Muriel Spark is amazing at creating messed up characters. Whilst none of the ones here are as dark and unhinged as Lise in The Driver's Seat, they all have their issues, and Jean Brodie is easily one of the most manipulative, self-absorbed characters ever created. I really enjoy Spark's economical writing style and the things she doesn't say, and whilst it's a more subdued tale than The Driver's Seat, it's still an engaging read with some fantastically destructive characters and a dark sense of humour.