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“Sex and novels and music and movies were the things that made life bearable—not friends, not family, not school, not social scenes, not interactions”
Bret
The Shards
8/10
The Shards is a captivating and addictive read that keeps you glued to the page. Set in Los Angeles in 1981, the story follows 17-year-old Bret and his wealthy group of friends at the exclusive Buckley school. Their world is made of parties, drugs, sex, expensive cars and the privilege of growing up surrounded by Hollywood’s elite.
Everything changes when Robert Mallory, a mysterious and charismatic new student, joins their circle. At the same time, a serial killer known as the Trawler is targeting teenagers across Los Angeles. Bret becomes convinced that Robert is somehow connected to the murders, and what begins as suspicion slowly turns into an obsession. The more Bret investigates, the more difficult it becomes to understand what is actually happening and what might simply be a product of his own paranoia.
The characters are all interesting, but Bret is definitely the standout. His character is particularly well written, especially because we experience everything through his perspective, making it difficult to know when he is telling the truth, when he is imagining things, and whether he can even trust himself.
I also loved how clearly the novel represents the luxurious and excessive lifestyle of 1980s Los Angeles. There are strong similarities between Bret, Clay from Less Than Zero, and Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. All three represent different versions of the same privileged, emotionally detached world, and The Shards almost feels like a bridge between the two novels.
Overall, The Shards is a gripping mix of mystery, psychological thriller and coming-of-age story. It is dark, unsettling and sometimes disturbing, but the atmosphere and the constant uncertainty make it incredibly difficult to put down.
Giulia.