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A review by bear_ridge_tarot
Death in the Spires by KJ Charles
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It’s 1905. A decade after the unsolved murder of Oxford student Toby Feynsham. The newspapers called the friends the Seven Wonders, but for Jermey Kite it was more than just the lost of his best friend. It was the end of his whole life. So when a mysterious anonymous letter lands on his boss’s desk, Jem sets out to discover what actually happened that night. The pursuit might be more than he can handle when Toby’s killer escalated their attempts to silence Jem. Is it worth it, or is this a secret better kept buried?
As Jem digs into the murder mystery, it becomes clear that only one of the Seven Wonders had any opportunity to commit the crime. Each of them are broken and changed, longing for things that they’ll never have now. And yet, only one was so filled with jealous rage that they killed their friend. The story is told in a series of interlocking flashbacks and present day events that lend the overall story a feel of nostalgia. It’s not quite a dark academia, since the school is just part of the setting, but it is a good read for anyone who likes the genre.
Graphic: Racism, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, and Rape
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion