Revenge Plot

by Stephanie Wrobel

A desperate writer’s pursuit of a powerful literary agent takes a dark turn in this new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Hitchcock Hotel and Darling Rose Gold.

All Arnie Tenderton wants this Christmas—all he’s ever wanted—is to be a published author. For decades he has toiled over one novel after another. Each was missing something. Until now.

He’s finally written his perfect book.

What he needs next is a literary agent, someone who can get his book into publishers’ hands. Not just any agent will do, of course. Arnie wants the best. Arnie wants Claudia Conley.

She already rejected him once, and Arnie has never forgiven her. He could move on. Instead, he finds out where Claudia is spending the alone in a remote house in the Catskill Mountains. He decides to show up there to make his pitch.

Claudia may try to turn him down again, but this time Arnie won’t take no for an answer.

Because his book is about her.

And he’s not leaving until the story ends the way he wants.

Genres: Thriller, Horror, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Christmas, Fiction, Books About Books

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 2026

About the author

Stephanie Wrobel is the internationally bestselling author of The Hitchcock Hotel, This Might Hurt and Darling Rose Gold, which sold in twenty-one countries and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. She lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge Plot by Stephanie Wrobel

The author plays with our minds in so many ways, dangling hints, letting us know the different direction a story can go, touching on or ramming right into the problems with agents, editors, publishers, authors, bloggers, influencers and more. This book was a page turner for me and I was never quite sure where it was going until the very last page. Oh, and there is a cute little kid named Theo who knows to be suspicious of a woman living in a treehouse.

We meet Arnie Tenderton and six year old Theo as they are driving through intense snow conditions. Arnie has a destination and that destination is the treehouse where agent Claudia Conley is staying for the holidays. She hadn't planned to be there alone but her companion for the holiday turned on her and cancelled their time together. And now Arnie and Theo have arrived thanks to Arnie losing control of his car, hitting a tree, and being stranded right at Claudia's treehouse.

Claudia doesn't know it, yet, but Arnie was coming to her, for her, and he means business. He has written a book and he doesn't care if no one else reads it but HER. She MUST read his book, he wrote it just for her (and as a catharsis) and since he couldn't get past her assistant, he now has her all to himself (and Theo).

What we have at the moment is a escape room via a treehouse and there is only one way out and it's down. We are going to learn all about Claudia and her manner of doing business. This story is about writers and how hard it is to even make a dent at all on the radar of those who can help an author get published. No one in the publishing industry has it easy so all kinds of ethical and honest stops can be pulled out as some people manipulate and bend the system into getting others to believe lies and half truths. Heck, just make things up completely, insure on one is allowed to talk, and the "make it up" world is open for exploitation.

But, don't let one of those true crime-ish type bloggers get a scent of dishonestly because they will be all over that trail and they will jump on a lie and tear it open until everything is exposed. But hopefully, Arnie and Theo are just at Claudia's temporary treehouse for a short time as they share the feast she has cooked. Then they can be on their way. Watch the author twist and turn things until we end up back in the same place with an entirely different story than we thought we started with, after we've been taken on a long and winding road.

Publication November 10, 2026

Thank you to Elisha, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and NetGalley for this ARC

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN ENDING YOU WILL WANT TO TALK ABOUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

One Powerful Literary Agent-Claudia Conley
Three determined Authors-Arnie, Neve and Jo

Christmas Day, 8 AM

Claudia Conley has rented a wonderful cabin for Christmas-a treehouse-perched two stories off of the ground, in the Catskills, with only a ladder allowing access to it. And, she is preparing a delicious gourmet dinner, to enjoy. As she preps her meal, everything from Appetizers through Dessert, my mouth was watering. And, as she cooked, I enjoyed her musings on the disappointing submissions she has been receiving- more husbands who become monsters-more characters in locked room locations-more happy occasions turning deadly. (Touché)

Christmas Day, 4 PM

All Arnie Tenderton wants for Christmas is to be a published author. All he needs to make his dream happen is the RIGHT literary agent-and he believes that agent is Claudia Conley. She is the agent who represents the HOTTEST author in the current market-the mysterious, reclusive Jo Stone. She/He is the author of the Severine female serial killer series- and through mixed media, we learn that EVERYONE is obsessed with trying to figure out the author’s identity and back story.

Arnie tried to do things the RIGHT way. He submitted his very ORIGINAL manuscript “The Unraveling” to Claudia but her assistant rejected it before it could ever reach her. So, he is changed its title, to one that will DEFINITELY catch her eye-one that she CANNOT ignore-since the book is about HER-and he plans to ambush her on Christmas to pitch the book in person. He has a foolproof plan to get invited to dinner, and he isn’t leaving until he gets what he came for.

Just as he hands her the manuscript, and we learn what the NEW title is, we move into Part Two-Neve’ story.

Over the course of the day, the story unfolds through the many courses of the Christmas meal, including Second Helpings, Dessert and even a NightCap. I also enjoyed being fed the insider tidbits about the Publishing Industry-the rise and fall of genres, tropes and even authors.

This was a psychological thriller that had me ENTHRALLED from the very first page! While one twist was a tiny bit hard to swallow, the final twist was VERY satisfying, especially the VERY LAST SCENE! Chef’s kiss! 💋

4.5 stars rounded up!

