Scarlett Clark is an exceptional English professor. But she’s even better at getting away with murder.
Every year, she searches for the worst man at Gorman University and plots his well-deserved demise. Thanks to her meticulous planning, she’s avoided drawing attention to herself—but as she’s preparing for her biggest kill yet, the school starts probing into the growing body count on campus. Determined to keep her enemies close, Scarlett insinuates herself into the investigation and charms the woman in charge, Dr. Mina Pierce. Everything’s going according to her master plan… until she loses control with her latest victim, putting her secret life at risk of exposure.
Meanwhile, Gorman student Carly Schiller is just trying to survive her freshman year. Finally free of her emotionally abusive father, all Carly wants is to focus on her studies and fade into the background. Her new roommate has other ideas. Allison Hadley is cool and confident—everything Carly wishes she could be—and the two girls quickly form an intense friendship. So when Allison is sexually assaulted at a party, Carly becomes obsessed with making the attacker pay… and turning her fantasies about revenge into a reality.
They Never Learn has been getting a lot of attention lately and something about the way it was pitched to me made me want to drop everything and pick it up. If you are like me and you love dark academia, stop what you are doing and read They Never Learn!
The more thrillers I read, the more I realize just how picky I am when it comes to the genre. I have not felt this way about a thriller since I read Don’t Look For Me by Wendy Walker around this time last year. Something about it just clicked for me right away!
I love when thrillers are told from two perspectives and the reader is left wondering how both narrators’ stories will come together. They Never Learn did this so well! We are following an English professor who is much like Dexter, in that she has a need to kill but only kills people who she deems deserve it- in this case, men who have mistreated women. Also like Dexter, you will find yourself rooting for her and having complicated feelings about the entire situation. The other perspective is from a young woman who is a freshman at college and is making friends for the first time. I enjoyed both perspectives equalyl!
I read They Never Learn in two days. It is so compulsively readable and I had to know where the story was going. I thought that the ending was so satisfying! Also, there is a sapphic romance which added another interesting layer to the story!
If you find yourself in a thriller slump, I highly recommend giving They Never Learn a chance. It made me excited about the genre again and I am on the hunt for a book that gives me this same feeling!
- Characters: 9
- Atmosphere/Setting: 9
- Writing Style: 8
- Plot: 8
- Intrigue: 9
- Logic/Relationships: 8
- Enjoyment: 9
Overall CAWPILE score: 60/7= 8.5
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This sounds like a great thriller! I can’t wait to read it
It is so so good!
I don’t read many thrillers, but this one sure looks good. That cover is beautiful too.
It is really really good!
all you gotta do is mention dexter and i’m sold! haha. lovely review — i’ve added this one to my tbr!
Yes! It’s perfect for fans of Dexter!
Wow, I haven’t read a thriller yet with strong POV from the killer’s end. Dexter indeed! Thanks, will have to check this one out!
Ohh it’s so much fun to read from the killer’s perspective! That’s why I loved the book You so much as well!