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Marion: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26A 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
Expected publication June 2, 2026
17 people are currently reading
11411 people want to read
About the author
Leah Rowan
1 book42 followersLeah Rowan is an author living in Brooklyn and the Catskills. Marion is her forthcoming thriller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 21, 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 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…
December 9, 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.
Thank you so much St. Martin's Press for this ARC!
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.
Thank you so much St. Martin's Press for this ARC!
December 15, 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!
December 11, 2025
We all know the story, we all know the iconic scene but what if it went differently? What if Norman Bates wasn’t fast enough and Marion fought back and won? This was the twist on Psycho I never knew I needed.
This book was absolutely unhinged. This kept me on the edge of my seat with twist after twist. These characters had me hooked, I was rooting for everyone (except you, Norm). This is the feminist revenge thriller we all need!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This book was absolutely unhinged. This kept me on the edge of my seat with twist after twist. These characters had me hooked, I was rooting for everyone (except you, Norm). This is the feminist revenge thriller we all need!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
December 24, 2025
Honestly, I spent the first 50% deciding whether I actually wanted to read this. I pushed through and I’m so happy that I did. I never gave thought to Psycho happening any other way than it did. I like that this book flipped it on its head. I also kind of liked how you never find out who the FMC actually was. She was just “Marion.” Honestly, I think we’ve all got a bit of “Marion” in us.
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc!
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Marion” by Leah Rowan takes that legendary moment from Psycho and reshapes it into a fierce, propulsive thriller that flips the script on victimhood and refuses to let women be silenced or slaughtered without a fight.
Marion isn’t just running from the law when we meet her; she’s running toward something. After discovering her sister Lauren is trapped in an abusive marriage, Marion becomes desperate to get to her and desperate enough to walk away with a bag of un-deposited cash entrusted to her at work. She tells herself it’s temporary, maybe even necessary, but the weight of that money becomes the beating heart of her choices. When a bus breakdown strands her in New Paltz, New York, she checks into the secluded Billings Motel under an alias, hoping to stay off the radar long enough to reach her sister.
Anyone familiar with Hitchcock thinks they know the next beat, but Marion has grown up in a world that teaches women to survive. When Norm Billings, the motel’s charming yet unsettling owner, enters the bathroom with a knife, she doesn’t freeze. She fights. What follows is a wild, escalating weekend of cover-ups, close calls, and moral compromises as Marion tries to protect her sister and claw her way out of the mess she never meant to create.
Rowan structures the story with alternating perspectives: Marion’s frantic present and Hannah Pierce’s investigation two weeks later into the disappearance of another young woman. Hannah’s search adds tension and mystery without stealing focus, and the question of how her missing girl connects to Marion keeps pages turning with breakneck urgency. Both storylines build into a relentless puzzle of dead bodies, stolen identities, hidden motives, and emotional landmines.
What elevates this story beyond its clever premise is its emotional core. Marion’s bond with her sister anchors the chaos; Rowan captures the complexity of familial love with tenderness and rage. Just as powerful is the book’s feminist edge: the thrill of watching a woman refuse to become prey, the catharsis of seeing fear transmuted into action. Some may recognize that visceral moment when survival instinct finally outweighs politeness, and Rowan leans into that universal feeling without ever losing sight of Marion’s humanity.
The pacing is electric, though the frenetic plot occasionally asks you to suspend disbelief. Some choices feel reckless or ill-advised, yet they remain true to a woman pushed past her limits, operating on adrenaline and loyalty. As the body count rises and lies stack higher, Marion becomes an antiheroine who is both exasperating and irresistible. She is someone you may roll your eyes at while still cheering her on.
By the end, Rowan delivers a finale that lands with shock, satisfaction, and just enough ambiguity to linger. Marion reimagines a well-worn narrative and gives voice to a woman formerly defined by her death. Here, she becomes something else entirely: a survivor, an avenger, a legend rewritten.
Overall, this is a fast-paced, feminist, genre-bending thrill ride that transforms an iconic victim into a woman who refuses to die quietly or at all. Fans of retellings, twisty thrillers, and unapologetically fierce heroines won’t want to miss this dark, clever debut.
“Marion” by Leah Rowan takes that legendary moment from Psycho and reshapes it into a fierce, propulsive thriller that flips the script on victimhood and refuses to let women be silenced or slaughtered without a fight.
Marion isn’t just running from the law when we meet her; she’s running toward something. After discovering her sister Lauren is trapped in an abusive marriage, Marion becomes desperate to get to her and desperate enough to walk away with a bag of un-deposited cash entrusted to her at work. She tells herself it’s temporary, maybe even necessary, but the weight of that money becomes the beating heart of her choices. When a bus breakdown strands her in New Paltz, New York, she checks into the secluded Billings Motel under an alias, hoping to stay off the radar long enough to reach her sister.
