Thornton, J. R. - Lucien

The Secret History meets Saltburn in this gripping dark academia thriller about a scholarship student who falls under the spell of his charismatic roommate and is thrust into the shadowy underworld of art forgery. His greatest gift was the art of deceit... The son of working-class Czech immigrants, Christopher Novotny is a talented painter who arrives at Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid hardship, he is unprepared for the privileged world introduced to him by his freshman roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti, and is even given an alternative name by his enigmatic new friend. From now on Christopher will be Atlas. Born to wealthy European diplomats, Lucien plays the part of the confident, sophisticated bon vivant. Where Lucien is bold and brash, Atlas is timid and introverted. Growing up a lonely outsider, Atlas is insecure, impressionable, and in awe of his brilliant Lucien. But is he all that he seems? Sensing a willing disciple, Lucien introduces Atlas to a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. When Atlas struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien offers a daring solution. But Lucien’s charismatic facade conceals something darker and more sinister. As Lucien’s behaviour grows increasingly unstable, Atlas is forced into escalating risks with devastating consequences.