A buddy read with Ceecee and Marilyn-Do watch for their amazing reviews!

NOW AVAILABLE!

Thank You to Berkley Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

[Holly B · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Meet Claudia - She is spending a quiet Christmas away. She has booked a treehouse rental so she can spend the holiday on her own. She found it on Airbnb's website. It is a secluded, one of a kind and sounds like a perfect getaway! She grabs it! 🌳🏠

The weather turns quite frightful and Claudia starts to regret her choice a bit! ❄️

Then she hears a sudden crash outside!

Things get twisted pretty quickly and I couldn't read fast enough to see what was happening. 😲 However, the pacing slowed down for me with some of the later POV chapters. There was a lot of info and revelations that were a bit hard to believe, some may think of them as a bombshell. Hmm....

This was a fun buddy with Kaceey though and we were guessing throughout and had many questions!

Overall, I enjoyed the literary references, anticipating what we thought was going on and one scene (yikes) in the later chapter that made me gasp, but the ending fell flat.

3.5 STARS

Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC! This one is available on November 10, 2026

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear some space in your schedule if you haven't read this one yet. 🍷

Literary agent Claudia Conley is spending Christmas in a treehouse in the woods. Unexpected visitors arrive and stay for dinner. Is this an opportunity to love your neighbor? Or a locked room thriller in the making?

📔The title and cover of a book are an important element of the book experience. I give this cover high marks for giving intriguing hints about the plot inside. And the cover sets an ominous tone for the story inside.

🔬The publishing world is under the microscope. CLAUDIA CONLEY works as a literary agent. For several years NEVE WHITE is one of her authors. The decisions made within their confidential relationship will reverberate beyond the office where decisions are made. A crucial question keeps surfacing. Who works the hardest on a book? The author, agent, editor, marketing team?

🤔While I was reading this new title, other comparable reads came to mind. A recent read was The Writer by James Patterson and J.D Barker. I also got some Misery vibes.

🥨 Get ready to be twisted up like a pretzel. At one point one of the authors in the story contemplates a list of possible plot twists. I think Wrobel may have managed to use them all. So many great surprises as the narrative moves along at an exciting pace. A riveting read!

📚I am a fan of Stephanie Wrobel since I read Darling Rose Gold in 2022. You can see my 5-star review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... This new release is right up there with that first book for me.

Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Available as of November 10, 2026.

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 5 out of 5]

BANGER ALERT! BANGER ALERT!

A cat-and-mouse thriller that was just as dark and twisted as it was twisty, Revenge Plot took me behind the scenes of the literary world all while keeping me firmly on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. You see, thanks to the morally gray narrators and multiple interconnected plot lines, it was a wild mind-f*** of clever psychological games and jaw-dropping turns that never let up. Exploring deceit, obsession, and vengeance with a deft hand, the thought-provoking themes meshed with the popcorn thriller-ish feel to make me fly through the chapters at an ever-increasing speed. After all, it was quite the chilling and addictive tale. Delivering a complex story-within-a-story plot that hit all the right chords, Wrobel also hit plenty of cunningly crafted curveballs out of the park to keep my head spinning away.

The “OH S***?!” twists weren’t the only home runs in this stellar new novel, though. On top of the unguessable revelations were some truly manipulative characters. With hidden motives and dark secrets galore, my allegiances kept shifting between these unlikeable individuals with each additional page. What was the pièce de résistance, however? That had to be the unforgettable ending. Both unsettling and moving at the same time, it planted a big ‘ole Cheshire Cat-like smile on my face by the last page. So if a Misery-esque setup, complicated characters, and publishing-industry drama sound like your cup of tea, then this one is a book you need to read. Atmospheric, layered, and suspenseful, it was a true-to-form novel of Wrobel at her best, which was a bona fide five-star stunner of a read. Rating of 5+ stars.

Read if you’re a fan of:
- Publishing-industry drama
- Dark and twisted vibes
- Shocking endings
- A mixed-media format
- Cat-and-mouse games
- Revenge plots
- Psychological mind games
- Morally gray narrators
- Hidden motives
- Unlikeable characters
- Claustrophobic settings
- “OH S***?!” twists
- A small cast of characters

SYNOPSIS:

All Arnie Tenderton wants this Christmas—all he’s ever wanted—is to be a published author. For decades he has toiled over one novel after another. Each was missing something. Until now.

He’s finally written his perfect book.

What he needs next is a literary agent, someone who can get his book into publishers’ hands. Not just any agent will do, of course. Arnie wants the best. Arnie wants Claudia Conley.

She already rejected him once, and Arnie has never forgiven her. He could move on. Instead, he finds out where Claudia is spending the holidays: alone in a remote house in the Catskill Mountains. He decides to show up there to make his pitch.

Thank you Stephanie Wrobel and Berkley Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: November 10, 2026

Content warning: stalking, dementia, infidelity, pregnancy, drug abuse/use, drug overdose, death, confinement, grief, violence, mention of: death of a parent

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Great twisty mystery! I was kept guessing the whole time.

