This interesting murder mystery is set in Boston, including the beautiful Reading Room in the main branch. Four strangers begin a conversation, and then relationships, after hearing a scream while they are all in the Reading Room studying. The discovery of a dead body increases their concerns, so they decide to try to solve the mystery themselves. Interspersed with the regular story are emails from a fan of the author's, who provides critiques of her writing, chapter by chapter. Although a bit too long, the novel has a pretty good story, a clever format, and strong characters. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC.

I was intrigued by the premise of the book and its location at the Boston Public Library, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of the book. I found the book's plot to be unique, and I liked that the book was not just a murder mystery, but also an interesting look at friendships that develop quickly with strangers. I had some difficulty with the format of the book and keeping track of what was "real" and what was part of the book within the book. Unlike most mysteries, this book raised a lot of ethical questions and would make a good choice for book discussion groups.

An intriguing mystery written in a clever style. This is a book within a book, and perhaps even a book or two inside of that book. The book draws you in as you read chapter after chapter of a murder mystery. These chapters are written by an Australian woman with each chapter ending with a letter to the author from a writer living in Boston, where the story takes place, with feedback for the author about the location and American phrasing. The story itself that she is writing is about an Australian author living in Boston writing a book who meets up with 3 others in a Boston Library when they hear a woman scream. This event binds them together and they form an intense friendship that arises from that moment. New friends are a good thing, except one of them is a murderer. This story drew me in from the first chapter and I couldn't put the book down. Interspersed with the story itself is a great deal of back story about writing processes as there are multiple authors at play in this book.
Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a different mystery, it threw me off at first until I understood what was going on. It's about an author named Hannah who is writing a mystery book. The mystery story is the main part of the book. At the end of every chapter, Hannah includes a letter from her friend Leo who is editing and offering suggestions for her story. The mystery itself revolves around 4 strangers who meet at the Boston Public Library one afternoon after they hear a woman scream. Later that evening, they find out she was murdered. The story is told from Winifred's (also known as Freddie) point of view. I was curious as to the murder at the library along with other crimes that happen later. My favorite part is the quick friendship they make after their unfortunate first meeting.

Hannah is an Australian author who has a regular correspondence with another author who also happens to be a fan that offers her advice on her Boston setting. With four characters that are in the Boston Public Library when they hear a scream. Being held in place while security checks it out. the four begin talking and forge a friendship. They soon find out that a body was found in the library and it was a murder. Now it comes down to whether one of the group is a killer.

This book had a bit of a slower start and it was hard to keep track of what was the story, and what as supposed to be real. That made this a bit of a longer read as I had to stop and think and look back more than a few times. But it sure made for an interesting read.

What a wonderfully fun and complex story. I particularly enjoyed the literary suggestions offered up by the incongruous Leo. The Woman in the Library kept me on my toes as I juggled to keep fiction, nonfiction, and red herrings separate. A mysterious dance with excellent characters.

The Woman in the Library has absolutely everything that a good mystery should have. Get ready to meet characters that you will fall in love with and suspect of murder at the same time. Prepare yourself for plot twists galore and a story within a story with a touch of humor and a ton of jaw-dropping moments.

Hannah is an Australian author writing a novel about a murder at the Boston Public Library. Her source for information about all things Bostonian is Leo, one of her biggest fans who corresponds with her constantly, often to correct her mistakes. Hannah's novel centers around four strangers who meet at the BPL and are brought together by a blood curdling scream that they later find out belonged to the victim of a murder.

Can one of these strangers who quickly become friends be guilty? It seems impossible because they were all sitting together when they heard the scream....yet as the story begins to unfold, each one of them at have something to hide. Could it be Marigold, the tattooed beauty who is pursuing a degree in psychology? Or Whit, the sheltered son of a prominent lawyer who catches the eye of many of his Harvard classmates with his good looks and charm? Can it be Cain, who has a history of violence but has turned over a new leaf? Or is someone outside of their circle to blame?

Five stars for this twisty, funny, suspenseful novel that will keep you up all night!

This book was so good! I really enjoyed the storytelling tactic the author took. I couldn’t put this one down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would give “The Woman in the Library” 3.75 stars overall.

While I did find the first few chapters to be a slow start to the story, once I got past these I found myself reading into the early hours of the morning, curious to find out what would happen next. The correspondence between Hannah and Leo intrigued me, and I would have liked for that subplot to be a little more fleshed out. I enjoyed this part of the story more than the main plot.

