Book Review - If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

Title: If We Were Villains
Author: M.L. Rio
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller/ Fiction
Published: 2017
 
Description: Oliver Marks has just served ten years in jail – for a murder he may or may not have committed. On the day of his release, he’s greeted by the man who put him in prison. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know that really happened a decade ago.
 
As one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingenue, extra. But when the casting changes, and the secondary characters usurp the stars, the plays spill dangerously over into life, and one of them is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless.
 
Review: Oliver Marks has served ten years in prison. When he is released, Detective Colborne wants to know what really happened all those years ago. Because the question is still, is Oliver guilty or not.
 
“If We Were Villains” is an extraordinary novel, set at a prestigious art school. Oliver Marks and six fellow students and friends are entering their fourth and final year, which means they finally get to perform a tragedy by Shakespeare. The fourth year is intense, compelling and, above all, vital to their future in the theater world. But none of them could have imaged how intense this final year would be.
 
For four years, the friends have been playing the same roles on stage and off. Those of hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingenue and extra. But the roles suddenly change, the play seems to slowly seep into the students’ real life. When one of the students is found dead, the rest of the group faces their biggest acting challenge: convincing the police and themselves their innocent. Slowly, the lives of Olive and his classmates; James, Richard, Alexander, Wren, Filippa and Meredith change into a tragedy in ways they could never have anticipated.
 
Oliver is the narrator od the story, our main character, however, in real life he is always in the background. The story is sections into acts and scenes. Slowly, you are been given more information about Oliver and his friends. And about the tragic death of one of them.
 
“If We Were Villains” is an intriguing story about friendship, love and ambition. The writing is stunning and the story interesting. I really loved reading about these characters and the mystery. It’s a very clever and complex book. There are a lot of Shakespeare references and use of quotes from his plays. I’ve never really delved into Shakespeare’s plays, but I know about them. My knowledge of Shakespeare is very superficial, so I think that worked in my disadvantage while reading “If We Were Villains”. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment though. But I think that, if you have read Shakespeare before, you can fully immerse yourself in this story.
  
Rating: 4/ 5