What I'm Reading: MARION by Leah Rowan

A retelling of Psycho from Marion's perspective. You won't see the ending coming.

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 movie PSYCHO is a classic, at least in terms of the history of film. Aside from some great cinematography, it spawned modern horror as a genre, specifically the slasher film. And that, of course, is what makes it highly problematic.

Leah Rowan has updated and reclaimed the story by telling it from Marion’s point of view and eschewing the typical ending. This book is all about Marion and how she ended up at a remote hotel with a bag of cash that is not hers. The same cultural dynamics are at play, but Rowan gives Marion the backbone and resilience that Hitchcock robbed her of.

Happily, Rowan doesn’t just rely on propping her story up on a well-known film. Her writing is tight. The plot speeds along, careening around twists that go perilously close to the cliff’s edge. And there’s an interesting cat and mouse dynamic where I found myself rooting for both characters because both were so well-developed. Brava!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

MARION is out June 2, 2026.

What classic films would you like to see retold? Drop a note in the comment box.