They Never Learn by Layne Fargo

Crime fiction is typically not my cup of tea. However, I’m always down for a good inverted murder mystery, especially when the story is told from the murderer’s point of view since I find it riveting to gain some insights into their mentality and morality. That’s basically why the synopsis of this book caught my attention instantly.

Well, this book was quite interesting, to say the least. I guess 15-year-old me would have adored it. A literary genius who is also a vengeful murderer? That’s exactly my fantasy in my teenage years, just kidding =) All joking aside, the writing was absolutely amazing. Fargo’s description was so detailed and realistic that I could almost feel the scorching heat of Scarlett’s ire radiating off the pages (or the screen because I read this on my Kindle?). Anyway, I really appreciate the efforts Fargo had put into moulding Scarlett as a fictional character. Although the murder mystery was the focal point of this novel, Scarlett was not solely defined by her vengeful deeds. She was also characterized by other attributes such as her passion for literature and her snarky sense of humour (which is, by the way, one of my favourite aspects of Scarlett).

My major problem with this novel is the ending. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I kinda like the ending because it has, to some extent, satisfied my dark academia infatuation. However, on the other hand, this ending romanticized and glorified a serial killer. Despite her victim’s horrifying acts, was Scarlett justified in deciding that they deserved to die? And does killing those men solve the problem?

Overall, They Never Learn by Layne Fargo was such an entertaining read with plenty of unexpected twists that would surely keep you on edge. However, if you are looking for a profound discussion on revenge and the savior complex, I’m afraid this book will fall short of your expectations.