Anyone familiar with Hitchcock thinks they know the next beat, but Marion has grown up in a world that teaches women to survive. When Norm Billings, the motel’s charming yet unsettling owner, enters the bathroom with a knife, she doesn’t freeze. She fights. What follows is a wild, escalating weekend of cover-ups, close calls, and moral compromises as Marion tries to protect her sister and claw her way out of the mess she never meant to create.
Rowan structures the story with alternating perspectives: Marion’s frantic present and Hannah Pierce’s investigation two weeks later into the disappearance of another young woman. Hannah’s search adds tension and mystery without stealing focus, and the question of how her missing girl connects to Marion keeps pages turning with breakneck urgency. Both storylines build into a relentless puzzle of dead bodies, stolen identities, hidden motives, and emotional landmines.
What elevates this story beyond its clever premise is its emotional core. Marion’s bond with her sister anchors the chaos; Rowan captures the complexity of familial love with tenderness and rage. Just as powerful is the book’s feminist edge: the thrill of watching a woman refuse to become prey, the catharsis of seeing fear transmuted into action. Some may recognize that visceral moment when survival instinct finally outweighs politeness, and Rowan leans into that universal feeling without ever losing sight of Marion’s humanity.
The pacing is electric, though the frenetic plot occasionally asks you to suspend disbelief. Some choices feel reckless or ill-advised, yet they remain true to a woman pushed past her limits, operating on adrenaline and loyalty. As the body count rises and lies stack higher, Marion becomes an antiheroine who is both exasperating and irresistible. She is someone you may roll your eyes at while still cheering her on.
By the end, Rowan delivers a finale that lands with shock, satisfaction, and just enough ambiguity to linger. Marion reimagines a well-worn narrative and gives voice to a woman formerly defined by her death. Here, she becomes something else entirely: a survivor, an avenger, a legend rewritten.
Overall, this is a fast-paced, feminist, genre-bending thrill ride that transforms an iconic victim into a woman who refuses to die quietly or at all. Fans of retellings, twisty thrillers, and unapologetically fierce heroines won’t want to miss this dark, clever debut.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In the vein of books like Wicked, which attempt to tell the other side of a familiar story, Marion plays with the frame of Psycho. In this updated version, a young woman finds herself in a small town after the bus she was on breaks down. Running on adrenalin and fear she now needs to find a place to stay until the buses start running again in the morning. Her sister Lauren had finally let on that she was being abused by her husband and now hasn't been returning any calls or texts which was alarming enough, but then her boss David, handed her a client retainer in cash and told her to take it to the bank to deposit before leaving for her weekend. Unfortunately, the bank refused the deposit, and she was now carrying a life altering amount of cash with her, too afraid to leave it unattended and understandably thinking about how it could be used to help her sister get free of her circumstances.
Because of the bus load of people looking for rooms, she ends up a bit off the beaten path, at an old, dated, motel run by the attractive Norm Billings. His place isn't listed online and barely shows up on Google Maps and is currently empty as they are preparing to do a full renovation of the cabins and public spaces but he's happy to offer her a room for the night if she doesn't mind the lack of amenities. Realizing that being found with the money might not look good, she wisely decides to stay off the radar, putting her phone in airplane mode, and signing the register as "Marion Cage" rather than giving her real name, paying in cash to avoid using her credit cards. "Marion" hasn't truly decided to keep the money but knows that her boss can still make trouble for her if she doesn't hand over the money right away, and she NEEDS to go find Lauren and make sure she is safe. She'll deal with work and the money after that happens.
So far, we think we know what will happen but when that shower curtain is pulled back and a knife glints in the light, things take a modern twist because this Marion has been raised in an era of Stranger-Danger and self-defense classes and walking with keys between her knuckles, she doesn't freeze, she acts.
The actions she takes save her life but kick off the most deranged weekend anyone has ever spent in sleepy New Paltz, New York.
The book also gives us Hannah's story as she investigates the disappearance of a young blonde woman named Emily Stockton. As Hannah begins to search small towns north of the city, she finds herself in New Paltz and we begin to wonder if Marion and Emily are connected.
Dead mothers that aren't dead, interchangeable blonds, lost phones, bad guys, little voices inside your head, and multiple bodies and multiple cars telling many stories, Marion: A Novel, is a crazy take on an old story and will somehow have you cheering for the ending you get.
I received a Netgalley widget of this book from publisher St Martin's Press, in exchange for my review.
