Have you ever been in a writing workshop or class where one common critique is "but why would the character do this?" Or in a rehearsal when an actor goes to a director and asks "What's my motivation here?" Well, if you're looking for a few creative answers to those questions, you'll find them in this novel. The central character makes so many insane choices throughout, and yet ALL of them have a very clear explanation from deep in her past or present trauma. That being said, this book was fun!! I like opera well enough, have been to see many in NYC, and love backstage intrigue. It's a little long, pretty insane, but you know what? I dug it.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and NetGalley for the early reader copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly, I am the odd man out that didn’t enjoy this. I found the story to be long and unrealistic.

The main character was getting herself into way too many situations she just didn’t need to be involved in. I couldn’t understand why she kept involving herself when she really didn’t need to. She trusted way too easily, when there were so many signs to turn back.

I also found that the characters were not likable. There was nobody I really liked, besides the side characters who had 1-5 page appearances.

I think it had more potential with the understudy sabotaging the main character. I wish we would have had more of that, because I do think the author did that best.

This one just wasn’t for me. I think new readers to the thriller genre might enjoy this.

This book combines a psychological thriller with a "Nancy Drew" style mystery which kept me glued to the page. The first 45% of the book was a solid psychological thriller. Kit is an opera singer who has finally earned a role in the spotlight. The problem is, her understudy really wants the role and will do ANYTHING to get it. I loved how she had to keep questioning everything her understudy did. I was always wondering when the understudy would try to kill Kit next. Yes, this is a format that has been done before, but it felt unique when set in the world of opera. I know nothing about opera, but this gave insight into the training and experience required to become an opera singer. Then, at almost the midpoint of the book, it completely changed style and became a mystery. At that point, we follow an amateur detective to try to figure out who killed the victim. I felt the first 45% was much stronger than the second half, but thrillers are my favorite genre. Readers who love mysteries will be sucked into the mysterious and seedy background of the victim. It's a little unbelievable that the "amateur detective" would be so involved in solving this case, since there didn't seem to be a good motivation for the person to be involved, but if you don't question that too much, it is a fun mystery.

It’s loathing at first sight when trained opera singer Kit (stage name Katerina) Margolis meets her understudy, the sexually alluring Yolanda Archambeau, on the first day of rehearsals for Barbarella, a new opera based on the 1968 film. Kit, struggling to prove she is right for the titular role, her first leading part, is taken aback when her director introduces Yolanda to the cast, something not done until later in the rehearsal process. “I felt a flash of irritation, uncharitable yet valid. She didn’t need to be there. She shouldn’t be there.” Kit’s unease rises when Yolanda yawns during Kit’s big aria and later confesses her operatic ambitions, despite her lack of training. Regarding underhanded scheming, Eve Harrington (of the film All About Eve) has nothing on the ruthless Yolanda, whose weapons against Kit include poisoned tea and dead rats. But before her plotting can escalate to a deadlier level, Yolanda is fatally stabbed in her apartment. Kit, who briefly falls under suspicion because of a violent incident in her past, turns sleuth to uncover her late rival’s dark secrets and identify her killer. Offering an entertaining look at the backstage world of New York City opera, Richter’s second novel (after The Divide) skillfully mixes the tropes of a psychological thriller with the conventions of an amateur sleuth mystery. Especially compelling is Kit’s growing self-confidence as a singer and a woman as she pursues the truth.

Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to review this book. I will now share my honest opinion.

The story about a young opera singer challenging herself on the brink of a new role captivated me from the very beginning. Kit, our FMC, resonated with me on a deep level because I’m no stranger to being told you're good but that “something is missing.” We meet her during rehearsals for a new opera, Barbarella, at the up-and-coming opera house in New York City. In addition to all the nerves Kit has to deal with to deliver a stellar performance, she is also in for a crazy ride when her understudy, Yolanda, tries to poison her and later push her in front of a subway car.

In the first half of the book, things escalated quickly, and the story progressed, building up to a satisfying release. However, somewhere in the midst of all the drama, the plot switched and became something entirely different. The whole story started to feel disjointed, rushed, and confusing. A whole bunch of new characters were introduced, seemingly only to move Kit’s quest along.

The climax of the story felt underwhelming and wasn’t at all what I was expecting. If there was a plot twist in this book, I missed it for sure. Everything seemed out of place by the end.

Overall, it was a fun read, but it lost its plot toward the end.

I love a good opening sentence and The Understudy delivers: “The first time my understudy tried to kill me was on the day we met.” Bam! Clear, concise and right to the heart of the plot. In the novel by Morgan Richter, Kit is being plagued by troubles, likely as a result of her problematic understudy Yolanda.

This was a really engaging thriller. It all took place in the world of opera. I love books featuring entertainment, and though I actually know next to nothing about this particular art form, this book was no exception. Four stars for a well executed plot.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

3.5 ⭐️ for The Understudy. This book was a bit mediocre for me. Without giving any spoilers, I had a hard time believing the main character’s intentions. I kept hoping the plot would get more intense/mysterious but it remained bland throughout. The second half was more enjoyable than the first and I know nothing about the opera world so I can’t speak to whether that aspect was realistic or not. Overall, an okay read but not my favorite.

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 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’.