Kit is an opera singer and is set to play the lead role in Barbarella, but she thinks everyone around her believes her understudy would be the better fit. However, someone is murdered at the opera company and Kit takes to investigate her understudy and their past.
I really enjoyed this thriller by Morgan Richter. The writing was great and kept me interested throughout the book. Only negative was the ending because to me it felt forced or even rushed.

The Understudy is the second book I have read by Morgan Richter and is an excellent follow up to The Divide.

This takes place in the world of NYC opera where Kit Margolis (Katerina on stage, Katherine or Kit in real life) is struggling to prove that she is the right fit for the first starring role of her career which she landed out of sheer luck after the original lead took on a role at The Met. Kit is immediately undermined by her understudy, a completely out of place and untrained diva named Yolanda, who shortly after meeting Kit enacts her first attempt to kill her. The rest of the story centers around Kit trying to navigate Yolanda, coming to terms with her own difficult and violent past, and overcome her inhibitions which are preventing her from being the best opera singer she can be.

Yolanda is a mesmerizing character as she is erratic and destructive- and tries multiple ways to kill Kit- yet Kit realizes how easily she could have become Yolanda herself if she had not had proper support in place as a child considering her own painful and abusive upbringing. At times it is irritating to watch Kit repeatedly be fooled by Yolanda, however it makes sense considering Kit's own self esteem struggles and the empathy she feels for Yolanda despite Yolanda's actions.

There is a portion of the book which feels a little tedious as while the information revealed is extremely interesting, it's portrayed by Kit going to a series of people's houses who all give her new back ground details on who Yolanda really is. I wish that Kit had discovered this information in a way that wasn't just meeting people who immediately spill to her despite not knowing her. This pattern of her figuring things out occurs in New York as well.

The resulting web of crime and reasoning for a murder that Kit ends up uncovering was both fascinating and pedestrian in that no matter what what convoluted crimes or shady activity a woman is involved in, ultimately a lot of violence against women stems from nothing more than hatred/possessiveness from men.

Overall even if parts lagged and the criminal network in this book was a little confusing, this was a really interesting look into the world of opera and the struggles that singers go through to make it even to small roles on the stage (although in real life of course presumably everything they do is legal!). I look forward to reading future books by Morgan Richter.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This review is my honest opinion.

This was a fun read that also taught me some things about the world of opera. It centers on Kit, who finally gets her big break with a lead role in a new opera version of the 1960s movie, Barbarella. As soon as rehearsals start, though, she is introduced to her understudy Yolanda, who makes it clear from the beginning that she will do anything to make sure she gets to play the lead. Kit realizes there is more to Yolanda than meets the eye and has to try to keep herself safe while figuring out who else is tied up in Yolanda's games. A murder part-way through the book is a surprise and changes the trajectory of the rest of the story.

While I enjoyed the twists and turns in the story, especially in the 2nd half, I struggled with almost every decision Kit made. Sometimes she was too forthcoming and other times too timid, and sometimes she took ridiculous risks while other times she did nothing. I couldn't figure out her personality at all. That being said, I didn't exactly dislike her- it made for good reading, albeit with some frustration on my part. I thought the author did a great job of connecting the dots between myriad characters and their motivations and tying it all together into a cohesive story. I enjoyed the ending and felt like it was just right for the book.

Overall, I found this to be a memorable book that taught me a little about opera while giving me a twisty mystery to solve. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Morgan Richter’s new novel, The Understudy, tells the story of Kit, an opera singer with a troubled past who becomes entangled in the life of Yolanda, her understudy in a new opera. I knew nothing about opera when I started the novel, but Richter’s writing pulled me in and I enjoyed both the twisty plot and the glance into the opera world. Her novel kept me guessing to the end. Thank you to Richter and Knopf for the early review copy.

