The Death and Birth of Iliana Marek
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Pub Date 13 Oct 2026 | Archive Date 13 Oct 2026
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Description
A young man with a terrible past finds his unlikely protector: the oddly-altered enforcer of a backwater Florida town. Edgar Award-winner David Liss (The Peculiarities)'s latest novel reads like Hiaasen meets Crichton—a razor-sharp allegory pulled straight from today’s headlines.
“At once pulse-pounding and full of heart, The Death and Birth of Iliana Marek is a shape-shifting thriller that locks into your nerve-center and doesn’t let go.”
—Rhodi Hawk, author of This Town Won’t Tell
Who is Iliana Marek? Is she the bully who alongside her foster father police chief Bryce Hillard, controls and terrorizes Tylor, Florida? Or is she the reborn guardian angel of Dan Gibson, a social pariah responsible for the suicide of Faye Kristic, a death which he cannot remember ten years later.
Dan’s once-promising future is in tatters. He lives in an apartment on his estranged parents’ property, works at a convenience store with a terrible boss, and is addicted to prescription drugs. But ten years after Faye’s death, Iliana suddenly takes Dan’s side, and a lot of bad people start dying fast.
As Dan becomes entangled in the ensuing chaos, he needs to finally discover what part he played in the death of Faye Kristic, and why the changes to Iliana make her no longer entirely human.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
“In his new novel, David Liss not only plays enchantingly with the best of the crime-noir conventions, but he delves smartly into the enduring theme of serious literature—the universal quest for self, for identity. And he does so with the utmost immediacy, by raising our century’s mysteries of sentience, as humans and technology embrace. The Death and Birth of Iliana Marek is both narratively compelling and richly thought-provoking.”
—Robert Olen Butler, author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
“This novel’s potboiler pace and mise en scène have all the earmarks of a Fitzhugh-or Hiaasen-like dive into corruption and old, stanky secrets in the dark belly of semirural Florida. I love it.”
—Green Man Review
“A novel that is simultaneously suspenseful, thought-provoking, darkly humorous, and genuinely affecting.”
—Hank Schwaeble, author of Normal for the Spider
“A bold, genre-shifting novel that challenges expectations while delivering a gripping, character-driven ride.”
—Read at Joe’s
“David Liss is one of the best storytellers alive.”
—Rhodi Hawk, author of This Town Won’t Tell
Praise for David Liss
On The Peculiarities
“David Liss masterfully blends rich historical fiction with terrifying supernatural body horror. He stands with Robert Louis Stevenson and Bram Stoker.”
—Jonathan Maberry, author of V-Wars and Ink
“A fun, horrific, engaging mystery, both for the story and for watching an accomplished writer stepping out into new territory.”
—Jeffrey Ford, author of A Natural History of Hell
“It made me think, and go on thinking as one idea sprang to another, and on, and on. That is the greatest gift a writer can give.”
—Anne Perry, author of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series
“David Liss turns a new corner, and at the end of it is a splendid, unique and surprising tale.”
—Joe R. Lansdale, author of Hap and Leonard
“Wry, witty, twisty and tricky, The Peculiarities will slowly draw you into Liss’s strange world of magic and monsters.”
—Shana Abé, author of The Second Mrs. Astor
“David Liss leans into early 20th century occult thinking with the same mystical fervor as Crowley, Mathers, and Yeats—the holy trinity of the era.”
—Mark Teppo, author of the Codex of Souls series
Marketing Plan
- Select outreach to leading science fiction and crime print and online reviewers and editors
- In-person events to include regional East Coast and national U.S. venues
- Print and digital ARC distribution; giveaways on Goodreads and Storygraph
- Social media promotion including cover reveal, launch event, ongoing Instagram and BlueSky coverage
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781616964696 |
| PRICE | $18.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 304 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 7 members
Featured Reviews
Shelby H, Reviewer
masterfully written, atmospheric journey that kept me hooked from the very first page. Liss has a gift for blending historical depth with a compelling narrative that feels both fresh and timeless. Five stars—absolutely unforgettable!
Reviewer 1079398
Very enjoyable. Great writing, great plot, great characters. Everything a reader could wish for! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Reviewer 387254
One of the best novels I’ve read in awhile. I went into the book “blind”, knowing nothing about the premise or the author and it exceeded all expectations.
Dan was involved in a tragic incident seven years ago and with the rebirth of Iliana Marek he reclaims his life. Scifi/mystery - honestly can’t recommend this enough
Pam E, Reviewer
To be honest I am not a fan of Sci-Fi genre literature. However, having said that, I will admit to an occasional novel that piqued my interest, usually due to the characters or an especially good plotline. Combining Sci-Fi with Mystery infrequently works since one genre is about what might be and one is about what is.
The Death and Birth of Iliana Marek is one of those novels that not only works but proves to be shockingly speculative while also firmly planted in reality. David Liss has been a favorite author of mine for years (Benjamin Weaver Series, The Coffee Trader, The Whiskey Rebels), and I worried about his move from Historical mysteries to a genre-blending thriller. But… The Death and Birth of Iliana Marek is gripping and clever.
In this novel we find Dan, a small-town outcast who has been judged a villain for a high school mistake and has been bullied into self-doubt and shame for almost 10 years. Into his life comes locally-distained Iliana Marek, who has been cruel to him for years, but wait, now she saves his life and she is his protector? Is this the same Iliana Marek? Or is she now an amnesiac AI assassin? Wait, what? And who is trying to kill poor Dan?
The mystery here is quite engaging and keeps the reader guessing like a good mystery should. And yet part of the plot involves a character with super-human speed and strength. The characters shine in this story; the plot is fast, even involving a treasure hunt! All set in small-town Florida with its crooked cops, corruption and confused townsfolk who are witnessing this NEW Iliana Marek.
So much satire here – a nod to Carl Hiaasen and the Terminator at the same time! David Liss does not shy away from discomfort in his readers. And yet the friendship between Dan and Iliana is one of the truly touching aspects of the novel. I am amazed to say that I would like to read another Iliana Marek novel by David Liss. Unless he would prefer to write another historical mystery! Either way, David Liss makes my reading list.
My rating: 5 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
The Death and Birth of Iliana Marek will be published on October 13, 2026.
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