THE SUMMIT SOCIETY

In Miller’s novel, a college student tries to uncover the mysteries surrounding a secret society.

Tressa Litton is a senior at Wyval University in Pennsylvania. As with many of Wyval’s matriculates, she’s intrigued by its secret Summit Society: “Allegedly, the invitation to the society…came with a sworn oath of secrecy, bizarre initiation rituals, and intense demands to prove loyalty.” Not much is known about it by those outside the loop, but rumor has it that membership guarantees job opportunities and subsequent lifelong success. Tressa doesn’t give it too much thought, though; instead, she focuses intently on her studies to the point that she lacks much of a social life, save for her friendship with her roommate, Alex. However, she eventually meets Mauri Pierce, an edgy, orphaned young woman in her art history class. To the surprise of both young women, the Summit Society tasks Tressa and Mauri with clue-based, scavenger-hunt-like missions that send them to various locales. They soon team up to solve the riddles, which leads to an invitation to join the society, However, after an initiation ritual results in a student being injured by a shock collar, Tressa questions the society’s true nature. As she and Mauri reap the benefits of Summit membership, Tressa finds herself driven to investigate, which ends up putting her and her friends in danger. Although the story can sometimes feel repetitive, particularly when it dwells on Tressa’s seemingly perpetual paranoia, it’s ultimately an engaging read. Miller’s prose feels most immersive when focused on settings: “Wyval’s location blended both remoteness and convenience. To the north…thick forests of oak and hickory trees interrupted by an occasional grassy field created a peaceful but secluded environment.” Many characters are divertingly shifty, as well, from a professor whose relationships with students may go beyond the bounds of propriety to a student who has an unexpected connection to one of Tressa’s loved ones.

An often-intriguing conspiracy thriller.