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Marion
A twist on Hitchcock’s iconic classic Psycho —where the leading lady doesn't die, but instead turns the knife on Norm, kicking off a crime spree that turns the silver screen victim into a heroine for our times.
NORMAN WAS HER FIRST.
Marion is in deep. She's stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works in a desperate bid to help her sister escape an abusive marriage, but the bus breaks down before she can make it to Saratoga Springs. It's late at night, and the only place with vacancies is an old set of cabins on the outskirts of town. She pays for a room in cash, and ends up chatting with Norm, the young innkeeper who's handsome, charming and a touch hung-up on his elderly mother. Back in her room, she steps into the shower, scrubbing off the late-summer heat, when the curtain is pulled back...
Norm Billings is there with a knife. He raises his arm to strike, but before he does, Marion knees him in the balls, grabs the knife, and stabs the life out of him. Now, she's covered in blood, and she's a woman on the run—not just a thief, but a killer, too. Where will she go? How will she save both herself and her sister? And what mysteries will she uncover as she does?
In Psycho, Hitchcock shocked audiences when he killed off his protagonist. But what if the leading lady had fought back? Marion offers an alternate history of the most famous dead blonde to ever grace the silver screen. Only this time, the knife is in her hands—and she's no victim.
NORMAN WAS HER FIRST.
Marion is in deep. She's stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works in a desperate bid to help her sister escape an abusive marriage, but the bus breaks down before she can make it to Saratoga Springs. It's late at night, and the only place with vacancies is an old set of cabins on the outskirts of town. She pays for a room in cash, and ends up chatting with Norm, the young innkeeper who's handsome, charming and a touch hung-up on his elderly mother. Back in her room, she steps into the shower, scrubbing off the late-summer heat, when the curtain is pulled back...
Norm Billings is there with a knife. He raises his arm to strike, but before he does, Marion knees him in the balls, grabs the knife, and stabs the life out of him. Now, she's covered in blood, and she's a woman on the run—not just a thief, but a killer, too. Where will she go? How will she save both herself and her sister? And what mysteries will she uncover as she does?
In Psycho, Hitchcock shocked audiences when he killed off his protagonist. But what if the leading lady had fought back? Marion offers an alternate history of the most famous dead blonde to ever grace the silver screen. Only this time, the knife is in her hands—and she's no victim.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Leah Rowan
1 book181 followersLeah Rowan is an author living in Brooklyn and the Catskills. Marion is her forthcoming thriller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,765 reviews
December 8, 2025
What an absolutely irresistible premise: What if Marion Crane never became the “dead blonde” of cinema history? What if she stepped out of that shower with her own story—and her own knife?
Leah Rowan takes one of the most iconic horror moments of all time and boldly rewrites its DNA. Instead of becoming Norman Bates’ victim, Marion becomes the woman who stops him—and that single moment reroutes her life into a dark, gritty, strangely empowering odyssey.
From the very first chapter, the book grabbed me by the collar. The opening sequence is clever, cinematic, and immediately sets the tone for a story that blends pulp energy with a sharp emotional spine. But what impressed me most wasn’t just the reimagined violence—it was the heart behind Marion’s choices. She isn’t running because of greed or panic; she’s acting out of ferocious loyalty to her sister, Lauren, who’s trapped in a suffocating, psychologically bruising marriage.
Their bond is the pulse of this novel, grounding the twists with genuine emotional stakes. I loved the way Rowan captures the unspoken language between sisters—the guilt, the longing, the tiny protective lies, the fierce devotion. In many ways, the book becomes a meditation on what women endure behind closed doors, and who gets believed when they finally say “enough.”
As Marion steps into her new role—something between lost soul, vigilante, and accidental antiheroine—I couldn’t help imagining the alternate universe you described: a world where Marion becomes a blade-sharp avenger who refuses to let predators keep winning. The novel absolutely flirts with that fantasy, especially in its best moments, when Marion’s terror snaps into furious clarity.
While the first half is incredibly tight, the middle stretch does lose a little momentum. A few conversations felt like they were reaching for emotional weight they didn’t quite land, and the pacing wobbled as the plot expanded beyond its original focus. But as a debut? It’s fresh, daring, and immensely promising. Rowan clearly has a vision, and she isn’t afraid to play with legacy, archetype, or genre expectations.
Overall, Marion is a sharp, gutsy, imaginative re-telling that refuses to let familiar stories stay trapped in the past. It delivers thrills, tension, and a surprisingly intimate exploration of sisterhood, survival, and reclaiming narrative power.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this electrifying debut thriller—with its brilliantly twisted take on an iconic classic—in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Leah Rowan takes one of the most iconic horror moments of all time and boldly rewrites its DNA. Instead of becoming Norman Bates’ victim, Marion becomes the woman who stops him—and that single moment reroutes her life into a dark, gritty, strangely empowering odyssey.
From the very first chapter, the book grabbed me by the collar. The opening sequence is clever, cinematic, and immediately sets the tone for a story that blends pulp energy with a sharp emotional spine. But what impressed me most wasn’t just the reimagined violence—it was the heart behind Marion’s choices. She isn’t running because of greed or panic; she’s acting out of ferocious loyalty to her sister, Lauren, who’s trapped in a suffocating, psychologically bruising marriage.
Their bond is the pulse of this novel, grounding the twists with genuine emotional stakes. I loved the way Rowan captures the unspoken language between sisters—the guilt, the longing, the tiny protective lies, the fierce devotion. In many ways, the book becomes a meditation on what women endure behind closed doors, and who gets believed when they finally say “enough.”
As Marion steps into her new role—something between lost soul, vigilante, and accidental antiheroine—I couldn’t help imagining the alternate universe you described: a world where Marion becomes a blade-sharp avenger who refuses to let predators keep winning. The novel absolutely flirts with that fantasy, especially in its best moments, when Marion’s terror snaps into furious clarity.
While the first half is incredibly tight, the middle stretch does lose a little momentum. A few conversations felt like they were reaching for emotional weight they didn’t quite land, and the pacing wobbled as the plot expanded beyond its original focus. But as a debut? It’s fresh, daring, and immensely promising. Rowan clearly has a vision, and she isn’t afraid to play with legacy, archetype, or genre expectations.
Overall, Marion is a sharp, gutsy, imaginative re-telling that refuses to let familiar stories stay trapped in the past. It delivers thrills, tension, and a surprisingly intimate exploration of sisterhood, survival, and reclaiming narrative power.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this electrifying debut thriller—with its brilliantly twisted take on an iconic classic—in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
December 8, 2025
It was so good! It's a very suspenseful and satisfying feminist rampage.
It successfully builds on this primal sensation of fear every woman experienced at least once in her life because of a man. The writing is great, the back and forth created a rapid pace and the tension remained until the very end.
I loved the characters and their dynamics, and I felt they were believable in their reactions and emotions.
I had a fantastic time and I can only recommend this book to every women who ever feared a man.
!
It successfully builds on this primal sensation of fear every woman experienced at least once in her life because of a man. The writing is great, the back and forth created a rapid pace and the tension remained until the very end.
I loved the characters and their dynamics, and I felt they were believable in their reactions and emotions.
I had a fantastic time and I can only recommend this book to every women who ever feared a man.
!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Audiobook Review:
Marion by Leah Rowan
Narrated by Natalie Naudus and Tawny Platis
Listen for 10 hrs 25 minutes, at 1x or about 7 hours at 1.5 x
Genres: Horror, Mystery & Suspense, DEBUT
In Hitchcock’s movie version of Psycho—audiences were SHOCKED when his beautiful leading lady was killed off. But in Marion, we are offered a reimagining where the knife 🔪 ends up Marion’s hands, and we have the feminist PLOT TWIST of the season with Marion as the SURVIVOR instead of the victim.
The first thing I did was butter some popcorn 🍿 and rent the Classic movie which I had never watched before-although of course I knew all about the iconic Shower Scene. 🚿 which occurred at the Bates Motel. The foreshadowing in the movie was done extremely well, although the ending seems quite cheesy now, with all of the advancements in cinematography that have occurred since then.
Updated for current times- Marion has stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works to help her sister escape an abusive marriage. Unfortunately, the bus breaks down before she can make it to her sister’s home. It’s late at night, and the only vacancy is at the rundown Billings Motel.
