Hannah Tigone is an author in Australia writing a novel set in Boston in the U.S. Leo is an aspiring author living in Boston and is a fan of Hannah’s and has offered to give her some writing tips about living in Boston. Leo talks about his life and describes where he lives and his favourite places which gives Hannah writing inspiration. She includes some of his ideas into her novel and then sends new chapters for Leo to review.
Hannah’s novel starts with Winifred Kincaid who likes to be called Freddie sitting in the Boston Library trying to get ideas for her latest book. Close by are three other people all quietly working when suddenly there is a terrifying scream, the scream gets them talking and they decide to go and have a coffee where they get to know each other a bit better. Later it is discovered that someone was murdered in the library.
This novel is about the person who was murdered in the library and how they might be connected to the four random strangers sitting in the reading room.
A creepy murder mystery about writers, families, homeless people, and stalking. Lots of twists and turns. I loved the descriptions of the characters and how their stories were revealed.

A book within a book within a book.
I loved this very unique book concept, and how we had essentially two mysteries going on at the same time. I found myself sucked in to the story form the very beginning and was unable to put it down. I thought the mystery was wrapped up a bit simplistically, and that's why I couldn't rate this a full five stars. Other than that, this was such a fun mystery and concept. I wholeheartedly recommend it!

I really wanted to love this one, but it was just okay. The plot seemed all over the place. I enjoyed the story within a story aspect of the book and I loved that it took place somewhere close to me (Boston Public Library), but it just didn't keep my attention the way I hoped. Not to say that it will not be enjoyable for other readers, but it just wasn't for me!

I tried to pick this up a couple of times but it didn't hold my interest past the first 5-10%. I'm giving up on this for now, but I may come back to it. It just wasn't interesting enough to me and I didn't find that the writing drew me in. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.

This was a miss for me. It felt sporadic and it seemed like it needed one more round of editing for the story to really click and make sense. I understand what the author was trying to accomplish and it really was a cool idea, it just wasn't executed properly.

I really liked the sound of this one, and with the cover design I thought it had Agatha Christie vibes. I must admit to start with I got a bit confused between the different narratives but once I got into it I really enjoyed it.

This was a DNF for me. I lasted about 1/3 of the way through waiting for the characters to grab me and the mystery to take shape. It never did. I also did not care for the story-within a story structure. I can tell from other reviews that it may have resolved if I’d been able to finish, but after a month of picking it up and putting it down, I gave up.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Boston ~ Library ~ Death ~ Friendship ~ Mystery ~ Dual storylines ~ Whodunnit ~ Libraries ~ Authors ~ Donuts ~ Story within a story ~ Well-written characters ~ Romance ~ Thriller ~ Obsession ~ Stalkers ~ Leo who?? ~ Highly recommended

I was gifted this advance copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Thank you Netgalley,Poisoned Pen Press and Sulari Gentill for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

It all starts with the scream in the library. Four strangers are sitting around the table in the library, they are working independently on their own projects when they hear a woman scream. They start discussing the incident and they become friends. From now on the events are unfolding - some rapidly, some take more time. The narrative is interrupted by emails from a fan of the author who presumably write about these four strangers. The fan gives some advice and update in current world events (like pandemic). These interruptions are quite an interesting development as it gives a different perspective on the narration itself and how the story is unraveling.

I did enjoy characters more that the plot. I think female characters are written extraordinarily- both women came to life from pages. The male characters, on the other hand, didn’t impress me that much, they were only tolerable. As for plot - it wasn’t very thrilling, at parts I lost interest at all.

I wish I enjoyed it more.

I really wanted to like this book. I thought the premise was amazing. Unfortunately, it fell short for me. I found the story too confusing and the reading was very choppy because of that.

The Woman in the Library is very much an intellectual, classical who done it mystery. I liked the twist of the author writing to the fan, and the characters finding an unlikely friendship through unlikely scenarios. At times, it seemed a little slow burn and dry, but overall strong literary mystery.

Inception but in writer/book style. A story within a story within a story. At first I thought the letter POV chapters were annoying and out of place, but in the end they tie the story together. I liked the characters and felt there was good development throughout plus a good mystery that kept you guessing. Overall a good story!

Great thrilling summer read! I loved the layered mystery and had to pay close attention, as there was a story within the story. Do not want to say to much as it may give the story away. Thoroughly enjoyed!

This is my first read by this author and I will definitely be seeking out more from her.

I want to thank NetGalley, Sulari Gentill and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill.

Freddie is an Australian working in Boston as a writer, using whatever characters and plot points at her disposal. But one day while in the library, there is a terrible scream that instantly bonds Freddie to the young academics around her, Whit, Cain, and Marigold. It doesn't take long until they learn that the scream came from a woman who was found murdered, and now they are all being questioned. Not just questioned though, attacked. Could one of them have something to do with it, and are the others in danger?

I loved this book for it's really fun way of breaking the fourth wall, something you'll see when you read it. I loved the outside letters and relationship happening around the story, so interesting and super creepy! My only complaint that that I feel like the outer story didn't quite match up with the core story like it had the potential too. Just my personal opinion.

First off, Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

DNF at 50%. Im not sure if my mood just wasn't right or if it was the story itself. I was feel unconnected to the characters and uninterested in the story. I do however plan to pick this one back up in the future to see if its just simply that my mood was off when I started it.

The Woman in the Library is a smart, subtle thriller. A great summer read! I really appreciated the unique format of this book - an author is writing a manuscript, as well as corresponding with another author about her work... the mysteries are layered and perfectly put together. The nuances of the relationships between the characters in the manuscript plus the authors (Hannah and Leo) are so great. You really have to be paying attention with this one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced ebook copy. All opinions are my own.

A clever murder mystery inside a story. Four people are in the Boston library when a woman screams. The woman in the library. But as with all good murder mysteries things are not as they seem. A gentle murder mystery with a little kick in the tale.

This starts with four strangers while in the Reading Room of the Boston Public Library, hear a woman's scream. The group of four develop a friendship and find themselves trying to solve the mystery. Within the story is another story of the author of the manuscript corresponding with Leo, a fan, who isn't what he seems. The story and premise were definitely interesting.

A promising description, that lacked in execution and elaboration. The concept of story within a story was interesting at first, but I found myself barely attentive while reading. 3 stars cos the audiobook helped me finish reading this! I guess I wasn’t in the mood for this murder mystery.

Thank you Sourcebooks via Netgalley for the reader’s copy.

A story is hidden inside another story about a writer’s building another thriller story: are you confused with the story line reminding us of smart thriller book version of Inception screenplay! But not everything is as clear cut as it might appear.

Each chapter of Hannah’s book, is followed by the latest correspondence from Leo, who becomes more and more invested in her novel, as Freddie’s story progresses. There are TWO mysteries-one for each author, and BOTH were equally as engaging!

I loved the idea of this clever mystery within a mystery. The way the fictional reality in the story played alongside the fictional in a unique format. The different plots/ two stories playing out chapter by chapter.