The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes

3.5 stars, rounded up. I liked this book more than its predecessor, [b:The Queer Principles of Kit Webb 55338994 The Queer Principles of Kit Webb (The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, #1) Cat Sebastian https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610061768l/55338994.SX50.jpg 81165910], but because I read about Kit and Percy almost a year ago, I had forgotten many of the details and was more than a little confused about the backstory. But epistolary books (or books with epistolary features) are my catnip, and I loved the letters between Rob and Marian that demonstrate the attraction clearly growing between them, even though their correspondence is based on his attempt to blackmail her. After the climactic events of Kit Webb, Marian is on the run and Rob is with her (how much of their partnership is voluntary on Rob's part is subject to debate). Rob is an admitted criminal and also a cinnamon roll, and he admits quickly that he has fallen for Marian, who is a tougher nut to crack. She's prickly, unsentimental, and seemingly fearless. Given the differences in their backgrounds and the specifics of the current situation, there doesn't seem to be a future for them. But with the help of their friends and Rob's singular mother, their HEA is finally won.Sebastian is best at throwing characters together and watching them spark, with a loose plot that is mostly window dressing. I give her credit for truly making Marian “different from those other girls” in that she is unable to have P-in-V intercourse due to health risks, and she is a new mother who isn't maternal in the traditional sense. I liked the bantering between Marian and Rob, and his steadfast loyalty and support is endearing. There's a strong “eat the rich” and “fuck the patriarchy” tone to the book, and if you're not comfortable with characters who intend to merrily continue their version of redistribution of wealth, you're in the wrong place. The book does run a little to long, and I felt a little lost through large chunks of it, which slightly diminished my enjoyment. My suggestion is to read Kit Webb and this book back-to-back, so you catch enough glimpses of Rob and Marian in the first book to feel fully engaged with them in the second. ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.