After paying for a room in cash, Marion has dinner with Norm, the good looking young innkeeper, and then heads back to her room, for a long anticipated, hot shower.
But, Marion hears Norm entering her room so when he pulls back the shower curtain…..
MARION IS READY FOR HIM!!
Spurred on by the spirit of her mother’s voice, she fights him off. (I cheered!) But, he will end up being just the first of HER victims as she goes on a killing spree to cover her tracks.
And, in occasional alternating chapters we have a young PI named Hannah, hot on the trail of a beautiful MISSING woman-a woman who looks a lot like Marion.
The clues will lead her to the Billings Motel…
This ended up being A LOT OF FUN!
Of course, I already expected it to be a bit over the top because of the movie, but I was seeking some pure escapism and it delivered the entertainment I was looking for!
Did Marilyn enjoy it? Be sure to watch for her review!
You can read or listen to this one NOW!
Thank You to Macmillan Audio for the gifted Audiobook listen, provided through NetGalley shelf. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Marion by Leah Rowan
Narrated by Natalie Naudus and Tawny Platis
Listen for 10 hrs 25 minutes, at 1x or about 7 hours at 1.5 x
Genres: Horror, Mystery & Suspense, DEBUT
In Hitchcock’s movie version of Psycho—audiences were SHOCKED when his beautiful leading lady was killed off. But in Marion, we are offered a reimagining where the knife 🔪 ends up Marion’s hands, and we have the feminist PLOT TWIST of the season with Marion as the SURVIVOR instead of the victim.
The first thing I did was butter some popcorn 🍿 and rent the Classic movie which I had never watched before-although of course I knew all about the iconic Shower Scene. 🚿 which occurred at the Bates Motel. The foreshadowing in the movie was done extremely well, although the ending seems quite cheesy now, with all of the advancements in cinematography that have occurred since then.
Updated for current times- Marion has stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works to help her sister escape an abusive marriage. Unfortunately, the bus breaks down before she can make it to her sister’s home. It’s late at night, and the only vacancy is at the rundown Billings Motel.
After paying for a room in cash, Marion has dinner with Norm, the good looking young innkeeper, and then heads back to her room, for a long anticipated, hot shower.
But, Marion hears Norm entering her room so when he pulls back the shower curtain…..
MARION IS READY FOR HIM!!
Spurred on by the spirit of her mother’s voice, she fights him off. (I cheered!) But, he will end up being just the first of HER victims as she goes on a killing spree to cover her tracks.
And, in occasional alternating chapters we have a young PI named Hannah, hot on the trail of a beautiful MISSING woman-a woman who looks a lot like Marion.
The clues will lead her to the Billings Motel…
This ended up being A LOT OF FUN!
Of course, I already expected it to be a bit over the top because of the movie, but I was seeking some pure escapism and it delivered the entertainment I was looking for!
Did Marilyn enjoy it? Be sure to watch for her review!
You can read or listen to this one NOW!
Thank You to Macmillan Audio for the gifted Audiobook listen, provided through NetGalley shelf. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
December 28, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Amidst a year of more disappointment than satisfaction stands a gem. What a great way to end 2025.
I requested this ARC because it sounded intriguing, but I also turned to the first page wary of the traps this story might fall into. Would this be nothing more than a generic retread of a classic tale? Would it be a derivative attention grab? It definitely had that potential, but Rowan skillfully evades both of those traps to deliver one of my favorite books of the year.
I was riveted by the story, turning each page with fervent curiosity. The twists and turns are unpredictable. Marion is incredibly relatable and sympathetic, despite the monstrousness that she eventually emits. If you think you know where this story is going, think again.
This pays homage to a classic, and does nothing to diminish its allure. This book is simply fun. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it…
Amidst a year of more disappointment than satisfaction stands a gem. What a great way to end 2025.
I requested this ARC because it sounded intriguing, but I also turned to the first page wary of the traps this story might fall into. Would this be nothing more than a generic retread of a classic tale? Would it be a derivative attention grab? It definitely had that potential, but Rowan skillfully evades both of those traps to deliver one of my favorite books of the year.
I was riveted by the story, turning each page with fervent curiosity. The twists and turns are unpredictable. Marion is incredibly relatable and sympathetic, despite the monstrousness that she eventually emits. If you think you know where this story is going, think again.
This pays homage to a classic, and does nothing to diminish its allure. This book is simply fun. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it…
June 10, 2026
In the beginning my interest was sparked immediately but by the end it had all been snuffed out. I hate being an outlier on a book that's being praised by so many readers but this one fell flat for me.
As I'm sure many readers are aware this is a twist on Hitchcock's Psycho where Norman doesn't kill Marion in that infamous shower scene, rather, Marion overpowers Norman setting this book into motion.
And as I said I was ALL IN in the beginning but then things started to bother me.
1.) I did not like Marion and I really, really wanted to but the longer I spent time with her the more I disliked her.
2.) Hannah the young up-and-coming but yet-to-actually-be private investigator didn't ring true to me at all.
3.) I felt the tone of this book, to me, leaned very much into YA territory.
4.) The pacing is all off. Once you hit the mid-point this book slows to a crawl and I had to force myself to pick it up again. (I skimmed the last 25% just to be done with this)
5.) This book is OVER THE TOP. Seriously. I did not buy what Rowan was trying to sell me at all.
6.) The ending was so convoluted and unbelievable that I was seriously irked I'd even wasted my time on this.
To elaborate more on any of the above would involve spoilers so my lips are now officially zipped. 🤐
While I love books about feminine rage and kicking the patriarchy in the balls this one just didn't hit the way I wanted it to. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
As I'm sure many readers are aware this is a twist on Hitchcock's Psycho where Norman doesn't kill Marion in that infamous shower scene, rather, Marion overpowers Norman setting this book into motion.
And as I said I was ALL IN in the beginning but then things started to bother me.
1.) I did not like Marion and I really, really wanted to but the longer I spent time with her the more I disliked her.
2.) Hannah the young up-and-coming but yet-to-actually-be private investigator didn't ring true to me at all.
3.) I felt the tone of this book, to me, leaned very much into YA territory.
4.) The pacing is all off. Once you hit the mid-point this book slows to a crawl and I had to force myself to pick it up again. (I skimmed the last 25% just to be done with this)
5.) This book is OVER THE TOP. Seriously. I did not buy what Rowan was trying to sell me at all.
6.) The ending was so convoluted and unbelievable that I was seriously irked I'd even wasted my time on this.
To elaborate more on any of the above would involve spoilers so my lips are now officially zipped. 🤐
While I love books about feminine rage and kicking the patriarchy in the balls this one just didn't hit the way I wanted it to. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
March 16, 2026
This was not your predictable role reversal, retelling of a classic. While the references to Psycho were there, this took on a completely unique, modernized approach, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The novel starts out very familiar to those of us familiar with Psycho. Our FMC has fled her job with a $100,000 deposit she was to make. Unfortunately, for her, her bus breaks down in New Paltz, and all of the hotels are full except for one. After her chance encounter with Norm, she flips the script and refuses to be a victim.
From a different perspective, the reader is introduced to a private investigator looking for a missing woman whose trail also leads her to New Paltz.
Feminist rage tropes seem to be all the rage lately. I don’t think I could ever tire of them if they are as good as this one. I really liked how the author went with a classic story and was able to put her own flair on it to make it unique. It was fun seeing all of the references and making the correlation between the two. I was hesitant to pick this up because I was afraid there wasn’t much that could be done with the original story. But I was very wrong!
I wouldn’t necessarily classify this as horror/slasher, but more so a dark, slower, moving thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The novel starts out very familiar to those of us familiar with Psycho. Our FMC has fled her job with a $100,000 deposit she was to make. Unfortunately, for her, her bus breaks down in New Paltz, and all of the hotels are full except for one. After her chance encounter with Norm, she flips the script and refuses to be a victim.
From a different perspective, the reader is introduced to a private investigator looking for a missing woman whose trail also leads her to New Paltz.
Feminist rage tropes seem to be all the rage lately. I don’t think I could ever tire of them if they are as good as this one. I really liked how the author went with a classic story and was able to put her own flair on it to make it unique. It was fun seeing all of the references and making the correlation between the two. I was hesitant to pick this up because I was afraid there wasn’t much that could be done with the original story. But I was very wrong!