Because of the bus load of people looking for rooms, she ends up a bit off the beaten path, at an old, dated, motel run by the attractive Norm Billings. His place isn't listed online and barely shows up on Google Maps and is currently empty as they are preparing to do a full renovation of the cabins and public spaces but he's happy to offer her a room for the night if she doesn't mind the lack of amenities. Realizing that being found with the money might not look good, she wisely decides to stay off the radar, putting her phone in airplane mode, and signing the register as "Marion Cage" rather than giving her real name, paying in cash to avoid using her credit cards. "Marion" hasn't truly decided to keep the money but knows that her boss can still make trouble for her if she doesn't hand over the money right away, and she NEEDS to go find Lauren and make sure she is safe. She'll deal with work and the money after that happens.
So far, we think we know what will happen but when that shower curtain is pulled back and a knife glints in the light, things take a modern twist because this Marion has been raised in an era of Stranger-Danger and self-defense classes and walking with keys between her knuckles, she doesn't freeze, she acts.
The actions she takes save her life but kick off the most deranged weekend anyone has ever spent in sleepy New Paltz, New York.
The book also gives us Hannah's story as she investigates the disappearance of a young blonde woman named Emily Stockton. As Hannah begins to search small towns north of the city, she finds herself in New Paltz and we begin to wonder if Marion and Emily are connected.
Dead mothers that aren't dead, interchangeable blonds, lost phones, bad guys, little voices inside your head, and multiple bodies and multiple cars telling many stories, Marion: A Novel, is a crazy take on an old story and will somehow have you cheering for the ending you get.
I received a Netgalley widget of this book from publisher St Martin's Press, in exchange for my review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to NetGalley and Kat White at St. Martin’s Press for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “Marion” is scheduled for release on June 2, 2026.
It’s hard to think of Alfred Hitchcock and not recall the iconic shower scene in the film “Psycho.” In the film, Marion Crane is violently and repeatedly stabbed by Norman Bates.
But what if Marion turned the tables and surprised her attacker?
That’s the road down which author Leah Rowan proceeds. When a bus breaks down, stranding a young woman in a small town in upstate New York on her way to her sister’s house in Saratoga Springs, a satchel filled with $100,000 that she stole/borrowed from her advertising company tucked under her arm, she checks into the Billings Motel. Norm Billings, the owner, seems nice enough, but clearly obsessed with caring for his ill mother.
Showering later that night, Marion hears someone entering her room. It’s Norm, and he’s brandishing a knife. But Marion incapacitates him with a kick to the privates, grabs the knife, and turns him into Swiss cheese.
Now Marion is a killer. But wasn’t it self-defense? And is she really a thief? Wasn’t she considering using some of the money to help her sister, Lauren, get out from under the abuse of her husband, Ron?
Thus begins a wild ride where Marion finds exactly what her alter ego is capable of, and the lengths she will go to out of loyalty to her sister. And to escape law enforcement.
While the storyline is a bit of a stretch in a couple of spots, the narrative hits hard from the opening chapters and moves at a frenetic pace. Especially when Hannah Pierce, a young paralegal and investigator, comes into the picture. The chapters offer alternating perspectives of Marion’s exploits compared with Hannah’s investigation two weeks later.
There are scenes that will make you roll your eyes and shake your head, wondering, why would anyone do something so stupid? But the more Marion’s life seems to unravel, the more you may find yourself rooting for this unlikely vigilante. And the ending is likely to leave you slack-jawed.
“Marion,” complete with numerous twists and turns, is hard to put down. Accept the premise and jump on for a wild ride.
Four stars for what I understand is Rowan’s debut novel.
And you can read all my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) book blog. New reviews posted every Monday.
It’s hard to think of Alfred Hitchcock and not recall the iconic shower scene in the film “Psycho.” In the film, Marion Crane is violently and repeatedly stabbed by Norman Bates.
But what if Marion turned the tables and surprised her attacker?
That’s the road down which author Leah Rowan proceeds. When a bus breaks down, stranding a young woman in a small town in upstate New York on her way to her sister’s house in Saratoga Springs, a satchel filled with $100,000 that she stole/borrowed from her advertising company tucked under her arm, she checks into the Billings Motel. Norm Billings, the owner, seems nice enough, but clearly obsessed with caring for his ill mother.
Showering later that night, Marion hears someone entering her room. It’s Norm, and he’s brandishing a knife. But Marion incapacitates him with a kick to the privates, grabs the knife, and turns him into Swiss cheese.
Now Marion is a killer. But wasn’t it self-defense? And is she really a thief? Wasn’t she considering using some of the money to help her sister, Lauren, get out from under the abuse of her husband, Ron?
Thus begins a wild ride where Marion finds exactly what her alter ego is capable of, and the lengths she will go to out of loyalty to her sister. And to escape law enforcement.
While the storyline is a bit of a stretch in a couple of spots, the narrative hits hard from the opening chapters and moves at a frenetic pace. Especially when Hannah Pierce, a young paralegal and investigator, comes into the picture. The chapters offer alternating perspectives of Marion’s exploits compared with Hannah’s investigation two weeks later.
