SOLVED. Adult Fiction read over a decade ago about an outcast boy whose drowning murder is covered up by elite private school. Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Marisa]

Spoilers ahead: I read this book a long time ago, I can’t remember? But I believe it was a young adult novel and for some reason I thought the book was called “The Fisher King”.

In my vague recollections of the book, there is an outcast boy who doesn’t have any friends aside from this one girl. I think he has a hobby of card tricks or magic tricks. I think he eventually had a falling out with this girl, she starts dating one of his tormentors. I know the boy is found drowned at some point and there is an investigation and inquiry held because it is a suspected murder but the wealthy parents of the school cover it up to say it was an accident to protect their precious kids futures. I think the girl is the only one who really cared about the murdered boy and maybe a teacher or a detective( they are blending into one in my head).

I can barely remember the cover. I feel like it was a light pink or beige with a painting on the cover. Did it show a figure underwater or just something abstract?

I feel like the boy did not get retribution for his murder because the message was about power and money and he was poor, but it’s so deep in my head. I may have gotten the book at a book faire.

There are very few characters in this book who care about the murdered boy, it was a sad book. He didn’t fit in and was a victim of either bullying or hazing.

[Deanne]

I am not sure this is it, but this book came to mind when I read your post: .

[Rainbowheart]

Plague Year?

[Marisa]

I figured it out! And forgot I posted this, but yay!! The book is The River King by Alice Hoffman.