The Understudy provides a fascinating look inside the world of opera singers. When the MC finally gets her big break, she also gets an understudy (Yolanda) who wants her out of the way. Soon, they become frenemies. Part way through the book, however, a twist takes this story in an unexpected direction that I really enjoyed.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

"The Understudy" by Morgan Richter is a fun, light mystery set in the world of professional opera. While the plot thickens with the inclusion of underworld criminals and dark businesses, the narrative remains approachable without becoming gritty or relying on excessive graphic detail. This book is a good choice for fans of cozy mysteries or those who appreciate an arts and theater backdrop. Highly recommended for an engaging read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the eARC of The Understudy in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. The premise sounds interesting but unfortunately the characters are so unlikeable and immature that I simply do not care for any of them. The pacing is all over the place, alternating between being so unbearably slow at one moment and then being super fast the next moment.

Unfortunately, this book is a missed for me.

"The Understudy" had all the elements that draw me to psychological suspense: a seemingly perfect facade masking dark secrets, a ruthless antagonist willing to do anything to get what she wants, and murder in an unexpectedly sinister setting. Morgan Richter weaves these elements into the high-stakes world of New York City opera, where an experienced singer faces off against her dangerously ambitious understudy in a modern adaptation of "Barbarella."

The story starts slowly, taking time to establish the competitive world of New York City opera and the complex dynamic between Kit, the protagnist, and her understudy, Yolanda. The story kicks into a higher gear when a shocking murder at the midpoint transforms the narrativef rom a story of professional rivalry into a compelling psychological thriller.

The novel's strength lies in its complex characterization. Richter presents us with deeply flawed individuals who occupy the morally ambiguous territory between hero and villain. The exception is Yolanda, who emerges as an unabashedly malevolent force. The author effectively portrays her as a dark mirror reflecting the cutthroat nature of the performing arts world.

Richter succeeds in creating a tense atmosphere where ambition, jealousy, and murder intertwine in the high-stakes world of opera. With this sophomore novel, she shows she is indeed a great new artistic talent to watch in the world of murder and suspense,

A big thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had previously reviewed the Divide by Morgan Richter so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this book. I was blown away. The story has more turns than a roller coaster ride but what a ride it is. Kit is an opera singer, who has trained for years and is now starring in an opera based off the film, Barbarella. As Barbarella, her training got her the role but it’s her sex appeal that needs work. Kit is constrained, regimented and confines her world, the complete opposite of Yolanda, her understudy. Yolanda is beautiful, oozes sex appeal, lives large and is a force to be reckoned with. Yolanda wants the part to be hers, and she will pull out all the stops to get it. When Kit awakes at Yolanda’s apartment and finds Yolanda dead, Kit’s world starts to unravel.

This a wonderfully written story of frenemies but also a good murder mystery to boot. Solving the mystery of who killed Yolanda is a delight, the more you find out about the character, the more you realize how many suspects there are. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Well done!

I really enjoyed this novel. It was thrilling and the premise is really unique. As somebody who was raised around classical music, I'm familiar with how cutthroat of an environment it can be. I'm also a huge fan of mysteries in general, so seeing those two worlds come together was really cool.

I really enjoyed this opera thriller. Because it is centered around opera it out me in the mind of Black Swan. The MC pissed me off when she kept telling what she knew instead of keeping it close to the vest, but I enjoyed her maturity at the end. There are a couple twists and I enjoyed them because I didn't see them coming. I will be reading this Richter's work again

The Understudy follows Kit, an opera singer who finally landed a lead role in Barbarella, an opera version of the cult classic movie, and her understudy, Yolanda, an ambitious singer who has talent but no formal training. While the book doesn’t hook you in immediately, there is enough to keep you reading the next chapter, figuring out what Kit is going to do next. I loved the peak behind the curtain of opera and everything that goes into a performance, and the murder mystery surrounding a character who burned every bridge and made an enemy of everyone in her orbit.

Yolanda as a character is kind of surface level, very self absorbed and the typical diva you think of when you think “opera singer,” which definitely works for her, but you see no character development or growth, even after learning her past. On the other hand, Kit go through the same conflicts over and over again without doing anything differently, so it could be frustrating to read at times. For me, I was hooked about 40% of the way through, which is typically longer than it takes for me to decide if I want to finish a book or not.

