A Novel Crime - by Deborah Levison (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

She wanted to write the perfect novel. Instead, she became the perfect villain.

Struggling romance writer and recent divorcée Marcy Jo Codburn feels like a failure. She's green with author envy and longing for a book deal, a launch party with cupcakes, and the admiration of her daughter. But her dream of literary success is fading faster than her beige hair dye. When she witnesses celebrated author Francesca Barber in a compromising position, Marcy sees her chance. Transforming into Summer Branigan, her bolder, blonder pen name, she leverages Francesca's secret to secure the ultimate coauthor.

As their collaboration spirals from Marcy's modest Connecticut home to Francesca's lavish Hamptons estate, both women discover that in the cutthroat world of publishing, every story has its price. With looming deadlines, a kidnapping plot gone awry, and more than one fraud to hide, their twisted partnership careens toward a surprise ending neither could have written.

In this darkly comic page-turner, critically acclaimed author Deborah Levison skewers the publishing industry with razor-sharp wit. A Novel Crime asks just how far an aspiring writer will go to see her name on a book jacket--and what happens when the stories we tell start to write themselves.

Review Quotes

"A Novel Crime is a tongue-in-cheek tale of what happens when an aspiring author of bodice rippers decides to blackmail a famous author into writing her a bestseller. Humor and intrigue fly in this one as Marcy Jo Codburn, aka Summer Branigan, sets out to deceive and cajole her way into the big time. A fun, breezy read that packs in the drama...and tabloid-worthy conniving." --Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times #1 internationally bestselling author of the Orphan X series

"Uproariously funny, exquisitely unputdownable, and ingeniously plotted with a heroine you'll be rooting for every step of her wildly hilarious journey, Deborah Levison's A Novel Crime is the perfect delicious escape!" --May Cobb, bestselling author of The Hunting Wives

"Wickedly hilarious and utterly compelling, A Novel Crime is a delight. I was entranced and in stitches following the very endearing and imaginative heroine as she chases success while entangling herself in a heap of crimes. A refreshingly bold, highly addictive, and uproarious suspense that showcases Deborah Levison's phenomenal talent and warns us all how quickly we can cross the line from fantasy into a nightmare." --Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 internationally bestselling author of Hello, Juliet

"Levison nailed it in A Novel Crime. It's totally bingeworthy. Struggling romance writer Marcy Jo Codburn wants nothing more than to publish her novel and make her daughter proud, but how far is she willing to go to achieve bestseller status? When a fluke encounter with a celebrity author presents an opportunity to cut the line, Marcy casts her morals aside and seizes her chance. What follows is a mesmerizing downward spiral that ultimately leads to murder, every twist of which is delivered with tightrope tension and razor-sharp wit. Fans of Finlay Donovan and Yellowface will love this crime caper, and readers of all stripes won't soon forget Marcy's wild rise to the top." --Tessa Wegert, author of In the Bones

"A Novel Crime is a fast, funny, utterly unputdownable romp through the wild world of publishing--where ambition meets chaos, and nothing goes according to plan. When Marcy Jo Codburn decides it's her turn to be famous, she launches a scheme involving a bestselling mentor, A-list celebrities, and a whole lot of trouble. Levison packs this novel with jaw-dropping twists, a mind-blowing plot, and an ending you'll be texting your friends about." --Elise Hart Kipness, USA Today bestselling author of Close Call

"Wickedly funny, deliciously dark, and razor-sharp in its skewering of literary ambition, A Novel Crime is an absolute triumph. Deborah Levison spins a tale of envy, duplicity, and desperate reinvention that crackles with wit and menace. You'll laugh, you'll gasp, and you'll devour every page of this sly, twisted thrill ride. A dazzlingly original thriller that proves in publishing--as in life--there's nothing more dangerous than a writer with everything to lose. Levison turns literary envy into lethal entertainment. A Novel Crime is biting, brilliant, and impossible to put down." --Steve Urszenyi, author of the Alex Martel series, including Blood Oath

"Deftly plotted with jaw-dropping twists and a deliciously dark turn that will leave you breathless. When aspiring author Marcy kicks down the door to her publishing future, there's no coming back. Deception, desperation, and duplicity combine for a thrill ride you won't soon forget." --James L'Etoile, award-winning author of the Detective Emily Hunter series and the Detective Nathan Parker series

"A Novel Crime is a witty, engaging, beautifully paced nail-biter that channels a disarming narrative voice to deftly explore themes of artistic ambition, morality, female empowerment, and familial love. Deborah Levison has whipped up a true winner!" --Elizabeth McCullough Keenan and Greg Wands, internationally bestselling authors of Trust Issues

"Aspiring to success (and the temptation to do whatever it takes to get there) is akin to breathing for an author. Stir in humor and creative twists and born is author Deborah Levison's A Novel Crime. It's a must-read for readers and writers, as both will delight in this cavalcade of crime, deception, and misbehavior." --Luca DiMatteo, author of Green Haven

"A Novel Crime is veteran thriller author Deborah Levison's latest gift to readers. You won't be able to put this one down. From the first page to the last, Levison keeps her audience engaged and wanting more. A first-class work of fiction from a writer at the top of her game." --Wendy Whitman, former Court TV executive, Nancy Grace producer, and author of the Deer Killer series

"A Novel Crime is cringey, gripping, and absolutely hilarious. Marcy has been working on the same novel for years. She put her ex-husband's creative work before her own. When her grown-up daughter starts to make life choices that Marcy believes will lead her on the same self-negating path, there's no more time to waste. If she's going to convince her daughter not to make the same mistakes she did, she must finish her novel and get it published. After witnessing her favorite bestselling author in a compromising position, the fun and frenzy begin. Marcy embodies Summer, her pen name and her charismatic alter ego who will do whatever it takes to become not just a published author but a bestselling one. Levison mixes humor and horror to make this a creepy psychological thriller you won't be able to turn away from." --T. M. Dunn, author of Her Father's Daughter

"In A Novel Crime, the lines between right and wrong blur in a story that's as unpredictable as it is intriguing. With a cast of characters you won't soon forget, each chapter unfolds with unexpected twists that keep you guessing. At the heart of it all is a premise that's fresh and full of possibilities, offering just the right amount of suspense and mystery. Whether it's the charming characters or the surprising turns of the plot, A Novel Crime invites readers to dive in and discover something new with every page." --Desmond P. Ryan, author of the series A Pint of Trouble

"Marcy has dreamed of being an author since she was a child. Not just any author, but a published, bestselling Pulitzer Prize-winning author with movie deals. Now that her husband has left her and her daughter is heading off to college, Marcy is desperate for success. Full of raw envy, humor, and jaw-dropping twists, A Novel Crime sends Marcy stumbling down a path of no return in pursuit of her illusive desire." --Sharon Dukett, author of The Shutdown List