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A Novel Crime
She wanted to write the perfect novel. Instead, she became the perfect villain.
Struggling romance writer and recent divorcée Marcy Jo Codburn feels like a failure. She’s green with author envy and longing for a book deal, a launch party with cupcakes, and the admiration of her daughter. But her dream of literary success is fading faster than her beige hair dye. When she witnesses celebrated author Francesca Barber in a compromising position, Marcy sees her chance. Transforming into Summer Branigan, her bolder, blonder pen name, she leverages Francesca’s secret to secure the ultimate coauthor.
As their collaboration spirals from Marcy’s modest Connecticut home to Francesca’s lavish Hamptons estate, both women discover that in the cutthroat world of publishing, every story has its price. With looming deadlines, a kidnapping plot gone awry, and more than one fraud to hide, their twisted partnership careens toward a surprise ending neither could have written.
In this darkly comic page-turner, critically acclaimed author Deborah Levison skewers the publishing industry with razor-sharp wit. A Novel Crime asks just how far an aspiring writer will go to see her name on a book jacket—and what happens when the stories we tell start to write themselves.
Struggling romance writer and recent divorcée Marcy Jo Codburn feels like a failure. She’s green with author envy and longing for a book deal, a launch party with cupcakes, and the admiration of her daughter. But her dream of literary success is fading faster than her beige hair dye. When she witnesses celebrated author Francesca Barber in a compromising position, Marcy sees her chance. Transforming into Summer Branigan, her bolder, blonder pen name, she leverages Francesca’s secret to secure the ultimate coauthor.
As their collaboration spirals from Marcy’s modest Connecticut home to Francesca’s lavish Hamptons estate, both women discover that in the cutthroat world of publishing, every story has its price. With looming deadlines, a kidnapping plot gone awry, and more than one fraud to hide, their twisted partnership careens toward a surprise ending neither could have written.
In this darkly comic page-turner, critically acclaimed author Deborah Levison skewers the publishing industry with razor-sharp wit. A Novel Crime asks just how far an aspiring writer will go to see her name on a book jacket—and what happens when the stories we tell start to write themselves.
335 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Deborah Vadas Levison
4 books50 followersAlso known as Deborah Levison
For as long as I can remember I’ve dreamed of being an author, the same way some little kids dream of being ballerinas or Major Leaguers. Well, I don’t pirouette, and I sure can’t hit a ball, but from time to time I do come up with a pretty good metaphor.
I’m pretty sure my love of storytelling began one summer night years ago, as I sat by a camp bonfire and listened to a counselor tell a ghost story, The Monkey’s Paw, which made my heart pound and my imagination run wild. The memory still makes me shiver.
I'd love to hear from you!
For as long as I can remember I’ve dreamed of being an author, the same way some little kids dream of being ballerinas or Major Leaguers. Well, I don’t pirouette, and I sure can’t hit a ball, but from time to time I do come up with a pretty good metaphor.
I’m pretty sure my love of storytelling began one summer night years ago, as I sat by a camp bonfire and listened to a counselor tell a ghost story, The Monkey’s Paw, which made my heart pound and my imagination run wild. The memory still makes me shiver.
I'd love to hear from you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 12, 2026
A satirical-esque escapade through one heck of a list of crazy a** antics and laugh-out-loud funny schemes, A Novel Crime was both wildly addictive and darkly comedic. At the same time, it was also drama-fueled, scandalous, and something you could easily see gracing the pages of a less-than-reputable Hollywood rag. Don’t get me wrong, this book most definitely required me to suspend all disbelief as I watched a deliciously unhinged narrator descend into madness. A *chef’s kiss* morally gray character, who I initially looked at with shock and derision, she took one’s darkest desires and actually followed through with a bunch of giggle-worthy-meets-jaw-dropping behavior that made me fall for her hook, line, and sinker by the end. After all, her actions took being over-the-top to a whole other level all while keeping me rooting for Marcy. And Summer.
As for the plot of this hilarious read, I instantly fell for the metafictional premise. Taking us into the mind of a struggling not-yet-published author, the imposter syndrome was real and felt utterly true-to-life. Don’t get me wrong, my former statement still stands as Levison consistently took the dramatics up a notch as the page count grew higher. Witty, smart, and fun, this was the perfect kind of novel for fans of Elle Cosimano. With quirky characters, high stakes, and chaotic lives, it was a quick, easy read that I couldn’t put down. So if you like seeing what it would look like if the brakes were taken off a train, setting one’s wildest desires within grasp, you’ll love this story just as much as I did. After all, it was a scathing commentary on ambition, self-worth, and female empowerment that was the perfect palate cleanser for this reader. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Struggling romance writer and recent divorcée Marcy Jo Codburn feels like a failure. She’s green with author envy and longing for a book deal, a launch party with cupcakes, and the admiration of her daughter. But her dream of literary success is fading faster than her beige hair dye. When she witnesses celebrated author Francesca Barber in a compromising position, Marcy sees her chance. Transforming into Summer Branigan, her bolder, blonder pen name, she leverages Francesca’s secret to secure the ultimate coauthor.
As their collaboration spirals from Marcy’s modest Connecticut home to Francesca’s lavish Hamptons estate, both women discover that in the cutthroat world of publishing, every story has its price. With looming deadlines, a kidnapping plot gone awry, and more than one fraud to hide, their twisted partnership careens toward a surprise ending neither could have written.
Thank you Deborah Levison and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 31, 2026
Content warning: infidelity, blackmail, kidnapping, forced confinement, stalking, knife violence, murder, death
As for the plot of this hilarious read, I instantly fell for the metafictional premise. Taking us into the mind of a struggling not-yet-published author, the imposter syndrome was real and felt utterly true-to-life. Don’t get me wrong, my former statement still stands as Levison consistently took the dramatics up a notch as the page count grew higher. Witty, smart, and fun, this was the perfect kind of novel for fans of Elle Cosimano. With quirky characters, high stakes, and chaotic lives, it was a quick, easy read that I couldn’t put down. So if you like seeing what it would look like if the brakes were taken off a train, setting one’s wildest desires within grasp, you’ll love this story just as much as I did. After all, it was a scathing commentary on ambition, self-worth, and female empowerment that was the perfect palate cleanser for this reader. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Struggling romance writer and recent divorcée Marcy Jo Codburn feels like a failure. She’s green with author envy and longing for a book deal, a launch party with cupcakes, and the admiration of her daughter. But her dream of literary success is fading faster than her beige hair dye. When she witnesses celebrated author Francesca Barber in a compromising position, Marcy sees her chance. Transforming into Summer Branigan, her bolder, blonder pen name, she leverages Francesca’s secret to secure the ultimate coauthor.
As their collaboration spirals from Marcy’s modest Connecticut home to Francesca’s lavish Hamptons estate, both women discover that in the cutthroat world of publishing, every story has its price. With looming deadlines, a kidnapping plot gone awry, and more than one fraud to hide, their twisted partnership careens toward a surprise ending neither could have written.
Thank you Deborah Levison and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 31, 2026
Content warning: infidelity, blackmail, kidnapping, forced confinement, stalking, knife violence, murder, death
February 17, 2026
3.5
It was an interesting story! I didn’t know if we hated the FMC or were rooting for her. The story maybe wasn’t exactly unique but it was a fun ride! If you love books about book/authors, add it to your list!
It was an interesting story! I didn’t know if we hated the FMC or were rooting for her. The story maybe wasn’t exactly unique but it was a fun ride! If you love books about book/authors, add it to your list!
March 25, 2026
This book??? absolutely unhinged (complimentary) 😵💫📚
A Novel Crime is one of those reads where you’re watching everything spiral out of control in the most chaotic, entertaining way—and you genuinely cannot look away. Between the book within a book vibes and the cutthroat publishing drama, I was immediately hooked.
Marcy Jo is… a mess. Francesca is also… a mess. Together?? disaster. iconic. I loved how everyone felt slightly unhinged and very much “love to hate,” which made every twist hit harder because you truly never knew what they’d do next.
The tone is super sharp and satirical with lots of dark humor and little puns woven in, and at times it honestly felt like watching a train wreck mixed with a Real Housewives fight 😂 messy, dramatic, and weirdly addictive. The mystery thread kept things moving, but for me the real star was the chaos.
if you like:
📚 books about books
🍿 messy drama
😈 morally questionable women
🎭 dark humor + satire
→ you’ll eat this up
A Novel Crime is one of those reads where you’re watching everything spiral out of control in the most chaotic, entertaining way—and you genuinely cannot look away. Between the book within a book vibes and the cutthroat publishing drama, I was immediately hooked.
Marcy Jo is… a mess. Francesca is also… a mess. Together?? disaster. iconic. I loved how everyone felt slightly unhinged and very much “love to hate,” which made every twist hit harder because you truly never knew what they’d do next.
The tone is super sharp and satirical with lots of dark humor and little puns woven in, and at times it honestly felt like watching a train wreck mixed with a Real Housewives fight 😂 messy, dramatic, and weirdly addictive. The mystery thread kept things moving, but for me the real star was the chaos.
if you like:
📚 books about books
🍿 messy drama
😈 morally questionable women
🎭 dark humor + satire
→ you’ll eat this up
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5 stars
This book is Dark Humor/Women’s Fiction.
It is dark comedy satire featuring a morally gray main character.
The book is about Marcy a struggling debut romance author trying to write her first book (historical romance).
