I really enjoy thrillers! This was a good one...I would read this author again...especially if another thriller!

I was hooked when reading this novel. As a writer myself I love to read books about other writers. One of the things I love about After She Wrote Him is the way Sulari Gentill seamlessly goes from one point of view to the other. The cover also grabbed my attention with the ink spilled from an ink pen creating the silhouette of the protagonist. The reason why I rate this book four out of five stars is because the ending is somewhat predictable and a little bit of a let down. I do love the journey I took as a reader to figure out all the clues and to try and put the puzzle pieces together. I will most likely be reading this book again in the future as the characters and storyline was unique and it was something I truly enjoyed. Also thank you Netgalley for giving me a review copy of After She Wrote Him by Sulari Gentill in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book was so interesting. As I read, the lines of reality were blurred and I think the author did a great job. I had a hard time putting this book down and thought it was really well done.

This was a very interesting, unique book.  If you're seeking answers neatly tied up in a bow, you won't get that.  Sometimes that frustrates me, but in this instance I found it very fun and refreshing.  I didn't feel like I was left hanging at the end, but the author did leave plenty of room for speculation.  I liked it a lot!

"What if you wrote of someone writing you? In the end which of you would be real?"

Madeleine dLeon is a crime fiction writer who is taking a break from her successful series of mystery novels to write a whodunit with a brand new character named Edward McGinnity, a literary author who has found himself embroiled in the murder of art critic Geoffrey Vogel.  In Edward she creates her "perfect man" that is everything she is missing in her own marriage.  

Edward McGinnity is writing a story about Madeleine dLeon, lawyer turned crime fiction writer whose marriage to physician Hugh Lamond is troubled due to fertility issues.  

They soon discover they can converse with one another, discussing their writing styles and comparing the two.  Their relationship progresses past the imaginary (or....??) and soon Maddie prefers Edward's company over her husband Hugh's.  

As others have stated, this book was so original and inventive in its storytelling!!  I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but the ending was left a little too open ended for me.  I prefer an author to TELL me what happens in the end rather than allowing the reader to make their own observation.  Overall, a great unique book!

Thanks to Sulari Gentill, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Reality And Fiction Blur....
Taut, literary psychological suspense where lines between reality and fiction become seriously blurred. Credible characters together with a tightly woven, clever plot line. An engaging and tense read which may well stay with you well after closing the final page.

One of the most interesting, unique books I’ve ever read. It took me a while to get into it, but when I did, it was so worth it. Brilliantly written and just a total work of art.

Honestly, I wasn't the right audience for this book and I wasn't aware of what I was getting into. I thought this was a going to be a regular domestic thriller with some *literary spice* but instead I got a whole bucket load of weird and confusing psychological thrillers within each other. Almost everyone who has reviewed this so far seems to love it and I imagine they knew what they were getting into, so I'm going to give this three stars because it was mainly my fault for not making sure this was what I thought it would be.

One of the most unique books I've read.  It takes a little bit of time to figure out who is talking, and the way this book is set up, but once you do, I promise you it is brilliant.   Keep an open mind and stick with it.  I absolutely loved it,  4.5 stars.

Loved this book. It was so interesting, a really entertaining story.

I'd like to thank to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Such a unique and twisty mystery!
After She Wrote Him by Sulari Gentill is a great exploration about the blurred lines between fiction and reality. 
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I absolutely loved this book, especially as an avid reader and a writer myself. This book was cleverly written and the characters so well fleshed out. I thought it might be confusing, but it wasn't -- the author blended the 2 stories seamlessly. I enjoyed the writing so much that the mystery was an added bonus. I used this book in my subscription box and my subscribers seemed to love it as well. A real book lovers book.

This is a unique kind of mystery that keeps the reader guessing about more than what you'd expect. I found it quite enjoyable, and it delves deeper into the psyche than many mystery novels out there.

I found the premise of the book to be very interesting. The writing style was well paced and the characters had great depth. But, there was a lot of tongue-in-cheek ego stroking by the writer that made it difficult to get through this book.

After She Wrote Him is one of the most unique novels I have ever read. The story is about mystery author Madeline and literary author Edward writing stories about each other. The question is, who is the real author and who is the character?

The plot was complex and very well written. The characters were fully developed and felt real. There are two points of view, each told in the third person and each POV change was seamless. I enjoyed the glimpse into the writing process as both authors were writing the other's story. Some may not like the ending, but I had no qualms with it. 

