They Never Learn Summary, Characters and Themes

They Never Learn is a thriller by Layne Fargo that blends campus drama with feminist vengeance. 

The story follows two women—Scarlett Clark, a brilliant but dangerous English professor with a secret habit of killing abusive men, and Carly Schiller, a shy freshman navigating trauma and identity. As the chapters alternate between their points of view, a sinister parallel unfolds, revealing buried truths, emotional reckoning, and the power of female rage. With themes of justice, trauma, and revenge, this book turns the serial killer narrative on its head and asks: What if the bad guys finally got what they deserved?

Summary

They Never Learn begins with Scarlett Clark, an English professor at Gorman University, who hides a brutal secret—each year, she kills a man on campus who has harmed women. 

Meticulous and calculating, she disguises the murders as accidents or suicides. Her latest victim, Tyler Elkin, a football player and known rapist, becomes her first kill of the academic year, setting the tone for what seems like another perfectly executed cycle of vigilante justice.

In alternating chapters, we meet Carly Schiller, a freshman at Gorman, eager to escape her emotionally abusive father and start over. Carly is socially anxious, self-conscious, and still carrying the weight of past trauma. 

She quickly forms a close bond with her confident and free-spirited roommate, Allison. The friendship soon deepens into romantic territory, though Carly’s feelings remain mostly unspoken. 

She also befriends Wes, Allison’s best friend, though her unease around men makes the friendship complicated.

Back in faculty life, Scarlett juggles her professional image and clandestine operations while keeping an eye on her next target: Dr. Kinnear, a department head known for sexually harassing students. 

However, things grow tense with the arrival of Dr. Samina Pierce, a sharp new member of a suicide prevention task force. Samina’s investigations into campus deaths could unravel everything Scarlett has spent years perfecting.

As the story progresses, Scarlett’s grip on control begins to slip. Her TA and secret lover, Jasper, becomes increasingly suspicious. 

Meanwhile, Carly begins to unravel in her own way. After being sexually assaulted at a campus party, she spirals into depression, fear, and—unexpectedly—rage. Encouraged by Allison, Carly begins to embrace her anger and stop apologizing for it.

The novel’s middle section shows both women starting to crack. Scarlett, stressed by Samina’s quiet but effective probing, makes uncharacteristic mistakes. She obsesses over Kinnear and speeds up her plan to kill him, even as she realizes the walls may be closing in. Carly, on the other hand, finds new purpose. 

With Allison’s support and shared history of abuse, Carly moves from passive victim to active avenger. Together, they plot a murder—Carly’s first.

The storylines merge in the final chapters. Scarlett kills Kinnear, staging the scene to both expose him and complete her poetic cycle. Meanwhile, Carly and Allison murder Carly’s assailant and cover it up just like Scarlett would. 

Samina, having uncovered Scarlett’s secret, chooses not to report her—instead revealing that she may share some of Scarlett’s beliefs about justice. This moment marks a turning point, as Scarlett sees how her mission has unintentionally inspired others.

When Scarlett finally comes face-to-face with Carly, there’s a quiet revelation: Carly is like a younger version of her, standing at the beginning of a similar path. 

Scarlett, who has operated alone for years, suddenly sees a chance to pass on her legacy. Rather than ending the cycle, she begins a new one—this time with a partner.

The novel concludes with Scarlett securing a prestigious fellowship in London, offering both an escape and a fresh hunting ground.

She and Carly are now aligned in purpose, bonded not only by their trauma but by a shared desire for vengeance. Their alliance is unsettling, powerful, and open-ended—the start of something far more dangerous.

Characters

Scarlett Clark

Scarlett is a complex protagonist whose life is split between being an English professor at Gorman University and a secret vigilante serial killer. Her motivations are driven by a profound sense of justice rooted in trauma from her past.

She targets abusive men, specifically those who have harmed women, with a meticulousness and coldness that makes her both chilling and oddly sympathetic. Scarlett’s meticulous planning and ability to maintain a professional mask at work reflect her need for control in all aspects of her life.

However, as the story progresses, Scarlett’s grip on that control begins to slip, especially with the increasing pressure from Dr. Samina Pierce’s investigation into the deaths she’s orchestrated. Scarlett’s emotional vulnerability is often masked by her confident persona, but as she becomes more entangled in her own lies and manipulations, cracks start to form, showing the toll her double life takes on her psyche.

