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: Horror, Thriller, Books About Books, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller Suspense

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication 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

[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?

[Shazzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a review copy by the publisher.

[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.

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!

Expected Publication Date: November 10, 2026

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

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great read! If you enjoy psychological thrillers, peeks into the publishing industry, and twisty yet character driven novels, then you must add Revenge Plot to your TBR list and look for it this November when it's released.

The story begins on Christmas Day in the Catskills mountains during a snowstorm. Arnie, whose greatest wish is to be a published author, along with 6 year old Theo, are driving in these subpar conditions, looking for a secluded treehouse style cabin in the mountains. It's made clear right off the bat that Arnie has not rented the cabin himself, but he has plans for the woman who has. That woman would be Claudia, a high powered literary agent who has already rejected Arnie's manuscript via email, and is dealing with some personal problems of her own on this holiday.

It then switches to Claudia's POV, as she prepares a feast for just herself. When Arnie and Theo wreck their car outside her cabin, she realizes she has no choice but to invite them in. You don't really know what Arnie's planning, but that underlying tension is there on each page and I loved it. This first section was a little slower, but I wasn't bored at all, and it helped to set the scene for things later. And just when events in this section of the book finally start to happen, it ends on quite a cliff hanger....and then switches gears entirely to another character's POV in the past. We follow along as Neve, one of Claudia's clients, became a published author and all the drama that went along with that - and I was quickly engrossed in her story and couldn't put it down.

No spoilers here, but I will just say that ultimately, the stories tie back in together, and I thought it was all done brilliantly. A couple of things I spotted coming, a few truly surprised me, and either way, I was thoroughly entertained. This was the very definition of an unputdownable read, as I was thinking of it if constantly when I couldn't sit and read it. I am adding it to my Favorites list, and expect it will be one of my top three reads of 2026.

* This was a giveaway I won on Goodreads from Berkley - so a huge thank you to them. The opinions expressed in the review are my own.

[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.

[Amy Appleby · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Arnie Tenderton has finally written the perfect book after years of disappointments and living in the shadow of his more talented twin. Arnie now needs the perfect agent and lands his sights on Claudia Conley – after all the book is about her.

Arnie has already been rejected by Claudia once before. With Claudia spending Christmas alone in a remote bolthole in the Catskills, he decides that this would the perfect time to pitch his latest novel.

The snowy setting of the book is a perfect backdrop for the tale of betrayal that soon ensues.

Stephanie Wrobel writes beautifully. Revenge Plot is an incredibly smooth read that kept me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end. It is packed with clever twists that constantly keep you guessing – some of them are quite obvious but don’t let this detract you as they are still super fun. It is also highly satisfying to watch the intricate threads linking all the central characters slowly come together.

The finale of Revenge Plot is brilliant – it wraps up in a way that will leave you smiling long after the last page has been turned.

However, some of the characters felt underused and add very little to the plot. At times the narrative seemed to brush over them to focus more on the intricacies of the publishing world rather than investing in deeper character development.

Revenge Plot is also not as dark or suspenseful as I was expecting from the blurb but it is still an exceptional read. If you are looking for a gritty, nail-biting psychological thriller, the suspense levels do fall a bit short.

The second half of the book lags a little bit, losing some of the momentum that made the first half difficult to put down.

These last few points led me to docking one star, but it is still a high four star read. It remains gripping, fun, and deeply satisfying to read. I would ultimately recommend this to anyone who loves a beautifully written thriller that they can absolutely fly through.

[Kristi Lamont · Rating 2 out of 5]

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Revenge Plot, by Stephanie Wrobel, from Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

⭐ 2 ⭐

Oh the meh.

The meh, the meh, the meh, meh, meh.

Sigh.

I really hated that this book wasn’t more engaging, because I enjoyed Darling Rose Gold, also by Stephanie Wrobel, a lot, thus was very happy to get an ARC of this book.

It was just……derivative. Been there, done that. And that, that, and that, and, yes, that, too.

So maybe it’s me that’s derivative, being A Lady Of A Certain Age who has read many, many books?

Probably. I’m betting this will be a hit with lots of folks, and that is something good in this world. Of which we need more.

Much, much more.

DESCRIPTION
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 holidays: 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.