Arnie knows that literary agent Claudia Conley is spending Christmas at a remote vacation rental in the Catskill Mountains. He knows he's written a book that she will want to read, but so far has not been able to get past her assistant. He comes up with a wild plan to get her to read it, and that involves getting to her where she can't ignore him.

This is such a wild ride! The less you know about it before reading, the better. Let me just say that I changed my loyalties for who I was rooting for so many times throughout the course of reading this book. I would trust one person, then be shocked and change who I trusted, then back again.

There are lots of twists and surprises in this book. Some I figured out ahead of time, others I did not, but I was consistently invested in how the story would play out and it does not conclude until the very last sentence. This isn't one that you can quit early, you need to read until the very end to get the entire picture.

There is only one drawback with this book, and it's a trend I've seen with Wrobel's other books, which is a LOT of telling. I did appreciate that much of the narrative was showing me the action, even if it was in the perspective of reading Arnie's story, but there's still a great deal of drawn out exposition of the tale told directly by one character to another.

That aside, if you like a twisty mystery thriller, you'll definitely want to pick this one up.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisty, twisty

Arnie is an unsuccessful writer, trying to get published for a very long time. But a rejection after rejection only makes him even more obsessed with the literary agent, Claudia. During Christmas, Claudia travels to remote Catskill Mountains and Arnie follows her there with his 6 year old son. He claims he was stranded and Claudia reluctantly lets him in. His agenda: make Claudia read his manuscript once more.

The manuscript? Somehow has revelations and secret dealings between Claudia and another best selling author, Jo Stone, and exposes BOTH parties to many wrong doings.

The situation ESCALATES. FULL REVIEW soon!




This book is featured on BOTM for November 2026! Get your first copy for $5 using this link: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
I love BOTM, super easy to sign up, cancel, pause or skip a month at no additional cost to you. Enjoy!



Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Stephanie Wrobel for an early ARC.

Publication date: November 10, 2026

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy Moly! If you saw that ending coming you must be psychic! It was a complete shocker for me! I love it when that happens. Whew! What a plot! Revenge Plot is brimming with atmosphere, tension, dread, and of course, revenge! Arnie Tenderton wants to be an author. He has written what he considers to be a best seller; his only problem is that the literary agent he wants the most has rejected his work. But he has a plan, one which he feels once he pulls it off, Claudia Conley, the literary agent he wants, cannot refuse!

Claudia Conley has rented a treehouse in the middle of the snowy woods in hopes of celebrating the Christmas Holiday in the Catskill Mountains. It's off the beaten path, away from any town or other homes. It's the quiet and isolation she wants, a winter wonderland where she can destress and unwind. Unknown to her, Arnie Tenderton has found out where she is staying and has a plan to put his book into her hands. How can she refuse? The book is, after all, about her! But will they bond while sipping hot chocolate? Will she swoon over six-year-old Theo whom he has brought with him? Will she love his book? Will it be a happy reading or a terrorizing nightmare?????

Oh, what a tangled web this author has woven with Revenge Plot.I loved the setting of this book. I also love the trapped feeling in this book. A treehouse home in the middle of nowhere with the snow coming down really appealed to me. I also loved the tension which leapt from the pages. This book is unsettling and oozing with dread. I also enjoyed how the plot unfolded, and readers are also given a glimpse into various characters' lives, their perspectives, and other plot lines.

I found this book to be clever, fun, well thought out, and wonderfully written. Plus, there are quite a few twists in this book which left me reeling! I did not see quite a few of them coming, and I love it when that happens.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where do I start? Well, I was super excited to read this book, as I’m a fan of this author (I’ve read all of her books so far, and have enjoyed them all). The reviews (and ratings), have been extremely high for this newest release. But… although I did enjoy the “plot” of this book, I can’t say that I’m as blown away as everyone else is. My reason for that is because although the story started off strong (in what I thought was going to be a secluded, creepy thriller), it eventually went into a different direction. The book then began to drag on for me, and by the time the final reveal came, I was already over it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This book is broken down into Four Parts. In Part I, we start off with Claudia Conley. Claudia is a literary agent, who is spending a Christmas holiday alone in a secluded Airbnb in the Catskill Mountains. A major winter storm is happening, and it is freezing outside. While Claudia is cooking a nice dinner for herself, she hears a car crash outside her rental. It is a man with his young son- so of course she invites them in while they wait for a tow truck. However, this man, Arnie, may have something else up his sleeve. And Arnie doesn’t plan on leaving until Claudia reads the book that he wrote that he feels needs to be published.

That’s when this book takes a turn and heads into Part II, which is the section on Neve White. Then there is Part III, which is about Arnie Tenderton, and Part IV, Jo. Now these parts were interesting, and obviously helped where this story was going- but as I mentioned above, these sections dragged on, and I lost a bit of interest at this point.

I absolutely love the cover for this book, and the plot for this story was interesting as we get some behind the scenes looks at the book world. For me personally, I was expecting more of a thriller, and this book only gave me a taste of that unfortunately. I also feel the length took some of my enjoyment away.