There are scenes that will make you roll your eyes and shake your head, wondering, why would anyone do something so stupid? But the more Marion’s life seems to unravel, the more you may find yourself rooting for this unlikely vigilante. And the ending is likely to leave you slack-jawed.
“Marion,” complete with numerous twists and turns, is hard to put down. Accept the premise and jump on for a wild ride.
Four stars for what I understand is Rowan’s debut novel.
And you can read all my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) book blog. New reviews posted every Monday.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Everyone meet Marion she's kind of an oblivious sweetheart but hell hath no fury like a woman that was almost murdered in her hotel shower
Psycho but the roles are reversed.
Marion is the story of a girl who fights back and in doing so spirals into a raw unapologetic descent of female rage. She refuses to take any more damage from the people who have wronged her. Tasked with watching over the person she loves most. Marion is relentless in her mission. No obstacles. No detours. And especially no man will stand in her way. But as her story unfolds so does her grip on reality and things quickly get messy.
This medium paced take on Psycho stays true to its obsession with Mother while carving out a bold identity of its own. The novel opens with an intensely immersive get inside your head moment that immediately pulls you into Marion's fractured mindset. Told through two timelines. One unfolding in real time and the other following a detective style investigation. Steadily building until both threads collide in a jaw dropping finale.
The twists are unforgettable and the tension never lets up as Marion's mental state continues to fracture. By the end it feels less like reading a book and more like witnessing a psychological true crime unravel. Raw, unsettling and impossible to look away from. It's the kind of story that lingers long after the final page like an episode of Snapped you can't stop thinking about. And one I'd easily suggest to readers who enjoy dark psychological thrillers with female driven intensity
huge shout out to Netgalley and St.Martins Press for the advanced readers copy
Psycho but the roles are reversed.
Marion is the story of a girl who fights back and in doing so spirals into a raw unapologetic descent of female rage. She refuses to take any more damage from the people who have wronged her. Tasked with watching over the person she loves most. Marion is relentless in her mission. No obstacles. No detours. And especially no man will stand in her way. But as her story unfolds so does her grip on reality and things quickly get messy.
This medium paced take on Psycho stays true to its obsession with Mother while carving out a bold identity of its own. The novel opens with an intensely immersive get inside your head moment that immediately pulls you into Marion's fractured mindset. Told through two timelines. One unfolding in real time and the other following a detective style investigation. Steadily building until both threads collide in a jaw dropping finale.
The twists are unforgettable and the tension never lets up as Marion's mental state continues to fracture. By the end it feels less like reading a book and more like witnessing a psychological true crime unravel. Raw, unsettling and impossible to look away from. It's the kind of story that lingers long after the final page like an episode of Snapped you can't stop thinking about. And one I'd easily suggest to readers who enjoy dark psychological thrillers with female driven intensity
huge shout out to Netgalley and St.Martins Press for the advanced readers copy
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 Stars- This novel is for all the women out there who have ever been scared or intimidated by a man. In this fantastic twist on Psycho, the female is no longer the victim.
Marion is on the run with stolen money. She didn't mean to steal the money, she is just trying to help her sister. She ends up stuck in New Paltz, NY instead of getting to Saratoga Springs when the bus she was taking breaks down. Marion ends up in a run down resort where she ends up renting a cabin from Norman Bates. He is a handsome man who not only provides her with a room but also dinner. He is nothing but charming and helpful as he also takes care of his sick mother. Everything is going well until she finds him trying to kill her in her shower. Marion is not about to let that happen as her survival instinct that has been drilled into her by her mom kicks in. Now Marion must find a way to not only help her sister but get herself out of this mess.
I devoured this thriller in a day as I had to keep reading to find out what happened to Marion. The story is told from Marion's point of view but also from Hannah, a private investigator searching for a young blond woman. Hannah offers some other insight and had me wondering the entire time how her story was connected to Marions. I absolutely loved the twist that Marion was able to defend herself and not just be another blonde victim. It was such a fresh turn of events to have the woman be the one in control. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves thrillers and strong female characters.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Marion is on the run with stolen money. She didn't mean to steal the money, she is just trying to help her sister. She ends up stuck in New Paltz, NY instead of getting to Saratoga Springs when the bus she was taking breaks down. Marion ends up in a run down resort where she ends up renting a cabin from Norman Bates. He is a handsome man who not only provides her with a room but also dinner. He is nothing but charming and helpful as he also takes care of his sick mother. Everything is going well until she finds him trying to kill her in her shower. Marion is not about to let that happen as her survival instinct that has been drilled into her by her mom kicks in. Now Marion must find a way to not only help her sister but get herself out of this mess.
