Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay: THEY NEVER LEARN.

They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading Layne Fargo's THE FAVORITES, I had to read THEY NEVER LEARN! I absolutely love that Fargo can write two books that are so different, although they both share strong female characters.

THEY NEVER LEARN is diabolical, and I am here for it!

This isn’t a mystery in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a razor-sharp, unapologetic thriller that gives us a serial killer who owns her actions without remorse. The story unfolds from two perspectives at Gorman University: Dr. Scarlett Clark, a brilliant English professor with a deadly secret, and Carly, a timid freshman just trying to navigate college life.

Scarlett isn’t just teaching literature—she’s also an avenger of sorts, quietly eliminating men who prey on women. If you assault, stalk, or hurt someone on her campus, you just might find yourself on her list. But after her latest kill, her carefully curated world starts to shake. Fellow professor Dr. Mina Pierce is beginning to connect the dots between the string of "suicides" and "accidents," and Scarlett, ever the strategist, decides to get close to Mina—both to manipulate the investigation and for reasons far more personal. Meanwhile, she sets her sights on one of her most ambitious targets yet.

Carly, on the other hand, is a shy, introverted student just trying to fly under the radar—until her popular roommate, Allison, takes her under her wing. Their friendship helps Carly come out of her shell, but when Allison is assaulted at a party, Carly finds herself consumed by the desire for justice—or maybe something darker.

Fargo masterfully builds tension, weaving these two narratives into a propulsive, edge-of-your-seat read. THEY NEVER LEARN isn’t just a gripping thriller—it’s also deeply character-driven, making us question how far one should go to right a wrong. While we may not agree with a murderer, we just might understand her. The novel boldly tackles important issues like sexual harassment and assault, shedding light on how often these crimes are ignored or dismissed, especially in academic settings.

It’s dark, it’s delicious, and it’s impossible to put down. If you love a thriller with a razor-sharp edge and complex, morally gray characters, this one is a must-read. 4+ stars!

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She'll let you in her heart if you got a hammer and a vise: THE FAVORITES.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo
My rating: 4+ of 5 stars

THE FAVORITES is an utterly captivating novel that delves into the fiercely competitive world of ice dancing, where ambition, sacrifice, and betrayal intertwine.

Katarina Shaw always dreamed of becoming an Olympian, but growing up in poverty meant she had to fight tooth and nail to reach the top. Her path crossed with Heath Rocha, a foster kid with his own struggles, and together they formed an unbreakable bond. Ice skating became their escape, propelling them from obscurity to royalty in the skating world—until a devastating incident at the Olympics shattered their dreams and their lives.

A decade later, the world is still captivated by their story, now the subject of a tell-all documentary. The book alternates between gripping documentary interviews, where various characters offer their takes on Kat and Heath’s journey, and Kat’s raw, personal narrative of what truly happened. The result is a riveting tale brimming with anger, passion, and resilience.

As Kat becomes entangled in the lives of her idol, Olympic champion Shelia Lin, and Shelia's twin children, Garret and Bella—current competitors with their own high stakes—the story deepens. Both Kat and the Lins are willing to pay any price for Olympic glory. But THE FAVORITES poses a haunting question: how far is too far?

What starts as a seemingly straightforward story of love and competition evolves into a masterfully crafted web of deceit, desire, and vulnerability. Fargo’s storytelling is both spellbinding and thought-provoking, delivering a tale that lingers long after the final page. This is a must-read for fans of character-driven drama. Hurrah for #bookstagram for getting me to pick this one up!

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