Overall, this was a still a good read and I know many others will enjoy this more than I did. I also think this book would be better read on a snowy, winter’s day.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading for an honest review.
Publication date: November 10, 2026

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

Life imitating art.
Christmas Day, The Three House, The Catskills, the prefect setting for a thriller? It’s surrounded by woods, a phone dead zone, the weather is utterly atrocious with snow falling on snow, reached only by tracks which are rapidly disappearing under the weight of snow and ice. As for the house itself, the setting is truly glorious but the buildings accessibly is somewhat tricky. This is where renowned literary agent Claudia Conley has booked for the festive season, alone, but needing the peace. However, when Arne Tenderton, along with six year old Theo, crashes his car very close to the Tree House, Claudia finds herself with unexpected guests. Arne has designs on being a published author and has a new (perfect) novel with him. Anyone would think he’s planned the outcome and once Claudia has read it, everything will change

Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere - this is rich in it. The setting for the dramatic events is perfect even if what transpires isn’t exactly festive. There is a constant sensation of being trapped, it’s claustrophobic as much as anything because of the weather closing in, as well as the design of the house. There’s a constant sense of unease, it’s unsettling but there’s also the anticipation of what’s to come. All this is accompanied by being caught up in a huge puzzle wrapped in several enigmas and as a consequence Stephanie Wrobel has me riveted.

The author is very skilled at presenting unlikeable characters but this is what makes her books such delicious reading. They’re flawed, perhaps because of circumstance, some are manipulative class acts, a couple despite their flaws are easy to like. Their portrayal is very good.

There’s much in the book that is very clever. It’s divided into four parts and the food related countdown in Part 1 sets the scene but also gets the novel up and flying at a fast pace, has me asking a multitude of questions, conjuring up solutions and it ends on a really good cliffhanger. I’m all in anyway but now the hook is deep!! Part Two helps to unravel, often literally, the mystery, the pace is slower but my interest levels are high. As Parts Three and Four continue the unravelling, there are many plot twists, turns and revelations, threat and danger levels are high, power shifts back and forth, there’s a red herring or two alongside the obligatory tension and suspense.

I have to reflect on how it ends for a while to sort out my thoughts but I think the author ties it all up well, perhaps with a bow, but nonetheless, it works. The ultimate ending is excellent!!

Overall, another very good thriller from one of must read authors.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

This was a great buddy read with my friend Jayme. What did she think of the book?

[Kaceey · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

So, you ask what it takes to get a book published? Well, let’s start with finding a literary agent! Sounds easy enough. Not so fast!

Arnie has always dreamed of being a published author. And he knows precisely the agent he wants to represent him, Claudia. Problem is, she won’t give him the time of day. What’s a writer to do?💁🏻‍♀️

This book is divided into three main parts and told from three perspectives.
The first is from Claudia and WOW! Edge of your seat! I flew through her section.🤩

The book did slow down as we changed perspectives. Yes, backstory is needed to understand why everything is happening, but it felt a bit too long and slowed the momentum.

And though this read delivered plenty of twists and surprises, I was still left with a few unanswered questions.🙃

A buddy read with Holly! Make sure to check out her thoughts, too!

✍️ Stephanie Wrobel
📄 410 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: November 10, 2026
📈 3.5 /5🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 Thriller, suspense

Thank you to Berkley Publishing via Netgalley

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claudia Conley is a celebrated literary agent who finds herself renting a treehouse Airbnb in the middle of the Catskill Mountains where she'll spend Christmas alone. She'd rather not be alone, she wishes her brother could have joined her, but sadly those plans fell through. Not all is lost though, she plans to sip champagne while cooking up an elaborate spread of mouth watering cuisine to enjoy.

Arnie Tenderton is a struggling writer waiting for his big break. He's sure his latest effort will be a best seller. He just needs a literary agent that can spread the word to publishing houses. Claudia Conley is the very best and even though she's rejected him once before he's sure she won't be able to put this one down.

When Arnie finds out that Claudia will be alone in a remote place for the holiday he decides that will be the best time to get Claudia's attention. After all, she can't turn him down if she can't get away.

Easy peasy, or is it? You'll have to read this to find out.

This is a fun one! Watching this knot unravel was extremely satisfying. I had some ideas, I made some assumptions, but there was no way I could have predicted where Wrobel was going. The isolated setting and the blustery snowstorm really set the tone and atmosphere.

While this was fun it wasn't perfect. I have a minor complaint but to speak of it would ruin the entire book for future readers. All I will say is that it felt like a cheap and convenient trick to keep readers from guessing the outcome.

Purposefully using two different names for the same character making you believe that they are, in fact, two distinct and separate characters. I understand doing it for Michael / Arnie but it seemed cheap when it came to Liam / Will. The reasoning behind it also seemed kind of lame. Liam went on his honeymoon and came back as Will? Um, why? That makes no sense to me but it sure was convenient for the story.

I think future readers will enjoy this twisty page-turner. Prepare to be deceived by everyone! 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my complimentary copy.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

This book is told in multiple timelines; 2014-2018 and present day.

It started out great and felt like a thriller.
The setting is a tree house in a remote part of the Catskills.
The only way in and out of the tree house is via a tall ladder that isn’t even firmly attached to the house or the ground.
No cell service, no neighbors less than 10 minutes away; the perfect creepy setting.

Fall and winter are my favorite seasons and right now, when it’s so hot in so many parts of the world, it was nice to take a mental vacation to a cold and snowy place.

