Book Review: The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy (Colebrook Confessions #1) by CC Dalton, Twist Literary

Summary for the Colebrook Confessions series:

Markham Savoy is Colebrook Academy's most infamous student...
He's also the most attractive, most deviant, and most charming, but who's counting? Every Colebrook matriculant knows that Markham is in the business of making problems disappear. And Colebrook students have no shortage of problems. But his aid comes at a price—an obligation to one day repay the favor. Given the number of kids who get in trouble at Colebrook, Markham has a veritable army of willing minions to do his bidding. So the question is, after years of collecting and collating the secrets of his peers, what exactly does Markham have in mind?

Each installment of Colebook Academy is told from the point of view of a different student. As these characters' lives intertwine, each reveals one of the shocking, interlocking secrets that will help Markham leave behind a legacy. A final coup de grâce that the halls of Colebrook Academy will never forget.

Summary for The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy:

Even though he safeguards the secrets of his classmates, Markham wouldn't be caught dead sharing his own, and he never lets romantic entanglements get the best of him. But when Piper Harrington marches into his life, he’s forced to give her something in exchange for her cooperation in his schemes--his very own Colebrook Confession. And that's not the only time Piper brings out an unexpected side of himself.

Will the dirty secrets of Markham Savoy be his crowning glory...or his undoing?

Release Date: October 30, 2012

Age Group: YA

Source: Review copy from publisher

Review:

This is my second time reading a book published by Twist Literary (read my review of the Alibi series here), and I really enjoyed this unique concept.  The books are written in short installments, with each installment from a different person's point of view.  I like that kind of writing, as it allows the reader to really get to know each character in the series.

Book one, The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy, is told from Markham's perspective.  Markham reminded me a lot of Chuck Bass from the Gossip Girl television series.  He had that same controlling personality, wealth, and need to manipulate everyone around him.  Those are not particular qualitites which I admire, so it was hard for me to really like Markham.  His one saving grace was the way he watches out for and takes care of his younger sister (heavy-handed though his actions may be).

Markham was like a 'handler' for the students of Colebrook Academy.  He does favors for people in exchange for those people owing him a favor in return one day.  The entire way he operated seemed pretty unrealistic for a high-school student, but hey, I'm not exactly living in the world of the super-rich, so what would I know?

I liked that The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy had a lot of surprises and intrigue.  It kept me guessing as to what would happen next.  I liked seeing Markham play with the children at the town's benefit, because it showed a softer side to his character. 

I would recommend the Colebrook Confessions series to fans of contemporary YA.  I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series!