I devoured this thriller in a day as I had to keep reading to find out what happened to Marion. The story is told from Marion's point of view but also from Hannah, a private investigator searching for a young blond woman. Hannah offers some other insight and had me wondering the entire time how her story was connected to Marions. I absolutely loved the twist that Marion was able to defend herself and not just be another blonde victim. It was such a fresh turn of events to have the woman be the one in control. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves thrillers and strong female characters.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC received from: NetGalley— Thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: We all know the story. Norman Bates, a knife, poor Marion Crane. But what if Marion flipped the script?
Overall Thoughts: Forgive my profanity, but holy shit. This commentary on misogyny and rape culture is so brutal in its delivery, and that’s exactly how it should be. Rowan holds no punches in this novel, telling things exactly as they are and presenting the reader with a self-proclaimed unreliable narrator. It’s a genius move and I genuinely could not put this one down. Points lost only because the ending felt lackluster for such an otherwise explosive story. Hannah’s sudden role and interest in Lauren’s sister felt like a reach, and almost unrealistic. Immersion breaking, if you will.
Writing: Switching between perspectives here served the story extremely well. As someone who loves trying to sus out plot twist, these were well-hidden. Our main character is twisty and almost sadistic, unbeknownst to herself, which makes her inner monologue so much fun. Switching to our investigator, Hannah, is a trip, because we also switch into the third person here. We know less about her internal motivations and actions that we do our protagonist’s, but their stories are still dangerously entwined.
Characters: Getting to know “Marion” was so much fun. She struggled so much with the inner workings of her mind and her strong, almost dangerous sense of justice. Hannah, on the other hand, was much more cautious, more thoughtful in her approaches. Both women served their purpose, with similar goals. Protect women. Believe women.
Summary: We all know the story. Norman Bates, a knife, poor Marion Crane. But what if Marion flipped the script?
Overall Thoughts: Forgive my profanity, but holy shit. This commentary on misogyny and rape culture is so brutal in its delivery, and that’s exactly how it should be. Rowan holds no punches in this novel, telling things exactly as they are and presenting the reader with a self-proclaimed unreliable narrator. It’s a genius move and I genuinely could not put this one down. Points lost only because the ending felt lackluster for such an otherwise explosive story. Hannah’s sudden role and interest in Lauren’s sister felt like a reach, and almost unrealistic. Immersion breaking, if you will.
Writing: Switching between perspectives here served the story extremely well. As someone who loves trying to sus out plot twist, these were well-hidden. Our main character is twisty and almost sadistic, unbeknownst to herself, which makes her inner monologue so much fun. Switching to our investigator, Hannah, is a trip, because we also switch into the third person here. We know less about her internal motivations and actions that we do our protagonist’s, but their stories are still dangerously entwined.
Characters: Getting to know “Marion” was so much fun. She struggled so much with the inner workings of her mind and her strong, almost dangerous sense of justice. Hannah, on the other hand, was much more cautious, more thoughtful in her approaches. Both women served their purpose, with similar goals. Protect women. Believe women.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Marion immediately hooked me—starting with a cover that demands attention and continuing with a sharp, fast-paced reimagining of Psycho that flips the script in all the right ways. This is a gleefully intense psychological thriller that takes the original’s decoy victim and gives her teeth, agency, and a dangerous amount of rage.
Leah Rowan places Marion front and center, crafting a protagonist who is relentless, fractured, and deeply compelling. Told through dual timelines—one unfolding in real time, the other through a detective-style investigation—the novel steadily tightens its grip as Marion’s sense of reality begins to blur. The callbacks to Psycho are clever and respectful, especially its fixation on Mother, while still carving out a bold identity of its own. The opening drops you straight into Marion’s unstable mindset, and by the time the two timelines collide, the result is messy, unsettling, and undeniably effective.
That said, this being an ARC, the book would benefit from heavier editing. Some sentences feel jumbled, and the pacing drags slightly in spots. Still, the twists worked for me, the tension rarely lets up, and the final act lands with a jaw-dropping, true-crime-like intensity that lingers long after the last page. Raw, unapologetic, and fueled by female rage, Marion isn’t perfect—but it is gripping, memorable, and a solid, entertaining reimagining that I’m glad I read. Helluva debut Leah Rowan. Highly recommended for fans of dark psychological thrillers with women who fight back.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley
“Marion” is a woman on the run. She’s made off with a satchel filled with money . . . and she’s determined to use it to help her abused sister, Lauren. But she ends up stuck in New Paltz where she rents a room in a secluded motel.
She is stunned when her shower is interrupted by the innkeeper’s intrusion; she pulls the curtain aside and discovers he’s holding a knife in his hand.
And then Norm is dead.