To me it felt like this book was split into three parts.
The first part is present day on Christmas in the Catskills.
The second part is in NYC from 2014-2018.
In the third section, we return to present day Christmas in the Catskills.

I enjoyed the first and third parts; they felt the way a thriller should.
I became bored in the middle of the book.
I understand that this section had to be there to give the reader some necessary background information, but I would have preferred just getting the bullet points (I’m a mood reader and I read this because I was in the mood for a thriller).

Frustrated, towards the end of the second section I decided to DNF and went to bed.
Of course my curiosity got the best of me and the following day I returned to it, but skipped through until I got to the third section (something that I rarely do, but I did read enough of the second section to have gotten the important details).
I’m glad that I stuck with it, because I really did like the ending.

As an avid reader, one thing that I appreciated is that I saw the publishing industry through the eyes of an agent, author and publishing house.
It was interesting seeing all of the things that they experience and emotions that they go through.

I hope that before the final version of this is released it will include a TW for Adderall abuse.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.

[CatsBnB · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Stephanie Wrobel, and Berkley Publishing Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when the desire for recognition becomes an obsession, and rejection pushes someone beyond the boundaries of what should ever be justified?

Claudia, a literary agent who has weathered her share of highs and lows in the publishing world, finds herself face-to-face with Arnie, a struggling writer whose pursuit of recognition takes a deeply disturbing turn. Convinced he deserves the chance he has been denied, Arnie sees nothing wrong with the lengths he's willing to go to get it.

The Catskill Mountains provide a haunting setting for this story, where a secluded treehouse, a gathering winter storm, and miles of isolation create an atmosphere thick with tension. As the storm closes in and the outside world feels increasingly out of reach, I could feel that sense of unease tightening, as though the walls were drawing closer with every passing moment. There's something especially chilling about the feeling of being so far removed from safety, where uncertainty lingers and danger feels just a little too close.

I enjoyed the glimpse behind the curtain of the publishing world. Beneath the dream of seeing a book in print lie the sting of repeated rejection, the pressure to succeed, and the longing to have someone finally believe in the words you've written. There was also something irresistible about the book within a book element, a story unfolding within a story, adding another thread of intrigue to an already captivating narrative.

As the story unravels, I found myself drawn deeper into this tangled web of ambition, fixation, and secrets, never quite certain what to believe or where the truth would lead. The characters’ motivations kept me questioning what lay beneath their carefully constructed façades, and as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, my curiosity only grew. I anticipated a few twists, while others caught me by surprise, and I was continually pulled forward, needing to know how it would all unfold. What was the most compelling was that feeling of never being entirely sure I had the full picture, of sensing that something more was waiting to be uncovered.

And that ending! It wasn't at all what I expected, and when I reached that final scene, I found myself sitting there thinking, Wait, how did we just get here? There was so much to take in, so much to ponder, and I loved that the story didn't simply hand me all the answers. Instead, it left room for reflection, allowing the weight of those final moments to settle in. And yet, for all its ambiguity, there was something so touching about the way the story came full circle, bringing us back to where it all began while leaving everything feeling somehow different. It was unexpected, deeply satisfying, and the kind of ending that invites you to linger a little longer, turning it over in your mind even after you're closed the book.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Dennis]

I do not enjoy books about publishing/books about authors/books about books. I wanted to give this one a try since people I trust have been praising it, but the sub-genre just isn't for me!

[Aardvark Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

A desperate writer, decades deep into a failed career, who would do anything—and we mean anything—to finally sign with the agent of his dreams. A young author, drowning in schoolwork while plugging away on her sophomore novel, has a one-in-a-million idea, transforming her into a global bestseller—but can she keep up with the pressures of success? A powerful but washed-up agent, whose illustrious career hinges on a single piece of IP, has grown tired of fielding manic queries from wannabes—but what happens when she finds herself trapped with one? And in the middle of a Christmas Eve snowstorm, no less!

Revenge Plot is a character-driven thriller that peels back the layers of the cutthroat world of writing and agenting—from the lengths professionals would go to stay at the top of their game, to the thrills (and chills) of much-coveted publishing success. Though we’re beginning to wonder if it’s not all it’s cracked up to be…

If you’re a reader who likes books about books, or if you’re dying for a glimpse into the inner-workings of the harshest corners of this industry—or if you just love a good suspense novel, one that’s thoughtful and well-written, with complex characters and unpredictable twists—then this is the book for you.

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I enjoyed many things about this psychological thriller about Michael, an aspiring writer, who is desperate to have a literary agent, Claudia, read his manuscript. He’s so desperate that he shows up at her isolated Christmas rental home determined to get her attention and he’s not leaving until she does.

What I Enjoyed:

✅ the fascinating look at the cutthroat publishing world and the pressures on both aspiring and successful authors
✅ the “book within a book” element
✅ the three third person POVs
✅ morally questionable characters
✅ the interspersion of article extracts
✅ the remote, isolated, locked room, during a snow storm, setting (a treehouse Airbnb only accessible by a ladder!)
✅ the reveals and twists (some I guessed)
✅ great epilogue

I did, however, think the story could have been tighter and shorter. The pacing was uneven at times.