[Catherine Sreckovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claudia Conley, a famous literary agent whose career has had its share of ups and downs, is staying in an idyllic, secluded “treehouse” cabin in the Catskill Mountains alone, after her holiday plans fall through. To her surprise, she witnesses outside her window a car crashing into a tree in the midst of a blizzard. The occupants of the car are Arnie Tenderton and his son Theo. Despite Claudia’s trepidations, she brings them into her home and prepares to share her Christmas feast. As dinner preparations proceed, we learn that Arnie Tenderton has something in common with Claudia – he has written a book and he shares information with Claudia about that book. Further, Arnie’s presence at Claudia’s cabin is no accident. In reality, Arnie has searched Claudia out with the goal of persuading her to become his literary agent. Arnie reveals that he has actually submitted a book to Claudia – his best book -- for her consideration, but she rejected his work.
From this point on, the suspense builds and builds. Ms. Wrobel continues to drop hints for the reader as the story unfolds – some not so subtle, unfortunately – but even though we know what to expect, the details and their interrelationships are a surprise. She does a superb job of bringing all of these elements together to heighten the suspense.
There are so many twists and turns it is difficult to discuss the characters without spoilers! Other key characters are one of Claudia’s biggest authors – Jo Stone – the true identify of whom has not been exposed through publication of 5 blockbuster novels; Jo’s boyfriend, Theo’s sister, and Claudia’s brother. As these characters’ stories are revealed, their surprising relationships to one another emerge. The novel continues to build momentum and even though there were lots of clues as to where the story was headed, the ending was a complete surprise.
The book lives up to its title. This was such a great read!

[Becca Wilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thriller will keep you guessing. Claudia Conley is a literary agent in need of a big sale. When a young author is recommended to her, Claudia finds that needle in the haystack she’s been seeking, signs this new client, and brings the manuscript out at auction, driving up a bidding war for the rights to publish it. Part of the appeal is the story about the author’s past, a work of fiction in and of itself that Claudia crafts to elicit interest, encouraging this author to adopt a pen name while staying anonymous so that her fictitious backstory can’t be exposed. Speculation about the author’s true identity sparks online conspiracy theories, that also result in massive sales. This new author, writing under the pen name Jo Stone, is a once in a generation talent.

While the first three books in Jo Stone’s serial killer series are international sensations, the last two books fall flat. What has happened to Jo Stone? With these failures, Claudia’s literary agency teeters on the edge and when Christmas comes, she takes some much-needed time away to regroup. What she doesn’t anticipate is an interruption to her plans in the form of a man and a little boy whose car crashes into a tree near her rental property. With blizzard conditions making it dangerous for them to wait for a tow truck outside, she welcomes them indoors and shares the Christmas meal that she’d been preparing with them.

From here on out, nothing is as it seems. Secrets, deception, and surprises carry the book to its final chapter and leaves the reader with the question—do the ends justify the means when it comes to getting what we want?

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book that I ended up finishing somewhere around 5 in the morning because I couldn't wait to see what happened. The story is broken into a couple parts- you get Arnie's POV as he tries to convince a hotshot agent to review his book, and you get a section of the book told from Neve's POV as she struggles to become a published author. These 2 storylines converge in a really interesting way. Though I enjoyed the Neve chapters more than the Arnie chapters, at least initially, I really enjoyed the way it all came together.

The story started off a little slow, with Claudia, the agent, at a remote cabin in the woods, making a Christmas dinner. There was some unnecessary detail related to the meal she was cooking and I was worried the book was going to be slow. However, once Arnie comes into the picture, the pace picks up and never slows again. The overall feeling is tense as the reader learns more about both these characters (not to mention the young boy, Theo, who is along for the ride). Right in the middle of the intensity, the author moves to Neve's story, which is intense in a whole different way. The story then veers back to Arnie and Claudia, along with many great twists that pull the story together. I enjoyed this way of storytelling, and also felt that the end of the book worked very well, and tied up loose ends successfully.

Overall, this was an interesting and unique read that I had trouble putting down. I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers- I would give it 4.5 stars, rounded up.. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely sucked me in. I picked it up thinking it was going to be a creepy stalker thriller, but it ended up being so much more than that.

I loved the publishing world aspect. Seeing everything from literary agents to authors and the pressure behind creating a bestseller made this feel different from your typical psychological thriller. It was one of those books where every time I thought I had it figured out, something else happened that made me question everything.

Arnie was absolutely unhinged, and I mean that in the best possible way. He made me uncomfortable from the very beginning because he truly believed everything he was doing was justified. Characters like that always creep me out the most because they don't see themselves as the villain.

