Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

If you loved The Secret History…

76 replies

DrainYou · 27/02/2023 12:25

…please could you recommend other books you also enjoyed? I absolutely love the dark, witty characteristics of The Secret History and am struggling to find similar. It is not necessarily the “university” genre, more the intrigue and grittiness of it. I also really enjoyed Perfume and The Gargoyle.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

OP posts:
potniatheron · 27/02/2023 12:29

Notes on a Scandal
The Plot
Gentlemen & Players

I would also recommend Donna Tartt's other books especially The Goldfinch.

KStockHERO · 27/02/2023 12:39

I would also start with Tartt's other books.

I'd also recommend:
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Piranesi by Suzanna Clarke
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld

BoldFearlessGirl · 27/02/2023 12:46

Leigh Bardugo’s The Ninth House and Hell Bent. Don’t be put off by the magical elements, there’s plenty of grit and intrigue!

SolitudeNotLoneliness · 27/02/2023 12:47

Lionel shriver bokjs

The Mandibles is brilliant

HermioneWeasley · 27/02/2023 13:01

Her more recent book “the Goldfinch” is superb.

also, “the signature of all things”

BloodyHellKen · 27/02/2023 13:06

Thank you OP, this is a great thread. I loved The Secret History - the BBC radio adaptation is well worth a listen as well. I really couldn't get into The Little Friend though - did anyone else find that?

user1477249785 · 27/02/2023 13:11

BloodyHellKen · 27/02/2023 13:06

Thank you OP, this is a great thread. I loved The Secret History - the BBC radio adaptation is well worth a listen as well. I really couldn't get into The Little Friend though - did anyone else find that?

Me. Secret history one of my favourite books ever. Her other books were hard going for me.

schmalex · 27/02/2023 13:14

Love this thread, The Secret History is one of my favourites, as is The Historian.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 27/02/2023 13:16

BloodyHellKen · 27/02/2023 13:06

Thank you OP, this is a great thread. I loved The Secret History - the BBC radio adaptation is well worth a listen as well. I really couldn't get into The Little Friend though - did anyone else find that?

I thought it started out well. I like that Southern Gothic vibe But then it felt like she quickly ran out of steam and in the end the novel kind of limped to a close. Found it disappointing,

GoBackToTheLibraryWhereYouBelong · 27/02/2023 13:18

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

All have similar vibe. I loved The Secret History too and enjoyed all of the above.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 27/02/2023 13:19

I always thought The Virgin Suicides had a similar atmosphere to The Secret History.

Original poster
DrainYou · 27/02/2023 13:22

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I also loved The Historian; I think I’ll re-read that once I’ve ploughed through some of these other books.

I am not averse to a magical element at all @BoldFearlessGirl , so thank you for those.

I had no idea about the BBC radio adaptation, so I shall go in search of that - thank you.

OP posts:
EmmaGrundyForPM · 27/02/2023 13:25

Another vote here for My Dark Vanessa.

KStockHERO · 27/02/2023 13:33

I'd also recommend 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' by Shirley Jackson.

It's not really a mystery but its gritty, dark, and atmospheric.

VictorStrand · 27/02/2023 13:35

If We Were Villains - it's like The Secret History but in drama school. (It's not as good as The Secret History but then few books are).

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 27/02/2023 13:36

KStockHERO · 27/02/2023 13:33

I'd also recommend 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' by Shirley Jackson.

It's not really a mystery but its gritty, dark, and atmospheric.

Amazing book

KStockHERO · 27/02/2023 13:42

Sorry another one - 'Bitter Orange' by Claire Fuller which, again, doesn't really have a glaring mystery at its centre but is quite mysterious, and its dark and gritty.

I'd actually recommend to read this one in summer. It's set over a boiling hot summer at an old stately home. Fuller captures the stifling heat so so well. It felt a bit 'off' reading it over Christmas. I wish I'd read it in the garden over summer.

ChillinwiththeVillains · 27/02/2023 13:47

Loved her Goldfinch even more. Also the Betrayals by Bridget Collins and Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell. I loved Prep by Sittenfield too.

GoBackToTheLibraryWhereYouBelong · 27/02/2023 13:50

Great thread, btw. Expensive, though. I've already downloaded three books from here onto my already groaning Kindle 😬

Bridgeth29 · 27/02/2023 14:02

A Prayer For Owen Meany.

Original poster
DrainYou · 27/02/2023 14:03

Thank you; I am definitely someone who likes to read books and listen to music in sync with the seasons! I’ve always wondered if I was odd, but glad to find a fellow seasonal reader.

OP posts:
Radiatorvalves · 27/02/2023 14:04

Lessons in Chemistry. Loved it.

Southeastdweller · 27/02/2023 14:05

The Paying Guests has a similar vibe to The Secret History.

The Goldfinch is even better than TSH, but I also couldn't get through The Little Friend.

KStockHERO · 27/02/2023 14:15

DrainYou · 27/02/2023 14:03

Thank you; I am definitely someone who likes to read books and listen to music in sync with the seasons! I’ve always wondered if I was odd, but glad to find a fellow seasonal reader.

It's great to meet a fellow seasonal reader!

If you opt for 'The Luminaries', I'd recommend saving this until winter Smile

KStockHERO · 27/02/2023 14:17

Southeastdweller · 27/02/2023 14:05

The Paying Guests has a similar vibe to The Secret History.

The Goldfinch is even better than TSH, but I also couldn't get through The Little Friend.

Seconding 'The Paying Guests' - I completely forgot about that.

Sarah Waters other book, 'The Little Stranger' is also a good shout - creepy and mysterious.

Swipe left for the next trending thread