After loving The Woman in the Library, I knew I would be reading all of Sulari Gentill's books going forward and was excited to dive into The Mystery Writer. I'm not sure why but for some reason, the conspiracy forums threw me off more than I would have liked, and I didn't love that facet of the storyline. There was also a lot going on with very little action until the end, and it left me very muddled about my feelings. The whole 'relationship' between Theodosia (Theo) and Dan felt very lacking as well, and I didn't really understand how she could fall in love with someone so quickly, even if he was her favorite author. Just a lot of things that didn't add up for me.

I did however really enjoy the audiobook and I thought Katherine Littrell did a fantastic job. She's definitely what kept me going, and if I had read this it may have been a DNF. I am making it sound like I enjoyed this book a lot less than I actually did, but I promise I didn't think it was all bad. It was interesting enough that I did want to find out how it would end, and I thought the plot was quite intricate and sharp. The elements used in the plot were what did me in eventually, and it was slow in random parts as well. I do not want this review to stop anyone from reading the book though, and if you are a fan of conspiracy theories and sketchy characters, I would definitely give it a shot.

I started this book on March 9, read for a day or two and then moved onto other books in my TBR. It's now May and I need to admit that I don't want to come back to this book.

The storytelling was very long winded and not much happens in the first quarter of the book. There was so much tell not show. I didn't enjoy all the subplot of the online forum with the conspiracy theories. I didn't make me curious about how that ties in with Theo, the murder, and Kansas. When I find myself rooting for the early exit of the main character in the book, it's time to quit the book. I felt the same way when reading Twilight.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required to disclose this by law.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

THE MYSTERY WRITER was an interesting read, and a departure from the typical The premise was compelling and enjoyed the characters, but the plot was a little long-winded, and ultimately challenging to follow.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review THE MYSTERY WRITER.

Theodosia Benton leaves law school in Australia to move to the United States to live with her brother Gus. Gus has lived in the US for many years and is a successful lawyer. Only Theo has decided that she doesn’t want to go into law; she wants to be an author. Once settled in, she begins working on her novel, heading off each morning to work in a quiet tavern with several other writers. There, she meets Dan Murdoch, a highly regarded author of several best sellers. They become friends, and he goes out of his way to help her.

Murdoch’s latest book is about conspiracy theories. He won’t tell Theo the details, just the basic idea. When Theo finishes her book, he steps in to direct the manuscript to his literary agency. The agency is where I had to suspend belief, as I found it to be a holistic agency that controls everything in your life, very much a Mafia/strong-armed organization. I did have a real problem with that, and I felt that it gave much away.

I found the book highly entertaining. It’s mostly believable, but at times it does seem to go overboard. It focuses on those conspiracy theories I mentioned, on preppers, assumed identities, murders, and fugitive writers. There are also murders and child molestation worked into the story.

While I did enjoy this book, I found the convoluted ending to be predictable and strange; although, given the state of the world, they may be more realistic than I’d like to admit.

The Mystery Writer is an interesting and involving mystery that I recommend if you can suspend disbelief and take it all in with a grain of salt. I enjoyed the characters, especially Mac and his mother.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

"The Mystery Writer" by Sulari Gentill is a captivating tale that keeps readers hooked from start to finish with its intriguing plot and suspenseful twists. Set against the backdrop of the writing world, Gentill crafts a narrative that keeps readers guessing as they eagerly turn the pages to uncover the truth.

One of the strengths of the book is its ability to keep readers engaged and wanting more. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns that make it difficult to put down. With each new revelation, Gentill expertly ratchets up the tension, leaving readers desperate to see what happens next.

However, while the plot may be gripping, some readers may struggle to connect with the main character, Theo. Her naivety and seemingly unrealistic outlook on life may make her difficult to relate to for some readers. Despite her flaws, Theo's determination and tenacity shine through, making her a character worth rooting for, even if she does occasionally frustrate.

The ending of the book may also leave some readers feeling unsatisfied. As the story reaches its climax, a lot happens at once, and some may find the resolution to be a bit far-fetched. While the ending may not tie up all loose ends neatly, it does provide a satisfying conclusion to the story.

Overall, "The Mystery Writer" is an entertaining read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. While it may have its flaws, the intriguing plot and engaging storytelling make it a book worth picking up for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

As a fan of mystery novels, I found "The Mystery Writer" to be a refreshing and inventive take on the genre. The protagonist, a mystery writer herself, finds her own life suddenly entangled in a web of intrigue and deception. Gentill skillfully navigates the blurred lines between fiction and reality, creating a narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of a compelling and immersive story. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much!

In short: complete and utter disappointment.
I was and remain the biggest fan of Rowly Sinclair adventures (previous series by Sulari Gentill). I was completely immersed in Crossing the Lines. But not this one.
The Mysery Writer failed to engage, failed to provide a hero to if not fall in love with (Rowly) but to like or identify with at least. It felt like this book was written to satisfy some agenda and tick list. But it failed to that as well.
I have the utmost respect for the character, talent and intelligence of Sulari. This book, however, dissapointed me big time. It felt like Sulari lost her drive, her voice, her mystery witer mojo and her respect for the characters she is creating.

