4.5 Stars Source: Audible
Brief Synopsis: Oliver Marks has just spent 10 years in prison for a crime he may or may not have committed. On his release day, he agrees to meet with the former detective in charge of the case and finally give the true story. What evolves is a tale about 7 college students at an elite arts conservatory who live, eat, and breathe Shakespeare. While they are as close as any troupe can be, casting changes and relationship drama can always cause tension. When one fateful night during their senior year changes the group dynamic for good, the unraveling of friendships and trust begins.
Thoughts: Ooooh this book was so fun--for me who loves a good campus atmospheric story, anyway. It had many similar notes to The Secret History, one of my all time favorites, as well as a touch of Dead Poets Society. I will say this is more of a story of friendship and group dynamics than a true mystery, so if you're expecting whodunit you will probably be disappointed. As much as I do love a campus mystery, the storytelling and world building of this group of actors was so completely enthralling that I honestly did not miss the mystery part. As usual, I would highly recommend the Audible version for this one as having a narrator voice the play dialogues was very helpful; his inflection and tone also helped me identify the many random Shakespeare quotes the characters use in regular conversations.
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