THE MORTONS

A brilliantly executed, highly original, cross-genre novel of crime, dark ademia, and psychological suspense.

The Mortons are a modern day, old-money dynasty with impeccable taste, from their exquisitely crafted cocktails to their expertly tailored vintage garments. They are also stone-cold killers, with a history and legacy dating back to ancient times (think Succession by way of The Sopranos). For the Mortons, homicide is heritage. They, along with the other legacy crime families, send their college-aged progeny to Helshire College a Brideshead-esque setting where the legacy kids strategically intermingle with the ordinaries from wealthy families, taking classes like Disruptive Anatomy and Forensic Accounting and practicing the long-game seduction of ordinaries as clients. Jessica Morton has always excelled at Helshire, secure in her knowledge that she is the prodigy of her generation of Mortons and now she is finally able to stake her claim as a full blooded Morton, having committed her first kill at her matriarch's behest. This is her moment, her honor. But that kill will cut more ways than one unknotting deep secrets that propel a series of revelations spanning the Mortons' country estate, the New York City art world, and Helshire itself. Revelations more shocking than the bodies piling up. Scott Westerfeld is the author of twelve New York Times bestsellers, including the multimillion-selling Uglies series. Published in thirty-five languages and loved by generations of young readers, Uglies has been adapted as a feature film starring Joey King, streaming on Netflix in late 2024. The New York Times called the novels, "A superb piece of popular art." Westerfeld is also known for the Leviathan trilogy, a seminal work in the steampunk genre. Justine Larbalestier is the author of Liar, My Sister Rosa, and six other novels. Published in twelve countries, Liar is currently optioned by Blue Ant Media and Ellen Pompeo's Calamity Jane Productions. Larbalestier's books have won the Andre Norton Award, the Carl Brandon Kindred Award, and been shortlisted for the Edgar, Locus, and Anthony awards in the US. She has won the Adelaide Festival Award, the Western Australia Premier's Award, the Christina Stead Award, and the Ditmar, Davitt, and Aurealis awards in her homeland, Australia. Her books have been named ALA, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year.