Black Chalk
Arriving for classes at Oxford, a nervous American reaches out to a poor British student, and the two quickly become inseparable. During their first few days of settling in, the two invite four other friends to join them in a game of chance and daring with an enticing cash prize for the ultimate winner. Over many weeks of play, though, what began as a fun diversion escalates into a highly competitive contest with increasingly intolerable consequences. Before the school year is over, one of the friends is dead, and only two remain in the game, locked in a struggle to the bitter end. Though granted a 14-year respite, the time finally arrives for these two to resume play and determine a final winner and loser. While mysterious and unspoken threats lurk in the shadows, it’s the insidious devolving of friends and lovers that makes this psychological thriller so compelling. A broken narrative and careful pacing add to the chilling suspense. Full of cunning twists and turns, this intense page-turner practically demands a second reading. --Cortney Ophoff