Four strangers. A scream. And later discovered, a dead body. But wait, there’s more. What do these letters between each chapter mean?! There’s a mystery within a mystery (and then some!) in this title if you have the commitment for a slow paced mystery title!

The Woman in the Library had such a unique concept, and I was really intrigued going in—mystery within a mystery, set in a library. How cool is that? The layers of the story kept me hooked, and I loved how the narrative unfolded with twists and turns. Sulari Gentill does a great job weaving together the suspense and the multiple perspectives, which made the book feel different from other thrillers I’ve read.

That said, the pacing was a little slower than I expected. It took a while to get to the real meat of the mystery, and at times, I found myself wishing things would move a bit faster. As for the characters... well, they were interesting, but none of them were particularly likable, which made it hard to really connect with them. I think that’s partly the point, but still, it left me a bit cold toward the whole cast.

Even so, the clever structure and the gradual buildup kept me reading, and the payoff was satisfying enough. If you're into slower-paced mysteries where the journey is as important as the destination, this one might be for you!

Really absorbing story, characters felt very well rounded and the story was very gripping. Thank you for the advanced read.

I did not like this book. It was needlessly convoluted and I figured out the twists. I am not the kind to try and figure out twists, I like to just enjoy the read and be immersed in the story. If I do figure something out in a book I am enjoying that is fun to see if I was correct. This book, though, was just not good.

I enjoyed some of this but it was very confusing and I still don't think I "got it" all. I was loving the interactions between the four main characters but all the story within a story stuff made this take so much longer to read than it should have because I was reading some parts repeatedly trying to understand. By the time the end came I had lost all interest.

✨ *"Okay, officially adding Sulari Gentill to my auto-read authors list! The Woman in the Library gave me all the library-loving, bookish vibes I could want. I wasn’t expecting the super creative format — a story within a story, with an author receiving letters full of feedback (and some seriously eerie undertones). And then a murder mystery unfolding between four strangers who meet in the Boston Public Library?! Yes, please!

Gentill’s writing is sharp, clever, and sprinkled with just the right amount of dark humor. If you love books about books, layered mysteries, and stories that make you question everything, this one’s for you. I’m obsessed and already craving more!"* 📚🔍✨

This book—or perhaps books, since it seems to blur the lines between reality and fiction—was a thoroughly entertaining experience. The story kicks off with Winifred, or Freddie, an Aussie living in Boston on a scholarship. She’s sitting at a library table surrounded by three strangers when a scream breaks out, throwing the entire situation into chaos. The aftermath of this event forms the foundation of a new friendship between Freddie and her tablemates, built out of unexpected tragedy. It’s funny how the world works like that, isn't it?

The layers within this novel are complex, exploring how one author takes (or doesn’t take) the advice of a beta reader, and how an author’s events and suggestions can drive a story in ways no one expects. It’s fascinating to see how these influences unfold in the characters’ lives, sometimes leading to unexpected twists. The concept of writing within writing was done well and kept me engaged throughout.

Ultimately, the story left me reflecting on the power of storytelling and how it can shape reality, or perhaps how reality can shape the stories we create. It’s an intriguing read that I’ll be thinking about for a while.

The Woman in the Library has an intriguing setup—a mysterious scream in a library, four strangers forming an unexpected bond, and the unsettling truth that one of them is a murderer. The premise promises a tense, twisty thriller, but the execution doesn’t quite live up to the hype.

A smart who-dun-it mystery within a mystery mystery. Original and highly entertaining.well developed plot.

This is an interesting premise for a book: four strangers bond in the Boston Public Library after a woman’s scream shatters the silence, only to discover that one of them is a murderer. Turns out it’s a story within a story, with chapters of a fictional novel interspersed with emails from an overzealous fan offering feedback to the author.

I liked the meta aspect of the narrative, though it took me a little while to fully get into the rhythm of the dual storylines. The characters in the “inner” story—Freddie, Cain, Marigold, and Whit—are intriguing, if not always deeply relatable, and their interactions are laced with tension and suspicion. The “outer” story, involving the author and her correspondent, adds an unsettling layer of suspense that gradually becomes more gripping as the book progresses.

While the twists were fun and kept me engaged, some of the reveals felt a bit predictable, and I found myself more invested in the real-world correspondence than the fictional murder mystery. That said, Gentill’s writing is sharp and witty, and the Boston setting is vividly rendered.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Being a Librarian I really really wanted to like this and scream from the rooftops how much I liked it... but I couldn't get into it no matter how many times I tried.

I found this book to be utterly ridiculous, especially the stalker/co-writer/crazed fan plot. Maybe it was the narrator's voice that absolutely graded on me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing this read.
I was excited to read this book as a librarian - books about libraries are quirky and fun to me. The mystery here was fun and complex - with the "real author" and the story author provided an interesting twist. I felt like the pace picked up in the second half of the book and I couldn't put it down. It also gave me a strong desire to visit Boston again!

I really enjoyed the idea of this story. However, I had trouble caring about the characters and I think that made the overall story less enjoyable than it could have been.

I read Sulari Gentill's books because she always seems to find a new, original plot that I can "see" as I read. The plots set a scene that pull readers into the story where we are part of the investigation. The clues leave a trail to follow, but all is not as it seems. Each book sets the bar a little higher for the next and Gentill always manages to meet and beat our expectations. She is definitely an author to be added to your TBR and shared with your reading circle.

Thank you to NetGalley for the readers copy in exchange for a (very late) review.
To be honest, I don’t know what was happening. I loved the premise and it has an interesting format. This was a case of I loved the concept but not the execution.
Some of the mysteries and twists didn't land as well as I thought and I got a little lost at times. I think its strength was in its level of suspense throughout.
Also check the trigger warnings

I’m going to have to put this book down for now, I just can’t get into it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review.

2.75 stars

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill centers around four people who meet in the reading room at the Boston Public Library only to have the silence broken by a womans scream. As security takes charge and tells everyone to stay put, the four strangers begin to get to know one another as they sit together at the same table. Each one there has their own reason for being at the library in that reading room that day and one of them in a murderer. We also get to read correspondance between an author (in Australia) and a loyal fan (in Boston) who reads parts of the work the author is writing and offers feedback/research for her while she's in Australia. Are the four people at the table just characters in her book? Did the murder really happen or was it in the book? Is this a story in a story in a story?

I thought the premise of this book sounded great, but I was often confused and unless I was really focused on what I was reading it was hard to pick back up and continue.

I know this book has a lot of great reviews, so if you're in the mood for a puzzle and love Agatha Christie, you will probably enjoy this one.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed the audio version of this book, and as a frequent flyer of the Boston Public Library, it was fun to imagine myself in the story. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick but enjoyable listen.

I've been saving this book for the fall and have finally read it. I wish that I hadn't waited so long! I loved this book and its creative format - a book within a book. There were so many twists and turns and I absolutely loved the setting. I'm looking forward to reading more from Sulari Gentill.