What do you think?
Rate this book
Morals in the Margin
A party at an abandoned mall. A night that changes everything.
For Nolan Foster, stepping out of his quiet, predictable life is no easy task. But when a chance invitation lures him, he’s drawn into a world of neon lights, secrets, and danger. Among the laughter and games, something sinister brews. And when the first scream cuts through the night, there's no turning back.
But Nolan isn’t the only one with a story to tell.
Told through both Nolan and Maya’s perspectives, Morals in the Margin unravels a late-80s murder mystery where alliances shift, trust shatters, and nothing is quite what it seems. As the chaos of the party unfolds, moral lines blur, and the familiar becomes unrecognisable.
For Nolan Foster, stepping out of his quiet, predictable life is no easy task. But when a chance invitation lures him, he’s drawn into a world of neon lights, secrets, and danger. Among the laughter and games, something sinister brews. And when the first scream cuts through the night, there's no turning back.
But Nolan isn’t the only one with a story to tell.
Told through both Nolan and Maya’s perspectives, Morals in the Margin unravels a late-80s murder mystery where alliances shift, trust shatters, and nothing is quite what it seems. As the chaos of the party unfolds, moral lines blur, and the familiar becomes unrecognisable.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2025
5 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 2, 2025
Morals in the Margin- Cody Sharpe
Cody Sharpe has written a great story! This book is not a deep, elaborate novel. It is a fast-moving thrill ride with some relatable characters and it is steeped in styled writing. I read this book very quickly and it is not necessarily because I am a fast reader, but Cody has created an intense page turner.
The story revolves around Nolan and several other main characters. Each chapter is written from the point of view of a particular character. This method helps personalize the character and create suspense as the story unfolds. The reader also gets to experience the chilling events from different perspectives.
The detailed word choice of the author gives the story a special dimension. Here, early on in the story, the main characters are on a subway:
“The subway waited, its metallic body gleaming under harsh lights. The doors hissed open, and we stepped inside, the air thick with the smell of old metal and diesel.”
If you have ever ridden an older subway, the smell is suddenly present in your mind as you read this paragraph. You can also “hear” the doors and “see” the harsh lights. Sharpe employs this same style throughout his book and it often feels as if you are WATCHING a movie because the details are so vivid.
This book was really good. I found it a bit unsettling in parts, but I would certainly recommend “Morals in the Margin!” There is a good deal of death and violence as this story unfolds so the genre of Horror/Thriller and Murder Mystery certainly fits. I will be looking forward to reading the next Cody Sharpe book!
I received an advanced review copy of “Morals in the Margin” for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily!
Cody Sharpe has written a great story! This book is not a deep, elaborate novel. It is a fast-moving thrill ride with some relatable characters and it is steeped in styled writing. I read this book very quickly and it is not necessarily because I am a fast reader, but Cody has created an intense page turner.
The story revolves around Nolan and several other main characters. Each chapter is written from the point of view of a particular character. This method helps personalize the character and create suspense as the story unfolds. The reader also gets to experience the chilling events from different perspectives.
The detailed word choice of the author gives the story a special dimension. Here, early on in the story, the main characters are on a subway:
“The subway waited, its metallic body gleaming under harsh lights. The doors hissed open, and we stepped inside, the air thick with the smell of old metal and diesel.”
If you have ever ridden an older subway, the smell is suddenly present in your mind as you read this paragraph. You can also “hear” the doors and “see” the harsh lights. Sharpe employs this same style throughout his book and it often feels as if you are WATCHING a movie because the details are so vivid.
This book was really good. I found it a bit unsettling in parts, but I would certainly recommend “Morals in the Margin!” There is a good deal of death and violence as this story unfolds so the genre of Horror/Thriller and Murder Mystery certainly fits. I will be looking forward to reading the next Cody Sharpe book!
I received an advanced review copy of “Morals in the Margin” for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily!
May 30, 2025
Okay so first, I went into this blindly, didn’t even read the blurb. I found out about this on the authors tiktok and somehow got invested. I’m so glad I was though. I’ve been struggling recently to get into a book and not take a break every few pages. I couldn’t put this book down, I read it in 4 hours. The plot twists I didn’t see coming and was so in-need to find out what would happen next.
