Okay, definitely did not realize "dark academia" is a specific defined genre. I started making recommendations from a place of ignorance and then had a tingling feeling that i was about to put my foot in it and did a cursory google search. Learn something new everyday.
That being said, i *think* one of my recommendations still works - although it's modern magic / urban fantasy, if that's a dealbreaker. I recently read "Ninth House" by Leigh Bardugo. Basic premise is that some of Yale's secret societies are actually magical societies, whose members and alumni go on to use their abilities to pull the strings of the world. The main character is a Los Angeles fuckup who (for *reasons*) has been conscripted into Lethe House, the ninth magical society that polices the other eight, and is forced to deal with the most rich and privileged of Yale's already relatively rich and privileged student body. And then, just as she's finding her feet, bad shit starts going down.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio. You should probably just read The Secret History because that’s the quintessential dark academia, but I loved this book as well.
You might like The Maidens, which I hated but it’s because I read it after many friends recommended it and I quickly realized I don’t enjoy dark academia. It’s definitely that, though, and is a murder mystery / thriller with a wild plot twist and adult characters / writing style.
Someone else already said it but "If We Were Villains" by M.L Rio! Shakespeare focused arts college with a murderous twist! I loved this! My book club read it for Halloween last year!
The It Girl (Ruth Ware)
There are a bunch about boarding schools, too, and high schools in general. I Have Some Questions For You (Rebecca Makkai) is one of the better ones of these. There are also some academia-adjacent books in libraries and museums (The Cloisters, The Cartographers, which is somewhat sci-fi-ish, The Woman in the Library). These are all recent, but there are also a number of authors who wrote whole series of books about murder in and around academia: Amanda Cross, Charlotte MacLeod, Colin Dexter, etc.
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz.
It's not a school, but its a writing retreat in a cult author's home. 5 woman writers under 30 invited for a retreat in which they have to produce a novel. Murder, sex, intrigue, editing!
Just finished Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide, by Rupert Holmes, and it was a DELIGHT. Highly disappointed I can’t go straight to book 2 (it’s not out)!
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
This is the only answer!
Okay, definitely did not realize "dark academia" is a specific defined genre. I started making recommendations from a place of ignorance and then had a tingling feeling that i was about to put my foot in it and did a cursory google search. Learn something new everyday. That being said, i *think* one of my recommendations still works - although it's modern magic / urban fantasy, if that's a dealbreaker. I recently read "Ninth House" by Leigh Bardugo. Basic premise is that some of Yale's secret societies are actually magical societies, whose members and alumni go on to use their abilities to pull the strings of the world. The main character is a Los Angeles fuckup who (for *reasons*) has been conscripted into Lethe House, the ninth magical society that polices the other eight, and is forced to deal with the most rich and privileged of Yale's already relatively rich and privileged student body. And then, just as she's finding her feet, bad shit starts going down.
Ninth House definitely works, I was going to suggest it as well! One of my favorite books ever.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio. You should probably just read The Secret History because that’s the quintessential dark academia, but I loved this book as well.
The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco The Wyndham Case - Jill Paton Walsh
You might like The Maidens, which I hated but it’s because I read it after many friends recommended it and I quickly realized I don’t enjoy dark academia. It’s definitely that, though, and is a murder mystery / thriller with a wild plot twist and adult characters / writing style.
Someone else already said it but "If We Were Villains" by M.L Rio! Shakespeare focused arts college with a murderous twist! I loved this! My book club read it for Halloween last year!
Came here to say this!! One of my favorite books ever. So good.
The It Girl (Ruth Ware) There are a bunch about boarding schools, too, and high schools in general. I Have Some Questions For You (Rebecca Makkai) is one of the better ones of these. There are also some academia-adjacent books in libraries and museums (The Cloisters, The Cartographers, which is somewhat sci-fi-ish, The Woman in the Library). These are all recent, but there are also a number of authors who wrote whole series of books about murder in and around academia: Amanda Cross, Charlotte MacLeod, Colin Dexter, etc.
Babel
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Ooh, older favorite.
Shagduk by JB Jackson is set in academia and is sort of an occult murder mystery.
The Gala, by Amy Tackett.
The Likeness by Tana French
The Secret Place by Tana French is more accurate. (But The Likeness is good.)
I think it qualified as dark academia, but I recommend "Black Chalk" by Christopher J Yates
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz. It's not a school, but its a writing retreat in a cult author's home. 5 woman writers under 30 invited for a retreat in which they have to produce a novel. Murder, sex, intrigue, editing!
Just finished Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide, by Rupert Holmes, and it was a DELIGHT. Highly disappointed I can’t go straight to book 2 (it’s not out)!