Description from Goodreads
A twist on Hitchcock’s iconic classic Psycho —where the leading lady doesn't die, but instead turns the knife on Norm, kicking off a crime spree that turns the silver screen victim into a heroine for our times.
NORMAN WAS HER FIRST.
Marion is in deep. She's stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works in a desperate bid to help her sister escape an abusive marriage, but the bus breaks down before she can make it to Saratoga Springs. It's late at night, and the only place with vacancies is an old set of cabins on the outskirts of town. She pays for a room in cash, and ends up chatting with Norm, the young innkeeper who's handsome, charming and a touch hung-up on his elderly mother. Back in her room, she steps into the shower, scrubbing off the late-summer heat, when the curtain is pulled back...
Norm Billings is there with a knife. He raises his arm to strike, but before he does, Marion knees him in the balls, grabs the knife, and stabs the life out of him. Now, she's covered in blood, and she's a woman on the run—not just a thief, but a killer, too. Where will she go? How will she save both herself and her sister? And what mysteries will she uncover as she does?
In Psycho, Hitchcock shocked audiences when he killed off his protagonist. But what if the leading lady had fought back? Marion offers an alternate history of the most famous dead blonde to ever grace the silver screen. Only this time, the knife is in her hands—and she's no victim.
My Thoughts on the Book
As I've read Psycho by Robert Bloch, as well as watch Hitchcock's movie adaptation, I enjoyed reading this retelling. There's enough familiar elements fans of Psycho can appreciate, yet it's different enough it's not a bad copy. The story itself is engaging, and there's character development for the most important characters in this novel. I also appreciated the bond between the sister and how far a certain someone would go to save her sister from a bad marriage.
That said, I sometimes felt it just scratched the surface a bit on certain elements, but I do appreciate the theme of domestic violence was brought up.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read though with some feminist vibes to it, and I'm sure there's plenty of people out there who could appreciate the book for what it is.
Comments
Post a Comment