What really bothered me was in the very beginning of the book, there is a line Kit thinks that is something like “bitch just yawned during my aria.” While this was a funny line, it doesn’t fit with Kits character throughout the book and she doesn’t have any other thoughts like this moving forward. In retrospect, that line is a bit jarring for her. If it were Yolanda saying/thinking that, that would’ve made more sense.

All in all, this was a solid 3/5⭐️ read. A little predictable, definitely unique, like an opera Nancy Drew. I’m looking forward to seeing more from Morgan Richter!

**Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC! The Understudy will be published on August 5th, 2025**

Kit, an opera singer, is set to play the lead role in Barbarella, but it seems everyone around her believes her understudy better fits the part. When someone within the opera company is murdered, Kit takes it upon herself to investigate the understudy and dive into her past.

Although a bit slow at times, I really enjoyed this thriller by Morgan Richter. I've always been intrigued by the opera, ever since my childhood obsession with Phantom of the Opera, so I loved getting a glimpse into that world. The writing was fantastic and the storyline was interesting, though I found the ending to be a bit rushed. The story kept me hooked and I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading, excited to get back to it. I am looking forward to more by this author!

I love a show business story and this one did not disappoint! Set against the backdrop of the New York opera scene, this page turner has fake identities, illegal casinos, financial scams, poisoning, and ‘Showgirls’ style revenge. Kit freshly starring in a brand-new opera based on the cult classic film Barbarella. She thinks she’s perfect for the role but her understudy Yolanda, and the men she’s charmed, disagree.

The side characters are small but do have an impact on the plot and main character’s fact finding. I loved seeing Kit’s journey from mousy talent to a woman with leading lady energy. I wish the author would have explored her relationship with her mother and the ways in which that affected her rejection of her appearance more. This is great for fans of opera, divas, and films like ‘Showgirls’ and ‘All About Eve’.

Wow, what a story. I have never thought much about the back biting in the opera theater. But I guess every business has some personnel issues. In this book the understudy takes nasty to a whole new level. She is not likable in any way. But men thinks she is eye candy. The opera is a new one and the director what's to give up the singing ability to get some sex appeal. The whole story is a page turner. Why did the opera singer decide to look for answers? Made for interesting reading.

The book for the first third had me on the edge of my seat. When Yolo died I love how it was hard to narrow down who wanted her dead because so many people didn't like her. I didn't fully understand Niko's motivation to be with Yolanda other than her physical assets because she seems like a crappy person. Niko's brother, the one that ran Brio, became forgettable once Kit started her interviews in Maine. I know that those conversations are the building blocks that led us to finding out the murderer, but I felt like emphasizing the time crunch to get back to the theater would have made me more engaged for that part of the book. I thought the AirTag in the fake Burkin was a nice and realistic twist. Overall it was a fun read and I think it's a 3.7 star. The part in Maine was hard to stay engaged in because it felt like in information dump. I was super proud of Kit slowly growing into herself! Had she not grown in confidence she wouldn't had been able to grow closer to Niko. I think Yolo's neighbor was an interesting character and I wish we saw more of him, considering he's Niko's friend. I thought he was going to make a reappearance when Kit and Niko were going to see Charlie Globa. I would recommend it because the killer made sense, there was good character development, and I learned about opera.

Kit, a trained opera singer, lands the lead role in a new opera based on Barbarella. She meets her understudy, Yolanda, who is confident and embodies the physicality of Barbarella. Despite lacking formal training, Yolanda believes she deserves the role and is willing to do anything to get it. Yolanda's schemes become dangerous, and a murder within the company threatens Kit's role. Kit uncovers Yolanda's dark past and realizes the lengths Yolanda will go to achieve her goals.