I wouldn’t necessarily classify this as horror/slasher, but more so a dark, slower, moving thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
BANGER ALERT! BANGER ALERT!
Hot damn! Delightfully twisted, whip-smart, and beyond spine-tingling, Marion was quite the homage to the legendary film, Psycho. Turning the classic story on its head, this tale was packed with just as many brilliant Hitchcockian twists as the original. This time, however, the modern-day retelling took that never-to-be-forgotten shower scene, flipped the gender-power dynamic, and added a heaping dose of feminine rage. With dark humor, razor-sharp wit, and righteous fury lacing throughout this fun yet thought-provoking read, I quite literally didn’t put this book down for even a minute. After all, these characters were some of the best I’ve ever read. Complex, flawed, and oh so very morally gray, they made this book what it was. Then again, the fast-paced storyline was also the ultimate mix of thriller and horror, all wrapped up in one perfect little package.
So what exactly made this book into the five-plus-star read that it was? Well, on top of the characters, the feminist angle was second to none. Exploring survival, sisterhood, revenge, and trauma, it was also the perfect subversion of the Final Girl trope. You see, not only did the women in this electrically taut tale take back the power and control with their very own hands, but the whole story felt plausible—even if every bit of it was also deliciously unhinged. Told via dual timelines and POVs, the twisty, tense plotting and pitch-perfect characters intermingled a slasher feel with well-crafted backstories to deliver everything I could want plus just a little bit more. So if you’re a fan of They Never Learn, Maeve Fly, or pretty much anything by Kirsten Miller, grab this one now. After all, this debut just made it onto my list of my favorite books of the year. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Marion is in deep. She's stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works in a desperate bid to help her sister escape an abusive marriage, but the bus breaks down before she can make it to Saratoga Springs. It's late at night, and the only place with vacancies is an old set of cabins on the outskirts of town. She pays for a room in cash, and ends up chatting with Norm, the young innkeeper who's handsome, charming and a touch hung-up on his elderly mother. Back in her room, she steps into the shower, scrubbing off the late-summer heat, when the curtain is pulled back...
Norm Billings is there with a knife. He raises his arm to strike, but before he does, Marion knees him in the balls, grabs the knife, and stabs the life out of him. Now, she's covered in blood, and she's a woman on the run―not just a thief, but a killer, too. Where will she go? How will she save both herself and her sister? And what mysteries will she uncover as she does?
Thank you Leah Rowan and St. Martin’s Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 2, 2026
Content warning: domestic abuse, knife violence, blood, murder, sexism, misogyny, violence, grief, alcoholism, gore, gaslighting, mention of: death of a parent, COVID, sexual harassment
Hot damn! Delightfully twisted, whip-smart, and beyond spine-tingling, Marion was quite the homage to the legendary film, Psycho. Turning the classic story on its head, this tale was packed with just as many brilliant Hitchcockian twists as the original. This time, however, the modern-day retelling took that never-to-be-forgotten shower scene, flipped the gender-power dynamic, and added a heaping dose of feminine rage. With dark humor, razor-sharp wit, and righteous fury lacing throughout this fun yet thought-provoking read, I quite literally didn’t put this book down for even a minute. After all, these characters were some of the best I’ve ever read. Complex, flawed, and oh so very morally gray, they made this book what it was. Then again, the fast-paced storyline was also the ultimate mix of thriller and horror, all wrapped up in one perfect little package.
So what exactly made this book into the five-plus-star read that it was? Well, on top of the characters, the feminist angle was second to none. Exploring survival, sisterhood, revenge, and trauma, it was also the perfect subversion of the Final Girl trope. You see, not only did the women in this electrically taut tale take back the power and control with their very own hands, but the whole story felt plausible—even if every bit of it was also deliciously unhinged. Told via dual timelines and POVs, the twisty, tense plotting and pitch-perfect characters intermingled a slasher feel with well-crafted backstories to deliver everything I could want plus just a little bit more. So if you’re a fan of They Never Learn, Maeve Fly, or pretty much anything by Kirsten Miller, grab this one now. After all, this debut just made it onto my list of my favorite books of the year. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Marion is in deep. She's stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works in a desperate bid to help her sister escape an abusive marriage, but the bus breaks down before she can make it to Saratoga Springs. It's late at night, and the only place with vacancies is an old set of cabins on the outskirts of town. She pays for a room in cash, and ends up chatting with Norm, the young innkeeper who's handsome, charming and a touch hung-up on his elderly mother. Back in her room, she steps into the shower, scrubbing off the late-summer heat, when the curtain is pulled back...
Norm Billings is there with a knife. He raises his arm to strike, but before he does, Marion knees him in the balls, grabs the knife, and stabs the life out of him. Now, she's covered in blood, and she's a woman on the run―not just a thief, but a killer, too. Where will she go? How will she save both herself and her sister? And what mysteries will she uncover as she does?
Thank you Leah Rowan and St. Martin’s Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 2, 2026
Content warning: domestic abuse, knife violence, blood, murder, sexism, misogyny, violence, grief, alcoholism, gore, gaslighting, mention of: death of a parent, COVID, sexual harassment
June 16, 2026
Loved this!! A Psycho retelling that manages to surprise at every step. Fun and intense!!
March 6, 2026
What Lit My Mood
I loved the twist on the iconic classic Psycho. This one flips the script with a feminist edge; the woman doesn’t die in the shower. Instead, she turns the knife on Norm, transforming the victim into the hero.
I’m an absolute sucker for a female-revenge-against-men trope, and when you add a bold reimagining of a classic into the mix, I’m all in.
Where My Mood Flickered
Nothing is ever “Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy,” like Marion’s mother’s voice in her head keeps reminding her. I actually loved those moments, her mom cheering her on from the sidelines—but the believability itself was a little hard to fully buy into.
The pacing is also a bit slow at the start, and I struggled to get hooked in those early chapters. But once the story hit that halfway mark? Total just one more chapter energy from there on out.
Listening versus Reading
I enjoyed both reading and listening to the narration by Natalie Naudus and Tawny Platis. Both voices were engaging, bringing the characters to life with distinct personalities. I preferred listening during the slower sections, so when my mind drifted off due to the pacing, I didn’t miss much
Mood Rating:
Satisfied – The revenge was deliciously satisfying, and by the second half, I was flying through the chapters.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra and Mary Beth
I received both a digital and audio copy from the publisher through NetGalley
I loved the twist on the iconic classic Psycho. This one flips the script with a feminist edge; the woman doesn’t die in the shower. Instead, she turns the knife on Norm, transforming the victim into the hero.
I’m an absolute sucker for a female-revenge-against-men trope, and when you add a bold reimagining of a classic into the mix, I’m all in.
Where My Mood Flickered
Nothing is ever “Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy,” like Marion’s mother’s voice in her head keeps reminding her. I actually loved those moments, her mom cheering her on from the sidelines—but the believability itself was a little hard to fully buy into.
The pacing is also a bit slow at the start, and I struggled to get hooked in those early chapters. But once the story hit that halfway mark? Total just one more chapter energy from there on out.
Listening versus Reading
I enjoyed both reading and listening to the narration by Natalie Naudus and Tawny Platis. Both voices were engaging, bringing the characters to life with distinct personalities. I preferred listening during the slower sections, so when my mind drifted off due to the pacing, I didn’t miss much
Mood Rating:
Satisfied – The revenge was deliciously satisfying, and by the second half, I was flying through the chapters.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra and Mary Beth
I received both a digital and audio copy from the publisher through NetGalley
August 24, 2026
4.5☆
What if Norman didn't slash Marion to death in the shower? What if the table was turned?
Our protagonist, who is never named in the book, names herself "Marion Cage" upon her first meeting with Norman Billings. She is on the run afterall.
What a lesson in not making assumptions! Just like Hannah Pierce, a young woman hoping to become a full-time PI, assuming that you know what is happening leads you down several wrong paths. Marion also makes assumptions and she ends up killing, repeatedly.
There is certainly a lot of feminine rage in these pages. There are themes of grief, abuse of women, strained familial relationships and strong sister bonds. Questions about mental health are worked into the story.