It asks the question “how far would an aspiring author go to get her book published?” And in Marcy’s case the answer is “very far”! The lengths that Marcy goes to in this book shocked me.
The book looks at mother/daughter relationships. It is about women empowerment. It focuses a lot on the world of publishing.
The book features a satirical look at publishing and a tongue-in-cheek crime caper. There are crimes, but no mystery.
Marcy meets successful author Francesca and connives her way into getting Francesca to help her with her book. I liked everything to do with the publishing world. But a lot of this book is so over the top.
I found the relationship between Marcy and her daughter Bea to be interesting. I was also intrigued with Francesca’s relationship with her daughter Aspen.
I went into this book expecting a mystery. This book is not a mystery or a thriller. Even though I like going into books blind I find knowing the genre is important to me. I think that if you go into the book understanding what it is then it is such a fun read!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
This book is Dark Humor/Women’s Fiction.
It is dark comedy satire featuring a morally gray main character.
The book is about Marcy a struggling debut romance author trying to write her first book (historical romance).
It asks the question “how far would an aspiring author go to get her book published?” And in Marcy’s case the answer is “very far”! The lengths that Marcy goes to in this book shocked me.
The book looks at mother/daughter relationships. It is about women empowerment. It focuses a lot on the world of publishing.
The book features a satirical look at publishing and a tongue-in-cheek crime caper. There are crimes, but no mystery.
Marcy meets successful author Francesca and connives her way into getting Francesca to help her with her book. I liked everything to do with the publishing world. But a lot of this book is so over the top.
I found the relationship between Marcy and her daughter Bea to be interesting. I was also intrigued with Francesca’s relationship with her daughter Aspen.
I went into this book expecting a mystery. This book is not a mystery or a thriller. Even though I like going into books blind I find knowing the genre is important to me. I think that if you go into the book understanding what it is then it is such a fun read!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
March 31, 2026
Entertaining but honestly this cozy mystery won't be a super memorable read for me this year. An aspiring author ends up blackmailing her best-selling author hero and finds herself embroiled in a coverup scheme that has her questioning her own morals and whether she actually has the chops to be a true author. The audio narration by Tanya Eby was great and I was hooked from the start but parts of the story felt formulaic and overall it was just an okay read for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
October 22, 2025
#ANovelCrime #NetGalley is an exciting page turner that kept me reading until I finished it.
Marcy Jo is an aspiring author, however, she can't seem to get her words to form an actual story.
When she finds the opportunity to force another author to help write her book, things spiral out of control and Marcy finds herself involved in a bizarre partnership that could end everything for her.
This story is so well done, the author truly brought the characters to life, and I really loved reading this book.
Marcy Jo is an aspiring author, however, she can't seem to get her words to form an actual story.
When she finds the opportunity to force another author to help write her book, things spiral out of control and Marcy finds herself involved in a bizarre partnership that could end everything for her.
This story is so well done, the author truly brought the characters to life, and I really loved reading this book.
December 20, 2025
This was an engaging mystery read. I loved the overall concept of this book and I appreciated the author’s witty writing style. This book was packed with twists and turns making this one a fun read. I liked this book’s cast of characters and enjoyed reading from her point of view. Overall this was a good book that readers won’t want to put down.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy.
April 16, 2026
I am 40% into this book, and I am so bored. Everyone says this book is unhinged, but it is not done well. This is trying to pull of the subtle art of trying to make you believe the narrarator is correct and slowly going into the wrong little by little. However, she is just manipulative and a bad writer. She deserves not to be published and her walking into a situation ahe can blackmail for does not make her more deserving. We are suppose to feel bad for her for putting her dreams on the back burner for her husband and child. I would if she was written better, but she comes off as whiny and selfish rather than self sacrificing. I just couldn't care less. I hope she gets caught for the murder that will eventually happen?
January 19, 2026
This was so much fun! How far would YOU go, to become a published author? Frustrated wanna be bestselling romance author, Marcy Jo, is desperate to 'make it'. She has so much to prove to her daughter, her ex husband, and herself. The opportunity arises when she catches her idol, superstar author Francesca Barber, in a compromising situation. She now has leverage to force Francesca to help her finish writing her novel. What follows is a madcap caper of mayhem and comedic madness, that culminates into an ending that no one saw coming. Or did they?
November 23, 2025
3.5 stars
Many people have dreams, and sometimes those dreams seem particularly farfetched. For Marcy, it's really the way she tries to achieve her dreams that's so out there, but that's what makes this a pretty amusing read.
Marcy is at a transitional stage in her life. Her marriage has broken apart, her daughter is graduating from college but not exactly matching the hopes Marcy had for her in terms of her partner or professional choices, and Marcy is ready to make her own professional goal come true: realtor no more, author here we come! In a moment of inspo, Marcy joins her informal writers' gathering at an event featuring a well-known writer, Francesca. Marcy manages to get a leg up on Francesca during this event, and boy is it clear that Marcy likes to go to extremes pretty quickly. Nothing about how she handles herself seems typical or healthy. Some of this has to do with Marcy's own proclivities, but a lot of it has to do with Marcy's feeling that she's generally missed the boat and is, to some degree, owed something. Marcy isn't exactly likeable, but she did remind me of a lot of folks in the generation before mine, and I think many people will find her sympathetic for this reason or highly amusing because of how much of her drama is self-created.
The manner in which things spiral is in some ways foreseeable but is ultimately still surprising because of how extreme the outcomes and choices become. This all culminates in a satisfying ending that is also chaotic.
I enjoyed this wacky read and recommend it to folks who are looking for entertainment versus solemnity in their cozy.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Many people have dreams, and sometimes those dreams seem particularly farfetched. For Marcy, it's really the way she tries to achieve her dreams that's so out there, but that's what makes this a pretty amusing read.
Marcy is at a transitional stage in her life. Her marriage has broken apart, her daughter is graduating from college but not exactly matching the hopes Marcy had for her in terms of her partner or professional choices, and Marcy is ready to make her own professional goal come true: realtor no more, author here we come! In a moment of inspo, Marcy joins her informal writers' gathering at an event featuring a well-known writer, Francesca. Marcy manages to get a leg up on Francesca during this event, and boy is it clear that Marcy likes to go to extremes pretty quickly. Nothing about how she handles herself seems typical or healthy. Some of this has to do with Marcy's own proclivities, but a lot of it has to do with Marcy's feeling that she's generally missed the boat and is, to some degree, owed something. Marcy isn't exactly likeable, but she did remind me of a lot of folks in the generation before mine, and I think many people will find her sympathetic for this reason or highly amusing because of how much of her drama is self-created.
The manner in which things spiral is in some ways foreseeable but is ultimately still surprising because of how extreme the outcomes and choices become. This all culminates in a satisfying ending that is also chaotic.
I enjoyed this wacky read and recommend it to folks who are looking for entertainment versus solemnity in their cozy.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
April 6, 2026
I had no idea what to expect with this one, and my goodness it was such a fun read! Tanya Eby did a fantastic job with the narration, and this was funny, dark, and just overall entertaining and wild! It starts off with an awk regency type romance scene and I was questioning what I had signed up for, but I was not worried for long, as we quickly learn our MFC Marcy Jo Codburn is struggling to get the book deal she feels she deserves, and the rest of her life is on that same trajectory. Feels like we are ripe for some shenanigans and sure enough, when she sees Francesca Barber, an author whose shoes she’d LOVE to be in, doing something she probably shouldn’t be doing, well Marcy wastes no time becoming Summer Branigan, her more confident blonder pen name, and off we go. Basically ‘leveraging’ Francesca’s secret to secure the best coauthor to help finish her story all while pretending her life is business as usual.
I could not get enough of this book, chuckled many times, and did not see how Marcy was going to get herself out of her messes, and it was such a great time the entire way through. This was definitely a one-sitting read for me, once I started I was HOOKED and could not stop listening, I had to know how this was all going to end, and it seriously did not disappoint! What a fun time this one was, I highly recommend adding it to your list if you have not already.
Thank you to the author Deborah Levison and Amazon Publishing #partner for the gifted copy and to Brilliance Audio for the ALC to review.
I could not get enough of this book, chuckled many times, and did not see how Marcy was going to get herself out of her messes, and it was such a great time the entire way through. This was definitely a one-sitting read for me, once I started I was HOOKED and could not stop listening, I had to know how this was all going to end, and it seriously did not disappoint! What a fun time this one was, I highly recommend adding it to your list if you have not already.
Thank you to the author Deborah Levison and Amazon Publishing #partner for the gifted copy and to Brilliance Audio for the ALC to review.
March 18, 2026
A Novel Crime has an interesting premise where a wannabe author blackmails her idol into helping her write a book. It is also about a mother trying to connect with her daughter that has now grown up and moving away from home. For the first quarter of the book, I was hooked. As a fellow wannabe author, I could empathize with Marcy with her insecurity and depression over not being good enough. Her struggles to connect with Bea also hit me in the heart as a mother.
However, by the halfway point I found myself disliking Marcy so much, which made it difficult at times to stay motivated to keep reading. She goes from slightly kooky to completely batshit crazy and while I'm always down for an unhinged FMC, her actions were usually hurting people who didn't deserve it.
The story also takes a rather ridiculous turn near the end and I don't know if it was a fun time or just a trainwreck I couldn't turn away from.