Overall, I’m glad I read it as it was entertaining and an interesting look at the book world.

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary physical copy. All opinions are my own.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in alternating timelines, this roller coaster thrill ride will keep you questioning everything right up until the very end.
A story that is just as complex as its character, this will be one you will have a hard time putting down.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Nic & Ry Meltdownerz · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to listen to the audio book. It was a fantastic listening experience, great narration and completely captured my attention.

Tbh i feel conflicted, because once the story got going, it was a 5 star for me throughout... until the ending. I loved everything about this book, just the ending didn't work for me unfortunately. I really hoped the plane would be landed with this. I felt like the writing was fantastic, and the story that was being weaved was also fantastic so I genuinely thought everything would come together really well.

I'll probably give it 3.75 (4.5 with a better ending). I wish I was here giving it higher. it's still really worth reading, the characters were great, the mystery was excellent and the plot and structure were also excellent. If anyone reads this and wants to change my mind either way, message me :)

[Book.ishJulie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge Plot is my second book and second five-star read by Stephanie Wrobel, which makes me wonder: why have I not read her other two books yet? (Answer: I plan to remedy that quickly, especially as both books are sitting on my shelf!)

Nope - I didn’t know anything about the dark underworld of publishing beforehand, but I still found this book incredibly fun!

Yup - I guessed many twists, but that really wasn't the point; it was all about the journey, and that journey was such a wild one!

Nope - there's no way I'd stay at an Airbnb like this one!

Yup - my new goal is to devour Wrobel's other two books this winter!

A well-laid-out plot, unlikable characters, and a fun, memorable storyline — what's not to enjoy!?

Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada, NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Berkley, for the complimentary copies to read and review.

[Morgan ♓︎ · Rating 1 out of 5]

listen, I don’t want to be dramatic, but every reviewer who called this “twisty” owes me some kind of compensation

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claudia Conley has rented herself a tiny treehouse in the Catskills for Christmas Day, stocked it with ingredients for an absurdly elaborate dinner, and settled in alone while snow piles up outside. The place is two stories off the ground, you get in by ladder, cell service is garbage, and then Arnie Tenderton appears nearby with six-year-old Theo after a car accident. Claudia lets them inside because apparently Christmas spirit temporarily overrides every woman’s internal voice screaming DO NOT INVITE STRANGE MEN INTO YOUR REMOTE LADDER HOUSE.

Arnie quickly reveals that he is not just some stranded father having a bad holiday. He is an unpublished writer. Claudia is the literary agent he wants. She rejected him before. He has not taken that rejection as useful information so much as the beginning of a personal relationship Claudia did not know they were having. He has brought another manuscript, this one specifically for her, and he would very much like her to read it now. During Christmas dinner. While trapped by a snowstorm. Arnie, this is not persistence anymore. You have left the land of querying and entered paperwork that requires a police report.

And Claudia is exactly the wrong woman to underestimate because even while every alarm bell is ringing, a piece of her brain is still working like an agent. Arnie is behaving strangely, Theo clearly knows more than he is saying, the whole arrival feels increasingly suspicious, and Claudia is still capable of wondering whether the manuscript might actually be good. I kept thinking, ma’am, you are in danger. Stop considering marketability. But that is who Claudia is. She could probably be tied to a chair and still ask whether the first fifty pages need tightening.

Then Arnie makes it very clear that he has not come all this way for a polite conversation, and Revenge Plot suddenly swerves somewhere I was not expecting. We leave the treehouse for a while and start spending time with Neve, another writer desperate to make it, while the mysterious bestselling author Jo Stone starts looming over everything. At first I was genuinely annoyed because excuse me, THERE IS STILL A MAN HOLDING CHRISTMAS DINNER HOSTAGE UPSTAIRS. Then the publishing gossip started getting messy enough that I stopped fighting it.

Because everybody in this book wants something badly. Arnie wants to be published. Claudia needs another hit. Neve wants the kind of career writers fantasize about while pretending they are being normal about rejection. Success starts arriving with strings attached, and every time somebody makes one questionable decision to get closer to what they want, another person is standing nearby ready to suggest an even worse one. By the time the stories start folding back toward each other, I had changed sides enough times that I no longer trusted my own seating chart.

And nobody gets to be comfortably innocent, which made the whole thing much more interesting to me. Arnie is obviously crossing approximately every boundary available to modern civilization, but then you learn more. Claudia seems like the person being hunted, but then you learn more. Neve makes choices I understood right up until the moment I wanted to grab her by both shoulders. Everybody has been hurt. Everybody has reasons. Everybody also has at least one moment where their reasons need to stop talking and an attorney needs to enter the room.

The part that hit underneath all the publishing insanity is how easily wanting something can become the excuse for what you do to get it. These people keep telling themselves that one more lie, one more manipulation, one more compromise will finally make all the previous sacrifices worth it. And sometimes the saddest thing is realizing you got exactly what you thought you wanted and it still did not fix you.

Once we get back to that treehouse and everything starts connecting, I went from casually suspicious to staring at everybody like they had personally lied to me. Some reveals I had started sniffing out. Others slid right past while I was busy judging somebody else. And then there is that particular final stretch where every new piece makes you reconsider one of the earlier ones, until the question stops being “who is the villain?” and becomes “how many separate HR investigations are we opening here?”