I think I will think before engaging with this author again.

The synopsis gives away too much and left the first twist in the novel flat. The writing was great, but I didn't vibe with a few of the characters, and the time jumps were a bit much.

I’m am obsessed with anything this author writes. The characters and settings pull you in like a roller coaster ride and when it is over you immediately want to ride it again.

The premise of The Mystery Writer is conspiracy theories that play out during Theo Benton's decision to leave Law School and focus on writing her first book. Theo meets an established author, and they begin a relationship until she discovers his body. The beginning of the book was engaging. The problem for me was the lack of character development and a plot I found convoluted to the point that it was hard for me to stay focused. The conspiracy theory was past my point of believability. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC of The Mystery Writer in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately this one just didn’t do it for me. I’d pick it up, then put it down for a few days, pick it up and read a chapter or two, and put it down. I could not get into it and ended up skimming most of the remaining 70%. I’m sad because I enjoyed this author’s previous book!

I did not expect The Mystery Writer to go the directions it went! Usually thrillers have some familiarity and predictability, but this one was chock-full of suspense and tension, which kept me guessing throughout.

As a bibliophile, it is fun to read a book about an author ... writing a book ... entangled in a mystery ... that is several layers deep. This is a fun read, although it is beyond the scope of believability. It was also a little hard to follow with the giant jumps in the timeline. It was terrific and well developed until 'the confession'. I think it would have been easier to follow if it were broken into parts. Overall, it was entertaining and humorous with enough layers to keep your mind involved.

A really enjoyed the mystery but I had a hard time connecting with the characters!! Definitely try this if you’re interested!!

Theodosia is flat as the main character and I've seen it suggested that was so the reader would cast themself as Theo, but it just made her seem like a blank canvas for a lot of the book. Her main characteristic is being incredibly naive. I felt for Gus, Theo's brother, trying to be big brother and protector while giving Theo space to be herself and then when everything goes to crap he is trying to save his little sister. Gus was well developed and I could relate to him. Cormack (Mac) Etheridge is a good friend of Gus and a private investigator that gets involved. Mac comes from a wacky, conspiracy theorist, survivalist family that play into the storyline as well.

Very clever concept for the story and ultimate villain. Kudos there. The pacing is well done and once the murder occurs the tension is pretty constant with plenty of action to keep the story moving at a good speed. Kept me turning the pages. I like the writing style in general but at one point I was a bit confused with jumps between Theo's point-of-view and Gus' without any break or notice.

I thought interspercing the conspiracy theory message board discussions throughout really showed how such wild conjecture played into and was manipulated in the scheme of things. In this current atmosphere that was a spot-on element.

The climax occured fairly quickly in terms of number of pages, but I think it worked well. I will say that I figured who the villain was shortly after the murder but even with that I thought the suspense was built plausibly. In this case the wrap-up supplied explanations for all the myriad things that occured, giving the full picture of events.

I have to say that author Sulari Gentill has a knack for developing pretty unique storylines, but this one had some fantastical elements that some might find a little over-the-top, but I enjoyed it tremendously.

Overall a wonderfully entertaining mystery that I recommend.

Rating: Excellent - A fun read and enjoyable story throughout

This is the second story I've read by Sulari Gentill, and as much as it's very different from the first one I read, I found it equally engaging and intelligently written.

Normally, I'm not into stories about conspiracy theories, but living and working in the publishing world myself, I always gravitate toward stories about books and authors. And this one did not disappoint, even though some of the characters were a bit one-dimensional at times.

As Theodosia Benton begins working on her first novel, she is befriended by well-known writer Dan Murdoch, who takes her under his wing. But when her novel is finally finished, he refuses to introduce her to his agent, which leaves her hurt and perplexed. Before that can be resolved, though, he is inexplicably murdered and Theo becomes the primary suspect.

The more she tries to unravel the mystery of what's going on, the more of a Gordian knot she unveils and the more trouble she involves her brother and his friend in. As the body count increases, it becomes a race to figure out who the murder is before one of them is arrested or killed.

I really enjoyed how the story came together in the end!

Thank you to Sulari Gentill, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for an advance review copy. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I have not read any previous books by this author but have heard a lot of good things about them. After reading the brief description of the book, I was excited to be able to read it. However, it did not live up to my expectations. Character-wise I could not connect to any of the characters. They all seemed very one-dimensional and had no personality. I spent most of the book either bored by the slow pace of the book or confused by the convoluted plot. I was even more lost when suddenly, with no explanation, there was a large time jump. It almost seemed like the author realized that they were running out of time to end the book and needed to wrap up the storyline. The ending felt very rushed. I did not enjoy this book and I am not sure if I would pick up another book by this author.

I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!

A great mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep you wondering just how exactly this is going to end! There was a large chunk of time that was (understandably) skipped to advance the plot. When that happened, a few of the events around it seemed a bit unclear and far-fetched since they hadn't been clearly explained. Other than that, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced, twisty mystery that you should add to your TBR.