That said, despite my frustrations with the main character and some of the plot choices, I did keep reading and ultimately finished the book. It was entertaining enough to hold my attention most of the way through, even if I felt like strangling Marcy half the time.
Overall, I’d rate it 3 stars. If you like a dark comedy thriller with a character you will love to hate, pick this one up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
However, by the halfway point I found myself disliking Marcy so much, which made it difficult at times to stay motivated to keep reading. She goes from slightly kooky to completely batshit crazy and while I'm always down for an unhinged FMC, her actions were usually hurting people who didn't deserve it.
The story also takes a rather ridiculous turn near the end and I don't know if it was a fun time or just a trainwreck I couldn't turn away from.
That said, despite my frustrations with the main character and some of the plot choices, I did keep reading and ultimately finished the book. It was entertaining enough to hold my attention most of the way through, even if I felt like strangling Marcy half the time.
Overall, I’d rate it 3 stars. If you like a dark comedy thriller with a character you will love to hate, pick this one up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 14, 2026
This one took me a little time to get into, but once I settled into the tone of the story, I started enjoying it a lot more. It’s very much a satirical take on crimes of passion, and there were quite a few moments where I caught myself smirking at the absurdity of it all. The story also gives an interesting peek into the world of writing and publishing, the ambition, desperation, ego, and chaos behind the scenes, which made it even more entertaining to follow.
I listened to this one on audio, and the narrator honestly did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Some scenes felt almost theatrical in the best way possible. It’s the kind of story where you slowly get pulled into the messiness of the characters’ decisions while also being weirdly amused by how far things spiral out of control.
I listened to this one on audio, and the narrator honestly did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Some scenes felt almost theatrical in the best way possible. It’s the kind of story where you slowly get pulled into the messiness of the characters’ decisions while also being weirdly amused by how far things spiral out of control.
May 2, 2026
This book is such a fun read with plenty of moments you’ll be laughing out loud and plenty of moments you’ll be cringing. This is not a book filled with likable characters, but given the plot they aren’t meant to be likable. The greatest thing about this is while Ms. Levison has created such unlikable characters she has also crafted a story that is hysterical and captivating. This has a little bit of everything and it all comes together in such a wonderful way.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Deborah Levison for an advanced copy of this. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. A Novel Crime hit the shelves on March 31st.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Deborah Levison for an advanced copy of this. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. A Novel Crime hit the shelves on March 31st.
March 26, 2026
Thank you @deborahlevisonauthor for sending me a #gifted copy of your book!
Struggling romance writer Marcy Jo Codburn, desperate for success after her divorce, seizes an opportunity when she uncovers a scandal involving bestselling author Francesca Barber. Reinventing herself as her bold alter ego, Summer Branigan, she blackmails her way into a high-stakes coauthor partnership that quickly spirals out of control. As secrets mount and their ambition turns dangerous, both women are forced to confront just how far they’re willing to go for fame—and what it might ultimately cost them.
These two main characters are an absolute hot mess, and the chaos they create is hilarious in the most unhinged, over-the-top way. There were a few twists that genuinely caught me off guard, and the ending totally surprised me, in the best way. It felt exactly right and honestly couldn’t have been done better. I also loved getting inside Marcy’s (or should I say Summer’s) head; the way she thinks is so interesting to follow.
Struggling romance writer Marcy Jo Codburn, desperate for success after her divorce, seizes an opportunity when she uncovers a scandal involving bestselling author Francesca Barber. Reinventing herself as her bold alter ego, Summer Branigan, she blackmails her way into a high-stakes coauthor partnership that quickly spirals out of control. As secrets mount and their ambition turns dangerous, both women are forced to confront just how far they’re willing to go for fame—and what it might ultimately cost them.
These two main characters are an absolute hot mess, and the chaos they create is hilarious in the most unhinged, over-the-top way. There were a few twists that genuinely caught me off guard, and the ending totally surprised me, in the best way. It felt exactly right and honestly couldn’t have been done better. I also loved getting inside Marcy’s (or should I say Summer’s) head; the way she thinks is so interesting to follow.
April 5, 2026
Marcy wants to be recognized as a successful writer although she has never published a story, her idol is Francesca Barber an acclaimed novelist who creates characters very similar to the ones Marcy does. Their lives will be intertwined once Marcy discovers the truth. A Novel Crime is written with dark humor and makes a sharp dive into the realm of publishing which makes it an interesting read.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
March 10, 2026
Finished reading: March 8th 2026
"I know, I know, you probably think I'm bonkers. But I'm just doing everything Francesca asked. Seriously, wouldn't you have done the exact same thing?"
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
WARNING: it's unpopular opinion time again!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Novel Crime by Deborah Vadas Levison
Between 3.5 and 4 out of 5 stars
A novel crime is a really fun, witty and 'wtf' kind of a book. I have only read Deborah's debut novel A Nest of Snakes and that book is a bloody masterpiece. It is so subtle and so incredibly heartbreaking. It is one of the best books I have ever read. So when they reached out and asked me to read A Novel Crime I couldn't say yes quickly enough. I knew it would be completely different. So I was really excited to see how much I would love this genre and new approach Deborah used in her writing style.
And it really surprised me. It's a mystery thriller and I must admit I haven't read a lot of thrillers in my life. So this book wasn't really for me, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
The book starts with Marcy Jo Codburn working hard on her debut novel. She always had literary aspirations but when she got married she put her dreams on hold to support her husband completely in his field of work. Years have gone by and he left her for a man. They share a beautiful adult daughter and have found happiness in their new situation.
Marcy dreams of success, being at number one on bestseller lists and she dreams of lots of money and a lot of adoration. I instantly sense her full focus on that dream and we quickly find out that she isn't afraid of doing risky things to achieve her dreams.
Marcy is also part of a writers group. She, Liisa, Toni and Mike meet up once a week to discuss their books and the progress they are making. It's a fun bunch and I love how genuinely supportive they all are.
They decide to go to a book event where they can meet the famous author Francesca Barber. And Marcy is in complete awe of her. When Francesca mentions she loves helping up and coming authors, Marcy instantly visualizes a deep friendship between them and she thinks Francesca will help her finish her book and be her stepping stone into the whirlwind life of a published author. And that is what kicks off this engaging story.
Everything changes when Marcy finds Francesca in a compromising situation and suddenly she has leverage.
Marcy thinks this is the beginning of a lifelong friendship and she eagerly emails Francesca. A few days later she gets a short and unhelpful email and anger rises up in her. She angrily calls her and she is absolutely fuming. When the call isn't going the way she wants it to go she threatens Francesca with spilling her secret and telling the world she is having an affair with the husband of her daughter. And Marcy instantly gives in and tries to soothe Marcy.
This book is truly a story of how far you are willing to go to reach your goals. How far would you go to get your book published? Marcy is very inventive and in her mind she is absolutely justified to chase Francesca because she promised to help her at the author event.
Things escalate quickly and Marcy worms herself into Francesca's life. She isn't afraid to intensify her blackmailing and is reeling in certain people close to Francesca as well.
I love how messed up this book is. And the insights into Marcy's brain were really fascinating. This book has a lot of twists and turns. At times you loathe characters and then suddenly you start to understand them and start to understand what is really going on and I was flabbergasted several times.
It's really an insight to how far you are willing to go for dreams and how far you go for the people you truly love. What do you accept and what do you ignore or justify?
It took me over half the book to really get into the story. But once I did it was a really enjoyable book. I think I do prefer Deborah's writing style in A Nest of Snakes. But I also understand that books like that are taxing to write and I get why authors don't wanna get consumed by those dark and dreadful thoughts.
So I am rating this one between 3.5 and 4 out of 5 stars!
Between 3.5 and 4 out of 5 stars
A novel crime is a really fun, witty and 'wtf' kind of a book. I have only read Deborah's debut novel A Nest of Snakes and that book is a bloody masterpiece. It is so subtle and so incredibly heartbreaking. It is one of the best books I have ever read. So when they reached out and asked me to read A Novel Crime I couldn't say yes quickly enough. I knew it would be completely different. So I was really excited to see how much I would love this genre and new approach Deborah used in her writing style.
And it really surprised me. It's a mystery thriller and I must admit I haven't read a lot of thrillers in my life. So this book wasn't really for me, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
The book starts with Marcy Jo Codburn working hard on her debut novel. She always had literary aspirations but when she got married she put her dreams on hold to support her husband completely in his field of work. Years have gone by and he left her for a man. They share a beautiful adult daughter and have found happiness in their new situation.
Marcy dreams of success, being at number one on bestseller lists and she dreams of lots of money and a lot of adoration. I instantly sense her full focus on that dream and we quickly find out that she isn't afraid of doing risky things to achieve her dreams.
Marcy is also part of a writers group. She, Liisa, Toni and Mike meet up once a week to discuss their books and the progress they are making. It's a fun bunch and I love how genuinely supportive they all are.
They decide to go to a book event where they can meet the famous author Francesca Barber. And Marcy is in complete awe of her. When Francesca mentions she loves helping up and coming authors, Marcy instantly visualizes a deep friendship between them and she thinks Francesca will help her finish her book and be her stepping stone into the whirlwind life of a published author. And that is what kicks off this engaging story.
Everything changes when Marcy finds Francesca in a compromising situation and suddenly she has leverage.
