Dark academia has evolved from a Tumblr-born aesthetic into a full-fledged literary genre, and its latest offering is as deliciously twisted as they come. The Mortons, the first adult novel co-written by married duo Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld, serves up a mystery thriller that blends the criminal underworld with a quirky, black-comedic lens. Think The Sopranos meets Wes Anderson, with a dash of The Addams Family—and you're only scratching the surface.
Set at the elite Helshire College, the story follows the Mortons, an old-money dynasty that raises its children to be ruthless killers. "Homicide is heritage," the chilling tagline reads, and it's no exaggeration. Legacy students from historic crime families attend off-the-catalog classes where they master the dark arts of their trade. At the center is Jessica Morton, a young woman who, at age seven, completed her mors curae—a family tradition requiring her to raise a rabbit for a year and then slaughter it. She named hers Rabbit, devoid of sentimentality. Her journey of self-discovery becomes a gripping question: Can someone nurtured into cruelty find compassion, or is redemption impossible?
The novel wears its influences proudly. Fans of Donna Tartt's The Secret History will recognize the dark academia DNA, while the deadpan humor echoes Wes Anderson's eccentricity. The cutthroat family dynamics scream The Sopranos, and the charmingly dark tone channels Wednesday. Larbalestier and Westerfeld, both YA veterans, bring breakneck pacing and a coming-of-age arc, but this is no teen story. The violence is ice-cold, the themes mature, and the narrative doesn't shy away from grit and sexiness. It earns its "adult" label through and through.
What makes The Mortons stand out is its ability to make a cold-blooded killer like Jessica oddly sympathetic. From the first chapter, where she commits murder, the authors immerse readers so deeply in her world that the crime feels shocking yet not off-putting. The twists are bloody and constant, leaving you wondering—along with Jessica—whether her deeds are too unforgivable. It's a bold worldbuilding feat that ranks among the best thriller books of the decade.
The good news? This world may expand. Larbalestier and Westerfeld are reportedly working on a companion novel, promising to write nothing but Mortons books if possible. For now, The Mortons is a page-turner that begs to be read with a bold cocktail in hand. It's a dark academia gem that proves the genre has plenty of narrative meat on its bones.
If you're craving more twisted thrillers, check out our list of 7 Thriller Shows That Nail It in the First 10 Minutes or dive into Top 10 Thriller Books of the Decade. For a taste of dark legal drama, see Hulu's 'Conviction' Adds 'The Bear' Star Liza Colón-Zayas.