Massive well done to the author, this deserves a special edition Waterstones hardback (with sprayed edges of course).
Massive well done to the author, this deserves a special edition Waterstones hardback (with sprayed edges of course).
June 27, 2025
What a ride! This book pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let up. The slasher vibes were everything I wanted; bloody, tense, and addictive. Sharpe’s writing is so immersive, it felt like I was in the story, watching everything unfold with my heart racing.
If you’re a fan of thrillers with a gritty, cinematic edge and characters you can root for (or scream at), this one’s for you. It’s fast-paced, chilling, and filled with the kind of suspense that makes you forget to breathe. Highly recommend for horror and slasher lovers looking for a book that reads like a movie.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you’re a fan of thrillers with a gritty, cinematic edge and characters you can root for (or scream at), this one’s for you. It’s fast-paced, chilling, and filled with the kind of suspense that makes you forget to breathe. Highly recommend for horror and slasher lovers looking for a book that reads like a movie.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 5, 2025
INCREDIBLE!!!
I wish we could choose more emojis in the beginning of the review cus I’m in a rollercoaster of emotions right now and yes, you must read this this was so worth it! 5⭐️!!!
I feel emotional, thrilled for the next book of this author, shocked and more and more.
Also keep in mind that this is a debut novel and I gave it 5⭐️!!! That’s just incredible.
Buy the book because I was hooked!
I wish we could choose more emojis in the beginning of the review cus I’m in a rollercoaster of emotions right now and yes, you must read this this was so worth it! 5⭐️!!!
I feel emotional, thrilled for the next book of this author, shocked and more and more.
Also keep in mind that this is a debut novel and I gave it 5⭐️!!! That’s just incredible.
Buy the book because I was hooked!
June 12, 2025
Morals in the margin by Cody Sharpe is a murder mystery nostalgic 80s read. Pulled me in from the first chapter. Dual povs extremely interesting characters and graphic details written you can imagine it perfectly. Highly recommend if you want a fast paced mystery set in the 80s this is the book for you. I received this book from book sirens for free and leaving my review voluntarily.
June 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. The author's vivid descriptions of the environment made it easy to picture every scene, and it really brought the world to life. The twist halfway through was unexpected and kept me hooked. Overall, a very engaging read!
Read
April 24, 2025Told through the alternating perspectives of Nolan and Maya, the novel balances introspection with tension.
May 27, 2025
read this in four hours, absolutely incredible!!
June 21, 2025
this was so unique (in a good way!) if it weren’t for the dedication saying this was inspired by a nightmare, i genuinely would have been so confused how the author came up with this. also sebastian 💔 crying
June 14, 2025
This book was NOT what I was expecting. This is no ordinary murder mystery. I would categorize it more as a slasher novel, and that's not my genre. But I did finish it. Whether it was because I wanted to see how it ended or stubbornness on my part, I don't know. I do know that Mr. Sharpe's writing style is not my cup of tea. He comes up with a word or phrase and then seems to fixate on it. For example, "the air became heavy". If the air was heavy every time Mr. Sharpe used that phrase, it would have plastered the characters to the ground. Also, there is no backstory of any kind to the characters. We know that Nolan appears to suffer from anxiety, but there's no explanation for why: is it congenital, trauma-induced, or what? There's no explanation of the relationship between the characters. We know that Matthew, Amanda, Sebastian, and Nolan are friends, but that's it. And when it comes to the perpetrator, there's no explanation of a motive or anything. I felt like I had walked into the middle of a movie and had no clue why anything was happening. It was rather disappointing. I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.
September 8, 2025
I’ve rated this book using the CAWPILE method. The book averages as a 4 Star read.
CHARACTERS: 8/10
These characters at a surface level are written pretty well. They each have their own voice and problems/backstories. The trouble is, we aren’t given much backstory. Sure, we can tell that Nolan has pretty bad anxiety, but it’s never mentioned why even though it’s hinted. Also, there tends to be a bit of depersonalization occurring with one of the characters towards the ending. The best written character in my opinion, is Sebastian.
ATMOSPHERE/SETTING: 10/10
Love the setting and the atmosphere. Very nostalgic and very unique. Great ‘soundtrack’ too. Very good at setting the stage, so to speak.
