These Violent Delights

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A Literary Hub Best Book of the Year and a Crime Reads Best Debut of the Year, this compulsively readable debut novel weaves a taut Hitchcockian tale of two college students whose obsession leads to unspeakable violence. Set in early 1970s Pittsburgh, Paul enters university hoping to escape the recent death of his father. Sensitive and insecure, he feels isolated until he meets the charismatic Julian in an ethics class. Drawn to Julian's charm and intellect, Paul views him as an ally against the suffocating conventionality of the world around him. Desperate to prove himself worthy of their friendship, Paul finds life with Julian exhilarating. However, Julian's volatility and cruelty create an atmosphere of fear and inadequacy for Paul, who struggles to meet Julian's expectations. As their friendship deepens into an all-consuming intimacy, both characters discover the extremes they will go to for one another, leading them down a dark path. With propulsive ferocity, this novel explores the depths of human desire and the darkness it can evoke, making it a gripping examination of obsession and its consequences.