#17 The Secret History, by Donna Tartt

In the first sentence you know Bunny is dead. By the end of the first page you surmise it's murder. The rest of the first half of the book tells the tale of how four college Classics majors came to kill their friend. The second half details the effects of guilt and fear of discovery on this tight little group. One of the young scholars makes an ironic reference to Crime and Punishment, a book that kept coming to mind as I witnessed them steadily spiral toward tragedy. Engrossing, highly recommended.