Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Allison Epstein's books

341 ratings | 169 reviews | avg rating:5.00

Allison’s Year In Books

Allison’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Allison’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Allison’s 2025 Year in Books

Allison Epstein’s Followers (346)

Allison’s Bookshelves

to-read (24)
currently-reading (0)
read (924)
did-not-finish (0)
arcs (64)
big-yell-books (22)
favorites (31)

Allison’s Friends (142)

Lori

3,538 books | 51 friends

K.S. Trenten

4,045 books | 71 friends

Sairey Pickering

1,374 books | 193 friends

Amanda

6,079 books | 43 friends

Hema Karunakaram

357 books | 89 friends

Elizabeth Vukelich

525 books | 83 friends

Jon Michael

876 books | 95 friends

Andy

826 books | 54 friends

More friends…

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Allison has read 32 of 65 books.

49%

Allison Epstein

Goodreads Author

Born

in Lansing, Michigan, The United States

Website

http://www.allisonepstein.com

Twitter

rapscallison

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fiction

Member Since

June 2012

edit data

Allison Epstein earned her M.F.A. in fiction from Northwestern University and a B.A. in creative writing and Renaissance literature from the University of Michigan. A Michigan native, she now lives in Chicago, where she enjoys good theater, bad puns, and fancy jackets. She is the author of A Tip for the Hangman, Let the Dead Bury the Dead, and Fagin the Thief. You can find her on Substack at rapscallison.substack.com.

(Goodreads Note: I use this site as a tracker of what I read in a year. I either rate books 5 stars or I don't rate them. Many books I don't rate, I enjoyed very much!) ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Allison Epstein questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Allison Epstein’s books

Average rating: 3.94 · 5,223 ratings · 997 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	Fagin the Thief 4.10 avg rating — 2,404 ratings — published 2025 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Tip for the Hangman 3.82 avg rating — 2,366 ratings — published 2021 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Let the Dead Bury the Dead 3.64 avg rating — 420 ratings — published 2023 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	200 CCs: Year One by Paul A. Hamilton (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Scarlett R. Algee (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Constantine de Boudox (Contributor) 4.18 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2017	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Goddesses of the Sea: A Mermaid and Sea Maiden Anthology by Jetse de Vries (Goodreads Author), Doug Russell, Allison Epstein (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Luna Station Quarterly: Issue 038 by Jennifer Lyn Parsons (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Tianna Ebnet, Maria Zoccola (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bloodbond May 2018 by J.G. Formato (Goodreads Author) (Editor), J.G. Formato (Goodreads Author), Allison Epstein (Goodreads Author) 3.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2018	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Timeworn Literary Journal, Issue 3, October 2020 by Allison Epstein (Goodreads Author), Kristen Loesch (Goodreads Author), Josefa Corpuz it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hypertrophic Literary - Winter 2018 by Hypertrophic Press, Caitlin Wolper (Goodreads Author), Nathan Willis 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fagin the Thief: A Novel 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Allison Epstein…

Here at Goodreads World Headquarters, we sort through a lot of books each month. Our monthly Readers' Most Anticipated Books feature is exactly...

rss
Allison’s Recent Updates

Allison finished reading Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza by Mosab Abu Toha (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19 hours, 14 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Allison finished reading Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 26, 2026 12:45PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Allison is currently reading Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 19, 2026 07:13PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Allison is currently reading Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza by Mosab Abu Toha (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 19, 2026 07:13PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Allison finished reading Prodigal Sons: A Novel by David Saul Bergman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 19, 2026 08:11AM · like
Allison wants to read Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 17, 2026 06:07PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Allison is currently reading Prodigal Sons: A Novel by David Saul Bergman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 15, 2026 06:28PM · like
Allison finished reading Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 14, 2026 06:13PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Allison is currently reading Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 13, 2026 04:52AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Allison wants to read The Need by Helen Phillips (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 08, 2026 05:51AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Need by Helen Phillips. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Need by Helen Phillips <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Allison's books…

Quotes by Allison Epstein (?)

“Men and women pass by in the street, shadows that avert their gaze and adjust their paths. Maybe they don’t hear him. Maybe they do. Just as his survival depends on hiding his tears until it’s safe to drop them, maybe theirs depends on not taking any grief that isn’t their responsibility. Children have been orphaned before today. More will be orphaned tomorrow. It’s only to him that the pain feels unprecedented.”
― Allison Epstein, Fagin the Thief

2 likes

“She’s not particularly good as an artist, but the drawings give her pleasure in an otherwise dull life, and he doesn’t know what else art is supposed to achieve beyond that.”
― Allison Epstein, Fagin the Thief

1 likes

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Around the Year i...: Sam's 20-21 Winter Reading Challenge	3	19	Dec 12, 2020 09:13PM
Historical Myster...: New Releases in Historical Mysteries (2021)	59	156	Nov 14, 2021 07:20AM
A Million More Pages: Yokai and Japanese Mythology	126	140	Nov 21, 2021 06:46PM
The Seasonal Read...: * Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD	3029	300	Nov 30, 2021 09:01PM
Reading with Style: FA 21 Completed Tasks	1051	73	Nov 30, 2021 09:01PM
A Million More Pages: Historical/Historical Fiction	58	93	Dec 02, 2021 07:03PM
A Million More Pages: Mythological Monster Spell-Out	179	185	Dec 03, 2021 07:06PM
Around the Year i...: Best Books of February 2021	49	320	Jan 26, 2022 07:00AM
All Challenges Al...: Longmire Spell Challenge	127	87	Nov 05, 2023 05:49AM

More…

Allison’s Friend Comments

No comments have been added yet.

Allison’s Year In Books

Allison Epstein’s Followers (346)

Allison’s Bookshelves

Allison’s Friends (142)

2026 Reading Challenge

Allison Epstein

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine Editions
Allison Epstein’s books

Related News

rss
Allison’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha

See a Problem?

Preview — Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett

See a Problem?

Preview — Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett

See a Problem?

Preview — Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha

See a Problem?

Preview — Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

See a Problem?

Preview — Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon

See a Problem?

Preview — Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon

See a Problem?

Preview — The Need by Helen Phillips

Topics Mentioning This Author

recent posts
Allison’s Groups

Allison’s Friend Comments

Allison Epstein’s Followers (346)

Allison Epstein

Goodreads Author

Popular Answered Questions

Related News

rssAllison’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha

See a Problem?

Preview — Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett

See a Problem?

Preview — Mom Brain by Nicole Hackett

See a Problem?

Preview — Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha

See a Problem?

Preview — Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

See a Problem?

Preview — Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon

See a Problem?

Preview — Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon

See a Problem?

Preview — The Need by Helen Phillips

Topics Mentioning This Author

rss
Allison’s Recent Updates