An Immaculate Deception
Pernambuco, Brazil 1877. Madalena falls pregnant with a child conceived in sin and her mother issues a threat: marry or surrender the baby. Confident that the father will propose, Madalena sets off to his sprawling estate but discovers he is no longer the charming poet she knew. Trapped in a decaying house of secrets, she must uncover the truth before the men around her destroy her, and before the hell she fears becomes the one she’s living in…
Out Now
A September 2026 LibraryReads Pick
Named Most Anticipated by BooRiot, Novel Suspects, Orange County Register, and Hays Free Press
Named a Top Buzz Pick by Penguin Random House Book Club Newsletter
“A wild ride. Vivid and exhilarating, with a breathtaking twist, An Immaculate Deception is a stunning debut.”— Shen Tao, author of The Poet Empress
“An absolute triumph of a debut novel, An Immaculate Deception weaves together the finest elements of classic Gothic horror with pulse-pounding suspense, scrumptious prose, and the feverish atmosphere of 1870s Brazil. Alluring, eerie, and impossible to put down, this book consumed me completely. And the twist left me reeling!”—Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro, author of Bochica
“With delicious prose, simmering atmosphere, and an expertly crafted twist that will shake you to your core, An Immaculate Deception reveals Isabela Livino as an emerging force to be reckoned with in the Gothic Horror genre. This captivating tale of warped love, religious fear, and deadly secrets hooks its claws into you from the first page, dragging you along through Madalena’s plight towards a dark and dizzying end that will leave readers gasping for breath. Completely unforgettable, this is a book that will stay with you long after you’ve put it down, certain to haunt your dreams and creep into your waking thoughts.”—Dorian Ravenscroft, author of the forthcoming The White North Has Thy Bones
“Livino creates a strong sense of time and place with meticulously researched detail on everyday life supplementing the weirdness. It is a powerful story, well-told, with all the uncanny atmosphere of a Gothic tale but providing a new exploration of female independence in a society dominated by powerful men and religion. Perhaps not so very different to those original Gothic novels. Highly recommended.”—Historical Novel Society
“An incredible and immersive read!”—The Gloss
“I was lucky enough to read an early version of this manuscript two years ago and I still think about it.”—Danai Christopoulou, author and literary agent
About the Author
Isabela Livino writes fiction with a dark, speculative twist. She studied philosophy at the University of Rochester before receiving a Master’s from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. When she is not writing, you can find her riding horses, designing apps, gardening, or watching horror films while cuddling with her furbabies. A native of Pernambuco, Brazil, she currently lives in Connecticut with her husband, their two Caribbean-born adopted coconut retrievers, and the river ducks.
Her debut gothic horror novel AN IMMACULATE DECEPTION is out now from Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in the US, and from Gollancz in the UK.
Translations will be published in France (Editions LeDuc), Poland (Foksal), and Romania (Bookszone).
Isabela is represented by Caitlin Mahony at William Morris Endeavor.
Contact Me.
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For rights inquiries, contact my literary agent, Caitlin Mahony at William Morris Endeavor.
CMahony [at] wmeagency [dot] com
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For all inquiries other than rights inquiries, you can reach me at hello@isabelalivino.com or via Instagram at @isabelalivino.