Marcy thinks this is the beginning of a lifelong friendship and she eagerly emails Francesca. A few days later she gets a short and unhelpful email and anger rises up in her. She angrily calls her and she is absolutely fuming. When the call isn't going the way she wants it to go she threatens Francesca with spilling her secret and telling the world she is having an affair with the husband of her daughter. And Marcy instantly gives in and tries to soothe Marcy.
This book is truly a story of how far you are willing to go to reach your goals. How far would you go to get your book published? Marcy is very inventive and in her mind she is absolutely justified to chase Francesca because she promised to help her at the author event.
Things escalate quickly and Marcy worms herself into Francesca's life. She isn't afraid to intensify her blackmailing and is reeling in certain people close to Francesca as well.
I love how messed up this book is. And the insights into Marcy's brain were really fascinating. This book has a lot of twists and turns. At times you loathe characters and then suddenly you start to understand them and start to understand what is really going on and I was flabbergasted several times.
It's really an insight to how far you are willing to go for dreams and how far you go for the people you truly love. What do you accept and what do you ignore or justify?
It took me over half the book to really get into the story. But once I did it was a really enjoyable book. I think I do prefer Deborah's writing style in A Nest of Snakes. But I also understand that books like that are taxing to write and I get why authors don't wanna get consumed by those dark and dreadful thoughts.
So I am rating this one between 3.5 and 4 out of 5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Marcy Jo Codburn is the literary equivalent of a slow-motion car crash on a cul-de-sac. She's not driving anywhere particularly fast, but good lord, the damage. This woman is freshly divorced, professionally beige, spiritually unmoored, and armed with a Word doc full of historical romance so badly written it should come with a trigger warning. She wants a book deal. She wants her daughter’s respect. She wants cupcakes and validation and a launch party where she doesn’t have to beg anyone to take an ARC. Instead, she gets blackmail, kidnapping, and the kind of co-writing arrangement that feels like it should require a restraining order and a lawyer with a shovel.
Now, I’m all for morally questionable women doing unhinged things for fame, but Marcy isn't so much morally gray as she is morally beige with a blood-red streak of delusion. The woman catches bestselling author Francesca Barber in a compromising situation, and her first thought isn’t, “Oh no.” It’s, “This is networking.” GIRL. That’s not ambition, that’s felony with a dream journal.
But here’s the kicker. It kind of works? In the same way watching someone build a house out of meatballs technically counts as construction. The whole story spirals so hard it leaves skid marks. Marcy rebrands herself as “Summer Branigan” (a name that sounds like it owns several Hermès-print scarves and emotionally manipulates baristas), and suddenly she’s in the Hamptons co-writing with Francesca like they’re not both sitting on a powder keg of secrets, grudges, and literary fraud.
The satire of the publishing industry is chef’s kiss, equal parts brutal and hilarious. If you’ve ever been to a writers’ conference where someone asked a keynote speaker “how to get published” and then argued about the answer, you’ll recognize the type. A Novel Crime skewers everything from fake author personas to book club politics, and it’s a joy watching it all burn. Also, the excerpts from Marcy’s own “novel” are so bad they circle back around to being iconic. It’s like she fed a historical romance to a blender, added glitter and trauma, and just hit send.
Now, let’s be honest. This book lives or dies by whether you can stomach Marcy. I found her compulsively readable in that way you can’t look away from a wedding toast that’s veering wildly off-script. She is selfish, delusional, insecure, and kinda trashy. But she’s also weirdly sincere. Her desire to prove herself, especially to her daughter, gives the story enough emotional grounding to keep it from just being a chaos comedy.
That said, this was almost a four-star ride for me until the last act swerved into a place that felt like the book was suddenly afraid of its own boldness. The plot gets so twisty that it stops being fun and starts being, “Wait, are we still playing by reality’s rules?” Which is fine, I guess, but don’t start with darkly comic brilliance and end with something that feels like a writer’s room on NyQuil.
Still, I had a blast. A Novel Crime is for people who like their mysteries with teeth, their heroines morally dubious, and their literary dreams soaked in vodka and poor decision-making. Is it perfect? No. Is it memorable? Absolutely. Like that one writer in your MFA program who you were lowkey afraid of but still wanted to grab drinks with.
3.5 stars, with extra points for the accidental comedy of Marcy’s writing excerpts and the fact that I now side-eye every co-authored book I see in Barnes & Noble.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Wonder If I Could Get Published If I Just Blackmailed Someone First
And hey, big shoutout to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC. Thank you for handing me this delicious little crime goblin of a book. I devoured it like Marcy at a launch party buffet, minus the felony charges.
Now, I’m all for morally questionable women doing unhinged things for fame, but Marcy isn't so much morally gray as she is morally beige with a blood-red streak of delusion. The woman catches bestselling author Francesca Barber in a compromising situation, and her first thought isn’t, “Oh no.” It’s, “This is networking.” GIRL. That’s not ambition, that’s felony with a dream journal.
But here’s the kicker. It kind of works? In the same way watching someone build a house out of meatballs technically counts as construction. The whole story spirals so hard it leaves skid marks. Marcy rebrands herself as “Summer Branigan” (a name that sounds like it owns several Hermès-print scarves and emotionally manipulates baristas), and suddenly she’s in the Hamptons co-writing with Francesca like they’re not both sitting on a powder keg of secrets, grudges, and literary fraud.
The satire of the publishing industry is chef’s kiss, equal parts brutal and hilarious. If you’ve ever been to a writers’ conference where someone asked a keynote speaker “how to get published” and then argued about the answer, you’ll recognize the type. A Novel Crime skewers everything from fake author personas to book club politics, and it’s a joy watching it all burn. Also, the excerpts from Marcy’s own “novel” are so bad they circle back around to being iconic. It’s like she fed a historical romance to a blender, added glitter and trauma, and just hit send.
Now, let’s be honest. This book lives or dies by whether you can stomach Marcy. I found her compulsively readable in that way you can’t look away from a wedding toast that’s veering wildly off-script. She is selfish, delusional, insecure, and kinda trashy. But she’s also weirdly sincere. Her desire to prove herself, especially to her daughter, gives the story enough emotional grounding to keep it from just being a chaos comedy.
That said, this was almost a four-star ride for me until the last act swerved into a place that felt like the book was suddenly afraid of its own boldness. The plot gets so twisty that it stops being fun and starts being, “Wait, are we still playing by reality’s rules?” Which is fine, I guess, but don’t start with darkly comic brilliance and end with something that feels like a writer’s room on NyQuil.
Still, I had a blast. A Novel Crime is for people who like their mysteries with teeth, their heroines morally dubious, and their literary dreams soaked in vodka and poor decision-making. Is it perfect? No. Is it memorable? Absolutely. Like that one writer in your MFA program who you were lowkey afraid of but still wanted to grab drinks with.
3.5 stars, with extra points for the accidental comedy of Marcy’s writing excerpts and the fact that I now side-eye every co-authored book I see in Barnes & Noble.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Wonder If I Could Get Published If I Just Blackmailed Someone First
And hey, big shoutout to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC. Thank you for handing me this delicious little crime goblin of a book. I devoured it like Marcy at a launch party buffet, minus the felony charges.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Deborah Levison’s A Novel Crime is the sort of book that settles in beside you like a cat with secrets and then casually knocks a glass off the table while maintaining eye contact.
Published by Thomas & Mercer, with sincere thanks to the author for my gifted copy, this novel delivered far more than I expected and exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
I went in thinking I was getting a witty mystery with a publishing-world hook. What I got instead was a darkly comic, sharply observant, mildly unhinged exploration of ambition, envy, and the quiet panic that sets in when you realize the life you planned has wandered off without you. Marcy Jo Codburn is not a cozy protagonist. She is prickly, self-justifying, and deeply unreliable in the way that feels uncomfortably human. I didn’t always like her, but I absolutely understood her, which is far more dangerous.
Marcy wants what so many creatives want: validation, recognition, and her name on a book jacket. Preferably with a launch party and cupcakes. When she stumbles into leverage over bestselling author Francesca Barber, she convinces herself she’s not doing anything wrong. She’s just evening the scales. Watching her rationalize each step of her descent was both hilarious and horrifying, like listening to a friend explain why texting their ex at 2 a.m. is actually a power move.
Levison’s satire of the publishing industry is razor sharp without tipping into bitterness. The jealousy, the posturing, the desperation disguised as confidence, it’s all here, laid out with wicked precision. The excerpts from Marcy’s own writing were especially funny, unintentionally so, and added another layer of cringe that made the whole experience richer. This book understands writers, even when it’s gently (or not so gently) skewering them.
The story moves briskly, escalating from awkward encounters to genuinely high-stakes chaos. There’s fraud, manipulation, a partnership that should never have existed, and consequences that spiral well beyond what anyone intended. The tension builds naturally, and while you can sense that things will not end neatly, the journey there is wildly entertaining. I found myself torn between wanting Marcy to succeed and wanting her to stop immediately and lie down.
One line in particular stuck with me: “She wanted to write the perfect novel. Instead, she became the perfect villain.” That sentence captures the entire soul of this book. It’s funny, sharp, and just a little too honest.
The ending won’t work for everyone, but I appreciated its refusal to play it safe. Life rarely wraps itself up with a bow, and neither does this story. A Novel Crime embraces the mess, the moral gray areas, and the uncomfortable truth that wanting something badly can turn you into someone you barely recognize.
