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"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt proves to be a fascinating novel that is perfect for summer reading.

Tartt craftily follows the story of Richard, a college kid from California who finds himself at a private university in Vermont. There, he befriends the exclusive, scholarly Greek majors. A group of five, Bunny, Francis, Charles, Camilla and Henry, they are all eccentric and elegant. Their lifestyle is lavish, including trips to the countryside, lunch at fancy restaurants and nights of card playing and drinks.

As Richard changes his major to Greek and befriends them, he is sucked into their world of the esoteric, of money, alcohol and betrayal. Unexplained silences between the six, strange allusions in conversation and a sudden trip to Italy all lead to suspicion. Soon Richard finds out that an ancient Grecian ritual performed one night lead to tragedy. The students must keep their mouths shut and watch their every step. A horrid plot to kill one of their own is formulated. Friendships unravel, exposing the reader to a sick, twisted world of out-of-touch youngsters.

Tartt does an excellent job of description and writing in painstaking detail. The result is a tightly wound story that readers are dying to unfold. With breath-taking imagery and realistic dialog, Tartt's story is one that captivates any reader.

It's a story that's too sad to tell but too good to put down. Just like any good Greek tragedy.

Learn more about this author, Laura Holm.
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