This novel has so many delicious turns and unexpected twists! Rowan does a masterful job at tying up all of the loose ends. There is not a thing left unanswered in the end. It is a wild ride, and I am so happy that I took it.
Favorite Words:
"'People do wild things when they think they're going to lose the person they love most in the world.'"
Myra Billings
What if Norman didn't slash Marion to death in the shower? What if the table was turned?
Our protagonist, who is never named in the book, names herself "Marion Cage" upon her first meeting with Norman Billings. She is on the run afterall.
What a lesson in not making assumptions! Just like Hannah Pierce, a young woman hoping to become a full-time PI, assuming that you know what is happening leads you down several wrong paths. Marion also makes assumptions and she ends up killing, repeatedly.
There is certainly a lot of feminine rage in these pages. There are themes of grief, abuse of women, strained familial relationships and strong sister bonds. Questions about mental health are worked into the story.
This novel has so many delicious turns and unexpected twists! Rowan does a masterful job at tying up all of the loose ends. There is not a thing left unanswered in the end. It is a wild ride, and I am so happy that I took it.
Favorite Words:
"'People do wild things when they think they're going to lose the person they love most in the world.'"
Myra Billings
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY - June 2, 2026
A unique take on the Psycho book/movie but It's not necessary to be familiar with the Psycho story prior to reading or listening to this one. Even though parts of the story are a little far-fetched and involve some complicated logistics, it was an enjoyable read/listen and I was kept intrigued wondering how "Marion" was going to get out of the various situations she found herself in. I don't know how the author kept all the dead bodies straight. Running parallel to Marion's story is the story of Hannah, a brand-new private investigator who's definitely on her way to becoming a success in this line of work. On top of all that is a story of sisterly love and maternal bonds that overcome historical grudges. Releasing in June 2026, this would be a good book to take on vacation with you. Just don't stay at the Billings Motel ... or the Bates Motel for that matter!
I was fortunate to have an electronic copy as well as the audiobook and I can't say that I enjoyed one more than the other but the audiobook seemed to go pretty quickly and was ably narrated by Natalie Naudus and Tawny Platis. Neither of them stood out to me but they both did an acceptable job. I had to listen at 1.25 speed which doesn't happen very often.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio, via Netgalley, for approving my request to listen to the audiobook and to St. Martin's Press, also via Netgalley. for providing a copy of the e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. This review will be published on Goodreads and Netgalley on March 26, 2026 and on amazon.ca on or after June 2, 2026.
Publication Date: June 2, 2026
A unique take on the Psycho book/movie but It's not necessary to be familiar with the Psycho story prior to reading or listening to this one. Even though parts of the story are a little far-fetched and involve some complicated logistics, it was an enjoyable read/listen and I was kept intrigued wondering how "Marion" was going to get out of the various situations she found herself in. I don't know how the author kept all the dead bodies straight. Running parallel to Marion's story is the story of Hannah, a brand-new private investigator who's definitely on her way to becoming a success in this line of work. On top of all that is a story of sisterly love and maternal bonds that overcome historical grudges. Releasing in June 2026, this would be a good book to take on vacation with you. Just don't stay at the Billings Motel ... or the Bates Motel for that matter!
I was fortunate to have an electronic copy as well as the audiobook and I can't say that I enjoyed one more than the other but the audiobook seemed to go pretty quickly and was ably narrated by Natalie Naudus and Tawny Platis. Neither of them stood out to me but they both did an acceptable job. I had to listen at 1.25 speed which doesn't happen very often.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio, via Netgalley, for approving my request to listen to the audiobook and to St. Martin's Press, also via Netgalley. for providing a copy of the e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. This review will be published on Goodreads and Netgalley on March 26, 2026 and on amazon.ca on or after June 2, 2026.
Publication Date: June 2, 2026
June 7, 2026
4.5 stars - took me a bit to get into, but WOW! This one's awesome and I really enjoyed how clever a Psycho retelling it was - lots of twists & turns. Hope this author does another slasher film retelling
June 8, 2026
“Marion” would do anything for her sister, Lauren, who shows up at Marion’s NYC apartment with bruises. After a failed attempt at depositing $100,000 cash into her misogynistic boss’s bank account fails, she returns home to discover her sister has left to return to her abusive husband. Marion immediately catches a bus to get to her sister. When that bus most unfortunately breaks down, Marion is left to stay at the only remaining room left, at the Billings Motel. This sets off a wild chain of events, and I was hooked from page one.
This is a brilliant feminist twist on the classic book/film, Psycho. I’ve read the source material and seen the classic movie, and I think this author really paid homage to the original. There were several nods to the original throughout, and I think it was done well. This is feminine rage and revenge in all its glory, and I was here for it. I thought the pacing was great, and the tension remained from the first page to the last.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a brilliant feminist twist on the classic book/film, Psycho. I’ve read the source material and seen the classic movie, and I think this author really paid homage to the original. There were several nods to the original throughout, and I think it was done well. This is feminine rage and revenge in all its glory, and I was here for it. I thought the pacing was great, and the tension remained from the first page to the last.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.
June 3, 2026
I’m assuming most of us are familiar with the story of what happened to Marion when she stole a bunch of money from her employer and checked into the Bates Motel . . .
But how about a little refresh where there’s still a Norman – and, of course, “Mother” – but where the turns table into . . .
Oh this was fun!
And I know you aren’t supposed to quote reader copies, but I’m not always a rule follower so just know this may change (although I certainly hope it does not):
It was late walks home alone, head always turning to look behind you, keys in your hand. It was stepping into an elevator with a person you knew could overpower you. It was raised fists, bruised cheeks. It was too much booze, a boy, always a boy, a boy with promise, promise you’d take if you told anyone. It was that boy on top of you, hands everywhere, taking advantage. It was playground taunts, SLUT scrawled across a locker. It was the the doctor who insisted I didn’t really need any painkillers to get my IUD inserted. It was an innkeeper, sneaking into my room, a knife in his hand, ready to take my life. It was every woman’s dance with violence, a lifelong tango.
Now THIS is how you do female rage.
4.5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
But how about a little refresh where there’s still a Norman – and, of course, “Mother” – but where the turns table into . . .
Oh this was fun!
And I know you aren’t supposed to quote reader copies, but I’m not always a rule follower so just know this may change (although I certainly hope it does not):
It was late walks home alone, head always turning to look behind you, keys in your hand. It was stepping into an elevator with a person you knew could overpower you. It was raised fists, bruised cheeks. It was too much booze, a boy, always a boy, a boy with promise, promise you’d take if you told anyone. It was that boy on top of you, hands everywhere, taking advantage. It was playground taunts, SLUT scrawled across a locker. It was the the doctor who insisted I didn’t really need any painkillers to get my IUD inserted. It was an innkeeper, sneaking into my room, a knife in his hand, ready to take my life. It was every woman’s dance with violence, a lifelong tango.
Now THIS is how you do female rage.
4.5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
June 9, 2026
3. 5 stars
Well, this debut novel certainly caught my attention. Whether or not you ever watched Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, it won't be hard to follow along with the reimagining of the tale. Females who kill are all the rage in literature and television today, and "Marion" is no exception to this. The novel is structured around two intertwined storylines: Marion's unraveling and Hannah's investigation into a missing person's case, which she begins before others recognize the urgency of the situation.
Another page-turner for me, but I am not sure about how I feel about the ending. That fell a little flat for me. However, I did enjoy the overall concept and believe it is worth thriller readers attention.
Publication Date 02/06/26
Goodreads Review 09/06/26
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Well, this debut novel certainly caught my attention. Whether or not you ever watched Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, it won't be hard to follow along with the reimagining of the tale. Females who kill are all the rage in literature and television today, and "Marion" is no exception to this. The novel is structured around two intertwined storylines: Marion's unraveling and Hannah's investigation into a missing person's case, which she begins before others recognize the urgency of the situation.
Another page-turner for me, but I am not sure about how I feel about the ending. That fell a little flat for me. However, I did enjoy the overall concept and believe it is worth thriller readers attention.
Publication Date 02/06/26
Goodreads Review 09/06/26
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 8, 2026
okay but Norm is my book boyfriend now 😭
“You think you know how this kind of story ends. You don’t.”
