The Reunion (Novel)

The Reunion is a 1992 mystery novel written by television and film producer Ifan Barber. It revolves around 8 former school friends reuniting at their favourite teacher's home, only to find her dead. It was published in October 1992 by Little, Brown Publishers in the UK and the USA.

Plot
Eight former school friends head into the English countryside for a class reunion at their recently-retired favourite teacher Gaynor Tomlinson's country manor. Maxwell Berry, a journalist and crime writer, is the last to arrive after the other seven, Judith Hamilton (a chef), Christopher Metz (an engineer), Richard Hart (a politician), Marcia Wilcox (a socialite), Penny Benjamin (a housewife and former olympian), James Matthews (a Hollywood actor) and Victoria Matthews (James' wife and a screenwriter). The eight of them wait alone in the drawing room of the house, expecting Mrs Tomlinson's company at any moment. But when night falls, they decide to take it upon themselves to go and find her.

They all split into pairs, Maxwell going with Judith, Christopher going with Marcia, Richard going with Penny and James going with Victoria. Screams soon echo throughout the house when a clearly shaken Judith discovers Mrs Tomlinson's bloody corpse in the second floor's main bedroom. They all look at one another with horror and confusion, Richard, being the former head boy, takes charge and decides to phone the police, only to discover the house has no landline. Marcia then suggests they leave the body as it is so none of them leave their DNA on it. They return to the drawing room and contemplate abandoning the reunion.

As they most agree to leave and find help, Victoria has an outburst and accuses her husband of killing their former teacher. When Maxwell inquires why, Victoria reveals that James is in fact gay and has been having an affair with Richard since their school days, and only Mrs Tomlinson knew the truth. Ashamed, Richard and James confess and James reveals he only married Victoria to help advance his career, as she had already established herself as a writer. Penny backs up Victoria's claim, saying at a recent lunch between her and Richard revealed that Mrs Tomlinson had been blackmailing Richard over the affair. Richard, jumping to his own defence, reveals that Penny had told him that Mrs Tomlinson had also blackmailed her over her husband, a prolific banker, and his dodgy dealings with tax evaders. Shocked, Marcia too reveals that she only attended the reunion because she too was being blackmailed and one by one everyone discovers that one another were being blackmailed by Mrs Tomlinson with secrets they'd like to keep that way. All but Maxwell, who reveals that he was only invited to the manor because of his work as a crime writer, taking the letter of his pocket to reveal it's contents. While most of the letter is written in black, the final line is written in red and says:

I hope you will attend and solve the crime that is committed on that evening.

Maxwell reveals he thought it was some joke in reference to his work but clearly Mrs Tomlinson knew her death was imminent and the murderer was one of the guests there that evening. The clock soon chimes midnight and Maxwell, while doubtful about his letter's contents but suspicious none the less, advises everyone to get a good night's sleep. Before they all retire, Christopher turns around and asks Maxwell how they know that he isn't Mrs Tomlinson's killer. Maxwell smiles and tells Christopher that they will likely know the truth in due course.

Once everyone has disappeared to their rooms, a scream is heard from Marcia's room. Upon everyone's arrival, Marcia is discovered in the exact state as Mrs Tomlinson and written in blood on the wall is You're Next. A letter is attached to Marcia's fatally wounded chest and Richard detaches it and reads it aloud:

My dearest guests, 

''I'm so glad you could make it. I notice you have noted my absence and I hope you can forgive me. Marcia was the first to go unfortunately, but arrive early depart early! You can expect to hear from me again,''

Love and regards,

Mrs Tomlinson

In horror, the guests abandon Marcia's room and run for Mrs Tomlinson's to find the room empty with no trace of a corpse. In a panic, they all run for the exit only to discover the door locked from the outside. They run to the drawing room to discover Mrs Tomlinson sitting on the lounge, alive and well, with a gun in hand. Without hesitation, she point blank fatally shoots Christopher in the head. She tells the remaining group that the shot was a warning shot for the rest of them to be on their best behaviour.

