything just goes from bad to worse. He has ‘managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face’ but now is the time when everything is about to change.

“failure wasn’t saluted, or attractive”

I found The Art Teacher to be a gripping, lightly-humorous, yet dark thriller that left me questioning what direction the novel was going to take. Even if I knew how something was going to plan out, it still shocked me when it did. It’s like when you know a loud noise is about to happen but you still jump no matter how prepared you might be. Paul Read brings realistic scenarios with flawed and relatable characters to The Art Teacher which is what immediately drew me into the narrative.

The characters of teacher (Patrick) and student (Denis) were extremely realistic and I found myself laughing and agreeing to everything taking place within their conversations. I’m not long out of university and secondary school being only 21, but I can totally relate to the instances between these characters and I cannot commend Read’s skill enough in bringing these school scenarios to life. He doesn’t hide anything in these encounters; the children swear, they deface school property, they fight. Even the phrases, tone of voice, and mannerisms of these characters are on point.

“‘STOP DISTURBING THE CLASS, DENIS. I’LL SPEAK TO YOU AT THE END OF THE DAY.’
‘IT IS THE END OF THE DAY. YOU’RE JACKING MY PHONE. THAT’S RACIST, MAN.’
‘DENIS, WE’RE THE SAME COLOUR.’
‘THAT’S RACIST, MAN.'”
Not only do I love the overall setting of the novel (bringing real life school problems into literature that are realistic and highlighting the feelings of teachers who may truly just want to punch all the miscreants in the face!), but I loved the themes that Read brought up. There are issues surrounding gang violence, family, friendship, education, drugs, rape – the list is long and I loved that they were all implemented into the novel. It shows the struggles of working in education but also the struggles of living in a home and social environment where peer pressure is all around, forcing school pupils to enter gangs in order to feel protected, powerful, in control.

The writing style was simple yet brilliantly written, drawing me in straight away and bringing a vivid image to my imagination. Read also understands the importance of pacing, picking up at key moments and slowing down at others to really get your heart racing during those times when Patrick is truly at a loss for words, or cannot fully understand the situation around him. Your heart beats faster as his does when he’s fearful or in a tense situation.

This is a book that I would recommend anyone to read, painting a picture of what life is truly like in the more rundown estates around the country, and helping readers to understand that sometimes a teacher’s job doesn’t truly finish at the end of the day. It’s insightful, funny, gripping, and dark all at once and a gem of a book to read.

[Lucille · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Paul Read's first novel of a teacher who is out of his depth and I found it quite realistic. However, some of the narrative made me wonder if he was trying to be humorous at the same time as portraying what contemporary teaching entails? If so, that didn't quite come off and for me it would have been more gripping if it was a serious book.

Once again Legend Press publish an unusual novel and thank you for doing so! Also thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review The Art Teacher.

[Marjorie DeLuca · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an ex-teacher I was interested to read this gritty story of an ex-rock musician who struggles with his fallback teaching career. Working as an art teacher in an inner city secondary school, Patrick Owen feels stuck in a rut he can't remove himself from. Separated from his wife, his young son and his beloved music, he barely tolerates the students who show little interest in art or anything else he tries to get across to them. The result is that he's merely putting in time, staying under the radar until something better comes up. All that changes when a difficult student causes a problem during class that Patrick can't ignore. When he finally snaps, he becomes the boy's number one target which draws him into the dangerous world of the local gangs who terrorize a nearby housing estate. In his efforts to help a female student caught up in the conflict he's drawn directly into the line of fire and soon finds himself at the centre of media scrutiny as well as trapped in an untenable position which he can't seem to escape.
Read's experience as a teacher really shows through in his tense descriptions of classrooms disrupted by troubled students and the absolute helplessness of teachers with no support from the higher-ups. Though Patrick is at times an arrogant character with very little empathy, one can't help feeling sorry for the way he's trapped in a career he hates. He seems to float through life unmotivated and unable to climb from out of the pit he's dug for himself. Perhaps that explains the questionable choices he makes when it comes to the war he unwittingly provokes. In his mind any change in routine is good - even if it means he lives in utter fear rather than total boredom. The plot moves very quickly, compelling the reader to keep going just to find out how far Patrick will go, how many lies he'll tell and how much he's prepared to sacrifice to get himself out of the mess and reunite with his young son. Though there is a surprise turn of events at the end I had already guessed it beforehand and found the ending a bit rushed . Other than that this was a good read.
*I received a free Kindle copy from Legend Press in return for an honest review*.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

He only wanted to help his pupil, but now art teacher Patrick Owen is the new target of a dangerous predator. A predator he just can't seem to escape even in the safety of his own classroom. After barely escaping a brutal and terrifying encounter, Patrick realizes he might not get out of the situation alive. He only wanted to be a good teacher. If only he'd stick to his clay and paint brushes...

3.5 Stars

Paul Read's debut novel, The Art Teacher, is clever, quite smart and realistic. The book is more slow-paced than a page-turner, but arbors a few thrills here and there. While a tad pretentious in his style of writing, Read pens, with the The Art Teacher, an enjoyable, thoughtful novel.

