After She Wrote Him (also titled Crossing The Lines) is a stand-alone novel by award-winning Australian author, Sulari Gentill. Madeleine d’Leon is a crime writer whose very successful cosy Veronica Killwilly series might even go to TV. But she is suddenly inspired to write something quite different: Edward McGinnity is a character who has popped into her head and she just has to write him. She’s tickled because he’s an author, the serious type of writer who would never read her genre, giving it an especially delicious irony.

Edward McGinnity writes literary fiction and is quite surprised when his muse sends him a crime writer as his next protagonist. And yet, he’s so enthusiastic to write about Madeleine d’Leon (crime writers are an interesting breed), he is even thinking about her as he attends the gallery opening for his beautiful friend, Willow Meriwether. The presence of published critic (and his one-time editor) Geoffrey Vogel at the show is not appreciated, but Edward is thoroughly shocked when Vogel is murdered, right there, at the gallery.

And there we are: as suspicions fall, first on Willow, then on Edward, it seems he may have some crime solving to do; meanwhile, all is not idyllic in Madeleine’s marriage, making her life just the intriguing sort of study that populates Edward’s novels.

As the two narratives smoothly mesh or dovetail neatly with each other, there is almost a sensation of looking into mirrors facing each other or, perhaps a more accurate representation is the MC Escher sketch of hands drawing each other. There are delightful little scenes where Madeleine is explaining to her husband what is happening to Edward, while Edward is explaining to Willow what is happening to Madeleine.

But then the waters begin to muddy: they begin appearing in one another’s stories, talking to each other, drawn to spend more time with each other. “How seductive the existential strain between writer and character —almost erotic. Edward was charged with the liminal intimacy of it. Not only would he know her, she would come to know him. And therein would be the danger and the essence of story.”

Gentill’s protagonists talk about themselves, but also discuss writing in general and the genres they inhabit. Some conclude: “Who knows what’s really going on in our poor beleaguered, broken-down intoxicated brains? I’m not sure it’s a good idea to look too closely into the mechanics of what we do; it might break the spell.”

Gentill’s highly original concept is truly entertaining, but also gives the reader insight into the author’s process: the development of characters and plot, how comments and questions from friend, spouse, colleague, editor and agent can affect the story, and how the characters sometimes surprise and stun with their thoughts, feelings and actions. But the author has ultimate control (don’t they?) Very clever!

This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press.

With AFTER SHE WROTE HIM, Sulari Gentil accomplished a powerful, entrancing story that took my breath away time and again with logical, surprising twists, complex and fascinating characters, and a thriller/mystery/women's fiction/romance/I don't know what else mash-up of well-written, fantastically well-paced story. When a novelist specializing in crime fiction starts on a murder mystery, she never expects her writer character to take life, to enter her own -- and the writer character never expects to fall in love with the woman crime novelist he is writing. Each has insights and gifts for the other -- and while I was perplexed trying to figure out who was real and who was the fiction, the story got me past that and into sitting up too late at night reading this amazing book. If I had a top 5 favorite writer list, Gentil would be on it -- in the meantime, I'm hunting down her earlier books with happy anticipation.

Who is Edward McGinnity? A character in Madeleine's book or something more sinister? The lines between fiction and reality blur in this page-turner. A clever murder mystery that will stay with you long after you read the last page. Highly recommend.

The premise of the book captured my interest immediately as something different. In college, I groaned about multi-narrative novels, and different perspectives/writing styles in college, but now, I seem to welcome it! Madeleine writes from one perspective while her character, Ned, writes from a different perspective. It was interesting how the author was able to make them even seem different! It was weird how they engaged with each other at times (because, what?!) but it didn't make me dislike the book. The ending did seem like it could lead to another book, which would be great but I left off feeling like I did after I read Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" and I don't feel that is an unfair comparison for this book.

What a wonderfully original story line! Sulari Gentill has written a READER'S book. Anyone reading this one will be pulled into the book as you try to figure out which character is the writer and which the figment of the writer's imagination. The story moves quickly, but never in the direction you expect. Characters come to life, but again, which character? I can't wait to see what she follows this story with....

