Secret Society (Secret Society Novel) [Hardcover]

Tom Dolby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 2009 | Series: Secret Society Novel

Secrets, secrets are no fun.

Secrets, secrets hurt someone. . . .

An eccentric new girl. A brooding socialite. The scion of one of New York's wealthiest families. A promising filmmaker. As students at the exclusive Chadwick School, Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch already live in a world most teenagers only dream about.

They didn't ask to be Society members. But when three of them receive a mysterious text message promising success and fame beyond belief, they say yes to everything. Even to the harrowing initiation ceremony in a gritty warehouse downtown, and to the ankh-shaped tattoo they're forced to get on the nape of their necks.

Once they're part of the Society, things begin falling into place for them. Week after week, their ambitions are fulfilled. It's all perfect—until a body is found in Central Park with no distinguishing marks except for an ankh-shaped tattoo.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Dolby is the author of the novels Secret Society, The Sixth Form, and The Trouble Boy. He was born in London, raised in San Francisco, and now divides his time between Manhattan's West Village and Wainscott, New York. He is a graduate of Yale University, where he received his BA in the history of art.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen; 1 edition (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006172162X
• ISBN-13: 978-0061721625
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,475,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Dolby is the author of the young adult novels Secret Society and The Trust: A Secret Society Novel, as well as the best-selling novel The Trouble Boy and the boarding school novel The Sixth Form. He is also the co-editor, with Melissa de la Cruz, of the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys: True Tales of Love, Lust, and Friendship Between Straight Women and Gay Men. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Village Voice, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Tom was born in London and raised in San Francisco, and is a graduate of Yale University. He currently lives in Manhattan, where he is working on his fifth novel, among other projects. You can find him online at www.tomdolby.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Was ok., October 1, 2009

By 

Sab H. "YA Bliss" (Houston, Tx) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Secret Society (Secret Society Novel) (Hardcover)

You'll be desperate for a sequel! The book was good, but the ending was awesome! What is it with these new books and incredible endings? I kept thinking in the middle of the book that it was kind of boring, but at some point it got me and I enjoyed the final parts where you finally understand what the book is about.

The writing was great, the story was told from four different points of view. But, it could be kind of confusing sometimes. The characters were not the best, hard to relate. The plot didn't have what I would call rhythm, it was tedious sometimes. But if you like to read about fashion and socialites this a good read for you.

The cover is really appealing, I like it and I like the tattoo. We all have an idea of Secret Societies and it was fun to read about it. If you are a Melissa de la Cruz fan, this book is for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Was so looking forward to this but was disappointed, September 29, 2009

By 

Debbie's World of Books "Debbie's World of Books" (Union City, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secret Society (Secret Society Novel) (Hardcover)

I would really rate this around a 2.5. Not quite a 3.

This book was somewhat a disappointment for me. I was so looking forward to it but as I read I kept wanting to hurry the story along. I've always had a fascination with secret societies, the part they play in the larger world and what sort of rituals they used. Combine this with my love of YA books I thought it sounded like the perfect read. The biggest negative point was the pacing of the book. It really dragged and I kept hoping for something to happen and while eventually the story comes to a head it took so long that it seemed like a let down. I did not find myself caring much for Patch or Nick. I did like Lauren's character and Phoebe has potential. The most interesting part was seeing how the perks of belonging to this society helped each of the students and the cost this help comes at. I may pick up the next book just to find out what happens as the last 30 or so pages did spark my curiosity. Most likely it will be a library pick though.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sinister Romp Through the Dark Side of Rich Kid NYC Life, September 30, 2009

By 

Rachel Kramer Bussel "Cupcakes Take the Cake ... (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Secret Society (Secret Society Novel) (Hardcover)

In Tom Dolby's Secret Society, the elite high school students we've seen in such YA fare as Gossip Girl get treated to a twist: murder. Dolby works in modern technology, including vlogging, and much more sinister things, like branding and blackmail. The Society sends mysterious text messages to high school students, and then they attend events where they don't quite know what's going on, but feel compelled to obey. And then, like magic, things happen, like one girl receives a free designer handbag, then a job working for a beloved designer, another gets a big club night booked, and another gets an art gallery showing. Other things happen too, like death and disappearance, that leave them troubled and uncertain about how far they'll go to be part of a society they know little about.

But all is not smooth sailing, and Dolby works the spooky factor in perfectly. As Nick starts to wonder about his family's involvement, his friend Patch also discovers his family's secret history with the Society as he spies on them and gets in almost over his head. I liked Secret Society because it took the rich kid YA novel and made it more than about just materialism and debauchery. This is a page-turner, and a mystery that I can't quite say was solved in the traditional whodunit way, because while we do find out a little, there are still many more questions left unanswered.

All along, Dolby forces the reader to answer the underlying question of what they would do when faced with an invitation from The Society, one that is less about the invite and more about the command. These teenagers do live a glam life, but Dolby shows the darker side of it with a promising, entertaining and fast-paced romp. I think Patch was my favorite character because he had to go far out of his way to investigate what's going on (and Dolby has fun riffing on the current reality show trend, perhaps presaging the show NYC Prep).