Players: A Tale of Deception and Desire

What starts as a colorful reflection on the sisters' wild and winding pasts turns into a full-blown mystery when their 70th birthday party spirals into a drug-induced disaster. The book blends memoir-like storytelling with satirical humor, some noir-ish vibes, and a full cast of shady, lovable, and totally bizarre neighbors.

I was hooked by the strangeness of Bella and Lena's origin story. It sets the tone for a novel that's unapologetically offbeat.

Gail Marten has written the side characters like they're straight out of a dark sitcom. These characters are exaggerated, sure, but also weirdly real . . . The birthday party gone wrong is where things take a sharp left turn. What was fun and flirty becomes chaotic, even grotesque. If you like stories with a campy edge, dramatic women, ghostly encounters, and unexpected mayhem, give this one a shot.