They all carefully take a seat around the coffee table and go along with Mrs Tomlinson's charade. Mrs Tomlinson then reveals that since retirement she has been restless, and she felt the only way to cure it was to return to her glory days of teaching and reunite her favourite class. Maxwell laughs, causing Mrs Tomlinson to turn the gun on him. Maxwell tells her she doesn't have the guts to shoot him because he was her favourite. She shakes her head and shoots him the leg, not killing him but causing him great pain. Richard runs towards her and attempts to pry the gun from her hands, in the middle of the confrontation the trigger is pulled and it blows Richard's brains out. Devastated, James breaks down and weeps over Richard's body. Mrs Tomlinson tells everyone to calm down and she proceeds to tell them a story about their time in school.

Flashbacks to the 1970s reveal the class' first day with Mrs Tomlinson and that just before the lesson, Mrs Tomlinson had caught Richard and James having sex behind the school building. It is also revealed that she tormented Victoria for having a criminal father amongst various other things and its soon revealed that the entire class had repressed their memories of their time being taught by Mrs Tomlinson that when they each received a letter from her detailing the reunion, they had failed to recall that they had experienced a nightmare time while in her class.

Meanwhile, in the present time, Mrs Tomlinson begins to tie up the remaining five but discovers she only has four pieces of rope, so she decides she must kill another to prevent them escaping. She decides that since Judith was the member of the group who had amounted the least success, it was her who had to go. Mrs Tomlinson grabs a squirming Judith by the head and twists it, instantly breaking her neck. A sobbing James refuses to be tied up and runs for the door, reluctantly Mrs Tomlinson, with near perfect aim, shoots James in the skull. She reminds the remaining three that in order to live they must be on their best behaviour.

Once Penny, Victoria and Maxwell are all tied up, Mrs Tomlinson, who by now has made it blatantly clear she is suffering from some sort of mental illness, begins teaching them the history of murder. While she is distracted, Maxwell whispers to Penny and Victoria that he has a plan in escaping when his crime experts lead him to notice the front door keys hanging from Mrs Tomlinson's waist and a heavy-looking candlestick within reaching distance. Slowly, noting Mrs Tomlinson's poor knotting skills, Maxwell slips out of the rope and quietly grabs the candlestick, and while Mrs Tomlinson is looking away he hits her over the head with it, blood splattering everywhere.

He quickly unties the girls and Penny grabs the keys from the body and runs to unlock the door, Victoria grabs her gun and Maxwell takes the candlestick. As they approach the door they find Penny dead, with a large knife in her back. They turn around and find Marcia waiting for them. Marcia reveals she was in cahoots with Mrs Tomlinson and intended on splitting the blackmail money with her. Victoria, fed up of all the betrayals, shoots Marcia dead with the gun's last remaining bullet. She turns to Maxwell and kisses him, revealing it was he who she had always truly loved and her marriage to James was one of not just convenience for him, but for her too. Maxwell reciprocates the admiration and suggests they leave to find help. They unlock the door and as the sun rises, they drive off together. Not noticing a disorientated and concussed Mrs Tomlinson stumbling out of the door after them...

Characters
Maxwell Berry, a acclaimed crime writer and former journalist. He is considered the class favourite but has failed to remain in touch with any of his peers. He is the last guest to arrive at Tomlinson Manor and the only one who truly remembers their time in Mrs Tomlinson's class.

Gaynor Tomlinson, the story's antagonist, she writes to her former students as if they were her favourite class but it soon becomes clear she was a psychotic blackmailer.

Richard Hart, a notable politician who has been having a secret homosexual relationship with fellow classmate James for almost 20 years. He was head boy at school and a natural leader.

Christopher Metz, an engineer and the most intelligent member of the class. He is very sceptical of the gathering and considers that its not quite right, this may be due to some vague recollection of the nightmare they endured.

Judith Hamilton, a chef who can't hold a regular job, she is labelled the least successful of the group and it damages her self confidence.

Marcia Wilcox, a known socialite and it girl, she was the most popular girl in school at the time but was often victimised by Mrs Tomlinson as a result.

Penny Benjamin, an Olympic gold medal winning runner turned housewife, she is considered the most innocent of the group despite her husband's mysterious occupation.

James Matthews, an award winning Hollywood actor who, despite being married to Victoria for 10 years, is a closeted homosexual who has been having an affair with Richard since their school days.

Victoria Matthews, an acclaimed screenwriter who reluctantly attends the reunion despite her crumbling marriage with her gay husband. She harbours secret feelings for Maxwell.