Some of this book is tense! Not even necessarily in big, dramatic moments, but in all these tiny little instances where something feels slightly wrong. Like an angry narrowing of the eyes that disappears immediately or a strange reaction that you could explain away if you really wanted to. It all builds this creeping sense that something's not quite right.
And then Norm arrives and I became useless.
I LOVE that the author made the Norman Bates equivalent super handsome and charming. It's a great parallel to Marion, because people underestimate both of them for different reasons. She's blonde and beautiful, so everyone assumes she's stupid. He's handsome and charming, so everyone assumes he's harmless.
“Dumb blonde was a persona the world expected, and when necessary, I embodied it like the best of them.”
And Norm is SO SWEET. He's awkward and charming and weirdly endearing, and if you temporarily forget everything you know about Psycho, he's basically boyfriend material.
He can cook.
He owns his own business.
He has a shit ton of plants.
He gardens.
He cleans.
DID I MENTION HE COOKS???
Just ignore all the other... stuff... I mean, come on, nobody's perfect 🤷🏼♀️
And Marion and Norm could have been such a power couple. Their fucked up family dynamics! The fact that they both understand what it's like to be trapped inside identities other people have created for them! I just know they could have matched each other's freak.
Can someone please reimagine Psycho as a romance? I am begging.
BUT my man is only in the book for 50 pages. And some of that he's bleeding out 😭
Like excuse me???
I felt like that scene in The Wire, Where the FUCK isWallaceNorm?
Occasionally this book's so sharp about gender, beauty, misogyny and the performance of femininity that I desperately wanted it to go further. There are some really interesting themes here. I loved the way the book thinks about beauty and femininity, especially the idea that being beautiful isn't a protection from violence.
“Lot of good ‘pretty’ did any of us. It wasn’t a protection against violence, that was for sure. If anything, it seemed to court it.”
But it feels like it's constantly circling an interesting story without fully committing to it.
The book frames Marion's actions as female rage directed at men, but it feels lile there's a lot more to it than that. The parallels between Marion and the original Bates family dynamic are obviously intentional, and I really wish wed gone deeper into how her mother shaped her, and how that relationship created her understanding of femininity, responsibility, violence, love, and obligation.
Instead, we get a LOT of family reminiscing. And I mean a metric fuckton.
This girl can't have a single thought without it becoming about her family. I counted.
“Mom” appears 395 times.
“Lauren” appears 318 times.
“Dad” appears 85 times. Well, we know who's the least favourite family member.
The longest we go without a family member being mentioned is 15 pages, and that's only because those 15 pages belong to Hannah.
And Hannah... I'm sorry, Hannah. I simply do not care. I can't bring myself to give a shit about you.
Her chapters feel like the boring B-plot in a TV show. I'm sure she's important and I'm sure Future Me would appreciate the information. But Present Me was like GET BACK TO MARION. WHAT IS NORM DOING. GO AWAY HANNAH YOU BORE.
I skimmed Hannah's chapters just enough to understand the gist because every time we cut away from the main story, I could feel myself dying inside.
But you know what I can't forgive? The iconic scene happens at exactly 33%.
So I'm sitting there like okay!!! Great!!! Here we go!!!
And then I look at the progress bar... 33%... WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR THE NEXT TWO THIRDS???
Well. Apparently, we're going to talk about Lauren. And Mom. And Mom. And Lauren. And Mom. And Lauren. And and and
I understand that the family's the catalyst for everything. But it's not treated as an opportunity for character development.
And I think that's part of why I didn't particularly like Marion in the end. I don't think she's badly written, but I think the book needed to pick a lane with her. Either go straight psychological thriller or go full weird girl. Don't hover awkwardly between the two while occasionally yelling FEMINIST RAGE at me.
I wanted her to be weirder. I wanted the book to get stranger. I wanted it to get psychologically nasty. I wanted Norm and Marion sitting across from each other like “soooo your family is completely insane?” “Yes.” “Mine too.” “Want to kill someone?” “Absolutely.”
Instead of 395 mentions of Mom 😫
Okay, tangent over, back to the shower scene because what was happening there?? The book does such a good job building tension, and then the lead up, arguably what should be the most tense moment in the book, is basically an itemised inventory of a woman taking her clothes off and listing body parts.
“I began to undress. I unhooked the fly of my jeans, button by button, then slid them over my hips... I lifted my arms next, pulling off my white tank top... Unclasped my bra... Stepped out of my underwear. Put it all in a neat pile."
And then, “My neck next, and then my chest, my boobs, the right one a little larger than the left...”
🙄 We know how showers work.
The specificity makes it less atmospheric and tense. It feels clunky in a book where so many of the quieter moments are actually very effective.
It's almost disingenuous to call it a Psycho retelling. Because I came here for Norman Bates: Hot Girl Summer Edition but I got a generic thriller that happens to have a very interesting Temu Norman Bates for like 12 minutes.
I liked this book in theory. The writing's good, if not a little YA at times. The tension's good when we're not cataloguing body parts. The ideas are interesting. But it's doing too much.
It's trying to be a classic retelling, a feminist revenge story, a family drama, a psychological thriller, and a commentary on beauty and misogyny, and I wanted it to just pick one and go absolutely feral with it.
I would have read the hell out of the book I thought this was becoming.
Norm deserved better. Norm deserved his own book. Marion deserved better. I deserved more than 52 pages with my book boyfriend.
“You think you know how this kind of story ends. You don’t.”
Some of this book is tense! Not even necessarily in big, dramatic moments, but in all these tiny little instances where something feels slightly wrong. Like an angry narrowing of the eyes that disappears immediately or a strange reaction that you could explain away if you really wanted to. It all builds this creeping sense that something's not quite right.
And then Norm arrives and I became useless.
I LOVE that the author made the Norman Bates equivalent super handsome and charming. It's a great parallel to Marion, because people underestimate both of them for different reasons. She's blonde and beautiful, so everyone assumes she's stupid. He's handsome and charming, so everyone assumes he's harmless.
“Dumb blonde was a persona the world expected, and when necessary, I embodied it like the best of them.”
And Norm is SO SWEET. He's awkward and charming and weirdly endearing, and if you temporarily forget everything you know about Psycho, he's basically boyfriend material.
He can cook.
He owns his own business.
He has a shit ton of plants.
He gardens.
He cleans.
DID I MENTION HE COOKS???
Just ignore all the other... stuff... I mean, come on, nobody's perfect 🤷🏼♀️
And Marion and Norm could have been such a power couple. Their fucked up family dynamics! The fact that they both understand what it's like to be trapped inside identities other people have created for them! I just know they could have matched each other's freak.
Can someone please reimagine Psycho as a romance? I am begging.
BUT my man is only in the book for 50 pages. And some of that he's bleeding out 😭
Like excuse me???
I felt like that scene in The Wire, Where the FUCK is
Occasionally this book's so sharp about gender, beauty, misogyny and the performance of femininity that I desperately wanted it to go further. There are some really interesting themes here. I loved the way the book thinks about beauty and femininity, especially the idea that being beautiful isn't a protection from violence.
“Lot of good ‘pretty’ did any of us. It wasn’t a protection against violence, that was for sure. If anything, it seemed to court it.”
But it feels like it's constantly circling an interesting story without fully committing to it.
The book frames Marion's actions as female rage directed at men, but it feels lile there's a lot more to it than that. The parallels between Marion and the original Bates family dynamic are obviously intentional, and I really wish wed gone deeper into how her mother shaped her, and how that relationship created her understanding of femininity, responsibility, violence, love, and obligation.
Instead, we get a LOT of family reminiscing. And I mean a metric fuckton.
This girl can't have a single thought without it becoming about her family. I counted.
“Mom” appears 395 times.
“Lauren” appears 318 times.
“Dad” appears 85 times. Well, we know who's the least favourite family member.
The longest we go without a family member being mentioned is 15 pages, and that's only because those 15 pages belong to Hannah.
And Hannah... I'm sorry, Hannah. I simply do not care. I can't bring myself to give a shit about you.
Her chapters feel like the boring B-plot in a TV show. I'm sure she's important and I'm sure Future Me would appreciate the information. But Present Me was like GET BACK TO MARION. WHAT IS NORM DOING. GO AWAY HANNAH YOU BORE.
