S. F. Prescott

Unexpected, tense, and fast-paced.

Leah Rowan is an author living in Brooklyn and the Catskills. Marion is her forthcoming thriller.

This was such a fun feminist spin on the classic thriller, Psycho, filled with quick wit and a propulsive plot. I’m so grateful for receiving an early copy from St. Martin’s Press, and can’t recommend this book enough!

I thought I had an idea before diving into this story, but I’m happy to report that it surprised me in all the best ways. I loved everything about the twist, Marion’s unpredicatable personality, the fierce loyalty she has for her sister, and even the private detective on the hunt in the alternating chapters. A dual narrative and timeline are always a hit for me. The characters were also unique and interesting, and I rooted for them all (except Norm!). The way the details came together in the end felt so satisfying and interesting, including Norm’s family dynamics. It was because of this deviation from Hitchcock’s story that I felt intrigued, unsure what would happen next and compelled to continue reading. The pace was steady, the author’s voice was compelling, and I couldn’t put it down. Congrats on a thrilling debut!

Synopsis:

NORMAN WAS HER FIRST…

Marion is in deep. She’s stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works in a desperate bid to help her sister escape an abusive marriage, but the bus breaks down before she can make it to Saratoga Springs. It’s late at night, and the only place with vacancies is an old set of cabins on the outskirts of town. She pays for a room in cash, and ends up chatting with Norm, the young innkeeper who’s handsome, charming and a touch hung-up on his elderly mother. Back in her room, she steps into the shower, scrubbing off the late-summer heat, when the curtain is pulled back…

Norm Billings is there with a knife. He raises his arm to strike, but before he does, Marion knees him in the balls, grabs the knife, and stabs the life out of him. Now, she’s covered in blood, and she’s a woman on the run―not just a thief, but a killer, too. Where will she go? How will she save both herself and her sister? And what mysteries will she uncover as she does?