Wowza I adored this. I wasn’t wholly satisfied with the ending and that’s the reason I’m going with 4 instead of 5. Such an interesting and unique plot construct, and just the right amount of absurdity. A great read!

After She Wrote Him tells the story of Madeleine, a crime writer who starts a new book about this male character, Edward. The thing is, Edward is a writer too, and he himself is writing a book about... Madeleine. In a way, none of them is real, but they're writing - and therefore have created - each other. They're both ⁠in charge of each other's destinies, and eventually they meet, and fall in love.

I didn't know what to expect from this, but it was honestly a really fun read (even though the book isn't funny per se). It was interesting to see Madeleine's writing methods, which were inspired by the author's, and the story was really well written and solidly built overall.

I still don't know if I loved or hated the ending, and there was a loose thread I wish had been tied in the end, but other than that, it was a very interesting read.

After She Wrote Him is a really intriguing read. The flow and pace of the plot as it works between Madeline and Edward is very engaging. I'm not sure I've read anything quite like this before.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

“Perhaps telling lies is the only way to find the real truth.”

I have always been irresistibly drawn to the “book within a book” concept. AFTER SHE WROTE HIM, however, takes the whole idea one step further, because here we potentially have two books within a book, and no idea which one is reality and which one is fiction. If this totally confuses you, then hey – give it a go! It certainly was one of the most original, intriguing ideas I have ever come across, and it really messed with my mind.

Madeleine D’Leon is a lawyer and a crime writer of a detective series that has been selling well and has many followers. One day, despite her agent’s misgivings, she has an idea for a different type of story. It all starts with Edward, her main protagonist, who appears to her out of the blue and quickly takes on shape in her imagination. As she writes her story and orchestrates his fate, the picture of him in her mind becomes more vivid, until he is almost as real to her as a flesh-and-blood person.

Edward McGinnity is a writer of contemporary fiction. One day he has an idea for a story involving a main character who is a crime writer. He calls her Madeleine. As he writes and orchestrates her fate, her picture becomes clearer in his mind, until she is almost as real to him as a flesh-and- blood person.

Do you see where this is headed? Exactly! Now, who is the writer and who is the fictional character?

Gentill introduces some very interesting topics here that really made me think. One particularly pressing question was Madeleine’s dilemma – with Edward becoming almost a friend to her (even though he is her fictional character), she feels guilty throwing him into some nasty situations in her crime story. As a writer, she becomes the orchestrator of his fate, dictating his life by the whims of her imagination. Fascinating!

As the story progressed, I felt more and more unsure of the line between reality and fantasy, a battle both Madeleine and Edward face. This blurring of the boundaries between what is real and what is imagined, sanity and madness, is something I really enjoy in a thriller, especially if it is as cleverly handled as in this book. As we get sucked deeper into Madeleine’s and Edward’s worlds, the story took on an almost dream-like quality where the borders were no longer clearly defined, a real challenge for my analytical mind!

AFTER SHE WROTE HIM was originally published under the title CROSSING THE LINES, which I thought was a title that perfectly sums up the book! This clever, original and thought provoking mystery will appeal to people who enjoy thrillers that dare to blur boundaries, step into unchartered territory. Caution to readers who don’t enjoy alternating POVs that swap and change frequently, even within the same chapter. Personally, I thought that it added to the story, showcasing how the two characters become more and more enmeshed, but I think you should be aware. This was the first book I read in 2020, and as we say in Australia – what a ripper!

What an enjoyable romp of a novel - you are never quite sure who is the writer and who is the creation! A really interesting, sly take on crime fiction, written with much verve and gusto.

The first 75% of this was very clever, very meta, very fun. But. As so often happens, when the finish line was in sight the author began to accelerate the plot in a way that felt unnatural and didn't do justice to the rest of the story.

3 for neutral, couldn’t finish, as I was completely lost on what was going on. Will update if able to read and enjoy at later date. Not sure if it was me, or the book, but decided to DNF until later.