=========
This reimagining of ”Psycho,” in which the woman does not become the victim, has its share of suspense and tension despite the fact that the reader is most likely familiar with the "Psycho" story. Here, “Marion” makes choices based on family, on her need to help her sister escape an abusive husband. There’s plenty of feeling guilty and worrying about what’s been done and what will come next, but “Marion” refuses to become the victim. Readers will find it easy to sympathize with her, to relate to the choices she makes.
There’s a thread of tension throughout the telling of the tale but the story is at its finest when it is exploring the relationship between sisters. Plot twists keep readers guessing and, despite paying homage to a classic tale, creates its own special place in the genre.
Readers who enjoy family tales twisted with horror will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#Marion #NetGalley
“Marion” is a woman on the run. She’s made off with a satchel filled with money . . . and she’s determined to use it to help her abused sister, Lauren. But she ends up stuck in New Paltz where she rents a room in a secluded motel.
She is stunned when her shower is interrupted by the innkeeper’s intrusion; she pulls the curtain aside and discovers he’s holding a knife in his hand.
And then Norm is dead.
=========
This reimagining of ”Psycho,” in which the woman does not become the victim, has its share of suspense and tension despite the fact that the reader is most likely familiar with the "Psycho" story. Here, “Marion” makes choices based on family, on her need to help her sister escape an abusive husband. There’s plenty of feeling guilty and worrying about what’s been done and what will come next, but “Marion” refuses to become the victim. Readers will find it easy to sympathize with her, to relate to the choices she makes.
There’s a thread of tension throughout the telling of the tale but the story is at its finest when it is exploring the relationship between sisters. Plot twists keep readers guessing and, despite paying homage to a classic tale, creates its own special place in the genre.
Readers who enjoy family tales twisted with horror will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#Marion #NetGalley
November 13, 2025
(ARC - out 06/02/26 via St. Martin's Press) (3.5 rounded down) This is an inversion of the story of Psycho, with Marion now working in advertising and attempting to help her sister who is trapped in an abusive marriage. Norm still attacks her in the shower in this version, but here she fights back and then goes on the run with more men dying at her hands along the way. This is a thriller for sure, but it’s largely about sisterhood and mothers and daughters and taking the law into your own hands. Marion is one of the narrators in this along with Hannah, a local detective attempting to solve the murders of these men. The plot to this was so great and so inventive that I feel like the writing let the story down a bit. I actually don’t think the writing is bad, just kind of…obvious. Dialogue frequently felt heavy-handed and the central idea exploring the misogyny that still runs rampant in society was surface-level. I think the author is writing about important and relevant ideas and I frequently love a “good for her” story where women do bad things to escape unfair circumstances, but this was all a bit belabored.
December 8, 2025
I love to read about women getting revenge on men, especially if the men thought they were going to win.
Everyone knows the infamous Psycho shower scene. But what if instead of being taken off guard, the woman had taken him off guard, what if she had gotten out alive and killed him in the process? That is the story of Marion, a young woman who has stolen money from her job to help her sister escape her abusive marriage. When the bus she is taking breaks down on the way to Saratoga Springs, she finds herself stranded in New Paltz, and all the motels are full up. A local cop who sees Marion offers to bring her somewhere that he says will have vacancies, and she pays in cash. When she protects herself in the shower her trip takes a turn, and with chapters interspersed with a PI searching for a missing woman, will Marion get away with it?
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Everyone knows the infamous Psycho shower scene. But what if instead of being taken off guard, the woman had taken him off guard, what if she had gotten out alive and killed him in the process? That is the story of Marion, a young woman who has stolen money from her job to help her sister escape her abusive marriage. When the bus she is taking breaks down on the way to Saratoga Springs, she finds herself stranded in New Paltz, and all the motels are full up. A local cop who sees Marion offers to bring her somewhere that he says will have vacancies, and she pays in cash. When she protects herself in the shower her trip takes a turn, and with chapters interspersed with a PI searching for a missing woman, will Marion get away with it?
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
November 4, 2025
As a huge fan of Psycho—both the book and Hitchcock’s cinematic masterpiece—I was so excited about this new take, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Marion takes one of the most iconic moments in film history and flips it on its head: what if Marion Crane didn’t die in the shower, but fought back? From that brilliant premise, the story unfolds into a dark, propulsive thriller that reimagines the classic victim as a complex, flawed, and fiercely determined survivor.
If you’ve ever watched Psycho and wished Marion had a chance to fight back, this book gives her one—and then some. Tense, fast, and surprisingly empowering, Marion captures the eerie atmosphere of Hitchcock’s classic while giving Marion the story she always deserved.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC prior to publication.
Marion takes one of the most iconic moments in film history and flips it on its head: what if Marion Crane didn’t die in the shower, but fought back? From that brilliant premise, the story unfolds into a dark, propulsive thriller that reimagines the classic victim as a complex, flawed, and fiercely determined survivor.
