The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill is a smart and engaging mystery with a unique story-within-a-story twist. I loved the way it kept me guessing and the characters felt real, though sometimes the layered structure pulled me out of the flow. Overall, it’s an original and gripping read.

Loved this story within a story, really unputdownable and thrilling. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy suspenseful, twists galore! This author has turned into an auto-buy author.

𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:

What a clever, layered mystery. This is a book-within-a-book, a story unfolding alongside letters from a reader that grow increasingly unsettling—and I was hooked by the unique structure from the very first page. Sulari Gentill pulls off something pretty bold here, blending metafiction with suspense in a way that asks you to stay sharp and pay attention.

The central mystery takes place in the Boston Public Library, where four strangers become entwined after a woman’s scream disrupts the quiet. From there, things spiral into friendship, suspicion, and murder—but it’s the way the story is told that really makes it stand out. I loved the exploration of storytelling itself—what’s true, what’s fiction, and where the two start to blur.

Paced well, smartly written, and filled with just enough twists to keep me guessing. A refreshing take on the genre that’s both self-aware and genuinely entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Sulari Gentill for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Woman in the Library is available now.

𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:

What a clever, layered mystery. This is a book-within-a-book, a story unfolding alongside letters from a reader that grow increasingly unsettling—and I was hooked by the unique structure from the very first page. Sulari Gentill pulls off something pretty bold here, blending metafiction with suspense in a way that asks you to stay sharp and pay attention.

The central mystery takes place in the Boston Public Library, where four strangers become entwined after a woman’s scream disrupts the quiet. From there, things spiral into friendship, suspicion, and murder—but it’s the way the story is told that really makes it stand out. I loved the exploration of storytelling itself—what’s true, what’s fiction, and where the two start to blur.

Paced well, smartly written, and filled with just enough twists to keep me guessing. A refreshing take on the genre that’s both self-aware and genuinely entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Sulari Gentill for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Woman in the Library is available now.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill is a smart, layered mystery that plays with storytelling in a really unique way. The setting pulls you in, and the twists keep you guessing until the end.

This story-within-a-story weaves a whodunnit at the Boston Public Library with beta reader feedback on the whodunnit as it is written. While an intriguing premise, I found the mystery a tad slow and the commentary from Leo only served to highlight this. It did keep me guessing, but it didn't really keep me interested.

Any book that has the word library in the title appeals to me. However, The Woman in the Library turned out to be something that did not appeal to me. I found the plot confusing. The layout of a story within a story within a story just left me wondering what was exactly happening. The storyline of the murder mystery would have been fine on its own.
I was given an ARC of The Woman in the Library by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#thewomaninthelibrary
#netgalley

Thank you for approving me for this title. After some thought, I’ve realized it’s not quite the right fit for me personally, so I won’t be able to provide a full review. I appreciate the opportunity to access it and wish the book great success.

Mystery but set in a LIBRARY? Yes please! The Woman in the Library is totally deserving of all of the hype it received. It’s a clever whodunit that has twists and turns, some expected and some totally unexpected.
It’s the perfect balance of surprise left turns while also allowing me to feel like I’m at least a LITTLE bit in on the secret. I’ve gifted this to several people who have also loved it! I definitely kept this in my library and will happily reread it. Such a fun, fast-paced novel!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this digital arc.

This mystery was such a wild ride and I loved all of the twists. It definitely kept me guessing and I will read whatever else Sulari Gentill puts out!

Murder in a library sounds like jsut the thing I’d love. What reader doesn’t love books set in libraries??

It wasn’t my favorite tho. Kinda long and slow and meh

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.