Staff Writer: Leah
Published Date: April 11, 2017
Number of pages: 354 pages
Format: E-book
Genre: Adult fiction, Dark academia
Tags: shakespeare, theatre, mystery, thriller, LGBTQ+ friendly
Cardigan rating: 4 out of 5
Thoughts:
Did you read The Secret History by Donna Tartt and think “this would be much more fun if it was a bunch of theatre kids,” well then this is the book for you. The book opens with the main character, Oliver Marks, who has just been released from 10 years in prison for murder; however, no one is sure if he was ever even guilty but the former investigator from the case is determined to finally get the truth. 10 years prior, we follow Oliver and the rest of his friend group of Shakespearean actors at their elite arts college as their lives turn into one of the very plays they are obsessed with. The friends are overly dramatic, competitive, and increasingly suspicious of one another as the story unfolds which makes their dynamic so much fun to explore. The dialogue is largely intertwined and interrupted by the characters quoting lines from Shakespeare's plays and while I think some people could find that annoying, the English major in me was thrilled. After all, what is a dark academia book without the pretentious academics, or in this case thespians? The suspense and buildup to the end will keep you guessing throughout this entire book as the friends are torn apart and accuse each other of murder. I have read this book a couple times now and it still remains one of my top recommendations if you want a mysterious and literary read perfect for the fall!