When We Were Killers

This was a good book! I love the touch of magic/supernatural elements there. It kept me entertained and seemed entertained and I liked the characters throughout this book, and how some of them have such dark pasts and histories. It was a great thriller with lots of mystery and suspense

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I really liked this, especially the ending. There was a lot of interesting information on history and theology and even herbs which might have seemed incongruous, but somehow wasn’t. Despite the main cast of characters having little to make them in any way admirable, the author makes them work together as a fascinating group driving a twisty plot. It took me back to uni days and all the w*nkers who think they are special, and then took it further to a very dark place.

I enjoyed this book, an excellent dark academia novel set in the 90's England. It had great characters, and the suspense had fantastic pacing that kept me reading way past the time I should have gone to bed. I'm definitely going to read more books from this author!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

When We Were Killers: A gripping, shocking dark academia thriller about toxic friendship set in Scotland by C.F. Barrington is a masterful blend of suspense, psychological intrigue, and the haunting beauty of Scotland’s academic landscape. Barrington crafts a narrative that is chilling and thought-provoking, delving deep into the complexities of friendship, ambition, and the dark side of human nature.

The story centers around Finn Nethercott, a misfit first-year student at the prestigious St Andrews University. From the moment Finn steps onto the salt-scented quadrangles, he is met with indifference and a sense of foreboding. The university, with its ancient buildings and storied traditions, becomes a character in its own right, its gothic architecture and shadowy corners providing the perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama.

Barrington’s characters are richly developed, each one harboring secrets and hidden agendas. The core group of friends, bound by their shared outsider status, quickly find themselves entangled in a web of deceit and danger. The dynamics of their relationships are explored with a keen psychological insight, revealing how toxic friendships can fester and lead to devastating consequences.

Barrington expertly balances moments of quiet tension with explosive revelations, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The plot twists are both unexpected and meticulously foreshadowed, creating a sense of inevitability that heightens the suspense. The narrative is interspersed with flashbacks that gradually unveil the dark history of the characters, adding depth and complexity to the story.

The setting of St Andrews University is vividly brought to life, with Barrington’s descriptive prose capturing the eerie beauty of the Scottish landscape. The misty mornings, crumbling ruins, and stormy seas all contribute to the novel’s atmospheric tension. This sense of place is integral to the story, grounding the characters’ actions in a tangible reality that makes their descent into darkness all the more believable.

When We Were Killers tackles themes of privilege and power, examining how societal structures can enable and conceal wrongdoing. Barrington’s critique of the academic elite is sharp and incisive, adding a layer of social commentary to the thriller’s gripping plot. The novel raises important questions about morality, justice, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets.

When We Were Killers is a standout entry in the dark academia genre. C.F. Barrington has crafted a novel that is as intellectually stimulating as it is thrilling, with a story that lingers long after the final page. Fans of psychological thrillers and dark academia will find much to admire in this gripping tale of toxic friendship and hidden dangers. Whether you’re drawn to the atmospheric setting, the complex characters, or the intricate plot, this book is sure to captivate and haunt you.

I loved this book..

I enjoyed the build up and the seemingly solidarity among the boys and the fallout.

Books such as these always highlight the strengths and failures in relationships and what happened to Finn is a right of passage in this genre. His four new 'friends' were unlikeable but played their part well

I loved the setting, it is dark and atmospheric and the plot although a little slow to build up was intriguing. I found it a wonderful read and have already recommended it ..

St Andrew’s University, Scotland in the 90’s is the atmospheric setting for this page turner.

Four students entice a fifth into their inner sanctum. Although it appears that the new recruit, Finn, has little in common with the others, their shared fascination of the history of Scotland brings them together, though it is the search for the elusive beserkers drug that binds them.

Mysterious and suspenseful, with a touch of magic and the supernatural, this is the dark side of academia.

Perfectly written, with excellent descriptive prose, this book was a joy. One or two words I had to Google, but hey, every day is a school day 😉

A good, tied up ending that rounded off a belter of a story.

4.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus.

