If We Were Villains

Synopsis

"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."

Summary

Chapter 1:
The novel opens with the discovery of a dead body at an elite performing arts school, Dellecher Classical Conservatory. The narrator, Oliver Marks, introduces himself as the prime suspect in the murder of Meredith "Merry" Carmichael, his classmate and former lover.

Chapter 2:
Oliver delves into his past, recounting his arrival at Dellecher and his introduction to the glamorous and competitive world of theater. He forms a close-knit group of friends known as the "Murder Club": Meredith, Richard, Alex, Brooke, and Philip.

Example:
"Dellecher was more than a school. It was a crucible, a forge where our egos and talents were tested and shaped. We were the elite, the chosen few, who had been granted the privilege of pursuing our dreams within its hallowed halls."

Chapter 3:
The Murder Club gathers for its weekly ritual, rehearsing Shakespeare's "Hamlet" in their secret performance space, "The Witching Hour." Oliver's growing obsession with Meredith sparks tension within the group, leading to a heated argument on the night of the murder.

Example:
"The Witching Hour was our sanctuary, a place where we could shed our masks and embrace our true selves. But that night, as we rehearsed Hamlet's famous 'To be or not to be' soliloquy, a darkness descended upon us, threatening to consume us all."

Chapter 4:
The following morning, Richard discovers Meredith's lifeless body in her apartment. Oliver becomes the main suspect due to his history of violence and the fact that he was seen arguing with Meredith the previous night.

Example:
"The sound of Richard's scream still haunts my nightmares. It was a primal cry, a shattering of innocence that reverberated through the walls of our once-safe world. Meredith was gone, and so was the illusion of invincibility that had shielded us."

Chapter 5:
Oliver undergoes intense questioning by Detective Colborne, who probes into the Murder Club's dynamics and the events leading up to the murder. Oliver's memories of that fateful night are fragmented and filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Example:
"Colborne's questions were relentless, his unwavering gaze like a scalpel cutting through my fragile defenses. I clung to the remnants of my shattered memories, but they seemed to dance like teasing ghosts, slipping away from my grasp."

Chapter 6:
The investigation unfolds, revealing secrets and exposing the hidden motivations and resentments within the Murder Club. Alex becomes a key witness, providing damning evidence against Oliver.

Example:
"Alex's betrayal was a knife in my back. His words painted me as a monster, a jealous and violent madman. The bond we had forged in the crucible of Dellecher now lay in ruins, shattered by suspicion and fear."