WRITING STYLE: 6/10
The writing style is alright, I feel like it could’ve had more edits as there were parts of the story that felt very disjointed and some very clear inconsistencies. That being said, the best written parts were the action oriented parts.
PLOT: 9/10
Love the plot and the whole idea. There were a few points in the plot that fell flat to me personally, and I would’ve liked a little more set up with the characters past/personal lives leading up to the party.
INTRIGUE: 9/10
I was pretty intrigued, I was pretty sure at the beginning who I thought was going to be the killer, but I realized fairly quickly that I was wrong. Then I DID figure it out fairly quickly from there, but I still had intrigue.
LOGIC/REASONING: 8/10
This was pretty solid most of the time besides some of the plot inconsistencies.
ENJOYMENT: 6.5/10
Overall I enjoyed this book. Nice little quick read, nostalgic and fun in the slasher type way. There were just a couple problems that prevented me from being in love and those were listed above.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
CHARACTERS: 8/10
These characters at a surface level are written pretty well. They each have their own voice and problems/backstories. The trouble is, we aren’t given much backstory. Sure, we can tell that Nolan has pretty bad anxiety, but it’s never mentioned why even though it’s hinted. Also, there tends to be a bit of depersonalization occurring with one of the characters towards the ending. The best written character in my opinion, is Sebastian.
ATMOSPHERE/SETTING: 10/10
Love the setting and the atmosphere. Very nostalgic and very unique. Great ‘soundtrack’ too. Very good at setting the stage, so to speak.
WRITING STYLE: 6/10
The writing style is alright, I feel like it could’ve had more edits as there were parts of the story that felt very disjointed and some very clear inconsistencies. That being said, the best written parts were the action oriented parts.
PLOT: 9/10
Love the plot and the whole idea. There were a few points in the plot that fell flat to me personally, and I would’ve liked a little more set up with the characters past/personal lives leading up to the party.
INTRIGUE: 9/10
I was pretty intrigued, I was pretty sure at the beginning who I thought was going to be the killer, but I realized fairly quickly that I was wrong. Then I DID figure it out fairly quickly from there, but I still had intrigue.
LOGIC/REASONING: 8/10
This was pretty solid most of the time besides some of the plot inconsistencies.
ENJOYMENT: 6.5/10
Overall I enjoyed this book. Nice little quick read, nostalgic and fun in the slasher type way. There were just a couple problems that prevented me from being in love and those were listed above.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 28, 2025
Morals in the Margin completely pulled me in from the first page. Cody Sharpe captures the late '80s atmosphere so vividly that I could practically hear the buzz of neon lights and feel the tension in the air.
The story follows Nolan Foster, a character whose quiet life makes his plunge into the chaos of the abandoned mall party even more gripping. I loved how the dual perspectives between Nolan and Maya deepened the mystery and kept me second-guessing everyone's motives. Sharpe masterfully balances nostalgia, suspense, and a creeping sense of danger that builds with every chapter.
As the night spirals out of control, the book asks hard questions about loyalty, trust, and the fine line between right and wrong. The twists were smart and believable, and the emotional payoff by the end really hit home.
If you love atmospheric mysteries, complex characters, and a story that doesn’t let you breathe until the last page, Morals in the Margin is a must-read.
The story follows Nolan Foster, a character whose quiet life makes his plunge into the chaos of the abandoned mall party even more gripping. I loved how the dual perspectives between Nolan and Maya deepened the mystery and kept me second-guessing everyone's motives. Sharpe masterfully balances nostalgia, suspense, and a creeping sense of danger that builds with every chapter.
As the night spirals out of control, the book asks hard questions about loyalty, trust, and the fine line between right and wrong. The twists were smart and believable, and the emotional payoff by the end really hit home.
If you love atmospheric mysteries, complex characters, and a story that doesn’t let you breathe until the last page, Morals in the Margin is a must-read.
July 2, 2025
The book moved at a fast pace. The plot was really good. If you are a fan of 80’s slashers, you will enjoy this book. However, there were a few sections the book could use more polishing. There were a couple of spots that the same paragraph repeated. Overall, an enjoyable read. I received an advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 22, 2025
Loved the psychological theme and if you enjoy books that are both emotionally impactful and thrillingly unpredictable, I highly recommend this one. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews