The Secret History by Donna Tartt

“The Secret History” follows Richard Papen, a transfer student who joins an elite group of classics students at a small New England college. Led by the enigmatic professor Julian Morrow, the group becomes enthralled by their studies of ancient Greek culture and philosophy, leading them to attempt to transcend the ordinary boundaries of morality and reality. The group’s intellectual pursuits take a dark turn when they commit a murder to cover up an accidental death that occurs during a Dionysian ritual. The novel delves into the psychological effects of guilt, the complexities of friendship, and the consequences of intellectual hubris as the group struggles to maintain their secret and their sanity.