This is a smart, biting, entertaining read for anyone who enjoys dark comedy, flawed women, and stories that look ambition straight in the eye and ask how much you’re willing to trade for it.
★★★★☆ 4.5 stars
#ANovelCrime #DeborahLevison #ThomasAndMercer #BookReview #MysteryThriller #DarkComedy #SatiricalFiction #GeneralFiction #NetGalley #ARCReview #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #WomenInFiction
Published by Thomas & Mercer, with sincere thanks to the author for my gifted copy, this novel delivered far more than I expected and exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
I went in thinking I was getting a witty mystery with a publishing-world hook. What I got instead was a darkly comic, sharply observant, mildly unhinged exploration of ambition, envy, and the quiet panic that sets in when you realize the life you planned has wandered off without you. Marcy Jo Codburn is not a cozy protagonist. She is prickly, self-justifying, and deeply unreliable in the way that feels uncomfortably human. I didn’t always like her, but I absolutely understood her, which is far more dangerous.
Marcy wants what so many creatives want: validation, recognition, and her name on a book jacket. Preferably with a launch party and cupcakes. When she stumbles into leverage over bestselling author Francesca Barber, she convinces herself she’s not doing anything wrong. She’s just evening the scales. Watching her rationalize each step of her descent was both hilarious and horrifying, like listening to a friend explain why texting their ex at 2 a.m. is actually a power move.
Levison’s satire of the publishing industry is razor sharp without tipping into bitterness. The jealousy, the posturing, the desperation disguised as confidence, it’s all here, laid out with wicked precision. The excerpts from Marcy’s own writing were especially funny, unintentionally so, and added another layer of cringe that made the whole experience richer. This book understands writers, even when it’s gently (or not so gently) skewering them.
The story moves briskly, escalating from awkward encounters to genuinely high-stakes chaos. There’s fraud, manipulation, a partnership that should never have existed, and consequences that spiral well beyond what anyone intended. The tension builds naturally, and while you can sense that things will not end neatly, the journey there is wildly entertaining. I found myself torn between wanting Marcy to succeed and wanting her to stop immediately and lie down.
One line in particular stuck with me: “She wanted to write the perfect novel. Instead, she became the perfect villain.” That sentence captures the entire soul of this book. It’s funny, sharp, and just a little too honest.
The ending won’t work for everyone, but I appreciated its refusal to play it safe. Life rarely wraps itself up with a bow, and neither does this story. A Novel Crime embraces the mess, the moral gray areas, and the uncomfortable truth that wanting something badly can turn you into someone you barely recognize.
This is a smart, biting, entertaining read for anyone who enjoys dark comedy, flawed women, and stories that look ambition straight in the eye and ask how much you’re willing to trade for it.
★★★★☆ 4.5 stars
#ANovelCrime #DeborahLevison #ThomasAndMercer #BookReview #MysteryThriller #DarkComedy #SatiricalFiction #GeneralFiction #NetGalley #ARCReview #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #WomenInFiction
April 19, 2026
Marcy Jo Codburn has done everything to become a famous romance novelist, including manifesting success and writing five chapters of a novel that isn’t heading anywhere. She dreams of a successful career under the pseudonym, Summer Branigan. Her day job as a realtor isn’t going well either. Even her college-going daughter Bea considers her father, Marcy’s ex-husband Kevin, her favourite parent.
When Francesca Barber, the most successful novelist in America, embarks on a multi-city tour, Marcy and her three writing group mates decide to go see her. When Marcy catches Francesca making out with Tabi Benlolo, the Portuguese star of the movie version of Francesca’s books and the husband of her daughter Aspen, Francesca thinks Marcy has clicked a picture of them, and offers to help with Marcy’s manuscript.
Suddenly, Marcy’s life is looking up. Francesca is reading her manuscript and she has a potentially lucrative listing. It’s possible that Marcy might make a success as both a novelist and as a realtor, as long as she puts in the hard work required.
But then Marcy gets greedy. Leveraging Francesca’s secret, she wonders why she should work hard at her goal, when she could get the famous novelist to do the writing for her. As the collaboration gets underway, more secrets surface, amid a tangle of looming deadlines and an attempted kidnap that creates its own set of problems. Will Marcy ever see the success she craves? If yes, at what cost?
The story is written in the first-person present tense PoV of Marcy.
WHAT I LIKED: I love books about books, authors and writing, so that part was interesting.
Neither of the female main characters here, Marcy/Summer and Francesca, are likeable or even morally sound. We don’t understand whether they deserve our sympathy or derision, but it doesn’t matter. The plot is the real hero here, and events happen at such a crazy pace that all you can do is sit back and enjoy the ride. This story is certainly madness and chaos unleashed. In a very good way. Everything that can go wrong does.
There is a sub-plot about Marcy trying to improve her relationship with her daughter and to present herself as a better role model for her.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: I wasn’t sure how I felt about Marcy. Sometimes, I liked her; mostly I didn’t.
I dislike characters throwing food into the trash, and that happens here. Granted that Marcy wants to start eating healthy, but she should have considered donating the food, instead of trashing it.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME: The set-up took very long. Or felt very long.
Strangely, Francesca doesn’t ever ask to see the incriminating photo. Which is a major loophole in the reasoning behind the plot.
The scene in which Bea explains her project to her mother, repeating it for our benefit, was boring.
At one point, Bea yells out that she and Kevin are vegetarian. That is an error. It should have been Bea and Patrick, her boyfriend, who are vegetarian.
ALL SAID AND DONE: I enjoyed the madness in this book.
(I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of writing this review. Thanks to the author and publisher. I read it on NetGalley.)
When Francesca Barber, the most successful novelist in America, embarks on a multi-city tour, Marcy and her three writing group mates decide to go see her. When Marcy catches Francesca making out with Tabi Benlolo, the Portuguese star of the movie version of Francesca’s books and the husband of her daughter Aspen, Francesca thinks Marcy has clicked a picture of them, and offers to help with Marcy’s manuscript.
Suddenly, Marcy’s life is looking up. Francesca is reading her manuscript and she has a potentially lucrative listing. It’s possible that Marcy might make a success as both a novelist and as a realtor, as long as she puts in the hard work required.
But then Marcy gets greedy. Leveraging Francesca’s secret, she wonders why she should work hard at her goal, when she could get the famous novelist to do the writing for her. As the collaboration gets underway, more secrets surface, amid a tangle of looming deadlines and an attempted kidnap that creates its own set of problems. Will Marcy ever see the success she craves? If yes, at what cost?
The story is written in the first-person present tense PoV of Marcy.
WHAT I LIKED: I love books about books, authors and writing, so that part was interesting.
Neither of the female main characters here, Marcy/Summer and Francesca, are likeable or even morally sound. We don’t understand whether they deserve our sympathy or derision, but it doesn’t matter. The plot is the real hero here, and events happen at such a crazy pace that all you can do is sit back and enjoy the ride. This story is certainly madness and chaos unleashed. In a very good way. Everything that can go wrong does.
There is a sub-plot about Marcy trying to improve her relationship with her daughter and to present herself as a better role model for her.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: I wasn’t sure how I felt about Marcy. Sometimes, I liked her; mostly I didn’t.
I dislike characters throwing food into the trash, and that happens here. Granted that Marcy wants to start eating healthy, but she should have considered donating the food, instead of trashing it.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME: The set-up took very long. Or felt very long.
Strangely, Francesca doesn’t ever ask to see the incriminating photo. Which is a major loophole in the reasoning behind the plot.
The scene in which Bea explains her project to her mother, repeating it for our benefit, was boring.
At one point, Bea yells out that she and Kevin are vegetarian. That is an error. It should have been Bea and Patrick, her boyfriend, who are vegetarian.
ALL SAID AND DONE: I enjoyed the madness in this book.
(I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of writing this review. Thanks to the author and publisher. I read it on NetGalley.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
a novel crime
‧₊˚🤥✩ ₊˚📖⋅˚₊‧ ୨😳୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅
3.90⭐
I got the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Deborah Levison, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
What I knew about the book before I started was really limited. I didn’t even know the topic, just that it was dark, really dark.
Marcy (FMC) wants to become a published, successful author. Even from the first few pages, you can feel her intense passion. The book is about how far she will go to become that person.
As I said, I expected the book to be dark. It’s definitely not a light-read. However, I don’t think it’s the type of book that makes you stay up all night, too scared to sleep. I’d say it had rather more ‘wth??’ and ‘ew’ scenes.
Let me start by telling you my opinion on the writing. If English isn’t your first language, you might struggle to understand some of the words. But, it’s not a hard-read (that, of course, depends on your level) in general.I think it would be just a good vocabulary practice. So, no worries 😇 I think the writing style was pretty good. What I pay attention when reading mystery, thriller books is that the words just flow… No 70 pages chapters, no yawning while reading. I think it’s a book that you can binge-read. However, there were some parts where the book felt slowER. The ‘Aspen’s childhood’ part was stretched a lot. But that part is what made the ending more surprising. There were quite a few other chapters where I couldn’t put the book(well, my iPad lol) down because I just got so curious about what was going to happen next.
There were two big reveals, plot-twists. (At least that’s what I thought) The first one was pretty basic, already got it before it was revealed. BUT the second one!! The one that’s closer to the end, that was pretty good. I didn’t expect it, and I had to re-read the page like three times. The end was so good. I don’t want to spoil it, so I’m gonna leave that here.
