If We Were Villains If We Were Villains

If We Were Villains

A Novel

    • 4.3 • 359 Ratings
    • $11.99
    • $11.99

Publisher Description

“Much like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, M. L. Rio’s sparkling debut is a richly layered story of love, friendship, and obsession...will keep you riveted through its final, electrifying moments.”
—Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest

"Nerdily (and winningly) in love with Shakespeare…Readable, smart.”
New York Times Book Review

On the day Oliver Marks is released from jail, the man who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants to know the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it.

A decade ago: Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a place of keen ambition and fierce competition. In this secluded world of firelight and leather-bound books, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingénue, extras.

But in their fourth and final year, good-natured rivalries turn ugly, and on opening night real violence invades the students’ world of make-believe. In the morning, the fourth-years find themselves facing their very own tragedy, and their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, each other, and themselves that they are innocent.

If We Were Villains was named one of Bustle's Best Thriller Novels of the Year, and Mystery Scene says, "A well-written and gripping ode to the stage...A fascinating, unorthodox take on rivalry, friendship, and truth."

GENRE
Mysteries & Thrillers
RELEASED
2017
April 11
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
368
Pages
PUBLISHER
Flatiron Books
SELLER
Macmillan
SIZE
2.4
MB

Customer Reviews

Kangaroo Cowboy 25 ,

Loved this!

Grating at first (I went to a performing arts college and while I got my BFA in Film, I acted a lot (I even did Shakespeare!) and was very involved with our theater department and can assure all of you that NOBODY, not even pretentious theater kids, actually talks like these characters do) but the plot and chemistry of the characters and secondhand rush of putting on performances, and sinking your teeth into a new role really makes up for some of the cringey dialogue. I find Meredith to be the most interesting character to me and I wish we knew more about Richard and why he went from pretentious older brother figure to full blown abusive tyrant but all in all, this was truly great and I plan on reading it again soon.

Shoutout to two truly inspired stagings of Shakespeare: Rio’s visions for Macbeth and King Lear sound phenomenal and I’d happily watch either in real life.

skerima ,

Only read if you are mentally stable

This is a masterpiece. Literally can’t say more I just finished it and I am in shock so much that I feel like a have a empty hole in my gut. I am also balling. ANYWAYS, this book is amazing in every way and I’m going to now not sleep for the next two weeks due to the now permanent hole in my heart😝

DownBadJake ,

11/10

If you like mysteries, drop what you’re doing and read this. I couldn’t put it down, it kept me enthralled until I finished.

More Books Like This

Dead Ringer (A Gaslamp Gothic Victorian Paranormal Mystery) Dead Ringer (A Gaslamp Gothic Victorian Paranormal Mystery)
2019
The Haunting of Maddy Clare The Haunting of Maddy Clare
2012
Forgotten Forgotten
2015
Thicker Than Water Thicker Than Water
2018
A Good and Happy Child A Good and Happy Child
2007
Not Forgiven Not Forgiven
2019

More Books by M. L. Rio

In These Hallowed Halls: A Dark Academia anthology In These Hallowed Halls: A Dark Academia anthology
2023
Graveyard Shift Graveyard Shift
2024
If we were villains If we were villains
2018
If We Were Villains. Wenn aus Freunden Feinde werden If We Were Villains. Wenn aus Freunden Feinde werden
2023

Customers Also Bought

The Secret History The Secret History
1992
Bunny Bunny
2019
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife In My Dreams I Hold a Knife
2021
These Violent Delights These Violent Delights
2020
Vicious Vicious
2013
The Atlas Six The Atlas Six
2021