Overall, I think what elevates this book from your average mystery thriller is the ‘book within a book’ concept, and the subplot of the correspondence between Hannah and Leo. I haven’t rounded up to 4 stars, purely because I did feel a little disappointed by the outcome of the story between the 4 main characters, and I would have liked the subplot to have been a bigger part of the overall story. An easy and enjoyable read, though. Thank you again for the ARC.

I received this ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. Wonderful depth of characters, plenty of mystery and a slight romance thrown. Gentill starts this book off with an email from Leo to Hannah, who is writing a mystery and Leo is giving her advice. . Then you jump right into the story in which Freddy is sitting in one of the reading rooms at Boston Public Library trying to write her first novel. After starring at the celling for a long time she starts to notice the three people (Cain, Marigold & Whit) around her. She begins by giving them nicknames and writes down their description in her notebook until they hear a woman scream. They are asked to stay in the reading room and this begins their friendship. But as the story moves along you find out that one of the four might be murderer. Grab this book and find out if Freddi, Cain, Marigold or Whit is the murderer or if someone else did it.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!! This was a good read. The plot kept me hooked just enough to want to keep reading to find out what happened next. The relationship between Leo and Hannah had me a little confused at first, but details later in the book explain their connection. I really enjoyed the dual storylines, it was a unique twist on mystery writing. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who needs a good quick read.

This is a suspenseful novel, populated with engaging young characters. It was compelling from the first chapter and will definitely appeal to Hitchcock fans . . . And, the author leads us to consider that director by staging a date night at North By Northwest.

I found myself put off by the narrative style of the book, but that is a very personal preference. The Woman in the Library will be very appealing to many modern mystery readers.

Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange foe a candid r3view.

Very unusual and original book! I like it very much and it was refreshing. Something I needed badly at the moment! great book!!

I really enjoyed this book, it's about a murder in the Boston Public Library. As Freddie the protagonist says it's the opposite of a locked room mystery!!! Four strangers come together after hearing a scream in the library, they all have something to hide. I liked that the chapters alternated with the letter writing Leo. It explores friendship and the unlikely way that friendship works.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This purports to be chapters of a story set in Boston narrated by an Australian author and critiqued by an American fan. Initially I found it all a little 'meta' and tiresome, but it grew on me and by the end I was really enjoying it. It kept me guessing, and the references to Black Lives Matter and Covid were done with a light but thought-provoking touch.

We begin in a gorgeous reading room at the Boston Public Library. Wonderfully quiet and peaceful... until the shocking scream of clearly terrified scream. The Library security guards quickly arrive and inform everyone inside of the Library that no one is allowed to leave while the crime scene is secured. While the library patrons are sitting and are awaiting for the all-clear, four young strangers, who are all occupying the same table, decide to pass time by talking and getting to know one another and friendships quickly develop. Every individual at the Library has their own reasons for being in the reading room that morning. However, it's highly likely that one of them is the murderer.

#TheWomanInTheLibrary #NetGalley
Good book.
The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for giving me an advanced copy.

I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I couldn’t get into this book, the premise made it sound interesting but sadly I just couldn’t get into it.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

I LOVED this book. Maybe it hit me on exactly the right day, maybe I was in the mood for this book specifically and didn't even know it... but I loved it.

Was it a perfect story, no. But I was totally sucked into the mystery, and I enjoyed the two separate storylines being told simultaneously. I was curious about the correspondence between the author and her mysterious friend, as well as being thoroughly invested in the characters introduced in the main story.

It reminded me a bit of a modern day Agatha Christie mash-up of The Body in the Library and the TV series Only Murders in the Building. I devoured the book in one sitting, and look forward to any future books by this author!

Poisoned Pen Press I can't thank you enough for this super amazing ebook!

This is my first Sulari Gentill and I can promise it will not be my last!
I jumped up and down when I seen this was added to my shelf!
So to say I was pretty dang excited is a complete understatement!

This was such a awesome story! A d they way this author writes is phenomenal! No other word for it!
The characters are so well written a d had me so interested and wanting to know more!
This has some great unexpected twists added which was an amazing ride!
The Woman in the Library held my attention and scanning the pages which deserves five stars in my book!

Thanks again NetGalley, Publisher and Author for the chance to read and review this amazing book!
I'll post to my Social media platforms closer to pub date!