Four stars for Revenge Plot. I had an excellent time watching Christmas dinner become a manuscript ambush, then a publishing-industry grievance hearing, then something considerably nastier. Arnie’s plan is deranged, Claudia’s professional instincts are apparently impossible to turn off, Neve made me anxious in an entirely different direction, and the final collection of secrets had me wanting a second margarita specifically for debriefing purposes.

Merry Mayhem Prize: For Turning “Please Consider My Manuscript” Into a Christmas Day Hostage Situation in a Snowed-In Treehouse, Because Apparently Arnie Thought Querying Needed More Seasonal Commitment

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC, and for permanently changing how I will react to the phrase “aspiring author.” If a man appears outside my Christmas rental with a child, a crashed car, and a manuscript he says I absolutely have to read, I am not inviting him in for roast potatoes. I am going down the ladder and continuing directly into the forest.

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

“Revenge Plot” by Stephanie Wrobel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

It’s like this author reached into my brain and wrote exactly what I crave!

Thanks to the author and Berkley for the gifted ARC received via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

First, I read “Darling Rose Gold” and loved it. Then I devoured “The Hitchcock Hotel,” which was another huge hit for me. Now, after giving Wrobel’s latest novel 4.5 stars, I’m officially convinced she’s writing these books specifically for me!

“Revenge Plot” follows Claudia, a successful literary agent branching out with her own agency; Neve, her bestselling author; and Arnie, a desperate aspiring writer determined to get his manuscript published. What could possibly go wrong with that combination? A lot!

This story is best experienced knowing as little as possible, so trust me and go in blind. Wrobel carefully builds the characters and their complicated histories, planting details that may not seem important until the puzzle pieces begin clicking into place. The closer I got to the ending, the more grateful I was that I hadn’t known too much beforehand.

My only small complaint is that the book occasionally feels a little wordy. However, most of that detail gives the characters more depth and makes the eventual revelations hit even harder, so it worked for me.

And when everything started coming together? I was speechless. I had to pause and process what I’d just read, which is exactly the kind of reaction I want from a thriller.

Wrobel seems to publish a new novel about every two years, but after finishing “Revenge Plot,” I’m officially requesting that she speed up her schedule. Respectfully, of course. I’m ready for the next one now!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, here is a book that has a book within it and is a firecracker of an insight into the world of authors and publishers and all that ‘goes on’ in the pursuit of the perfect book

Author Arnie meets ferocious literary agent Claudia on Christmas Day…..however he has planned the ‘meet’ and he is determined she will be his agent

And then the 2nd story starts that goes back and forward into the lead story

It is a bit complex at first and way too much given to describing Christmas dinner and its prep and I almost gave up on it but because of reading the authors previous books I carried on and suddenly it all clicked and made sense and from then was superb, challenging for sure but worth it as the story ( stories ) are,once linked impossible not to need to know the outcome

Love the authors use of situations and clever use of dark humour alongside painful reality to bring the book together

It’s kinda hard to describe tbh but probably my ‘thank goodness I carried on and didn’t ditch it’read of the year

And the insight into the callous unrepentant world of publishing is mesmerising

[BiblioPeeks (Katt) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Oooo have I got a book for you! Listen up folks!!

An in-depth peek into the life of a literary agent and the publishing industry, this layered, nuanced tale of revenge is rich storytelling—I couldn’t put it down!

Arnie Tenderton desperately wants his novel published, but he was already rejected by his desired agent, Claudia. He must have her. He ambushes her at her holiday rental in the mountains—a small, cozy treehouse home with a ladder as the only way in and out. He won’t accept “no” this time and won’t leave until she’s read his manuscript—it’s about her after all.

I was hooked from the first chapter! An initial sense of awkwardness and unease slowly builds to mounting tension and then escalates to desperate measures within a tight, claustrophobic atmosphere. Arnie is determined and a little unhinged, but what is he really after?

These morally gray characters are full of depth and complexities while something deeper simmers beneath the surface. As the story unfolded, my feelings about things kept shifting. There are no easy allegiances here—though I did get attached to someone and had strong feelings about it! It’s best to go in as blind as possible, so I’m keeping things intentionally vague.

If you love character-driven psychological suspense thrillers with themes of reputation, recognition, and revenge wrapped up in ambition, appearances, and family, don’t miss this! REVENGE PLOT is twisty, addicting, and discussion-worthy—that ending!
____

Thank you to Stephanie Wrobel and Berkley Pub for my free copy. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of Revenge Plot by Stephanie Wrobel. Below is my honest review.

Twists and turns are the name of the game in Wrobel's latest mystery thriller. It starts one way, then shifted on its axis, and then did so again and again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Read it all in one sitting on a flight to Europe.

Recommended for fans of twisty turny thrillers and isolated settings. Four stars, must read author!!

[Carrie Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉, 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒕? 𝑰𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒇𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕."

