The Secret History

Refreshing take on a murder mystery, less of a mystery more of a novel about a murder. What I liked about this book is that despite giving away half the mystery at the beginning, the integral question of why is the only one left and you are taken through the story being seduced by the character. They are by no means likeable or relatable, they are after all a group of murderers. I don't think that was the point. But by offering fascinating, almost romantic depictions of this group of friends, we understand Richard's enchantment. And then, we are left with the aftermath. Few novels about murders gets to talk about the aftermath and processing a traumatic experience. Examples of these would be Room by Emma Donoghue and The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (bc yes, Katniss was going through PTSD throughout the series). Instead of ending the book on the ‘resolution' of the murder, continuing the story throughout dissolution and disenchantment is one of reasons why this book will be in my “to keep/reread” pile.