The prologue was captivating, setting the scene for an easy to read, action packed read.
Unfortunately for me, that was where the excitement ended. The rest of the book felt a little disjointed and labourius to read. It felt rather fluffy.
The mystery/thriller element was great though, which is this novels saving grace.

When We Were Killers by C.F. Barrington is a dark academia thriller that masterfully blends historical intrigue with psychological suspense, all set against the haunting backdrop of St Andrews University in Scotland. From the moment protagonist Finn Nethercott—a brooding, troubled first-year student—steps onto the ancient, salt-scented grounds of the university, the reader is drawn into a world where privilege, ambition, and obsession collide.

Finn's initial encounter with an enigmatic group of history scholars propels him into a shadowy quest that intertwines Celtic and Viking lore, ancient rituals, and the dangerous allure of a mythical hallucinogen. As the story unfolds, the group’s academic fascination with Viking berserkers spirals into a chaotic and deadly reality.

Barrington's writing is immersive, balancing rich historical detail with a fast-paced, suspenseful narrative. The setting is magnetic—mist-shrouded lochs, crumbling ruins, and gothic university halls create an atmospheric tension that elevates the story. The vivid descriptions make the Scottish landscape an essential character, amplifying the novel’s eerie, otherworldly tone.

Finn's journey is compelling, as he navigates toxic friendships, repressed trauma, and his search for belonging. However, while the story delves deeply into Finn’s psyche, other characters, such as the enigmatic Madri, feel underexplored. Her extreme reactions suggest a hidden depth that remains frustratingly unexamined.

The novel’s pacing is uneven at times, with some sections feeling overly academic, reminiscent of a lecture rather than a thriller. Yet, these moments are offset by tense, visceral scenes during the group's drug-fueled rituals, where reality and myth blur in a disorienting, dream-like haze.

The ending, while gripping, feels rushed, leaving certain character arcs unresolved. A more deliberate conclusion could have amplified the emotional payoff and provided a deeper understanding of the story's central relationships.

When We Were Killers is a captivating exploration of ambition, privilege, and the dangerous edges of obsession. Fans of The Secret History and dark academia will find much to admire in this atmospheric and thought-provoking thriller, even if it doesn’t fully explore all its narrative threads.

Thank you to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was written with such detail for each and every story that it's hard to believe that it's fiction. The author took great care in the research and details for this story. It was a slow start to get your in with all the characters and the back drop, but once the first event takes place you are then wrapped up in with everyone else till the end.

I am a first time read for this author but found that I enjoyed his writing and I was able to relate well with his characters. Finn, a first year student at St. Andrews University traveling away from home, finds himself with a group of students with similar academic interests. They as a clan are in discovery of what made the ancient Viking behavior so animalistic and raw. It was believe to be because of some drug that they ingested and these scholars were on a quest to seek it out.

I enjoyed the story and the events which took place that ultimately lead them to find their answers. The story took a bit longer than I am used to to grab my attention, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would highly recommend this to those that enjoy a great fiction book.

I was pulled in immediately by this book. It started strong and kept it up all the way through. The story was so good and I loved it all. I highly recommend this book. I read a NetGalley copy.

Had potential, but it ended up being more confusing than compelling. The atmosphere is there – St. Andrews feels moody and rich – but the story gets bogged down by info dumps and dialogue that didn’t flow naturally. Some parts were interesting, but the pacing dragged, and by the end, I felt more puzzled than satisfied.

This was an interesting book in both its premise and its characters, but it was hard to follow and as a reader I needed more context to make sense of everything. It felt like being thrown into the deep end.

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

Enjoyed the engaging plot! This was the first book I've read by this author, and such a great thriller. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

When We Were Killers by C.F. Barrington is a gripping and intense thriller that keeps you on edge from start to finish. The story dives into the dark past of a group of friends, unraveling secrets and betrayals that build to a shocking climax. Barrington does a fantastic job balancing the tension with emotional depth, making the characters feel real and relatable even as their choices take a darker turn. While a few twists were a bit predictable, the pacing and suspense make it a highly entertaining read that lingers long after the last page.

The story has fast-paced storyline with an intriguing premise and high stakes. The writing style is engaging, and the twists keep you turning pages. However, the characters sometimes felt underdeveloped, making it hard to fully connect with their journey. The story felt sometimes confusing. The pacing, while intense, occasionally rushed key moments that could have used more depth. It wasn't my favorite but I had a great time reading it.

I liked this book it was really interesting I really enjoyed it I would recommend this to friends and family

I thought I’d really enjoy this book but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me, it is very well written and I would recommend this book to other people who like this kind of thing.

I started reading this and found it wasn’t for me

The title of the book initially pulled me

DNF@40%

I liked the idea of researching Scottish/ English/ Viking history. It gave me outlander vibes. A group of friends at school form a "clan" together to test and discover drugs that they believe the vikings took to be "mad" and have incredible strength on the battlefield. No one was suppose to get hurt but 2 nights go terribly wrong suddenly. The consequences are dire. I was hoping for more history, and romance. Certain parts were a bit confusing and not completely cohesive. A little more mystery would have been nice as well.