I saw a lot of mixed opinions about this book, but for me, this was one of my favorite arc reads of all time! I think anything that has to do with being on stage or being in a production immediately reminds me of black swan, and The Understudy has the elements to become a screen adaptation. I think this book shows the lengths of how far some people will go to get what they deserve. Yolanda has the tell-tell signs to be a villain and the author does a really good job of painting her as such, but with that being said, I feel like Kit’s character fell flat when Yolanda was alive. If someone put eyedrops in my tea I would be filing a police report, also the dead rat thing, or the mouse thing, or any of it. I wouldn’t have let it get as far as it did for Kit. I think the murder mystery element plot was very interesting in this book because I just thought it was going to be Yolanda terrorizing Kit the whole book. I think Kit was the perfect character to hate but not hate enough to stop reading. I also felt like at some points the book had points where it was unrealistic. Overall, it was one of my favorite net galley reads so far!

This book really pulls you into the competitive world of New York City opera, and the drama between Kit and Yolanda, her ambitious understudy, is captivating. The backstage politics and tension are portrayed really well, and that’s one of the strongest parts of the story. Yolanda’s character is intriguing, but sometimes her scheming felt a bit over the top, and Kit’s responses were frustratingly passive. The murder mystery adds some suspense, but it wraps up a little too quickly and didn’t hit as hard as I hoped. Even with these flaws, the book is still a solid read, especially for the opera setting and the rivalry—it kept me hooked, even if the emotional depth wasn’t all there.

A very enjoyable book, if perhaps a bit unrealistic at times. It was both very cool/interesting to be thrust into this strange new world of opera singing, but also confusing and annoying at times as the narrative kept getting slowed down by my need to look up every third word since I didn't know what things like comprimario and dramaturg meant. Part of me was excited to learn new things but part of me felt like uncultured swine since there was so much I didn't know. However, some lines of the book, despite how unknown opera is to some of us, can translate across all fields, like this one: "Receiving praise for working hard is much less satisfying than receiving praise for being exceptional."

As with most books where someone who isn't a cop or a detective investigates a crime, there were a few times where I had to roll my eyes at the motivations behind our main character going to great lengths to figure out the perpetrator. It's always just a little silly when random citizens figure things out that the professionals missed, but in this book, the bigger issue for me is why the main character cared enough to investigate at all. It was pretty flimsy. There was a bit of "just doing my duty to the deceased" going around, but she had no duty, so it didn't make much sense. Lines like this drove me nuts: "I was willing to bet I could tell if I was chatting with [BLANK]'s killer." It was hard for me to ignore why anyone would go to such great lengths to solve a murder of someone they barely know, but also that so many people willingly opened their mouths and told the truth to someone who had no business asking the questions they were asking. People heard the questions then opened their doors and let our main character into their homes for comfy chats like they were all old friends instead of literal strangers. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't care how unthreatening they look, without a badge or a hell of a good story, I'm not letting any strangers into my living room where they could stab me and no one could hear me scream.

But through my few eye rolls, I couldn't stop reading and really wanted to see how the book was going to end. No spoilers but I was less interested in the murder mystery than I was in the opera mystery. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen with that opera, but I can't give any specifics without ruining things. It was the mystery of the opera that kept me reading late into the night.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel delivers an intriguing setup in the competitive world of New York City Opera, offering plenty of drama and suspense. Kit’s journey as she navigates her big break and the arrival of her dangerously ambitious understudy, Yolanda, creates a compelling tension that carries much of the narrative. The backstage politics and the cutthroat dynamics of the opera world are vividly portrayed, making the setting one of the book’s strongest elements.

Yolanda’s character is fascinating, if somewhat exaggerated. Her manipulative nature and reckless ambition keep the plot moving, though some of her schemes strain credibility. On the other hand, Kit serves as a more grounded foil, though her responses to Yolanda’s actions can sometimes feel frustratingly passive. Their rivalry is engaging but lacks the emotional depth that could have made it truly memorable.

The murder subplot adds a layer of mystery and raises the stakes, though its resolution feels rushed and less impactful than it could have been. Exploring Yolanda’s past provides interesting twists, but some revelations are predictable or underdeveloped, leaving the story’s climax less satisfying than expected.

Despite these shortcomings, this is an enjoyable read. While it doesn’t quite deliver on all its promises, the glamorous and high-stakes opera setting, combined with the central rivalry, makes for a decent page-turner.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.