All Arnie Tenderton wants for Christmas is a literary agent willing to recognize his genius. Specifically, he wants Claudia Conley, the powerhouse who already rejected him once, assuming that was the end of their communication. Instead, Arnie tracks her down to a remote house in the Catskills where she’s spending the holidays alone and decides this time she is absolutely going to hear him out. The problem is that the book Arnie desperately wants published is about Claudia herself, and he has become just a tiny bit detached from reality regarding boundaries, social cues, and basic human behavior. This book is fully unhinged in the most delicious way possible, and I inhaled it like a woman possessed.

Picture 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒚 wandering into the publishing industry, pouring itself a glass of wine, and screaming about artistic integrity. Arnie is the kind of character who makes you physically recoil one second and laugh out loud the next because his absolute confidence in his own delusions is somehow horrifying and wildly entertaining at the same time. When the twists came, they hit hard, and my allegiances were shifting wildly. I believe my jaw dislocated at some point, but I was too invested in this twisted story.

What made this book so easy to binge is that underneath all the dark humor and escalating insanity was something sharply true about ambition, ego, and how people justify their behavior. I was obsessed with the snowy isolated setting, the claustrophobic tension, and the constant sense that everything was seconds away from going spectacularly off the rails. When I was finished, I was sitting there grinning like Annie Wilkes because this book explored something deeply important: sometimes the worst people really do think they’re the heroes of the story, and that is what makes them utterly terrifying. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for this gem that will publish November 10, 2026.

[Obsidian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not impact my rating or review. 

Not much to say about this, it started off interesting, we have a story within a story that slowed the story down, and then we have the twist/reveal and I found myself finding the ending totally unbelievable. But it reminded me a bit of a book I just finished, The Ending Writes Itself. All in all, a strong three star read, but not a book I would re-read in the future. 

Revenge Plot by Stephanie Wrobel follows a mysterious man named Arnie Tenderton who along with a young boy named Theo seemed focused on getting to a destination. Then Arnie purposely crashes his car and then we shift over to a book agent, Claudia Conley. Claudia we find is experiencing some holiday blues. Her brother won't join her, but she's focused on celebrating by herself. Then a car crashes near a place she is renting for the holidays. Claudia meets Arnie and Theo and brings them inside. After some initial commentary with Arnie though, Claudia becomes scared about why he is really there. And why he has a book that he insists that Claudia must read. The book shifts around too to some internet sites, emails, that talk about elusive and mysterious writer, Jo Stone. 

Don't want to get into things that are spoilery, but the story within the story answers some questions about the set up to why Arnie is there to confront Claudia. But in the end that does drag the story down significantly. And honestly that is all I really need to say, the book was significantly slow once we get past the first half. Also, it was weird all of the Claudia and Arnie third person POVs dealt with food. It just was weird considering the book was focused on writing, agents, and editors. 

[Chelsea | thrillerbookbabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so Stephanie Wrobel and Berkley for my copy of this book. I have been intrigued with her as an author and read all of her previous books, so I was excited about this one. It was about Arine, a man who wants to be a published author. He feels that his book is perfect and he tries to get the attention of Claudia, a literary agent who completely ignores him. But Arnie won't take no for an answer, and when he finds out she's spending the holidays alone in the Catskill Mountains, he decides to show up. His book is about her, and he needs her to read it.

Thoughts: This book was quite the premise. It started off strong, but got a lot slower and changed as the story went on. I thought the Arnie plot was a bit ridiculous, and the whole journey was illogical and overdone. I really liked the stories from Nev's POV and though that was the best part. The Liam/Will thing was too convenient and it just seemed kind of undone. I will still read her books, but this wasn't my favorite. 3-stars.

[Leisa Back Porch Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Well that escalated quickly. And then we took a sharp turn, and oh dang not another twist. Oh shoot, we’re doing this again? Okay then… I’m pretty sure this book spent the entire time trying to outsmart me, and honestly, well played. I came for the aforementioned revenge plot; I stayed because I had absolutely no idea what was coming next. JUST THE WAY I LIKE IT! This book is the reason I love thrillers, and I have no doubt it will land a spot on my top ten for 2026.

✨If I get going, I’ll go forever, so here are the biggest things I loved about the book:

🍷The Misery vibes. An isolated snowy location, a writer, someone with a demand, and a manuscript that sits at the center of the conflict. SAY LESS!

🍷The publishing world angle. I was all in with the behind-the-scenes look at the world of books, authors, agents and the business behind the books.

🍷The structure. The layers. The depth. The twists. The unusual narrative structure. Absolute perfection.

🍷The book within a book.

🍷The dark humor.

🍷The setting. Nothing says Christmas quite like a snowstorm, an isolated tree house lodge, a mysterious stranger and a manuscript filled with all the secrets and lies. Sign me up please.

✨I’ve read all of Stephanie Wrobel’s books, and this one is her absolute best by far. The whole thing is clever, bookish, deliciously wicked, and a whole lot bonkers in the very best way. It totally messed with my head, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Psychological thrillers
✨Christmas settings
✨Isolated, snowy locations
✨R E V E N G E
✨“I’m questioning everything” stories
✨Unreliable narratives
✨Publishing behind the scenes
✨Books within books

🎧 I listened to this book on audio, and I thought the narrator Jennifer Rubins did a fabulous job. She really brought the characters and story off the pages for me. So well done.