The Shards

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Bret Easton Ellis's new novel explores the end of innocence and the challenging transition from adolescence to adulthood in a vividly fictionalized Los Angeles in 1981, where a serial killer targets teenagers. Seventeen-year-old Bret, a senior at Buckley prep school, becomes captivated by the enigmatic new student, Robert Mallory, who harbors a secret while integrating into Bret's close-knit group. As Bret's obsession with Mallory deepens, he becomes increasingly fixated on the Trawler, a serial killer whose threats and acts of violence seem to encroach upon their lives. The eerie coincidences blur the line between reality and Bret's imagination, as he grapples with the dangers surrounding him. Distrustful of his friends and his own perceptions, Bret descends into paranoia and isolation, with the looming connection between the Trawler and Mallory driving the narrative toward a tense climax. Set against the nostalgic backdrop of pre-Less Than Zero L.A., this novel masterfully intertwines fact and fiction, delving into the emotional complexities of Bret's life at seventeen, encompassing themes of sex, jealousy, obsession, and rage. Gripping and darkly humorous, it showcases Ellis's distinctive storytelling prowess.