If you’ve ever watched Psycho and wished Marion had a chance to fight back, this book gives her one—and then some. Tense, fast, and surprisingly empowering, Marion captures the eerie atmosphere of Hitchcock’s classic while giving Marion the story she always deserved.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC prior to publication.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. It definitely kept me turning the pages but the political talking points took me out of the story and almost made me put it down a few times. I read to escape reality and I don’t think talking about police brutality had anything to add to this (or white privilege for that matter).
I think this retelling of Psycho had the potential to be great, however, some of the book just dragged. Marion was a decent character, and Hannah was okay too. If this was about girl power, then I feel like the characters could have been fleshed out more, rather than just telling us these are strong women. I guess maybe the whole point was to have a woman get away with the murder of a man? For the betterment of society of course!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book.
I think this retelling of Psycho had the potential to be great, however, some of the book just dragged. Marion was a decent character, and Hannah was okay too. If this was about girl power, then I feel like the characters could have been fleshed out more, rather than just telling us these are strong women. I guess maybe the whole point was to have a woman get away with the murder of a man? For the betterment of society of course!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Some what a prelude and also gender swapped rendering of Norman Bates and Psycho lore, Marion is such an entertaining book of epic proportions. After stealing money from her employer and hiding out her sister who is in an abusive marriage, she finds herself stranded in Saratoga Springs in a pretty sketchy motel situation. Amongst the multiple threads and subplots, I especially loved the heart displayed and put forth by Marion and her family members. With the exception of the middle part, which lost some steam and made me lose interest a few times, this was such a delightful and enthralling book. Such a fun premise was executed so well, and I can't be more excited that this plot and it's cinematic elements and easter eggs worked for me. I won't spoil anything else here, but there was chaos and a plot twist around every corner. Thanks so much to the author and St. Martin's Press for the advance eARC! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a huge fan of “Psycho”. Oh, I couldn’t wait to dive into this book when I read the blurb about it.
Leah Rowan has written a brilliant novel of someone spiraling emotionally and mentally. “Marion” as she is known, is driven to right the wrongs she sees, and it continues to take her to a darker place moment by moment. Nothing is planned out. It’s all reactionary.
Part of the brilliance of this novel is how after the introductory concept plays off “Psycho”, she has written a novel that is its own but continues to pay homage to “Psycho” throughout. I don’t want to say too much because it would spoil the novel. Read it and let the story unravel along with Marion herself. It’s a harmless novel. It wouldn’t even hurt a fly.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Leah Rowan has written a brilliant novel of someone spiraling emotionally and mentally. “Marion” as she is known, is driven to right the wrongs she sees, and it continues to take her to a darker place moment by moment. Nothing is planned out. It’s all reactionary.
Part of the brilliance of this novel is how after the introductory concept plays off “Psycho”, she has written a novel that is its own but continues to pay homage to “Psycho” throughout. I don’t want to say too much because it would spoil the novel. Read it and let the story unravel along with Marion herself. It’s a harmless novel. It wouldn’t even hurt a fly.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The premise of this book, a reimagining of the iconic Psycho, is really clever. I loved the idea of flipping the story and turning the victim into the victor. That said, the legacy of Psycho and Alfred Hitchcock is a lot to live up to, and for me, this retelling fell a bit short. I never fully connected with Marion, so it was hard to root for her. (I wanted to be on her side, the same way I feel about Dexter, but Marion just came off as a full-blown psycho...maybe that was the point?) The themes of man-hating female rage and anti-police sentiment felt overdone. This story may have worked better if it had stayed in the original time period rather than being set in the modern day. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 18, 2025
This debut novel has everything: thriller, female rage, and plot twists. The twists hit one after another, and the detailed character emotions make it easy to connect with them.
At first, I thought Rob might show up in the shower. I didn’t expect Norm to be a creep. I actually thought she'd end up with him. Instead, the main character goes on a killing spree-love that for her. Given the constant sexual harassment and belittling of her work, it felt deserved that David dies. His death was the most satisfying part-he stayed arrogant till his last breath.
I personally loved the open ending because Hannah pieced everything together and figured out the real killer. My favorite character was the mom. She was brutally honest with her kids and gave solid advice about domestic violence, love, and men.
Thanks for the giveaway copy. I’m glad I got to read this!
At first, I thought Rob might show up in the shower. I didn’t expect Norm to be a creep. I actually thought she'd end up with him. Instead, the main character goes on a killing spree-love that for her. Given the constant sexual harassment and belittling of her work, it felt deserved that David dies. His death was the most satisfying part-he stayed arrogant till his last breath.
I personally loved the open ending because Hannah pieced everything together and figured out the real killer. My favorite character was the mom. She was brutally honest with her kids and gave solid advice about domestic violence, love, and men.