I skimmed Hannah's chapters just enough to understand the gist because every time we cut away from the main story, I could feel myself dying inside.
But you know what I can't forgive? The iconic scene happens at exactly 33%.
So I'm sitting there like okay!!! Great!!! Here we go!!!
And then I look at the progress bar... 33%... WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR THE NEXT TWO THIRDS???
Well. Apparently, we're going to talk about Lauren. And Mom. And Mom. And Lauren. And Mom. And Lauren. And and and
I understand that the family's the catalyst for everything. But it's not treated as an opportunity for character development.
And I think that's part of why I didn't particularly like Marion in the end. I don't think she's badly written, but I think the book needed to pick a lane with her. Either go straight psychological thriller or go full weird girl. Don't hover awkwardly between the two while occasionally yelling FEMINIST RAGE at me.
I wanted her to be weirder. I wanted the book to get stranger. I wanted it to get psychologically nasty. I wanted Norm and Marion sitting across from each other like “soooo your family is completely insane?” “Yes.” “Mine too.” “Want to kill someone?” “Absolutely.”
Instead of 395 mentions of Mom 😫
Okay, tangent over, back to the shower scene because what was happening there?? The book does such a good job building tension, and then the lead up, arguably what should be the most tense moment in the book, is basically an itemised inventory of a woman taking her clothes off and listing body parts.
“I began to undress. I unhooked the fly of my jeans, button by button, then slid them over my hips... I lifted my arms next, pulling off my white tank top... Unclasped my bra... Stepped out of my underwear. Put it all in a neat pile."
And then, “My neck next, and then my chest, my boobs, the right one a little larger than the left...”
🙄 We know how showers work.
The specificity makes it less atmospheric and tense. It feels clunky in a book where so many of the quieter moments are actually very effective.
It's almost disingenuous to call it a Psycho retelling. Because I came here for Norman Bates: Hot Girl Summer Edition but I got a generic thriller that happens to have a very interesting Temu Norman Bates for like 12 minutes.
I liked this book in theory. The writing's good, if not a little YA at times. The tension's good when we're not cataloguing body parts. The ideas are interesting. But it's doing too much.
It's trying to be a classic retelling, a feminist revenge story, a family drama, a psychological thriller, and a commentary on beauty and misogyny, and I wanted it to just pick one and go absolutely feral with it.
I would have read the hell out of the book I thought this was becoming.
Norm deserved better. Norm deserved his own book. Marion deserved better. I deserved more than 52 pages with my book boyfriend.
July 17, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Marion is an ambitious and refreshing debut that dares to reimagine one of horror's most iconic stories. Rather than retelling Psycho from Norman Bates' perspective, Leah Rowan shifts the focus to Marion—the woman whose fate helped cement the original story as a horror classic—and gives her a voice of her own!
At its heart, this is also a story about the unbreakable bond between sisters, the lengths one woman will go to for the person she loves most, and what can happen when a woman is pushed to her absolute breaking point. Woven throughout is a powerful thread of feminine rage, giving the story an emotional depth that extends beyond its horror roots.
I was immediately hooked by the first half of this novel. Rowan does an excellent job building atmosphere while putting a fresh spin on familiar material, and I really admired how boldly she chose to rewrite the DNA of such a beloved horror classic from the victim's perspective. It's a risky premise, but one that largely pays off.
The second half did lose a bit of momentum for me, and I found myself wishing it had been tightened up to maintain the same intensity as the opening chapters. That said, the ending pulled everything together in a satisfying way and left me feeling glad I'd taken the journey.
Overall, this was an above-average read and an impressive debut. Leah Rowan has shown a lot of promise, and if this is what she's capable of in her first novel, I think her books will only continue to get stronger. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next!!
Marion is an ambitious and refreshing debut that dares to reimagine one of horror's most iconic stories. Rather than retelling Psycho from Norman Bates' perspective, Leah Rowan shifts the focus to Marion—the woman whose fate helped cement the original story as a horror classic—and gives her a voice of her own!
At its heart, this is also a story about the unbreakable bond between sisters, the lengths one woman will go to for the person she loves most, and what can happen when a woman is pushed to her absolute breaking point. Woven throughout is a powerful thread of feminine rage, giving the story an emotional depth that extends beyond its horror roots.
I was immediately hooked by the first half of this novel. Rowan does an excellent job building atmosphere while putting a fresh spin on familiar material, and I really admired how boldly she chose to rewrite the DNA of such a beloved horror classic from the victim's perspective. It's a risky premise, but one that largely pays off.
The second half did lose a bit of momentum for me, and I found myself wishing it had been tightened up to maintain the same intensity as the opening chapters. That said, the ending pulled everything together in a satisfying way and left me feeling glad I'd taken the journey.
Overall, this was an above-average read and an impressive debut. Leah Rowan has shown a lot of promise, and if this is what she's capable of in her first novel, I think her books will only continue to get stronger. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next!!
June 11, 2026
I'm at a loss for words on how to write this review. This book was thrilling in the most unrealistically funny way. The MFC is thrown into one ridiculous situation after another, and at times it was genuinely humorous because you could practically visualize her trying to figure out how she was going to get herself out of each sticky situation.
She goes from stealing money to help her sister escape an abusive relationship, to her bus breaking down, to staying at a creepy motel, and then accidentally killing the innkeeper. All before she even gets the chance to reach her sister. It was chaotic, but in a way that kept me completely invested. Despite having so many moving parts, I was intrigued to see how everything would come together, and in the end, I was left satisfied with how it all worked out.
*I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Leah Rowan for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
She goes from stealing money to help her sister escape an abusive relationship, to her bus breaking down, to staying at a creepy motel, and then accidentally killing the innkeeper. All before she even gets the chance to reach her sister. It was chaotic, but in a way that kept me completely invested. Despite having so many moving parts, I was intrigued to see how everything would come together, and in the end, I was left satisfied with how it all worked out.
*I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Leah Rowan for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Want to Read
April 28, 2026A twist in Hitchcock’s iconic classic Psycho
Yeah sign me up!
Excited to read this one!
🖤💛♥️💛🖤
Yeah sign me up!
Excited to read this one!
🖤💛♥️💛🖤
August 2, 2026
Leave Marion alone! 4.7 🌟 audiobook
August 11, 2026
Marion by Lean Rowan is a modern-feminist retelling of Robert Bloch's 1959-Horror Classic, Psycho. Rowan's version is the Villain Flip that I never knew I needed.
I enjoyed this a lot. More than I expected actually. I appreciated Rowan's creativity, as well as all the nods she gave to the original story whilst truly making it her own.
We follow two perspectives, "Marion", which was the name of the MC in Hitchcock's adaptation of the novel, though Bloch's original protagonist was Mary, and a young private investigator named Hannah.
Marion works at an ad agency in NYC, and ends up having a large sum of money come into her possession, given to her by her boss to deposit, and decides, after a hassle at the bank, to take the money and use it to help her sister, Lauren.
She flees with the money on a bus to Saratoga Springs, but the bus ends up breaking down and she finds herself stranded, late at night, far from her final destination.
It's through this series of unfortunate events that Marion eventually finds herself at the small roadside motel that's own and run by Norm.
From there things evolve fairly true to the original, but when the infamous shower scene kicks off, Marion gets the upper hand, kicking Norm in the balls, grabbing the knife and stabbing the life out of him.
Now Marion's not just a thief, she's a murderer as well. My, my, my, how quickly things can escalate.
Hannah, the private investigator, is on the hunt for a missing girl named Emily. She's dogged in her efforts and ends up at the hotel in the aftermath of what went down with Marion.
These two perspectives weave back and forth, building out the bigger picture and carrying us towards the wild, and IMO, satisfying conclusion.
I did definitely enjoy Marion's perspective more, but I always like an investigator as well, and Hannah supplied that for me. I would say some of the messaging from Hannah's perspective was a little heavy-handed, but for the most part, it was well-done.
Personally, I wish it would have been set in the same time period as the original, the modern setting and the incorporation of Covid, was sort of a downer for me. I also feel like the twist of Marion getting the upper hand would have been more impactful in a historical setting.
Other than those minor things, I think this is a great debut. I loved the creativity and the way Rowan played true homage to the original, while also making it enough of her own story to feel original. I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. It's a macabre delight!