I love dark academia so I knew I'd probably love this and it delivered.
I loved the setting of 'Sallies' at St Andrew's University and the surrounding Scottish area, I really felt transported and I got a clear picture of where Finn and the clan were. So on that note, the clan, I found them to be an interesting group and they each had their own personalities and role to play. Hope and Finn were my favourites and I grew to dislike Madri. I found her to be quite shallow and single track minded.
History and mythology are also some of my favourite subjects so to have the two intertwined really added to the plot.
The writing was incredible and I found myself really immersed in this book.

When we were killers was a bit of a slow burn. But it was a very intriguing storyline, I did not know exactly where things were going but when things finally fell into place I understood!
The main character was a bit elusive but as the story progressed I really started to feel for him and like him.
This dark academia story was woven in a captivating way that really made you need to know what was going on and where things were leading! Really enjoyed this story! Thanks to netgalley and Head of Zeus for the arc

The storyline had potential, but the execution didn’t quite resonate with me.

The book tells the story of Finn, a theology student that has lost his faith due a troubled past. Finn’s life is divided between his studies and friendship with Anna; and his other friends, a.k.a the clan, which meet at night in historical places, drink and do drugs in the quest to find the berserkers secret. The clan is obsessed to find a drug that will explain how some viking warriors would go crazy at battle and do not feel pain.
I really enjoyed the setting of St. Andrews and Scotland. I also found very interesting the folklore discussed throughout the book. The dark academia vibe of the book is also great for the current fall weather.

What I disliked most were the characters and some of the plot decisions. The author seems to over-glorify the main character, Finn, idealizing his traits in a way that feels like an extension of their own self-perception. Meanwhile, the other characters are overly simplified, reduced to archetypes that serve the story without much depth.

Finn is portrayed as a humble guy trying to keep the peace, with his bad choices excused by a dramatic past and unrequited love. Unsurprisingly, Finn’s love interest is the “perfect girl,” whose only reason for not fully returning his love is her grief. The idea that she might simply not love him back doesn’t align with the author’s vision of Finn as a heroic figure.

The supporting characters fare no better: one woman is a saint, another a “sexy crazy witch,” while the male characters include a spoiled rich guy, a stereotypical fraternity bro, and a bland “story guy” whose purpose only becomes apparent near the end.

The plot decisions also felt skewed in Finn’s favor. His mistakes are framed as stemming from his good intentions and troubled past, while other characters’ bad actions are simply because they are “bad.” Even when the story includes shocking or gory events (trigger warnings below), Finn is conveniently uninvolved—it’s always someone else. I might have respected the narrative more if Finn had been made responsible for at least some of these events.

Lastly, the open ending left me unsatisfied. While the past storylines are resolved, the future remains ambiguous. I personally dislike open endings because they leave things incomplete. As a reader, I dedicate my time and attention expecting a complete story, not 90% of one.
T
rigger warnings include but are not limited to: violence, rape, suicide, gory details of death of both animals and humans, death, death of a child, and drug use.

Is hard to recommend a book that I disliked. However if something on my review piked your interest I would fully support you reading this book. I will always be open to hearing different opinions.

Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

An intriguing thriller set in St Andrews university in the 90's, slightly reminiscent of The Secret History. The novel follows a mixed group of students
whose obsession with myth and legend takes an increasingly dark turn.

Well researched, there are some fascinating and enjoyable in-depth sections on various mythologies mixed with some strong characterisations and a well thought through plot. The characters were all well-drawn and complex, if some highly unlikeable, the privilege and naivety of university students are well painted.
A geat story, highly recommend.

I was kindly provided my first ever ARC copy by the publisher at NetGalley, thank you for this opportunity. I hadn’t heard of this author before but my word, I was blown away by this dark-academia thriller. Gripping, tense, incredibly descriptive and beautifully written. I was captivated from the very first page. As a fellow Scots, Barrinton done a fantastic job with the magical but darkly setting of When We Were Killers. I was suspicious of the characters but drawn to them like the mmc Finn Nethercott. This is an unsettling yet quite moving read, I felt I was there with the characters at times. My jaw hit the floor for the last 30% with twists you will not see coming. 4.5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

DNF @ 25%

I had high hopes for When We Were Killers by C.F. Barrington, but unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me, and I ended up not finishing it at about 25%.

One of the main issues was how much it reminded me of If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, another book that didn’t resonate with me. The focus on history and Christianity played a significant role in the story, but these themes aren’t areas of interest for me, making it hard to stay engaged.

Additionally, I struggled to connect with the characters. They felt distant and unrelatable, which made it difficult to invest in their stories or motivations. Without that emotional connection, the plot didn’t hold enough intrigue to keep me reading.

While this book might appeal to readers who enjoy dark academia, historical narratives and complex explorations of faith, it just wasn’t the right fit for me. If you’re not drawn to these themes or prefer more relatable characters, this may not be the best choice for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for sending me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.