REVIEW: The Secret History (Donna Tartt)

Book: The Secret History

Author: Donna Tartt

My rating: 4/5

Premise: Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last - inexorably - into evil.

I went into this book with little to go on (let's be real, this blurb doesn't give much away!). The first couple of pages explains what the story is, so I don't feel guilty about saying it's about some students in the 80s who kill someone. The first half is the events leading to the murder, and the rest explores how it affects each of them. I really enjoyed this book. There was a good level of mystery and an element of anticipation. The second half was interesting as well, seeing the different ways the people deal with the event. My only issue is that the chapters are long but with frequent breaks. This slowed my reading down as I'd stop at the breaks rather than continuing to the end of the chapter. Otherwise, a cracking book!