I’m always a fan of books that re-imagine classic stories, and Marion by Leah Rowan more than fits the bill. The novel, just published this June, is a clever twist on one of the best horror films of all time — Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Because so much of this movie is burned into our pop culture minds, it’s easy to get drawn into the subtle (and not-so-subtle) references to the film. But Marion is by no means a strict retelling of Norman and his famous Bates Motel.

Marion follows the story of a young woman who finds herself on the run after stealing money from her employer. She ends up stranded in a remote location where the only vacancy is with a small run-down motel. All of this is just like the movie, but then the major twist happens. Instead of Norman striking this woman down with a knife while she’s in the shower, she fights back — which sets her off down a murderous trail that is oh-so-different from Psycho‘s origins.

Rowan’s work is fresh, inventive, and extremely thrilling. The switch to another young woman’s perspective a little while into the book also offers a secondary, equally intriguing POV, which is no less addictive. Marion is a book centered around female rage and oppression, which is a fantastic way to turn a well-known story on its head. We don’t need to follow along with Norman’s perspective to understand how his actions (and those of other toxic men) can destroy the women around them.

I absolutely loved this book, especially the resolution, and there were plenty of twists that I definitely didn’t see coming. It’s even more astounding that this is Rowan’s debut novel, since I couldn’t really find any faults in it. I truly hope that Rowan’s next book dives into another well-known film or story, because I couldn’t put this one down.

5 stars

*Free ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*