Thanks for the giveaway copy. I’m glad I got to read this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Robert Bloch and Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of this book! This was a total new twist on the suspense story that shocked a whole nation and inspired a horror movie that changed the course of film history forever! I love this new light of Marion and how her character isn't the femme fatale that has been known for years and years. Now she's the murderer and Norman her victim. This book gave me full body chills reading it and I just couldn't find the nerve to put it down! It's been on my TBR list since I got wind of it and I'm thrilled I had the amazing opportunity to read this book for myself! Leah Rowan absolutely understood the assignment!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This modern retelling of Psycho is told from the point of view of Marion, and instead of being killed at the Bates Motel, she turns the tables and stabs the hotelier--in this version, Norm Billings. But as she tries to cover her tracks--and save the $100,000 she has taken from her boss, she kinda murders a few other people. And acquires a few accomplices.
Marion is an unreliable narrator and also psychopathic, but that doesn't make her any less relatable in this story with #MeToo undertones. How far can a woman be pushed before she snaps?
Fast-paced and propulsive, this novel will keep you turning pages. #Marion #NetGalley
Marion is an unreliable narrator and also psychopathic, but that doesn't make her any less relatable in this story with #MeToo undertones. How far can a woman be pushed before she snaps?
Fast-paced and propulsive, this novel will keep you turning pages. #Marion #NetGalley
December 10, 2025
This book is not what I expected. I thought it would be a take on the original movie, but it takes place currently. Yes, there is the old motel, Norm and his creepiness, and the infamous Psycho shower scene. Except Marion turns the table on Norm and kills him. What happens next is what excited me. It got me intrigued until halfway through, and my mind was blown with yet another twist. And more is going on. Marion’s sister is in an abusive marriage. A fledging female private detective is searching for a missing woman. Marion’s boss wants his money back. Oh, what a story it is.
December 26, 2025
Truthfully, I don't even know where to begin with this one. Rowan definitely has a knack for writing a page-turner. I couldn't wait to know what happened next even though it didn't feel very realistic. I felt all of the main characters being mama-obsessed to be a bit over the top. I spent most of the time I was reading this trying to decide if I liked it or not, lol. While the general plot of Psycho is present, it didn't have the same vibe. I think this book is really going to divide readers; some will devour it, others will have a hard time getting lost in the story and others still will feel critical of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Author Leah Rowan has written a twist on Psycho, the classic Hitchcock horror novel.
The Author's take is quite different and very compelling. Marion works at an ad agency in Manhattan, and is hoping for a promotion and some acknowledgement.
She gets herself into a bind when she fails to make a large bank deposit, and then is off trying to help her sister who seems to be in a violent marriage.
This is not your normal Norman Bates Psycho take on the original story, since the main character is no victim.
A good development of characters with this novel, and a storyline with quite a few surprises.
3.5 Stars from me
Thank You to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Author Leah Rowan for my advanced copy to read and review.
#stmartinspress
#netgalley
#leahrowanbooks
The Author's take is quite different and very compelling. Marion works at an ad agency in Manhattan, and is hoping for a promotion and some acknowledgement.
She gets herself into a bind when she fails to make a large bank deposit, and then is off trying to help her sister who seems to be in a violent marriage.
This is not your normal Norman Bates Psycho take on the original story, since the main character is no victim.
A good development of characters with this novel, and a storyline with quite a few surprises.
3.5 Stars from me
Thank You to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Author Leah Rowan for my advanced copy to read and review.
#stmartinspress
#netgalley
#leahrowanbooks
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It’s such a feminist catharsis to turn the tables on a well known slasher film (Psycho). Very bloody, very rage-filled. I love strong female characters who don’t give in. And I hope that (when we need it) we each have a little Marion in us.
“…sometimes, women didn’t choose violence. Violence chose them.”
This was a really fun read with some twists and I definitely recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the eARC! Pub date June 2, 2026
“…sometimes, women didn’t choose violence. Violence chose them.”
This was a really fun read with some twists and I definitely recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the eARC! Pub date June 2, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The book opens with a girl in a motel shower. Then the thriller begins. When facing rape, can Lauren's sister find the angry power to defend herself, and potentially take a life? How far will women let abusers get away with abuse?
The plot twists are riveting, and bodies begin to pile up.
I found this a hard to put down thriller.
Release date June 2 2026. I volunteered to read an ARC through Net Galley.
The plot twists are riveting, and bodies begin to pile up.
I found this a hard to put down thriller.
Release date June 2 2026. I volunteered to read an ARC through Net Galley.
December 6, 2025
Clear your schedule, because once you start reading this wildly original Hitchcock retelling, you won't be able to stop. Dark, tense, and packed with twists, MARION is a brilliantly constructed thrill ride from a bold new voice in horror. Every time you think you've got it figured out, buckle up—Leah Konen is five steps ahead, and you won't believe what she's got in store.
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