The Mortons

The Mortons by Scott Westerfeld & Justine Larbalestier is a darkly funny, action-packed gothic thriller about an old-money crime family who treat murder like a balance sheet—and honestly, it’s hard to look away. With its elite college setting, razor-sharp social satire and escalating tension, it’s the kind of literary crime novel that rewards late-night binge reading.

The Mortons move through life with impeccable taste: perfectly mixed cocktails, vintage tailoring, polished manners. At Helshire College, where rival dynasties send their children to learn power and control, Jessica Morton has always been the standout—until her first kill should cement her status, and instead sparks consequences that refuse to stay contained. Loyalties shift, alliances harden, and ambition turns feral.

Perfect for readers who love campus noir, family saga intrigue, moral ambiguity, and twisty crime fiction with bite.

Step into Helshire and see how far the Mortons will go to stay on top.