By the end of the novel, Scarlett’s realization that her mission has evolved from revenge to survival marks a significant shift in her character, as she finds an unexpected ally in Carly.

Carly Schiller

Carly starts as a shy, socially anxious freshman at Gorman University, deeply scarred by her abusive past. Initially, she is unsure of her place in the world, but the trauma she endures during her time at university acts as a catalyst for her transformation.

Carly’s sexual assault at a party becomes the breaking point for her, pushing her to embrace a darker side of herself—one that seeks justice, even if it means crossing moral lines. Her evolution throughout the novel is striking; from a girl overwhelmed by self-doubt to a woman who not only confronts her trauma but acts on it.

Her relationship with Allison is a key part of this transformation, providing emotional support and a sense of purpose. The more Carly bonds with Allison, the more her worldview shifts toward a more active and retaliatory stance.

By the end of the novel, Carly has fully embraced revenge as a means of empowerment, and her decision to take part in the murder of her attacker shows just how far she has come. The connection between Carly and Scarlett becomes clear when Scarlett recognizes Carly as a reflection of her younger self—a protégé who could continue her mission.

Carly’s journey reflects a complex interplay of victimhood, rage, and a desire for justice, making her a compelling character with a morally ambiguous arc.

Allison

Allison serves as both a grounding force and a catalyst for Carly’s transformation. On the surface, she is confident, open, and seems to have her life together, in stark contrast to Carly’s insecurities.

However, as the story progresses, it is revealed that Allison, too, has suffered her own traumas, including abuse, which strengthens her bond with Carly. Allison’s role in Carly’s emotional journey is pivotal—she not only supports Carly through her trauma but also encourages Carly to confront her fears and take action.

Their relationship becomes increasingly intimate, with Allison encouraging Carly to see her own worth and to use her pain as a source of power rather than shame. By the end of the novel, Allison is more than just Carly’s friend; she is her partner in crime, sharing Carly’s thirst for justice and revenge.

Her character acts as a counterpoint to Scarlett’s, showing a more grounded, relational path to empowerment, even though she is just as willing to cross moral boundaries for justice.

Dr. Samina Pierce

Dr. Samina Pierce is the sharp, observant investigator who begins to uncover the truth behind the string of suicides at Gorman University. Initially introduced as a figure of authority, Samina becomes a significant threat to Scarlett, whose carefully orchestrated killings begin to unravel under her scrutiny.

Samina is methodical and intelligent, slowly piecing together Scarlett’s pattern of revenge killings, but instead of exposing her, Samina chooses not to act on her suspicions. This decision suggests that Samina shares some of Scarlett’s beliefs about justice and retribution, making her a morally ambiguous character.

She serves as a mirror to Scarlett—someone who recognizes the flaws in the system and has her own dark motivations but is ultimately willing to turn a blind eye to the same crimes she is investigating. Samina’s final decision to let Scarlett go is both a moment of unexpected solidarity and a nod to the complexity of the novel’s exploration of justice and morality.

Jasper

Jasper is Scarlett’s teaching assistant and occasional lover, though his role in the novel is more peripheral. His relationship with Scarlett is marked by a sense of secrecy, and while he seems loyal to her, he grows suspicious of her increasingly erratic behavior.

Jasper’s suspicions become a source of tension between him and Scarlett, and their relationship deteriorates as she becomes more desperate to protect her secret life. Jasper’s character serves as a foil to Scarlett—he is not as morally committed or ideologically driven as she is, and his confusion and fear highlight the stark contrast between Scarlett’s cold, calculated methods and his own emotional responses.

His eventual rejection by Scarlett is symbolic of the emotional cost of maintaining such a dangerous double life, marking the end of an important but ultimately doomed connection for her.

Dr. Kinnear

Dr. Kinnear is the corrupt department head who becomes Scarlett’s final target. He embodies the type of predatory man Scarlett has spent years targeting: a misogynist in a position of power who exploits his authority to manipulate and abuse women.

His character represents the toxic, patriarchal culture within the university, and his role as Scarlett’s target underscores the novel’s themes of power, exploitation, and revenge. Kinnear’s eventual downfall at the hands of Scarlett serves as a form of poetic justice, a culmination of her mission to rid the world of men like him.

His arrogance and lack of self-awareness make him a fitting target for Scarlett’s wrath, and his death marks a critical point in the narrative, shifting the focus toward Carly’s own burgeoning sense of justice.