I saw some people were saying they weren’t sure to if they hate or feel empathy for the FMC. I don’t think that the line of hating or liking her was that blurred. You can understand WHY she did some stuff, but liking her? The clear distinction of Marcy and Summer is probably why readers were not really sure how to feel which I understand. But at the end of the day, Marcy is Summer.
This was a fast read. As I said, I think it’s a binge-able read. I’m not sure if I will have a hard time moving on from the book. There were no quotes I wanted to highlight to reflect upon on my life. No real-life lessons I took from the book. That’s the reason behind my 3.90⭐ rating.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves a crazy, fast-paced mystery book.☕️
P.S. : I lovee the cover of the book! I also think this book would make a great movie!!
Thank you again for the ARC!
‧₊˚🤥✩ ₊˚📖⋅˚₊‧ ୨😳୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅
3.90⭐
I got the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Deborah Levison, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
What I knew about the book before I started was really limited. I didn’t even know the topic, just that it was dark, really dark.
Marcy (FMC) wants to become a published, successful author. Even from the first few pages, you can feel her intense passion. The book is about how far she will go to become that person.
As I said, I expected the book to be dark. It’s definitely not a light-read. However, I don’t think it’s the type of book that makes you stay up all night, too scared to sleep. I’d say it had rather more ‘wth??’ and ‘ew’ scenes.
Let me start by telling you my opinion on the writing. If English isn’t your first language, you might struggle to understand some of the words. But, it’s not a hard-read (that, of course, depends on your level) in general.I think it would be just a good vocabulary practice. So, no worries 😇 I think the writing style was pretty good. What I pay attention when reading mystery, thriller books is that the words just flow… No 70 pages chapters, no yawning while reading. I think it’s a book that you can binge-read. However, there were some parts where the book felt slowER. The ‘Aspen’s childhood’ part was stretched a lot. But that part is what made the ending more surprising. There were quite a few other chapters where I couldn’t put the book(well, my iPad lol) down because I just got so curious about what was going to happen next.
There were two big reveals, plot-twists. (At least that’s what I thought) The first one was pretty basic, already got it before it was revealed. BUT the second one!! The one that’s closer to the end, that was pretty good. I didn’t expect it, and I had to re-read the page like three times. The end was so good. I don’t want to spoil it, so I’m gonna leave that here.
I saw some people were saying they weren’t sure to if they hate or feel empathy for the FMC. I don’t think that the line of hating or liking her was that blurred. You can understand WHY she did some stuff, but liking her? The clear distinction of Marcy and Summer is probably why readers were not really sure how to feel which I understand. But at the end of the day, Marcy is Summer.
This was a fast read. As I said, I think it’s a binge-able read. I’m not sure if I will have a hard time moving on from the book. There were no quotes I wanted to highlight to reflect upon on my life. No real-life lessons I took from the book. That’s the reason behind my 3.90⭐ rating.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves a crazy, fast-paced mystery book.☕️
P.S. : I lovee the cover of the book! I also think this book would make a great movie!!
Thank you again for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Marcy Jo Codburn is meek and mediocre at most things (writing, her career as a real estate agent, catching and maintaining her daughter's attention) and she stinks at others (staying married).
She's writing a novel, and she's convinced this is going to be HER year. She's going to find an agent and a publisher, she's going to sign a fat contract, and she's going to find a filmmaker to option her work and transform it into a star-studded blockbuster.
At least, that's her dream. And to be fair to Marcy, it's not merely a dream of fame and fortune—it's a dream of setting a positive example for her daughter, proving to the world that she's a better mother than her own mother was, and getting out from under the mountain of regrets she has for putting her ex-husband's career before her own.
But her dream gets turned on its head by this author's engaging sleight-of-hand. I thoroughly enjoyed A Novel Crime, the story of a struggling writer's descent into questionable, then unethical, then finally outright illegal behavior to achieve what she wants.
Marcy's pen name (and alter ego) is Summer Branigan. Summer is an assertive woman with a plan (or should I call it a scheme?). Her single-minded focus on writing a bestseller compels her to do things that Marcy would never do. This has its positives and negatives for her, as a whole cast of characters is pressed into service (not always of their own free will!) to do Summer's bidding.
I don't want to give away the plot, but I do want to highlight a few of the things that made this book so much fun: first, it's written in a way that pulls the reader into Summer's head. We feel as if she is talking directly to us, explaining her actions, justifying them, and insisting that they're (1) legal and (2) in everyone's best interests.
Second, the story is witty. There are some laugh-out-loud moments and these are doled out liberally.
Third, it's both light and dark—light because of the zany way Summer attempts to realize her dreams and dark because it tackles the very real and serious desires that so many writers share to hit it big.
I'll take a quick moment to address something that other reviewers have brought up: the ending. In my opinion, this book ended exactly where it needed to. A different ending would simply have been too far-fetched and would have taught Summer (and her readers) all the wrong lessons.
This is an honest review, and I thank Deborah Levison and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book.
She's writing a novel, and she's convinced this is going to be HER year. She's going to find an agent and a publisher, she's going to sign a fat contract, and she's going to find a filmmaker to option her work and transform it into a star-studded blockbuster.
At least, that's her dream. And to be fair to Marcy, it's not merely a dream of fame and fortune—it's a dream of setting a positive example for her daughter, proving to the world that she's a better mother than her own mother was, and getting out from under the mountain of regrets she has for putting her ex-husband's career before her own.
But her dream gets turned on its head by this author's engaging sleight-of-hand. I thoroughly enjoyed A Novel Crime, the story of a struggling writer's descent into questionable, then unethical, then finally outright illegal behavior to achieve what she wants.
Marcy's pen name (and alter ego) is Summer Branigan. Summer is an assertive woman with a plan (or should I call it a scheme?). Her single-minded focus on writing a bestseller compels her to do things that Marcy would never do. This has its positives and negatives for her, as a whole cast of characters is pressed into service (not always of their own free will!) to do Summer's bidding.
I don't want to give away the plot, but I do want to highlight a few of the things that made this book so much fun: first, it's written in a way that pulls the reader into Summer's head. We feel as if she is talking directly to us, explaining her actions, justifying them, and insisting that they're (1) legal and (2) in everyone's best interests.
Second, the story is witty. There are some laugh-out-loud moments and these are doled out liberally.
Third, it's both light and dark—light because of the zany way Summer attempts to realize her dreams and dark because it tackles the very real and serious desires that so many writers share to hit it big.
I'll take a quick moment to address something that other reviewers have brought up: the ending. In my opinion, this book ended exactly where it needed to. A different ending would simply have been too far-fetched and would have taught Summer (and her readers) all the wrong lessons.
This is an honest review, and I thank Deborah Levison and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭. 𝐈𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥.”
Marcy Jo Codburn is a struggling romance writer, freshly divorced and deeply convinced life has passed her by without so much as a book deal or a decent hair day. When she stumbles upon a very compromising secret involving a wildly successful author, she does what any totally rational, emotionally stable person would do—she reinvents herself as her blonder, bolder alter ego and leverages that secret into a coauthor opportunity. What follows is a chaotic spiral through egos, ambition, deception, and a publishing world that feels one bad decision away from total collapse. Add in a kidnapping plot, multiple layers of fraud, and two women who absolutely refuse to be the moral compass of this story, and you’ve got something that feels less like a book and more like a midlife crisis.
Before I even get into it—I genuinely thought I had the wrong file for a second because what I was reading was a pulsating bodice-ripper, heaving breasts and all, historical romance. And that is NOT what I signed up for. But then everything started making sense, but only briefly, because I realized with glee that this book has the sheer audacity to just…go there. And then keep going. And then take a sharp left turn into even more chaos. It’s giving 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒚 meets 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑯𝒆𝒓, but make it publishing industry satire with absolutely zero interest in behaving itself. I was laughing, I was cringing, I was occasionally just staring at the page like, did she really just do that? And the answer is always yes. Yes, she did.
What makes this book so fun is how fully it commits. These characters are messy, delusional, and ambitious in ways that border on feral, and I ate up every second of it. The humor is biting, and the entire story feels like it’s winking at you while actively making the worst possible decisions. By the end, I wasn’t even trying to predict anything, I was just along for the ride, watching it all unravel with a mix of delight and disbelief. If you like your thrillers a little twisted, a little ridiculous, and bold enough to lean all the way into the chaos, this one absolutely delivers. At some point I stopped asking, “Why would they do this?” and started thinking, “Okay, but would I?” A big thank you to the author for this delightful early copy that publishes March 31, 2026.
Marcy Jo Codburn is a struggling romance writer, freshly divorced and deeply convinced life has passed her by without so much as a book deal or a decent hair day. When she stumbles upon a very compromising secret involving a wildly successful author, she does what any totally rational, emotionally stable person would do—she reinvents herself as her blonder, bolder alter ego and leverages that secret into a coauthor opportunity. What follows is a chaotic spiral through egos, ambition, deception, and a publishing world that feels one bad decision away from total collapse. Add in a kidnapping plot, multiple layers of fraud, and two women who absolutely refuse to be the moral compass of this story, and you’ve got something that feels less like a book and more like a midlife crisis.
