Marion

 

Marion by Leah Rowan
6/2/26; 336 pages
St. Martin's Press 

Marion by Leah Rowan is the highly recommended feminist re-imagining of Psycho where Marion fights back and takes matters into her own hands. This novel doesn't so much retell the story in Psycho, but rather uses it as an inspiration to tell a different story where the woman fights back against men behaving badly. It's an interesting take.

The unnamed female protagonist (who I'll call Marion for clarity) is working for an ad agency in NYC and is worried about her sister, Lauren, who had been visiting Marion after her husband became abusive. At the last minute meeting Marion is attending Friday, she find herself suddenly with $100,000 cash that she can't deposit at the bank. Marion then decides to take the cash and help her sister. Then her bus breaks down on the way and she finds herself staying at the only place with a vacancy, Norman Billing's remotely located cabins. 

When she signs in she decides to call herself Marion Cage and pays cash for the room. Later, when the shower scene occurs, Marion turns the tables on Norman and ends up killing him. Then she is left with a body to dispose of, which is just the start of her problems. At the same time a young PI, Hannah, is searching for a missing woman and is lead to the same town where the Billing's Motel is located. Hannah's search has her inadvertently crossing paths with Marion.

After a even-paced start the twisted story takes off creating some major problems in Marion's story line that must be dealt with. At the same time, Hannah's search is underway in alternate chapters. It really becomes a tension filled quandary of a family bonding over where do you hide the bodies, while another young woman is looking for a missing woman.  

Since it is using Psycho for inspiration, there are parts that are not shocking as much as expected. This does eliminate some of the shocking discoveries and tension, but it is still an interesting twist in the plot. You do have to set disbelief aside, but it is an entertaining novel.

Marion is a good choice for anyone interested in a feminist re-telling based on Psycho. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.