Read's leading man, Patrick Owen, is enough developed as a character, outside of his frustrated high school teacher persona, for the reader to care about his journey and to root for him. Owen has that witty and sarcastic, yet tired, personality that can draw you in, but also repulse you. Fortunately, the first is most frequent in The Art Teacher.

Read's portrayals of women in his debut novel is off-putting. Every woman in the book is either a cold, stiff witch or a scheming, evil bitch. I would have loved for Read to add a least one female character that wasn't horrible. Granted, most characters in The Art Teacher were pretty horrible human beings, but still. At times, it felt like Read had a personal vendetta against women. Maybe it was unintentional of Read, but maybe it wasn't.

The ending was a bit rushed and too much of a happy ending for my taste, but I won't surprise anyone with that statement, I've made similar ones many times before in my reviews. That's solely a question of taste. It definitely isn't a bad ending, or a butchered one.

That being said, I would read Paul Read again if the opportunity presented itself. While the story had flaws, I enjoyed his writing style and unique tone.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting and gritty read. Set in a tough inner city school it was about Patrick, a once successful rock star turned art teacher. Paul has a tough time keeping order in some of his classes, particularly with the Year 11 GCSE group and he develops a very difficult relationship with one of these pupils, Denis , who is a member of a local gang. Patrick feels threatened by him both in and out of class and this leads to a series of events which could ultimately cost him his career. Patrick's personal life is also a mess with an estranged wife and son living abroad. He embarks upon a new relationship with Sarah which further embroils him in life on the sink estate where most of his pupils live. The reader gets a sense of menace as Patrick visits her and comes face to face with the gang culture.
This was a compelling and well written debut from this author. Having worked in a secondary school he uses his knowledge to inject realism into the classroom scenes. The threat of Denis throughout the novel sent a real shiver down my spine.
There were a number of twists and although I would describe this as a psychological thriller it is more literary than most in this genre with excellent descriptions and well drawn characters.
An extremely enjoyable novel and I shall definitely be looking out for Paul Read's next book -there is an extract from this at the end of The Art Teacher to get you interested. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Naomi Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable and pacy book which would make a great film. You can read it in a couple of days. The story is about Patrick Owen, a beleaguered Art teacher at a Secondary school in a run-down area of North London. The school and its environment are fictional, but I presume there are places just like this. The teacher has a hard time summoning up any energy and enthusiasm for educating his feral pupils, particularly those in Year 11. He paints a ghastly picture of what it must be like to face these pupils with their ‘gangsta’ talk, mobiles, chewing gum and a complete disregard for the aesthetics of art and passing their GCSEs. Patrick has a particular problem with Denis, aka D-man, one of the ‘Union Souljas’, a gang which terrorises a local housing estate.
The storyline ramps up fairly quickly into an exciting thriller which leaves Patrick in an untenable situation. He becomes embroiled in a police investigation whilst attempting to protect one of his pupils. There are several other strands within the narrative about Patrick’s previous career as a minor rock-star, his love-life or lack of, and the characters within the school.
This book is not a good advert for teaching in a ‘failed’ Secondary school and paints a bleak picture of both life in a gang and the lives of the residents who have to survive alongside constant harassment. The book is very prescient about the loss of opportunities for many teenagers and how they fall into crime and drug-pushing.
This is an exciting and well written book. I strongly recommend it to other readers.

[MrsCappuccina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Patrick Owen managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face.”
What an opening!! Reading this as a first line, let’s you raise your eyebrows and thinking “ok than… I want to know more!” A promising start of being hooked and it will not let you down!

This is a gripping thriller. Patrick Owen who lives separated from his wife and son. A successful musician in the past and now an Art Teacher at a school. The school is not far from a rough neighbour hood and reflects the challenges he faces as an Art Teacher.
Even though this is a fictional novel, it makes you think A LOT.
Thinking about society, politics, law enforcement, drug consume, gang related issues and a role as a teacher in all this.
This book covers a lot of issues kids are facing and the environment influencing the characters and behaviours. But what if you don’t fit in and don’t want to blend in. How do you face these challenges, how far would you go. How vulnerable are you as a teacher?

There were a number of twists and although I would describe this as a psychological thriller it is more literary than most in this genre with excellent descriptions and well drawn characters.
If you enjoy Thrillers, this is one for your TBR!


I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Vicki Bowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Legend Press for the advanced copy of this unbelievably good book.

Poor Patrick. Things are pretty crappy for him - and they are about to get a whole lot worse.

Once a semi-successful rock-star, Patrick is now an Art teacher at rough inner city school and lives on his own in a flat nearby. The kids are fearsome, the teachers weak, and Patrick feels helpless as he gets no support from his peers. It's a place full of people who lack respect for anyone.

It's a frightening but highly compelling read - I read it in two sessions, terrified at what was surely going to happen. The fear of walking alone in the dark in a dodgy area is brought to life on the pages, causing your heartbeat to increase and sweat to appear on your brow as if you were there under threat yourself.

The menace of the gang culture, of the lack of authority - it's all there in bucket-loads of visceral prose, so well written it's hard to believe this is Paul Read's debut. It's an intelligent thriller, a work of literary fiction but not to the exclusion of people like me!

Marks out of 5: 5. Well done, Paul. Keep up the good work!