Before I even get into it—I genuinely thought I had the wrong file for a second because what I was reading was a pulsating bodice-ripper, heaving breasts and all, historical romance. And that is NOT what I signed up for. But then everything started making sense, but only briefly, because I realized with glee that this book has the sheer audacity to just…go there. And then keep going. And then take a sharp left turn into even more chaos. It’s giving 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒚 meets 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑯𝒆𝒓, but make it publishing industry satire with absolutely zero interest in behaving itself. I was laughing, I was cringing, I was occasionally just staring at the page like, did she really just do that? And the answer is always yes. Yes, she did.
What makes this book so fun is how fully it commits. These characters are messy, delusional, and ambitious in ways that border on feral, and I ate up every second of it. The humor is biting, and the entire story feels like it’s winking at you while actively making the worst possible decisions. By the end, I wasn’t even trying to predict anything, I was just along for the ride, watching it all unravel with a mix of delight and disbelief. If you like your thrillers a little twisted, a little ridiculous, and bold enough to lean all the way into the chaos, this one absolutely delivers. At some point I stopped asking, “Why would they do this?” and started thinking, “Okay, but would I?” A big thank you to the author for this delightful early copy that publishes March 31, 2026.
April 27, 2026
This book was wild! I found myself laughing and rolling my eyes (in a good way) at these characters and the trouble they found themselves in. Be careful what you wish for: you might just get it!
Marcy has dreamed of being a writer for years. She’s been trying for so long to finish her damsel-in-distress historical romance so she can become the bestselling, prize-winning, universally adored author she knows she’s meant to be. And she finally wants her daughter to be proud of her.
She and the other aspiring authors in her writing group lament over their lack of progress or success. Going to a book signing for famed novelist Francesca Barber makes Marcy even hungrier to achieve her dreams and more desperate to get her shot. When she discovers Francesca in a compromising position, Marcy may have just found her opportunity.
Desperate to keep her secret hidden, Francesca lets Marcy (who has adopted a pen name, Summer Branigan) bully her into finishing her novel. But Francesca keeps trying to wiggle out of the deal, no matter how much leverage Marcy may have over her.
It’s at this point that the book goes spectacularly off the rails. But while lies are spun, kidnappings are faked, and you have no idea whom to trust, the book adds a layer of social commentary about just how difficult the publishing world can be, and how nice women get taken advantage of far too often in life. If you don’t fight for yourself, who will?
There’s not a likable character in the book, but that didn’t bother me at all. If you’re in the mood for some laughs along with your twists, give this one a try!
Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
Marcy has dreamed of being a writer for years. She’s been trying for so long to finish her damsel-in-distress historical romance so she can become the bestselling, prize-winning, universally adored author she knows she’s meant to be. And she finally wants her daughter to be proud of her.
She and the other aspiring authors in her writing group lament over their lack of progress or success. Going to a book signing for famed novelist Francesca Barber makes Marcy even hungrier to achieve her dreams and more desperate to get her shot. When she discovers Francesca in a compromising position, Marcy may have just found her opportunity.
Desperate to keep her secret hidden, Francesca lets Marcy (who has adopted a pen name, Summer Branigan) bully her into finishing her novel. But Francesca keeps trying to wiggle out of the deal, no matter how much leverage Marcy may have over her.
It’s at this point that the book goes spectacularly off the rails. But while lies are spun, kidnappings are faked, and you have no idea whom to trust, the book adds a layer of social commentary about just how difficult the publishing world can be, and how nice women get taken advantage of far too often in life. If you don’t fight for yourself, who will?
There’s not a likable character in the book, but that didn’t bother me at all. If you’re in the mood for some laughs along with your twists, give this one a try!
Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
February 12, 2026
I experienced so many emotions while reading this book : anger, frustration, stress, and even hope. The ending was quite interesting, and at times I almost forgot that I didn’t like the FMC. I found myself feeling stressed for her and because of the situation she was in.
However, what I really struggled with was not knowing whether I was supposed to hate her (like in Yellowface by R.F. Kuang) or feel empathy for her. There were moments when I absolutely despised her and couldn’t see any other way to feel. But then there were other moments when it felt like the author wanted us to empathize with her or at least try to understand her perspective and why she acted the way she did.
I also didn’t enjoy her naïveté. Was I supposed to understand that she was trying to justify her behavior? Because instead, I mostly perceived her as naïve and honestly a bit foolish. From her relationship with Francesca to the one with Aspen, and everything surrounding her book, I just couldn’t understand why she didn’t pick up on sarcasm or irony when people spoke to her.
The kidnapping scene, especially, left me confused. I genuinely don’t understand how she could interpret the situation the way she did. Was she trying to justify herself? Or did she truly believe, deep down, that she was only doing what she had been asked to do? The same goes for the murder scene. How can she describe it in such precise detail and then suddenly become confused? I think the author could have made the situation more vague or ambiguous to allow room for different interpretations between the FMC and the readers, but that’s just my opinion.
Overall, I didn’t like feeling as though the reader was kept completely in the dark, without enough clues to understand what was really happening. For example, Aspen’s lies : I wish we had been given subtle hints so we could piece things together ourselves.
I did appreciate the chaos in both Francesca’s life and the FMC’s. It made the story more tolerable, even when the characters’ chaotic behaviors didn’t always make sense.
However, what I really struggled with was not knowing whether I was supposed to hate her (like in Yellowface by R.F. Kuang) or feel empathy for her. There were moments when I absolutely despised her and couldn’t see any other way to feel. But then there were other moments when it felt like the author wanted us to empathize with her or at least try to understand her perspective and why she acted the way she did.
I also didn’t enjoy her naïveté. Was I supposed to understand that she was trying to justify her behavior? Because instead, I mostly perceived her as naïve and honestly a bit foolish. From her relationship with Francesca to the one with Aspen, and everything surrounding her book, I just couldn’t understand why she didn’t pick up on sarcasm or irony when people spoke to her.
The kidnapping scene, especially, left me confused. I genuinely don’t understand how she could interpret the situation the way she did. Was she trying to justify herself? Or did she truly believe, deep down, that she was only doing what she had been asked to do? The same goes for the murder scene. How can she describe it in such precise detail and then suddenly become confused? I think the author could have made the situation more vague or ambiguous to allow room for different interpretations between the FMC and the readers, but that’s just my opinion.
Overall, I didn’t like feeling as though the reader was kept completely in the dark, without enough clues to understand what was really happening. For example, Aspen’s lies : I wish we had been given subtle hints so we could piece things together ourselves.
I did appreciate the chaos in both Francesca’s life and the FMC’s. It made the story more tolerable, even when the characters’ chaotic behaviors didn’t always make sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2026
Thank you Deborah Levinson for arranging for me to have an advanced copy of your book.
Marcy’s dream of becoming a writer hasn’t gone according to plan. She got married, had a daughter, and did her best to prioritize her family, often at her own expense. Now, her daughter Bea has been accepted into a graduate program, Marcy is divorced, her ex-husband has remarried, and she’s working in real estate while trying to focus on writing again.
When she meets acclaimed author Francesca Barber at an event, Marcy hopes to connect with her and perhaps get some feedback on her work. But when she later stumbles upon Francesca kissing her daughter’s husband, Marcy quickly realizes she may be able to use the situation to her advantage.
This book was dark, funny, and completely captivating. Once I got into the story, it was hard to put down, and I kept wondering how this growing chain of chaos was going to unfold. Marcy started off as a character I actually liked, but as the story progressed, I found myself liking her less and less. Her determination to write a book and become a published author slowly turns into an obsession that begins to consume every part of her life. She becomes increasingly irrational and completely fixated on achieving that goal, no matter the cost — even when it means crossing moral and ethical lines.
I really enjoyed this one. It’s a gripping thriller that pulls you in quickly, and I loved that it centered around the world of writing and publishing. The plot felt fresh and compelling, and it gave me some of the same feelings I had while reading The Plot and parts of Yellowface. If you enjoyed either of those books, I think there’s a very good chance you’ll enjoy this one too.
Sharp, addictive, and darkly entertaining — I flew through this one.
I also really liked the twists along the way and the way everything came together at the end. For me, the ending was just right.
Marcy’s dream of becoming a writer hasn’t gone according to plan. She got married, had a daughter, and did her best to prioritize her family, often at her own expense. Now, her daughter Bea has been accepted into a graduate program, Marcy is divorced, her ex-husband has remarried, and she’s working in real estate while trying to focus on writing again.
When she meets acclaimed author Francesca Barber at an event, Marcy hopes to connect with her and perhaps get some feedback on her work. But when she later stumbles upon Francesca kissing her daughter’s husband, Marcy quickly realizes she may be able to use the situation to her advantage.
This book was dark, funny, and completely captivating. Once I got into the story, it was hard to put down, and I kept wondering how this growing chain of chaos was going to unfold. Marcy started off as a character I actually liked, but as the story progressed, I found myself liking her less and less. Her determination to write a book and become a published author slowly turns into an obsession that begins to consume every part of her life. She becomes increasingly irrational and completely fixated on achieving that goal, no matter the cost — even when it means crossing moral and ethical lines.
I really enjoyed this one. It’s a gripping thriller that pulls you in quickly, and I loved that it centered around the world of writing and publishing. The plot felt fresh and compelling, and it gave me some of the same feelings I had while reading The Plot and parts of Yellowface. If you enjoyed either of those books, I think there’s a very good chance you’ll enjoy this one too.
Sharp, addictive, and darkly entertaining — I flew through this one.
