Marion has stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works to help her sister escape an abusive marriage, but when the bus breaks down late at night, the only place with vacancies is an old set of cabins run by a charming young innkeeper named Norm. When Norm pulls back the shower curtain with a knife, Marion doesn’t scream, she knees him, grabs the blade, and stabs the life out of him. Now she’s not just a thief but a killer, and she has to figure out how to save both herself and her sister while outrunning everything she’s done.
I really enjoyed this one and on audio it was excellent. The narrator was great and really brought the story to life. I’d highly recommend going the audiobook route if you can. It’s fast paced, dark, and genuinely fun in a way that surprised me. If you’re a fan of Psycho this is a must read, but even if it’s been a while since you’ve seen the original (it’s been years for me and I can’t fully remember everything that happened), there’s more than enough here to keep you hooked.
We switch between Marion’s POV and the eyes of Hannah, a PI who’s just trying to give parents answers and closure. The two perspectives were easy to distinguish and I loved how they ended up tying together by the end. Marion herself was my favorite part of this whole book. She’s feisty, she’s angry, and her rage at men really comes through in a way that made me want to cheer for her even when things got dark. She’s no victim in this version and that energy carries the entire story.
Since it is a retelling you have a general sense of what’s coming, and there are definitely similarities to the source material. But Rowan keeps the story fresh enough that it never feels like you’re just reading a beat-for-beat recreation. There’s plenty of new territory here so don’t go in expecting it to be exactly like the original. It stands on its own.
If you’re looking for something fast, dark, and a little unhinged with a feminist edge, this is a really solid pick. Great on audio, easy to binge, and Marion as a character is worth the read alone.
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★★★
Marion is out now . Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
