Home › Fiction › If We Were Villains
  • If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio book cover
  • If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio book cover
1 2

If We Were Villains

by M. L. Rio

Shakespearean roles, real-world consequences

Critically Recognized
$25.55 USD
$42.59 USD $25.55 USD
Save 40%

Hardcover New

Format

Print BookCurrently viewing Hardcover $25.55 USD$42.59 USD
Print BookAvailable Paperback $18.12 USD$30.21 USD Print BookAvailable Paperback $18.12 USD$30.21 USD
Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.
Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Praised by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

    Praise for the book describes it as a richly layered story and says it will keep readers riveted.

AlbakiReads Editorial

Shakespearean roles, real-world consequences

Oliver Marks leaves jail after serving time for a case tied to his years at Dellecher Classical Conservatory. The detective who put him there is waiting, and Oliver is ready to recount what happened a decade earlier, when he and six fellow students trained as Shakespearean actors in a secluded, fiercely competitive setting. The theatrical roles they inhabit onstage echo the parts they play among one another, giving the story’s mystery a frame built around performance, ambition, and the difficulty of separating one from the other.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • For readers interested in mysteries framed by a past confession and an investigation.
  • For readers drawn to stories about competitive artistic communities and Shakespearean theater.
  • For readers who enjoy fiction exploring friendship, ambition, and shifting roles.

Themes

Performance and identityAmbition and competitionFriendshipShakespearean theaterSecrets and accountability

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

"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, ing

Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
AlbakiReads
Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

E
AlbakiReads
Ella

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

O
AlbakiReads
Olivia

Smooth.