I also really liked the twists along the way and the way everything came together at the end. For me, the ending was just right.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️
As someone who reads a lot and spends a decent amount of time around book spaces online, I always enjoy stories that poke a little fun at the publishing world. *A Novel Crime* leans into that idea in a really entertaining way. It takes the dream so many writers have of landing a book deal and twists it into something much darker and a lot more chaotic.
Marcy Jo was a character I found surprisingly easy to follow, even when she was making questionable decisions. She’s a recently divorced writer who desperately wants to prove she’s not a failure, and that desperation drives a lot of the story. Watching her reinvent herself as the much bolder “Summer Branigan” added a layer of humor that made the whole situation feel even more absurd in the best way.
The dynamic between Marcy and Francesca was probably my favorite part of the book. Their partnership starts off shaky and only gets messier as the story goes on. There’s a constant sense that neither woman fully trusts the other, which made the plot feel unpredictable. One minute it feels like a collaboration, and the next it feels like a competition to see who can outmaneuver the other first.
I also really appreciated the satirical tone. Deborah Levison clearly has fun with the behind the scenes side of publishing. The egos, the ambition, the pressure to succeed, and the lengths people might go to just to see their name on a book cover all come through with a sharp sense of humor.
By the time the story ramps up with the wilder plot turns, it becomes one of those books where you just sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s darkly funny, a little outrageous at times, and full of commentary about the writing world that readers and aspiring authors will probably recognize. Overall, it was an entertaining and clever look at ambition and the strange paths people take when they want success badly enough.
As someone who reads a lot and spends a decent amount of time around book spaces online, I always enjoy stories that poke a little fun at the publishing world. *A Novel Crime* leans into that idea in a really entertaining way. It takes the dream so many writers have of landing a book deal and twists it into something much darker and a lot more chaotic.
Marcy Jo was a character I found surprisingly easy to follow, even when she was making questionable decisions. She’s a recently divorced writer who desperately wants to prove she’s not a failure, and that desperation drives a lot of the story. Watching her reinvent herself as the much bolder “Summer Branigan” added a layer of humor that made the whole situation feel even more absurd in the best way.
The dynamic between Marcy and Francesca was probably my favorite part of the book. Their partnership starts off shaky and only gets messier as the story goes on. There’s a constant sense that neither woman fully trusts the other, which made the plot feel unpredictable. One minute it feels like a collaboration, and the next it feels like a competition to see who can outmaneuver the other first.
I also really appreciated the satirical tone. Deborah Levison clearly has fun with the behind the scenes side of publishing. The egos, the ambition, the pressure to succeed, and the lengths people might go to just to see their name on a book cover all come through with a sharp sense of humor.
By the time the story ramps up with the wilder plot turns, it becomes one of those books where you just sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s darkly funny, a little outrageous at times, and full of commentary about the writing world that readers and aspiring authors will probably recognize. Overall, it was an entertaining and clever look at ambition and the strange paths people take when they want success badly enough.
May 12, 2026
Thanks to Chick Lit Central, the author and the publisher.
What a sexy and detailed prologue. It was Marcy Jo Codburn's sexy historical manuscript. Think about a historical bodice ripper book with Fabio on the cover with a wench. She's a struggling romance writer whose real job is a real estate agent. She wants to be published so bad but is in a slump and writes in between her working. She's a divorced mother whose daughter Beatrice (Bea), who is 22. Her non de plume is Summer Branigan because Summer Burn or Summer Cod just don't work.
Her writing class is fun with new friends. They bounce ideas off of each other. She and Liisa (yes, that's the correct spelling as she's always pointing out) go to a book signing of a famous author, Francesca Barber, who's producing, writing and directing her latest novel into a book and promoting it along with her others in the series. Her daughter Aspen and new son-in-law (Tabi) are the stars of the movie and they are there too. After the signing, she and Liisa follow her to a bar because she forgot to get her picture taken with her. After she leaves, she has to go back since she forgot her signed books. This is where it gets interesting. She finds the author in a compromising position (not a spoiler -- it's on the back of the book). It's not just what she saw but who it's with. Summer gets an idea and runs with it. She gets Francesca to read her manuscript with an ultimatum, Mary Jo has to keep her mouth shut about what she saw. It gets a little far fetched in places but it works.
Things happen and go quickly downhill with them and the manuscript. A big turnaround happens especially around the end of the book. I didn't see it coming and I don't think Summer did either to be honest. I literally gasped out loud to see what happened to Francesca, Summer and Aspen.
I need a sequel now.
What a sexy and detailed prologue. It was Marcy Jo Codburn's sexy historical manuscript. Think about a historical bodice ripper book with Fabio on the cover with a wench. She's a struggling romance writer whose real job is a real estate agent. She wants to be published so bad but is in a slump and writes in between her working. She's a divorced mother whose daughter Beatrice (Bea), who is 22. Her non de plume is Summer Branigan because Summer Burn or Summer Cod just don't work.
Her writing class is fun with new friends. They bounce ideas off of each other. She and Liisa (yes, that's the correct spelling as she's always pointing out) go to a book signing of a famous author, Francesca Barber, who's producing, writing and directing her latest novel into a book and promoting it along with her others in the series. Her daughter Aspen and new son-in-law (Tabi) are the stars of the movie and they are there too. After the signing, she and Liisa follow her to a bar because she forgot to get her picture taken with her. After she leaves, she has to go back since she forgot her signed books. This is where it gets interesting. She finds the author in a compromising position (not a spoiler -- it's on the back of the book). It's not just what she saw but who it's with. Summer gets an idea and runs with it. She gets Francesca to read her manuscript with an ultimatum, Mary Jo has to keep her mouth shut about what she saw. It gets a little far fetched in places but it works.
Things happen and go quickly downhill with them and the manuscript. A big turnaround happens especially around the end of the book. I didn't see it coming and I don't think Summer did either to be honest. I literally gasped out loud to see what happened to Francesca, Summer and Aspen.
I need a sequel now.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 332 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Brilliance Audio / Thomas & Mercer
📅 Publication Date: March 31, 2026
📚 ARC courtesy of NetGalley
I went into A Novel Crime knowing two things: dark humor, and thriller. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply unsettlingly funny this book would be. Not chuckle-funny. Not clever-smirk funny. But the kind of funny that leaves you staring at the page, unsure whether laughing makes you complicit. This was my first real encounter with this particular subgenre, and it hit me sideways.
This book made me wildly uncomfortable, laughed-out-loud uneasy, and vaguely horrified that I was laughing at all. Deborah Vadas Levison paints Marcy’s desperation so vividly that you both pity and cringe for her. There’s blackmail, kidnapping, emotional manipulation, and death, but all handled with an offbeat, unsettling humor that blurs the line between absurdity and atrocity. The pacing keeps you turning pages despite the unease, and that surprise ending? It lands perfectly, even if it leaves you questioning your own reactions.
And while I can admire Levison’s cleverness and control, I also discovered something about myself as a reader: this subgenre isn’t for me. It takes genuine skill to make readers feel conflicted about their own reactions, and Deborah does it well, too well, honestly. I closed the last page impressed and unsettled in equal measure.
Would I recommend it?
This is a very specific recommendation. If you love dark humor thrillers that blur ethical lines, satirize the publishing industry, and make you laugh while wincing, this might be your thing. Deborah Vadas Levison absolutely commits to the premise, and her writing is sharp, confident, and fearless. For me, though, the discomfort outweighed the enjoyment. I finished the book unsure of what I felt—but very sure this subgenre isn’t for me.
Dark Humor or too dark?
Hit the comments: What's the most disturbingly funny book that's ever made you squirm? Or are you all-in on dark humor thrillers. Tell me your faves!/b>
📃 332 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Brilliance Audio / Thomas & Mercer
📅 Publication Date: March 31, 2026
📚 ARC courtesy of NetGalley
I went into A Novel Crime knowing two things: dark humor, and thriller. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply unsettlingly funny this book would be. Not chuckle-funny. Not clever-smirk funny. But the kind of funny that leaves you staring at the page, unsure whether laughing makes you complicit. This was my first real encounter with this particular subgenre, and it hit me sideways.
This book made me wildly uncomfortable, laughed-out-loud uneasy, and vaguely horrified that I was laughing at all. Deborah Vadas Levison paints Marcy’s desperation so vividly that you both pity and cringe for her. There’s blackmail, kidnapping, emotional manipulation, and death, but all handled with an offbeat, unsettling humor that blurs the line between absurdity and atrocity. The pacing keeps you turning pages despite the unease, and that surprise ending? It lands perfectly, even if it leaves you questioning your own reactions.
And while I can admire Levison’s cleverness and control, I also discovered something about myself as a reader: this subgenre isn’t for me. It takes genuine skill to make readers feel conflicted about their own reactions, and Deborah does it well, too well, honestly. I closed the last page impressed and unsettled in equal measure.
Would I recommend it?
This is a very specific recommendation. If you love dark humor thrillers that blur ethical lines, satirize the publishing industry, and make you laugh while wincing, this might be your thing. Deborah Vadas Levison absolutely commits to the premise, and her writing is sharp, confident, and fearless. For me, though, the discomfort outweighed the enjoyment. I finished the book unsure of what I felt—but very sure this subgenre isn’t for me.
Dark Humor or too dark?
Hit the comments: What's the most disturbingly funny book that's ever made you squirm? Or are you all-in on dark humor thrillers. Tell me your faves!/b>
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews