A review of Rebecca Wait's new novel, "Havoc," which is set in an isolated, decaying girls' boarding school, St Anne's, Eastbourne, in 1984. The story follows Ida Campbell, a new scholarship student, as a mysterious illness with neurological symptoms sweeps through the school, leading to suspicion and mass hysteria. The novel blends horror, humour, and Ealing comedy with unsettling undertones, drawing comparisons to Saint Trinian's and Shirley Jackson.
Havoc by Rebecca Wait review – a Saint Trinian’s tragicomedy
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A review of Rebecca Wait's new novel, "Havoc," which is set in an isolated, decaying girls' boarding school, St Anne's, Eastbourne, in 1984. The story follows Ida Campbell, a new scholarship student, as a mysterious illness with neurological symptoms sweeps through the school, leading to suspicion and mass hysteria. The novel blends horror, humour, and Ealing comedy with unsettling undertones, drawing comparisons to Saint Trinian's and Shirley Jackson.
- 1 1984: Ida Campbell turns up at St Anne's, Eastbourne.
- 2 1984: Diane Fulbrook and other students develop a mysterious progressive neurological disorder.
- 3 2025-07-09: Review of "Havoc" published.
- The novel explores themes of illness, suspicion, and mass hysteria within an isolated school setting.
What: A review of Rebecca Wait's new novel, "Havoc," which depicts a mysterious illness spreading through St Anne's, a girls' boarding school, in 1984, following the arrival of Ida Campbell.
When: 1984 (setting of the novel), Published 2025-07-09 (review date).
Where: St Anne's, Eastbourne, England (setting of the novel); Western Isles (Ida's origin).
Why: To review Rebecca Wait's novel "Havoc" and explore its themes, characters, and literary influences.
How: By analyzing the plot, characters (Ida Campbell, Miss Christie, Vera Clarke, Loopy Linda, Eleanor Alston, Matthew Langfield, Diane Fulbrook, Louise Adler), setting, and literary style of the novel, drawing comparisons to other works like Saint Trinian's and Shirley Jackson.