Overview

When We Were Killers introduces Finn Nethercott, a first-year student at a Scottish university drawn into a circle of elite history scholars with a dangerous obsession. Overnight rituals on lochs, hidden substances, and an escalating series of betrayals propel the story toward a chilling climax where privilege and obsession collide.

Writing & Voice

Barrington’s prose is sharp and dynamic, weaving the polished veneer of academia with the edgy thrill of midnight transgression. The voice captures both the lure of belonging and the dread of what happens when belonging comes with restraints—and costs.

Characters

Finn is vulnerable, eager and increasingly ensnared; his new friends are charismatic, secretive and ruthless in their pursuit of transcendence. As alliances shift and revelations accumulate, each character reveals layers of ambition and fear in equal measure.

Themes

The novel probes privilege, ritual and the dark heart of belonging. It questions how far ambition can stretch before it breaks lives, and how the search for meaning in history can become a hunt for power. Toxic friendships and academic facades expose deeper fractures.

What Worked

• Compelling setting – The university and Scottish lochs create a vivid backdrop of prestige and wilderness.
• High tension – The pace and stakes escalate effectively, maintaining suspense.
• Thought-provoking themes – The interplay of privilege, ritual and identity is handled with sophistication.

Minor Quibbles

• Some narrative threads are dense and layered, which may slow the early chapters for readers seeking immediate clarity.
• The ambition and complexity of the friendship group may make it harder to immediately empathise with every character.

Final Thoughts

When We Were Killers is a sleek, unsettling thriller that fuses scholarly ambition with primal fear—beautifully written and disturbingly alive.

Rating: ★★★★☆ / 5