*A People Best Book of July!* *A New York Post Best Beach Read!* * A Free Press Summer Read!* The author of Black Chalk , "the smart summer thriller you've been waiting for" (NPR), returns with a mesmerizing new novel about a dangerous secret society at Oxford University, and the first-year Literature student whose life begins to unravel in its shadow When Ali McCain, an eighteen-year-old from Los Angeles, is accepted at Oxford, it’s a chance to fulfill his dreams. To study English literature in England; to meet true intellectuals; and to glimpse the life he might have lived had his father—British rock star Gel McCain, legendary frontman of the Pale Fires—not abandoned him and his mother when he was a toddler. But not long after he arrives at the storied campus, Ali is drawn into a dark, disorienting world where events grow more and more curious by the day. Trading on his father’s name, he gains entry into one of Oxford’s oldest and most selective secret societies, the Saracens. As he immerses himself in this rarefied world, he inadvertently sets in motion a series of events that might culminate in disaster. A mind-bending literary house of mirrors, replete with bookish allusions and Easter eggs ranging from Brideshead Revisited to King Lear , The Rabbit Club is an arresting work of dark academia by the category’s finest writer. Praise for The Rabbit Club “Riveting from page one to the twisty and twisted ending.”— Susannah Cahalan, New York Times bestselling author of Brain on Fire "The Rabbit Club a lively labyrinth of a novel, a fun read that nods at pop hits and dusty classics alike, and that unlocks a secret society of characters as colorful as those who populate Alice’s Wonderland . The game is afoot... and it is wicked and wild!"— Matthew Sullivan, author of Midnight in Soap Lake "Diving into The Rabbit Club , a dizzying story grippingly told, is like taking a leap into Alice’s rabbit hole only to discover something mysterious, compelling and new. There is a dark sense of danger in the wonderland Yates creates, a world of game players, liars and secret societies. Rarely has a dark academia tale been spun with this much verve and thrill. When the truth is revealed, your head might spin backward—or even flip itself inside-out."— Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author of Eden Undone and Where You End "It’s strange to describe a story of murder, betrayal, and manipulation as delightful, but with its nods to Alice in Wonderland , colorful characters, and mind-bending twist, that’s exactly what this is. So follow Christopher J. Yates down the rabbit hole, knowing that you’re in capable hands." —Lauren Nosset, author of The Resemblance “Tantalizing… Dark academia fans ought to snatch this up.” — Publishers Weekly “Yates’ winking yarn is both homage and parody of the dark academia genre…Literary references abound, ranging from Shakespeare to Dickens to Nirvana and most notably the overarching motifs of Alice in Wonderland. Secret societies, mysterious documents, and cryptic backstories all add to the richly detailed university setting…Yates is clearly having fun, and readers will too.” – Booklist “Yates’s dark-academia literary thriller delves into the allure and peril of elite university traditions… The immersive atmosphere, complex characters, and expertly paced plot propel the story to a satisfying, unexpected conclusion. Gripping, thought-provoking literary fiction.” – Library Journal, STARRED review "In this mind-warping dark academia gem, an American student at Oxford University gets into a tony secret society, and it sets off a chain of events you’ll never see coming."— People “Great fun.”— The Free Press "The must read thriller of the summer... [ The Rabbit Club ] weaves a tale that is nearly impossible to put down. It includes Oxford University, secret societies, danger and suspense at every turn, and a sense of anticipation much needed in a world filled with instant gratification."— Washington Examiner " Saltburn meets The Secret History with a 90s soundtrack. "— The Sun "Thrilling." — The Sunday Post "A truly mind-boggling experience... The ending left me stunned... The ideal autumn read." — The Express " Saltburn meets The Secret History with a 90s soundtrack. "— The Sun "Thrilling." — The Sunday Post Praise for Black Chalk “This is the smart summer thriller you've been waiting for. The black and harmful little book you want in your carry-on.The novel you should be reading tonight.” ― NPR's "All Things Considered “One of the greatest surprise reveals I've witnessed. A twist that's like screwing your head on backwards. And when you see the tricky switch Yates has pulled, you just want to kiss him, because dammit if there isn't something sweet and satisfying about a plot twist pulled off with aplomb.” ― NPR.org “A circle of bright college friends who feed on one another's cleverness and t