If We Were Villains | M. L. Rio

If We Were Villains: A Novel

Extended Synopsis

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 was one of seven young Shakespearean actors at the 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 played the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingénue, and extra.

But in their fourth and final year, good-natured rivalries turned ugly, and on opening night, real violence invaded the students’ world of make-believe. In the morning, the fourth-years found themselves facing their very own tragedy, and their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, each other, and themselves that they are innocent.

Reader Targeting

• Readers who enjoy atmospheric "Dark Academia" settings and Shakespearean motifs.
• Fans of complex, character-driven psychological thrillers like The Secret History.
• Book club members seeking gripping tales of ambition, friendship, and moral ambiguity.

About the Author

M. L. Rio is a writer, dramaturg, and bookseller. If We Were Villains is her highly celebrated debut novel, hailed as a "gripping ode to the stage."

Accolades & Features

This edition features a stunning Dark Academia design and includes customized Shakespearean dramatic dramatis personae layouts, theatrical act/scene chapter framing, and comprehensive reading group guide discussion matrices.

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