The snowy, isolated setting was perfect for this story. It added so much tension, and I honestly couldn't stop turning the pages because I needed to know how everything was going to come together.

The middle slowed down just a little for me, but once the pieces started falling into place, I flew through the rest of the book. The twists weren't there just for shock value—they actually made sense, and I love when a thriller can pull that off.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with unreliable characters, plenty of twists, and a unique look inside the publishing world, definitely add this one to your TBR. I had a great time with it.

4.5 rounded to 5

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Books set in the publishing world aren’t usually what I gravitate toward, but this one surprised me! I absolutely loved Darling Rose Gold, Stephanie Wrobel’s debut, but This Might Hurt…well, it did hurt. I also tried The Hitchcock Hotel, but never finished it because I just felt disconnected from the plot, the characters, and the story as a whole. Much to my surprise, Revenge Plot exceeded my expectations.

The unique premise didn’t initially draw me in. It was the author and my love for her first book. What ultimately engaged me with this one was the suspenseful winter setting. It created such a claustrophobic atmosphere that there was a constant sense something was about to go terribly wrong. I also really enjoyed the character-driven psychological suspense. The morally gray characters kept me guessing, and the layered twists made this one unputdownable. Despite the addictive narrative, it was a slower burn than I typically prefer, and while the publishing industry storyline isn’t usually my favorite trope, I have to admit the drama surrounding it kept me captivated.

All in all, this ended up being one of my favorite slow-burn mysteries of the year. Stephanie Wrobel definitely won me back with this one! A BIG thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Liza (LitLifewithLiza) Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. If you enjoy more of a slow burn thriller mixed with literary fiction, this one's for you! The first 25% of this story had me hooked right away. A Christmas setting where we meet a literary agent, Claudia, & a writer who will stop at nothing to get her attention. Is Arnie her stalker? Why is he obsessed with her being the one to read his book? I had no idea what was about to unfold at this point.

The bulk of the story is then taken over by Arnie's book, we get to dive into the tale that he's dying for Claudia to read. This is where the thriller aspect takes a beat and we move more into the focus of literary life, struggles as an early writer, and the obsession to succeed. We learn the importance of this story later on, but I did find this section to drag on a bit too long and this is where it lost me. I wish it had been trimmed down.

It picks up again at around 75%-80% and we're back into the thriller realm. Here we get a popcorn delivery of twists, and while a few were predictable, she did manage to pull one over on me and give me a bit of a shock.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

[Britney Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has set a new bar for what I expect out of a psychological thriller novel.!!! If you think you’ve found your favorite book of 2026 so far just wait till this is released on November 10th 2026.

Nothing I’ve read so far this year can hold a candle to this book and I feel like this may be the case for a long time to come!

This book kept giving and giving and the twist when it comes to light blew me all the way around the world and back again! I literally don’t know how I’m gonna recover from this book because my mind is blown into a million pieces in the best way possible!

If you read the synopsis for this book and think oh this sounds good I may add it to my want to read list don’t even think about waiting to read this! I highly suggest reading it immediately.

The thing about this not coming out till November and this being given to me as an ARC to read by #NetGalley is the fact that I wish you all waiting could just read it now. But come November make sure you are ready for this!!!

I’ve never read anything like it! I will forever recommend this book to everyone now!
#revengeplot #stephaniewrobel #berkleypublishinggroup

[Timothy Emmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I wrap up this debut novel, I'm still processing and absolutely blown away. It has that Misery feel, with hints of other trigger thrillers but, an ending you won't see coming. I'm not giving anything away but to say I am totally blown away is an understatement. I hope to get the honor to read anything Stephanie Wrobel writes from here on out. Thank you to Net Galley for giving me an opportunity to read and review this. I will be writing a review on my blog on substack. Look me up, under Timothy Emmons and you'll find my blog, especially te section Back Porch Book Reviews. I discuss books there and this is going to be a part of the things I've read recently and may just headline this piece as it's the best book to kick off the summer of 2026. This is destined to be a blockbuster of a novel and best beach read ever if you're looking for a thriller to heat up the summer months and chill you to the bone at the same time. The glimpses into the book world, and it's myriad crooks and turns will keep you planted as much as the plot. I loved this from the first page. I can't wait to see what Ms Wrobel Puts out next. Happy Reading!!

