If We Were VillainsIf We Were Villains
Score Modern
What it's about
On the day Oliver Marks is released from prison, the detective who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it.
Why it's worth reading
It's a cult favorite of dark academia, a tense, literary mystery full of Shakespeare.
You'll love it if you liked
The Secret History
Ninth House
MacbethGood to know
It's full of Shakespeare quotations. It's best for theater lovers.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller35 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #369 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #1140 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2106 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Gripping
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Quick answers
Is If We Were Villains worth reading?
Yes. It's a cult favorite of dark academia, a tense, literary mystery full of Shakespeare. It ranks #2,106 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is If We Were Villains about?
On the day Oliver Marks is released from prison, the detective who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it.
How long does it take to read If We Were Villains?
About 9 hours (368 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after If We Were Villains?
If you liked it, try The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo or Macbeth by William Shakespeare.