The 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 characte...