[Amber Boos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Stephanie Wrobel and Holy Moly, it won't be the last! Arnie has spent most of his life writing books. Rejection after rejection. Well, now he has written the ONE! Sure to be a bestseller. Now he just has to convince Claudia Conley, the only literary agent that he wants to represent him of this. Only problem, she has rejected him before. Well, our boy ain't havin' it so off he goes to make her see things his way. Claudia is vacationing alone at a remote Catskills mountain rental. A blizzard is coming. Oh, and Arnie's story is based on Claudia and he hasn't quite finished it just yet. Nothing weird so far. Then we also have Neve. Neve writes under the name Jo Stone and we will learn how that came about. Lots of twists and turns in this one and I was there for it! This will be a perfect Winter read! Yes, I absolutely loved the cold and isolated atmosphere and the characters, but the story within a story was also a really cool aspect! Definitely going to check out more Stephanie Wrobel!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Stephanie Wrobel and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Charla Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the book seemed to have a slow start in the beginning, it heated up pretty quickly and turned into a story that was hard to stop thinking about. It is a story about a young writer named Neve that accidentally discovers she hade a talent for writing thrillers. Her agent has talked her into writing under the name of Jo Stone as a marketing tactic. The agent, Claudia went as far as suggesting that Jo was a victim of a serial killer. Neve hated the lies.

Jo Stone becomes a best selling author over night. She also finds herself pregnant by a married man and chooses not to tell the father that she is pregnant. After the baby is born Jo finds that adderall helps her focus on her writing and helps with the constant lack of energy. Before she realizes what is happening, she finds herself popping adderall more often than she should.

Suffice it to say that her life seems to be spinning out of control. And soon, it will take a deadly turn. She’s up against an agent that pushes her to the limits, she’s living a lie as Jo Stone, she’s a new, single mother, and her story just seems to become more complicated by the day. And, I doubt you will be expecting how it all ends!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, I love this author.

This is only the second book I’ve read by them, the first being The Hitchcock Hotel, which really stuck with me. I still remember the strange, wonderful dreams that book gave me, so checking this one out was kind of a no brainer.

The twists in this were chef’s kiss. I figured out one of the big reveals literally a page before it happened, which is honestly one of my favorite reading experiences. Close enough to feel clever, but not so obvious that I saw it coming from a mile away.

I also really loved the meta aspect of it all. There’s something fun about reading a book that makes you think about how books get published, marketed, and consumed while you’re actively reading a published book. It added an extra layer that I wasn’t expecting.

Overall I had a great time with this one. The story kept me engaged, the reveals worked for me, and I flew through it. This is actually one I’m planning to mail to my mom because she loves thrillers, and I have a feeling she’ll tear through it.

[Cindy Bokma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five giant gold stars for Revenge Plot. This book kept me up into the wee hours of the morning because I had to know the ending.

What a brilliant novel.

We start with literary agent Claudia, in her treehouse Airbnb, getting ready for Christmas. She's alone and she's okay with that. But when a man and his son get into an accident in front of the house, she has no choice but to invite them inside.

All Arnie wanted was to get his book published. But Claudia coldly rejected his book. How dare she! He will make her read every word of that manuscript if its the last thing he does.

This was such a clever, fast-paced, gripping suspense. I loved every page. At no point was I bored, tired of reading, or daydreaming. I was fully invested. This is the kind of book that makes me love reading.

Its not hard to imagine this as a Netflix movie. If I could, I'd option it myself!

[Kayla Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this book hooked me right away. A desperate man pretending to be a stranger in need? An isolated house? A snow storm? All great elements to kick off a thriller.

This book was very fast paced in the beginning and I was on the edge of my seat wondering how the story would unfold. However, I was thrown off a little by the middle part of the book, where it gives a thoroughly backstory of a different character. Although crucial to the plot, I found this part a bit slower. But ultimately it did create a stronger connection with the character to the point where I felt emotionally invested in the book’s ending.

The last part of the book was a great conclusion where all of the puzzle pieces finally slot into place. And the last chapter? Perfect.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I just struggled with the pacing in the middle. Still a solid read though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

[Reader R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story within a story. It begins with the hostage taking of a prominent editor by a disgruntled writer. Claudia Conley is the editor for the writer Jo Stone, a pseudonym for Neve Williams. An aspiring novelist strands himself and his young child at her remote cabin in a snowstorm on Christmas in an attempt to force her to read his novel. The second story is the novel, the story of how Neve Williams becomes Jo Stone and the deception of her alias to her readers.
Initially I had trouble getting into this book because I found the story a little far fetched. Once I started Neve's story, I was hooked. There are plenty of twists and surprises in the last chapters of the book when the story turns back to the cabin setting, keeping me guessing, and although I kind of suspected the ending, it was still enjoyable. This was my first Stephanie Wrobel book and not my last. A really fun read.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy.

[Sandrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so shocked by this book ! It was amazing! From the first chapter, it reeled me in and I just had to keep reading. It’s a very interesting premise. From the beginning, you feel like something is wrong with Arnie. Even Claudia feels it too. How far can an aspiring writer go to get his book published ? I loved how the book was structured. It’s a story inside a story. I found myself being so shocked at the plot twists, they really were unexpected. One caught me off guard so bad that I had to pause for a full minute to digest the information. Really, the author plotted this story so well. It was very intriguing and captivating. This book is now on my top reads of the year ! Do yourself a favour and read this story, you won’t regret it !

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy from Netgalley
Arnie is a writer who will not take no for an answer. He's written something Claudia, a renowned literary agent, needs to read. Not least of all because it's about her.

I picked this book up expecting a twist on Misery, and the beginning certainly felt like a Criminal Minds episode. But the story gave so much more as we delved into the complicated relationship between author, agent, characters and publisher.

Normally I struggle with twisty novels, they're often paced badly and can leave you feeling cheated, but Revenge Plot was beautifully put together so each turn felt natural and well-timed.

100% recommend to anyone who enjoys a thriller/ mystery.

Thanks again to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for this ARC.

[Cheryl Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge Plot had me guessing from the very first page. This twisty thriller follows Neve, who writes under the name Jo Stine, and her literary agent, Claudia. Spending Christmas alone in an Airbnb treehouse is a crazy idea in itself, but it creates the perfect setting for the story. When Arnie and his son crash their car nearby and end up at the treehouse, things quickly spiral into a wild and unpredictable ride.

This was an off-the-wall thriller that kept me entertained from beginning to end. I enjoyed every moment and never knew where the story was headed next. I rated it 4 stars, and if you enjoy quirky, unusual thrillers with plenty of surprises, Revenge Plot is definitely one to add to your reading list.

[Helen Beesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that grabs you from the start, Revenge Plot by Stephanie Wrobel is for you. Set in a remote snowbound modern day treehouse on Christmas eve, the characters play out who they really are… or do they? Wrobel has created characters that are far from perfect,and you are never sure who the hero is or if there is one! Clever and fast paced the novel drags you in and keeps you glued. It is one of the best new thrillers I’ve read, and the only thing keeping it from a five for me was the overall feel at the start of Stephen King’s Misery and the middle dragged a bit, but not for long. Overall a fantastic and fun read. Thank you to Penguin Publishing, Bookbrowse.com, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The novel centers on Claudia Conley, a literary agent who represented bestselling author Jo Stone. Claudia and Jo have secrets, and they come to light in a remote treehouse in the Catskills. The novel then goes on to explore themes of ambition, obsession, secrets and revenge. Definitely in the minority, but this turned out to be anything but thrilling. Unfortunately, the story gets so lost in minor details there isn’t any tension. It’s a good plot, but the execution was rambling, repetitive and so slow.

https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Told between multiple perspectives over the last 15 years or so, it almost comes across as two books in one. Claudia, a literary agent is renting a secluded treehouse Airbnb for Christmas alone. When a man and a young boy crash their car on the property in a snow storm, she isn’t sure she should let them in. She does and her whole world changes in one night. An interesting thrill ride that I couldn’t put down.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always pulled in by books about authors and the publishing world, so this one was an easy yes for me. I'm also a sucker for a snowed-in atmosphere. I find it makes the whole story feel even more eerie and it always brings me right back to The Shining. Arnie was such a creepy character, and I couldn't wait to see how everything would play out. It was a fun, fast-paced psychological thriller with enough twists to keep me turning the pages.

Many thanks to Edelweiss+ and Berkley for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.

[Talya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge Plot follows the journey of an unhinged rejected writer who will go to any lengths to catch the attention of a specific literary agent, Claudia Conley. He makes an elaborate plan that even involves bringing a child to a secluded cabin in the woods where she is staying, alone for Christmas. Does he just want her to publish his novel? The story has unlikable characters (my favorite), intense twists, and a satisfying ending that will leave you wondering who is the real bad guy? I loved every minute of this one. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thanks NetGalley and BookBrowse for the ARC.