Themes

The Complexity of Female Empowerment and Revenge

A central theme of They Never Learn revolves around the intersection of female empowerment and revenge. The narrative dissects how women, particularly those who have experienced abuse or trauma, may take control of their lives through violent means.

Scarlett, as a vigilante, seeks justice for those who have suffered at the hands of predatory men, while Carly undergoes a transformation from a passive victim to an active agent of her own retribution. Their motivations are rooted in past trauma and a desire to rectify wrongs that traditional systems of justice have failed to address.

The novel presents a nuanced exploration of how empowerment, when coupled with rage and a sense of justice, can lead to moral ambiguity. Both characters are forced to confront the consequences of their actions, as they blur the lines between right and wrong, making their journey both a personal and societal commentary on the complexities of retribution and empowerment.

Trauma, Its Lasting Effects, and the Desire for Justice

Another prominent theme is the exploration of trauma and its long-lasting effects on the psyche, especially for women who endure systemic violence. Both Scarlett and Carly are shaped by traumatic experiences—Scarlett’s early exposure to an abusive father and Carly’s traumatic assault at college.

Trauma doesn’t merely scar their bodies; it also reshapes their worldview, pushing them toward a thirst for justice that becomes an obsession. The novel investigates the psychological toll that such trauma takes, exploring how it drives individuals to extremes in search of healing or resolution.

As both women seek justice in their own ways, the novel raises critical questions about the ethical implications of their methods. For Scarlett, the act of murder becomes a twisted form of healing, whereas Carly’s journey is more about reclaiming control over her body and life.

In both cases, their trauma transforms them, making justice not just a goal but a deeply personal pursuit that is driven by their desire to avenge and repair their pasts.

Moral Ambiguity and the Blurring of Right and Wrong

Throughout They Never Learn, the theme of moral ambiguity is explored, particularly in the context of vigilante justice. The characters constantly grapple with the ethics of their actions.

Scarlett’s meticulous planning and justified rage at the abuse of women make her a sympathetic antihero, but her actions also force readers to question whether her vigilantism is truly justified. As the story unfolds, the lines between victim and perpetrator, justice and revenge, become increasingly blurry.

Carly, who initially appears to be a fragile, passive character, becomes entangled in this moral dilemma, embracing violent retribution as a form of justice. The novel asks tough questions about the effectiveness and ethics of seeking personal justice through extreme means.

The characters’ evolution into morally complex figures invites readers to reconsider their own views on justice, revenge, and the nature of right and wrong.

The Power Dynamics Between Men and Women in a Patriarchal Society

Another significant theme in They Never Learn is the power imbalance between men and women, particularly within academic and professional settings. The novel critiques the patriarchal structures that enable men, like Dr. Kinnear, to exploit their positions of power.

Scarlett’s mission of revenge is a direct response to this imbalance—she targets men who have abused their power, often in institutions where their actions are hidden or dismissed. Similarly, Carly’s trauma is compounded by the misogynistic environment at Gorman University, where she feels belittled and invisible.

Both Scarlett and Carly’s paths highlight how women navigate and resist these systemic power imbalances. The novel exposes how power, privilege, and abuse intersect in spaces that are meant to be safe, such as universities, and how women often have to take matters into their own hands to survive and assert their autonomy.

The exploration of these power dynamics provides a critical lens through which the characters’ actions can be examined, offering a critique of societal structures that protect abusers while silencing victims.

The Role of Relationships in Shaping Identity and Motivation

In They Never Learn, relationships—whether platonic, romantic, or familial—play a significant role in shaping both Scarlett’s and Carly’s motivations and personal growth. Scarlett’s complicated relationships with her colleagues, particularly her assistant Jasper, reveal the tension between maintaining control and the desire for genuine human connection.

Her isolation, marked by her secret life, is contrasted with Carly’s evolving connection to her roommate, Allison. Initially, Carly’s dependence on Allison highlights themes of emotional vulnerability and the search for safety.

However, as Carly transforms, her bond with Allison deepens, becoming an empowering and supportive relationship that mirrors Scarlett’s own need for connection and validation. The relationship between Scarlett and Carly becomes a pivotal turning point in the novel, as both women come to realize how their identities are shaped by their interactions with others.

In the end, their relationship represents not just mentorship but a passing of the torch, as they become partners in their quest for justice. This shift underscores the significance of relationships in shaping individuals’ choices and paths toward self-empowerment.