Dark Like Under by Alice Chadwick

Reviewed by Pamela Sinclair

Chadwick’s debut novel, Dark Like Under, will be a nostalgic read for Gen Xers. Set in a small, socially stratified English town in the 1980s, a group of upper-grade secondary school students learn of the sudden death of one of their teachers – Mr. Ardennes. In keeping with the times, a normal school day follows the announcement, and the students head to class. Some are hungover from a party the night before, and the typical interpersonal dramas of disagreements and attractions ensue. A note is passed in class. Despite the pressures of the day, punishments are meted out for uniform infractions. The milieu these students are in is status-conscious, and they are not permitted to talk to similarly aged students from the neighbouring school while in uniform, even though they went to elementary school with them, or are siblings. This was also not an era where grief counsellors would be provided, or mental health concerns were on the mind in a period of crisis. Although the students are told of the death, details of what happened are withheld, shrouding it in a mystery.

The novel is richly described and pulls the reader into the world of the school set on a sweltering spring day. You can smell the wool blazers, drenched with sweat from the inside. Feel the interpersonal angst of the students as they navigate the classroom dramas. As the temperature rises, so does the tension in the school, among the students and the teachers. The central character of the story is Thomasin, also known as Tin to her friends. She is popular, cool, and has a tragic family history. Everyone remembers when her mother passed away, and the current death of Mr. Ardennes seems to bring it to the top of mind for many of the characters. Tin’s friendship with her best friend, Robin, seems to be in question, and during class, it’s observed that she is going to let Robin “sweat it out…not at all the same as letting her off.” Questions swirl about what happened to Mr. Ardennes, and how the balance of power will be distributed now that the teacher who capably intervened on behalf of students with the feared and powerful headmaster is not there to manage Gomme’s temper on their behalf. The students are accustomed to his angry over-reactions that render “words beyond his reach until only spit comes out.” The headmaster appears to have a breakdown under the pressure of the news, acting as a metaphor for the grief the rest of the school is suppressing as they go through the motions of their day. His record of cruelty is met with hope by the students. This will force his retirement.

Lacking information about what happened, the students are left to ponder what they know about their teacher as well as the unknown. Late in the day, they receive clues in the form of gossip from their counterparts at the other school.

The novel features a large cast of characters, and the chapters are narrated from the points of view of various students and faculty. Because the characters are on stage with each other, it does not become confusing at all despite their vast number. This was a novel that stayed with me long after I finished reading it, and I recommend it to anyone who loves rich descriptions, stories within an academic setting, and is looking for a trip back in time to the 1980s. I loved reading this book and found myself savouring the pages rather than rushing through to discover the conclusion.

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About the Author

Alice Chadwick studied English at Cambridge and was a student on City Lit’s selective fiction Masterclass. Dark Like Under is her first novel. She lives in London.

About the Reviewer

Pamela Sinclair is a writer and lifelong reader. She enjoys reading multiple genres, both fiction and nonfiction. She lives in Halifax, NS, with her husband, daughter, and a grumpy grey cat named Ben. Pamela is currently working on her first novel.

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Biblioasis

• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 17 2025

• Language ‏ : ‎ English

• Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1771966653

• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1771966658