I enjoyed this a lot. More than I expected actually. I appreciated Rowan's creativity, as well as all the nods she gave to the original story whilst truly making it her own.
We follow two perspectives, "Marion", which was the name of the MC in Hitchcock's adaptation of the novel, though Bloch's original protagonist was Mary, and a young private investigator named Hannah.
Marion works at an ad agency in NYC, and ends up having a large sum of money come into her possession, given to her by her boss to deposit, and decides, after a hassle at the bank, to take the money and use it to help her sister, Lauren.
She flees with the money on a bus to Saratoga Springs, but the bus ends up breaking down and she finds herself stranded, late at night, far from her final destination.
It's through this series of unfortunate events that Marion eventually finds herself at the small roadside motel that's own and run by Norm.
From there things evolve fairly true to the original, but when the infamous shower scene kicks off, Marion gets the upper hand, kicking Norm in the balls, grabbing the knife and stabbing the life out of him.
Now Marion's not just a thief, she's a murderer as well. My, my, my, how quickly things can escalate.
Hannah, the private investigator, is on the hunt for a missing girl named Emily. She's dogged in her efforts and ends up at the hotel in the aftermath of what went down with Marion.
These two perspectives weave back and forth, building out the bigger picture and carrying us towards the wild, and IMO, satisfying conclusion.
I did definitely enjoy Marion's perspective more, but I always like an investigator as well, and Hannah supplied that for me. I would say some of the messaging from Hannah's perspective was a little heavy-handed, but for the most part, it was well-done.
Personally, I wish it would have been set in the same time period as the original, the modern setting and the incorporation of Covid, was sort of a downer for me. I also feel like the twist of Marion getting the upper hand would have been more impactful in a historical setting.
Other than those minor things, I think this is a great debut. I loved the creativity and the way Rowan played true homage to the original, while also making it enough of her own story to feel original. I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. It's a macabre delight!
March 23, 2026
**SPOILERS**
In the first paragraph, the main character (whose actual name I forget), says she’s not like other girls because she does something “bad”. Already a red flag, but I kept reading because the concept was super interesting to me. Unfortunately, the entire plot revolves around the contradiction that every man is evil by nature, but evil women are only evil because of an evil man. I think there’s a way to do this that wasn’t this.
For example, every man Marion meets seems nice at first but then wants to kill or abuse her. She ends up killing Norman and criticizes him for having mommy issues, but then becomes haunted by her own mother’s voice and kills 2 more men, justifying it by saying that her mom would’ve wanted her to be an independent woman who takes matters into her own hands. And it’s not portrayed as ironic, it’s portrayed as justified.
In an alternate POV, a PI character says Norms mom is not to blame for Norms actions (agree), because Norm was an evil man who made his own choices even though his mom knew there was something wrong and instead of helping him, abandoned him which led to him becoming obsessed with her and killing women to replace her (disagree). I think both of them played a part in that failed relationship and while it’s obviously not the mom’s fault, the PI excused her because of how moms are often blamed for their sons’ bad behavior. Again, there’s a nuanced way to portray this and this was not it.
By the end, Marion has killed her boss/coworker and her sister’s husband/boyfriend. The husband/boyfriend was suspected of killing the sister, so Marion (with Mom in her head) kills him. The sister actually isn’t dead, but thanks Marion because the boyfriend was abusive and she didn’t know how to leave him. They then call their mom to help them hide the body and it’s revealed that she is a drunk because she knew about the boyfriend being an abuser(??). So the boyfriend causes the mom to be absent and a drunk but it’s not Norm’s mom fault that Norm is crazy because she abandoned him when she knew he had issues? Again, there’s a contradiction here that men being evil is nature and women being evil is nurture by men.
All in all, I’d say that I understand what the message is going for and I wouldn’t have a problem with it if it didn’t end up being: men are bad because they’re men and women are only ever bad because of men. I think making the overly-feminine gay man the only guy that does nothing wrong was frustrating since the women are all genuinely bad people who blame their actions on bad men, and not in a smart, ironic way. The epilogue of the book even says something like, all women have a killer inside of them and it might come out if you’re pushed too far by men. Huh??
I would’ve really enjoyed this book if the commentary was well done because I agree with the argument the book is sold on. Seeing how a super well known woman would be affected by a murder had *she* survived is really intriguing and there’s a lot of messaging that can go into that. Unfortunately, the messaging here is a mess and told rather than shown.
Anyway, 1.25 because there’s no Costco in Poughkeepsie.
In the first paragraph, the main character (whose actual name I forget), says she’s not like other girls because she does something “bad”. Already a red flag, but I kept reading because the concept was super interesting to me. Unfortunately, the entire plot revolves around the contradiction that every man is evil by nature, but evil women are only evil because of an evil man. I think there’s a way to do this that wasn’t this.
For example, every man Marion meets seems nice at first but then wants to kill or abuse her. She ends up killing Norman and criticizes him for having mommy issues, but then becomes haunted by her own mother’s voice and kills 2 more men, justifying it by saying that her mom would’ve wanted her to be an independent woman who takes matters into her own hands. And it’s not portrayed as ironic, it’s portrayed as justified.
In an alternate POV, a PI character says Norms mom is not to blame for Norms actions (agree), because Norm was an evil man who made his own choices even though his mom knew there was something wrong and instead of helping him, abandoned him which led to him becoming obsessed with her and killing women to replace her (disagree). I think both of them played a part in that failed relationship and while it’s obviously not the mom’s fault, the PI excused her because of how moms are often blamed for their sons’ bad behavior. Again, there’s a nuanced way to portray this and this was not it.
By the end, Marion has killed her boss/coworker and her sister’s husband/boyfriend. The husband/boyfriend was suspected of killing the sister, so Marion (with Mom in her head) kills him. The sister actually isn’t dead, but thanks Marion because the boyfriend was abusive and she didn’t know how to leave him. They then call their mom to help them hide the body and it’s revealed that she is a drunk because she knew about the boyfriend being an abuser(??). So the boyfriend causes the mom to be absent and a drunk but it’s not Norm’s mom fault that Norm is crazy because she abandoned him when she knew he had issues? Again, there’s a contradiction here that men being evil is nature and women being evil is nurture by men.
All in all, I’d say that I understand what the message is going for and I wouldn’t have a problem with it if it didn’t end up being: men are bad because they’re men and women are only ever bad because of men. I think making the overly-feminine gay man the only guy that does nothing wrong was frustrating since the women are all genuinely bad people who blame their actions on bad men, and not in a smart, ironic way. The epilogue of the book even says something like, all women have a killer inside of them and it might come out if you’re pushed too far by men. Huh??
I would’ve really enjoyed this book if the commentary was well done because I agree with the argument the book is sold on. Seeing how a super well known woman would be affected by a murder had *she* survived is really intriguing and there’s a lot of messaging that can go into that. Unfortunately, the messaging here is a mess and told rather than shown.
Anyway, 1.25 because there’s no Costco in Poughkeepsie.
July 25, 2026
I can see why people are enjoying this debut, but to me, it felt like a bit too much (ie too gory, too convoluted). I also struggled with the pacing. I loved the premise, but I think my expectations might have been too high going in.
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.
July 21, 2026
What a ride!! I could have easily finished this in a weekend; but instead dragged it out a bit just because it was so crazy I didn’t want to know the end right away. This is the feminine Psycho. A girl, meets Norman Bates, and wins. But now there is a dead body (or two or three), money from weird circumstances, a sister, a crazy mom, and a lot of details to handle.
With a lot of uniqueness, new players, added plot from every corner, and a base story we all know so well, Leah Rowan takes us on a crazy, wild, with lots of blood splatter, killer ride. I don’t know how else to describe this except fun, immensely clever, quite satisfying in the end, and a very readable story.
If you like thrillers or murder mysteries, you’ll likely enjoy Marion.
If you enjoy the story from the offenders eyes, you’ll likely enjoy Marion.
If you want to see how someone goes from totally normal to a bit deranged this might be for you.
It’s definitely for those that want a light thriller for the beach or a weekend read that keeps them flipping the pages quick to find out what happens next.