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, author Sulari Gentill, and NetGalley for gifting me an e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

Calling this the most unique novel I’ve ever read would be the understatement of a century. I’m so glad I did.

The Pros: What worked for me

This novel is one of those that could be brilliant or a complete disaster. Thankfully, it was the former. The way the author would switch from one narrative to another was seamless, until it got to a point where I didn’t know whose narrative I was reading – WHICH IS THE ENTIRE POINT!

The story has an actual plot and the author balances this well. Both writers are going through their own individual stories while also having this shared experience. All I can say is – it works.

Both main characters balanced each other out with their distinct styles and personalities. I think the author made a smart move by using a mystery writer and a literary fiction author because they brought 2 different experiences to this novel and were able to grow through their interactions.

The Cons: What I didn’t like

I didn’t feel the male perspective was as strong as it could be; there were times when Edward’s individual scenes didn’t fully fit with the image of him that was projected when he interacted with Madeleine. It took away from the believability a tiny bit because it didn’t always feel like it was the same character

I’m torn about the ending. It makes sense why this was the chosen path but I don’t know if I liked it.

This novel is like no other. It is a difficult one to write a review on because I worry about saying too much and ruining the experience for others. All I can say is that I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of intense thrillers. Despite having a couple of cons, I loved this novel enough that I’m giving this 5/5 stars.

***Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press!***

The synopsis of this book appealed to me right away. As someone who fashions themselves an amateur writer, I was drawn into the idea of an author writing a character who is also writing about her as a character. Or is it the other way around? That premise did not disappoint. I can honestly say I have never read a novel so ingeniously written. I could not tell which one was the character and which was the author. And ultimately it didn’t really matter, the two were so intertwined that their fates depended on each other. Maddie would tell a bit of her story and then sit down to write Ned’s story, and his story picks up from there until he sits down to write about Maddie. It was perfectly executed.

Some elements of the plot were very predictable. I knew right away who the killer was in Ned’s story and I knew right away who the bad guy was in Maddie’s story. But even this was intentional I think. It’s supposed to be obvious, to the author, what the answers are. The author knows who the killer is. The author knows who the bad guy is. In that way, the reader was supposed to know these things too. Maddie and Ned didn’t know, because that’s real life. It’s always easy to point out the killer in a book. It’s not so easy when that person is someone close to you. That was one of the themes of the book that was executed perfectly.

The only thing I wished had been done differently was the ending. We spent a lot of time getting to know Maddie and Ned but their respective stories didn’t really get moving until we had about fifty pages to go. The ending seemed rushed and a bit unfinished. Neither of them got a resolution because their respective author was unavailable to finish the story. That ending might appeal to some readers but it detracted from the overall story a bit for me.

After She Wrote Him
by Sulari Gentill


Poisoned Pen Press

Poisoned Pen Press
 General Fiction (Adult) 
  Mystery & Thrillers 
Pub Date 07 Apr 2020 


I am reviewing a copy of After She Wrote Him through Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley:






If you find yourself getting lost in a book, make sure you are able to find your way back.








 Madeline D’Leon had no idea where Edward Came from, all she knows is he is a character in her next book.  As she begins to write, all Madeline can think about is Edward.    She thinks about his charm, his dark hair, and him writing his latest literary novel.







Edward  McGinnity is unable to keep Madeline out of his mind.  Her soft smile, her infectious enthusiasm and the fact that she is perfectly damaged.  In his mind she would make the perfect heroine for his next book.




But the big question is who is the author, and who is the creation.  As the line starts to blur who is affected when a killer takes flesh.




After She Wrote Him is an inventive murder mystery, with a bit of a twist.  This book takes readers on a journey filled with passion, obsession.  And the emptiness left behind when reality starts to fall away.




I give After She Wrote Him five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

i enjoyed this. it's beautiful and skillfully written, almost in a manner so engaging that one might find themselves lost between who wrote who. and the mystery 😫😫, brilliant.

Hmmm, I have such mixed thoughts on this intriguing novel. While the premise could not be more original, I found myself not completely satisfied with the entirety of the story. Perhaps my mind just isn't ready for such a complex and thought-provoking story line. Regardless, I am so glad to have read such a book. 

Thank you Netgalley for my copy of this book. My review is given voluntarily.