“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."

If We Were Villains: A Novel

Literature & Fiction

RIO, M.L.

Literary

Flatiron Books

"Much like Donna Tartt's The Secret History, M. L. Rio's sparkling debut is a richly layered story of love, friendship, and obsession...If We Were Villains will keep you riveted through its final, electrifying moments." --Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest
Oliver Marks has just served ten years in jail - for a murder he may or may not have committed. On the day he's released, he's greeted by the man who put him in prison. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened a decade ago.
As one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingenue, extra. But when the casting changes, and the secondary characters usurp the stars, the plays spill dangerously over into life, and one of them is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless. 
Intelligent, thrilling, and richly detailed, If We Were Villains is a captivating story of the enduring power and passion of words.

If We Were Villains (International Edition)

Macmillan USA

“Much like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, M. L. Rio’s sparkling debut is a richly layered story of love, friendship, and obsession...If We Were Villains will keep you riveted through its final, electrifying moments.”--Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The NestOliver Marks has just served ten years in jail – for a murder he may or may not have committed. On the day he's released, he's greeted by the man who put him in prison. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened a decade ago.As one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress. But when the casting changes, and the secondary characters usurp the stars, the plays spill dangerously over into life, and one of them is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless. Intelligent, thrilling, and richly detailed, If We Were Villains is a captivating story of the enduring power and passion of words.

MacMillan Audio

As a young actor studying at an elite conservatory, Oliver felt doomed to always be in his friends' shadows. But when a surprise casting turns a good-natured rivalry between two of them into something dangerous, their stage roles spill over into real life. Ten years later Oliver is released from prison, having served time for a murder he may or may not have committed. What really happened a decade before? And who was to blame?

If We Were Villains

Genre Fiction

Titan Books

ENROLLMENT BEGINS NOW A beguiling, sinister collection of 12 dark academia short stories from masters of the genre, including Olivie Blake, M.L. Rio, Susie Yang and more! Twelve original dark academia stories from bestselling thriller writers - imagine darkened libraries, exclusive elite schools, looming Gothic towers, charismatic professors, illicit affairs, the tang of autumn in the air... and the rivalries and obsessions that lead to murder.&nbsp; Brand-new stories from: Olivie Blake&nbsp; M.L. Rio&nbsp; David Bell Susie Yang&nbsp; Layne Fargo&nbsp; J.T. Ellison&nbsp; James Tate Hill&nbsp; Kelly Andrew&nbsp; Phoebe Wynne&nbsp; Kate Weinberg&nbsp; Helen Grant&nbsp; Tori Bovalino

In These Hallowed Halls: A Dark Academia anthology

Ellison, J.T.

Blake, Olivie

United States

If We Were Villains (édition reliée)

FIBS

Oliver Marks is released from jail after ten years and Detective Colborne who put him there is waiting at the door. He wants to know the truth. Oliver was one of seven young actors who played the same roles onstage and off: hero and villain. One day they faced their own tragedy and their greatest acting challenge: convince the police and themselves they were innocent.

Todos somos villanos (Spanish Edition)

Umbriel

Todos somos villanos: El thriller literario que arrasa en TikTok (Spanish Edition)

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by RIO, M.L.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by RIO, M.L.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by RIO, M.L.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

If We Were Villains: A Novel

If We Were Villains: A Novel

If We Were Villains (International Edition)

If We Were Villains: A Novel

If We Were Villains

In These Hallowed Halls: A Dark Academia anthology

If We Were Villains (édition reliée)

Todos somos villanos (Spanish Edition)

Todos somos villanos: El thriller literario que arrasa en TikTok (Spanish Edition)