On a summer evening in Amsterdam, an ostensibly civil dinner at a trendy restaurant becomes the backdrop for a tense confrontation. Two couples, linked by the unsettling deeds of their teenage sons, find the facade of polite conversation crumbling as they discuss the boys' involvement in a shocking crime. Bon appétit turns to bitter revelations as each pair grapples with the limits of parental loyalty and morality, their composure unraveling with each course served. Herman Koch's 'The Dinner' dissects the complexities of familial bonds and societal expectations, inviting readers to ponder the lengths they would go to protect their loved ones.