I’m sure some armchair detectives could rip details apart here; I didn’t even try as I had too much fun reading about Marion and her exploits. The best part, she didn’t do it alone and it’s not unreasonably set-up or implausible. Just a good, crazy thriller that keeps you on your toes. Whether as an audiobook or in print (I swapped back and forth) I think the average reader will find something here to admire in this rewrite of the Bates Motel.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
With a lot of uniqueness, new players, added plot from every corner, and a base story we all know so well, Leah Rowan takes us on a crazy, wild, with lots of blood splatter, killer ride. I don’t know how else to describe this except fun, immensely clever, quite satisfying in the end, and a very readable story.
If you like thrillers or murder mysteries, you’ll likely enjoy Marion.
If you enjoy the story from the offenders eyes, you’ll likely enjoy Marion.
If you want to see how someone goes from totally normal to a bit deranged this might be for you.
It’s definitely for those that want a light thriller for the beach or a weekend read that keeps them flipping the pages quick to find out what happens next.
I’m sure some armchair detectives could rip details apart here; I didn’t even try as I had too much fun reading about Marion and her exploits. The best part, she didn’t do it alone and it’s not unreasonably set-up or implausible. Just a good, crazy thriller that keeps you on your toes. Whether as an audiobook or in print (I swapped back and forth) I think the average reader will find something here to admire in this rewrite of the Bates Motel.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
March 14, 2026
✨✨✨I support women’s rage!✨✨✨
You had me at retelling of Psycho where she lives and fights back!! 👏 This is one of those books I feel like was made just for me. I absolutely LOVED it!!!
I knew pretty much as soon as I started Marion that I was going to LOVE it and I was right! I was COMPELLED and engaged from page one. Marion is definitely a new favorite book for me!
I don’t want to give any spoilers so I’ll keep my review short. I love everything about this book and I love what it has to say about how society is towards women, but it’s never preachy which I appreciate. Marion is such a fun feminine rage/classic horror reimagining!! I’m OBSESSED.
This is a must read if the summary sounds good to you then I think you will for sure like it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released June 2, 2026.
Also, you can find me on the Pagebound app—— boobunny86
You had me at retelling of Psycho where she lives and fights back!! 👏 This is one of those books I feel like was made just for me. I absolutely LOVED it!!!
I knew pretty much as soon as I started Marion that I was going to LOVE it and I was right! I was COMPELLED and engaged from page one. Marion is definitely a new favorite book for me!
I don’t want to give any spoilers so I’ll keep my review short. I love everything about this book and I love what it has to say about how society is towards women, but it’s never preachy which I appreciate. Marion is such a fun feminine rage/classic horror reimagining!! I’m OBSESSED.
This is a must read if the summary sounds good to you then I think you will for sure like it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released June 2, 2026.
Also, you can find me on the Pagebound app—— boobunny86
June 5, 2026
I have to admit, I have pretty mixed feelings about this book.
Not because I disliked it; I actually think it's a clever idea and a fun twist on a classic story, but because even though a lot happens, I still found parts of it surprisingly slow.
As the blurb says, Marion is desperate to help her sister escape an abusive marriage. When she's suddenly entrusted with a large amount of money that she's supposed to deposit, she makes a split-second decision and takes off with it, hoping to finally help her sister start over.
Unfortunately, fate has other plans.
A broken-down bus leaves her stranded in a small town, where she ends up renting a room at a roadside motel run by a handsome but slightly unsettling young man named Norm.
And yes... that Norm.
What follows is the famous shower scene, BUT with a very different outcome.
When Norm appears with a knife, Marion fights back. Hard. Let's just say she makes absolutely sure he won't be getting up again.
From there, the story becomes much bigger than I expected. We get Marion's storyline, but also pieces involving her boss, her sister's husband, investigators and several other threads that slowly connect together.
One thing I really appreciated was the amount of female anger and frustration woven throughout the story. There's a lot here about power, control, abuse, survival and women refusing to remain victims.
That said, I do think the book occasionally suffered from trying to do a little too much.
The audiobook was ten hours long, and there were definitely moments where I felt the pacing slow down. Not enough to make me want to stop listening, but enough that I occasionally thought a chapter here or there could have been trimmed.
I also struggled with Hannah's character (our PI). She never really clicked for me, and compared to Marion she felt much less interesting.
Still, I enjoyed the premise, thought the retelling concept was interesting, and appreciated seeing Marion become something very different from the victim we know from the original story.
Overall, an interesting and ambitious reimagining that didn't completely win me over, but still kept me listening.
⭐ 3.75 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
Not because I disliked it; I actually think it's a clever idea and a fun twist on a classic story, but because even though a lot happens, I still found parts of it surprisingly slow.
As the blurb says, Marion is desperate to help her sister escape an abusive marriage. When she's suddenly entrusted with a large amount of money that she's supposed to deposit, she makes a split-second decision and takes off with it, hoping to finally help her sister start over.
Unfortunately, fate has other plans.
A broken-down bus leaves her stranded in a small town, where she ends up renting a room at a roadside motel run by a handsome but slightly unsettling young man named Norm.
And yes... that Norm.
What follows is the famous shower scene, BUT with a very different outcome.
When Norm appears with a knife, Marion fights back. Hard. Let's just say she makes absolutely sure he won't be getting up again.
From there, the story becomes much bigger than I expected. We get Marion's storyline, but also pieces involving her boss, her sister's husband, investigators and several other threads that slowly connect together.
One thing I really appreciated was the amount of female anger and frustration woven throughout the story. There's a lot here about power, control, abuse, survival and women refusing to remain victims.
That said, I do think the book occasionally suffered from trying to do a little too much.
The audiobook was ten hours long, and there were definitely moments where I felt the pacing slow down. Not enough to make me want to stop listening, but enough that I occasionally thought a chapter here or there could have been trimmed.
I also struggled with Hannah's character (our PI). She never really clicked for me, and compared to Marion she felt much less interesting.
Still, I enjoyed the premise, thought the retelling concept was interesting, and appreciated seeing Marion become something very different from the victim we know from the original story.
Overall, an interesting and ambitious reimagining that didn't completely win me over, but still kept me listening.
⭐ 3.75 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
August 20, 2025
I was hooked after seeing the dagger graphic on the title page and then came the prologue. The two timelines were an ingenious way to tell the brilliant reimagining of Psycho and to perhaps cause you to make assumptions like I did. The ending was one I never saw coming and I loved every word of it. You definitely don't want to miss this one!
July 28, 2026
The author takes the original premise of Psycho and turns it upside down, resulting in a very clever reimagining of the story. Marion's main goal is to protect her sister from an abusive husband, but she gets sidetracked-multiple times-along the way. Her desperation unleashes her pent-up rage, leading to behavior she never thought possible, and things spiral out of control. Also in the picture is Hannah Pierce, a young private investigator searching for a missing woman. As the two stories begin to converge, twist after twist moves the plot in unexpected directions. 4.5 stars for an entertaining and unique take on a classic.
January 6, 2026
I enjoyed the storyline from Marion’s POV; however, my first impression of Hannah’s POV nearly made me DNF this book. I’m glad I gave it a fair chance, but overall it just didn’t hit for me. Two stars feels generous.
My main issue is that I read to escape the real world, and the political and racial themes felt heavy handed. While those elements absolutely have a place in certain stories, here they added nothing to the plot and only distracted from it, which was frustrating. Had those themes been left out entirely this easily could have been a four-star read for me.
Than you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC copy and my honest review.
Expected Publishing date: June 2, 2026.
My main issue is that I read to escape the real world, and the political and racial themes felt heavy handed. While those elements absolutely have a place in certain stories, here they added nothing to the plot and only distracted from it, which was frustrating. Had those themes been left out entirely this easily could have been a four-star read for me.
Than you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC copy and my honest review.
Expected Publishing date: June 2, 2026.
June 3, 2026
Yikes, not good. Folks taking on Hitchcock or even Robert Bloch need to be up to the challenge. Instead of being taut and tight like it’s inspiration, this meandered all over. I was skimming so many chapters. The first person narration felt like, “I did this”, then “I did that”, over and over and over, plus our main characters are super annoying. Changing the setting and timeframe was also a choice. Upstate New York doesn’t have the same isolating atmosphere as Arizona off of the highway. I made it to the 50% mark and couldn’t spend more time here.
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