This is a quite different from the usual crime or mystery tale. Madeline d'Leon has a mystery series and is writing a new novel, She decides she wants to feature a new character. Edward McGinnity comes to mind and she is off. But as her novel takes shape Edward starts writing a novel and who should appear in it but Madeline d'Leon. And so it goes with each featured in the other's novel. There is a murder to liven things up. But we are left with the question: Who is the writer and who is the creation? I leave it for you to puzzle over.

I went into this book with no idea what it was about apart from the fact that it was not one of the Rowland Sinclair series. It turned out to be an absolute gem.

Two writers, each writing a book in which the other is the main character. Who really is the author and who is the imaginary character? Gentill manages to have them both on the page simultaneously to the point where they appear to communicate verbally and eventually physically. To say it is cleverly done is an understatement.

I love the unusual in literature and this is definitely an unusual book. I made my mind up who was the real person and felt that the ending confirmed my choice. I still had to go back and reread bits to see how it was all possible. Don't read this book if you are feeling sleepy or you are in a hurry. It needs your full concentration.

Have you heard of the idea that someone should write a book where the main character falls in love with the reader? I've always thought it impossible but after this book I think a talented writer could just create something like that. And Sulari Gentill is a very talented writer, because,you see,in After She Wrote Him we see a writer fall in love with a character. Only,which one is which?
Madeleine is a lawyer and a writer of crime fiction. She is married to Hugh,the small town doctor. Everything is good, or so it seems. Then Madeleine comes up with the idea of Edward,a literary fiction writer who finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. And as Madeleine writes about Edward and spends more time with him than with her husband,we start to see all the things that are not so fine in her life and her marriage. So,you would think that Madeleine is the writer and Edward is the character. But this book is not so straightforward,because on the other hand we follow Edward,a writer with a tragic past and an unrequited love for his best friend. Edward comes with the idea of Madeleine, who writes about Edward. At some point they become aware of each other and start interacting with one another,until they become more and more real and important to each other while everything else starts to become insignificant.
I didn't have any trouble following the plot and the characters. The writing was extremely beautiful. It is a story within a story,so at first I thought that there would be even more distance between myself and the characters,but when something would happen to them I found myself caring a lot. I have a guess as to who was real and who was not,but I don't think it ultimately matters.
This was one of the most unique books I've ever read and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Confusing, confusing, confusing. I’m still not totally sure who was the real writer and who was the character in this book. I am not really sure still what to think of it

This book was interestingly different. A story within a story. The premise of this book where a writer Madeline begins writing a novel where her main character, named Edward, is also writing a novel himself. Where this book gets confusing at times is because in Edward’s story he is writing a novel about a woman named Madeline De’Leon.

As you read along it can be hard to keep track whose story you are engaging in. Both of these writers begin to immerse themselves into their novels and their characters and begin to have dialogue with their fictional characters. I had to reread a few times.

Although both writers Madeline and Edward had their own struggles and their own personal drama was interesting, the end of this book just ended in a way that felt so predictable. This book just wasn’t for me, but it might be for you with some of its twist and turns of events.

Received via NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I requested it I didn't realize that it was Crossing the Lines, retitled.

I enjoyed Crossing the Lines a great deal when I read it, but I don't remember it well enough to submit a review.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity, though!

I loved this book as it was so different from
everything I have ever read?? The murderer was easy to guess, in my opinion, but I still have no clue who wrote who, it’s like they wrote each other.

It took me a little bit more than usual to get into the book, but then I simply couldn’t put it down, I also had no clue that some authors actually write the way Madeline writes, I wish I could do it!

The way the book is written is very easy to read, maybe a bit confusing at the beginning but then you start understanding the plot and the story and you just want to get to the ending to know what is going to happen!

While it has an interesting premise, After She Wrote Him by Sulari Gentill is a difficult read. It's hard to keep track of the plot, if there is one, and ultimately there is little mystery or tension here. I kind of gave up about half way through due to the struggle of the author to find a voice. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.