Overall this dark and moody thriller was really good! It was a bit slow in parts but I loved the dark academia setting and overall plot! Would recommend

Dark academia fans, if you’re on your second or third reread of "The Secret History" and "If We Were Villains" to satiate your desire for a moody fall girl read, look no further than this book.

Reminiscent of both the best and most tragic dark academia novels, Barrington will take you instead to the early nineties at the prestigious St Andrews university, where the tragically-inclined Finn Nethercott has just become a first-year student. With dynamic and vulnerable characters, gripping dialogue, and intellectual intrigue, "When We Were Killers" surpasses even the highest demands for this gothic and melancholic genre.

With one of the best opening lines in a novel I’ve read this year, Barrington cements this novel as a new dark academia must-read in the upcoming season.

Thank you to the publisher for this e-arc, this book will be published March 6, 2025.

“When We Were Killers” is a dark academia thriller set against the backdrop of St Andrews University in Scotland. The story follows Finn Nethercott, a misfit first-year student who finds himself drawn into a new circle of friends—four history scholars with an obsession for the ancient roots of Scotland.

Upon arriving at St Andrews, Finn is greeted with indifference in an environment where privilege reigns supreme. He quickly becomes entangled with his new friends, who lead him on wild adventures to forgotten castles and faerie lochs. However, as he delves deeper into their world, he uncovers darker elements: deadly rivalries, midnight rituals, and a frantic quest for a long-lost hallucinogen.

As Finn navigates this treacherous landscape, he grapples with trust issues and the unsettling realization that obsession can have deadly consequences. The narrative unfolds through gripping dialogue and richly developed characters, exploring themes of toxic friendship and the complexities of ambition within an academic setting.

The novel combines elements of psychological intrigue with historical references to Celtic and Viking mythology. It critiques societal structures that enable wrongdoing while maintaining an atmospheric tension throughout the plot. The vivid descriptions of the Scottish landscape enhance the eerie beauty of the setting, making it integral to the unfolding drama.

Overall, “When We Were Killers” is positioned as a must-read for fans of dark academia and psychological thrillers, promising a captivating exploration of friendship and ambition intertwined with suspenseful

Be careful what you wish for - a tale of blind obsession, friendship, ego, wanting to belong, and dealing with loss. The road twists and turns, control is lost, and living with the aftermath can change everything. A tense and addictive read, don't expect any HEA ...

We start the book with Finn getting to St Andrews where he intends to study divinity. Finn has a past and the author writes Finn as a brooding hero who in his first day meets many of the characters that will change his life forever. It’s such a skill to make so much happen in so little pages and yet keep me thrilled.

The book continues and the cast of characters splits, those from Divinity and those who seem to follow their own divinity. Sumptuous details about Celts, Viking’s and Pagan festivals and observances take this book from a dark academia to a well researched and breathtaking thriller with heavy history.

The ending of the book feels a little rushed, I would have liked to have a better understanding of how all the characters did after the events, but that is probably personal taste.

I couldn’t recommend this book more, it has everything you could want AND a search for an ancient hallucinogen. I don’t think you’ll read that sentence again.

I received this book from Netgalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, which this is.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this unbelievable arc!

After reading If We Were Villains and absolutely falling in love with it I have been searching for similar books and I am so grateful I came across this one. It is exactly what I was looking for. Fast paced, easy to read, twisty, intriguing and a brilliant thriller! It is also my first C.F.Barrington read and definitely won’t be my last.

The suspense & psychological aspects, mixed in with the clever plot line made me want to keep reading long after the story had ended. It was so detailed and captivating without going over the top and being confusing or boring. The characters and setting were expertly crafted and I could not get enough of it! C.F.Barrington really knows how to grip an audience and keep you at the edge of your seat. The twists were so perfectly planned and thought out, it really kept me guessing through out which I loved.

Would highly recommend to anyone who loves Dark Academia, twisty on the edge of your seat thrillers or anyone looking for that perfect autumn thriller read. Can’t wait to read more by this author

This had that thriller element that I was looking for and enjoyed about the genre. The characters had that dark element that I was looking for and enjoyed how good they worked. C.F. Barrington has a strong writing style and I thought the fever dream worked overall.