If We Were Villains

Name: If We Were Villains
Author: M. L. Rio

by M. L. Rio

Fiction

“Much like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, M. L. Rio’s sparkling debut is a richly layered story of love, friendship, and obsession...will keep you riveted through its final, electrifying moments.” —Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest "Nerdily (and winningly) in love with Shakespeare...Readable, smart.” —New York Times Book Review On the day Oliver Marks is released from jail, the man who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants to know the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it. A decade ago: Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a place of keen ambition and fierce competition. In this secluded world of firelight and leather-bound books, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingénue, extras. But in their fourth and final year, good-natured rivalries turn ugly, and on opening night real violence invades the students’ world of make-believe. In the morning, the fourth-years find themselves facing their very own tragedy, and their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, each other, and themselves that they are innocent. If We Were Villains was named one of Bustle's Best Thriller Novels of the Year, and Mystery Scene says, "A well-written and gripping ode to the stage...A fascinating, unorthodox take on rivalry, friendship, and truth."

Echoes

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Echoes summary

The compelling narrative of M. L. Rio's *If We Were Villains* echoes with a distinct and potent resonance for readers who found themselves captivated by the dark academic allure and morally ambiguous landscapes of Donna Tartt's *The Secret History*. Both novels delve into the intoxicating, often destructive, power of intellectual immersion and artistic obsession, particularly when channeled through the crucible of elite academic environments. In *If We Were Villains*, the Dellecher Classical Conservatory functions as a microcosm, much like the Hampden College setting in *The Secret History*, where a select group of students become so entwined with their studies – in this case, Shakespeare – that the lines between performance and reality blur to a dangerous degree. This shared thematic core explores how deeply ingrained aesthetic ideals and the pursuit of artistic perfection can warp perception and lead to devastating consequences. The intense, almost cult-like atmosphere within these institutions fosters a sense of shared destiny and identity among the protagonists, inviting a profound exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the psychological toll of secrets.