I was gifted this ARC from Netgalley, so I went in blind as to what to expect. I loved that each chapter kept me wanting more.

The subplot of the letters with Leo kept my brain spinning!

Overall, very well written, and a great (locally based) plot!

This book is a departure from my normal cozy mystery genre, as it lacks the "cozy" part. In this story within a story, Australian author Hannah is writing a book about four strangers who become friends in the Boston Public Library. Hannah's story is about another Australian author Winifred "Freddie" who is on a one year writing fellowship in Boston.

Due to the pandemic, Hannah is unable to visit Boston for herself and a Beta reader and mega-fan Leo, a Boston native, is kind enough to give her suggestions - including American terminology to make the story ring more true. As time goes on, Leo's suggestions border on aggressive and he starts sending her photos of murders that happened near the Boston Public Library for a realistic view.

The book goes back and forth between the story of Winifred and her friends and Hannah's correspondence with Leo. I did enjoy the book but the ending was rather abrupt. I had my suspicion's about Hannah's villain and was glad to see I was right- it could have gone a number of ways.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a twist. Thanks to #NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you enjoy mysteries and dual-story novels, then this might be your next favorite read.

Sulari Gentill’s novel, The Woman in the Library, is a mystery thriller novel centered around four characters. Brought together by a scream heard in a silent library, the four characters band together to solve the mystery, only to realize that one of them might be the murderer. The characters are so well written, complex, and flushed out. We get to see how people deal with past mistakes surfacing and what friendship really means.

The above synopsis is only half the story because there is a dual story happening, too. Gentill twists the way we are used to reading and how stories are told in such a fascinating way. They pepper many layers of mysteries throughout that you are guessing and trying to solve them until the end. Gentill writes beautifully in such a realistic way and does an incredible job of painting the picture of what every setting and person looks like. It is an easy novel to picture a movie in your head and feel you are watching it rather than having to read a sentence over to get the scene.

I gave this novel a 4/5 because it felt tough to get into a first and wasn’t “engaging” (for me) from the jump. Once I got about a quarter or a little over that into the novel, it sucked me in, and I read the last half of the book in around 3 hours.

If you are a reader or writer who loves mysteries but can feel like they get old quick or that you need ones that are more twisty and complex, and you want something different from the genre, you will want to give this one a read.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. *

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel. The description of the novel had me intrigued as a New England librarian. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. The story within a story format affected the flow of the novel and I felt it had a negative impact on allowing me to connect with the characters. I also felt that the sudden closeness of the 4 main characters who had just met was a bit unbelievable and forced. Overall, I enjoyed the book enough to finish it but didn't really care who the murderer was and was more invested in the beta readers storyline.

I had the luxury of receiving both a digital ARC from Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley and a printed version from Ultimo Press complete with character cards and a sticky STOP note marking the point where you pop your predicted murderer in the provided envelope. A fun idea ….and I guessed correctly 😉. I flitted between the two, trying to get into the rhythm of the main story, each chapter commented on by a colleague/aspiring writer who himself becomes a person of interest through his email correspondence with the fictional author, Hannah.
There’s a lot going on. Four characters, supposedly unconnected and unknown to each other are in the Boston Public Library Reading Room when they hear a woman scream. A body is found some time later and our protagonists are drawn together in an attempt to piece together the puzzle, as secrets are uncovered, red herrings are thrown in the mix and possible motives are examined and tested. We gradually come to know Freddie (a writer), Cain (also a writer), Marigold (a psychology student who is also a genius) and Whit (a wannabe failed law student) as they become close, navigating friendship, love, suspicion, fear and confusion.
I enjoyed the structure and the guessing game. But was a little let down by the finale. I felt there were other incidents and characters that perhaps deserved a greater role in the way it all played out. But then again when things are left unsaid or merely hinted at….our imaginations are free to run wild.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this for an honest review.

One word I would like to describe this is: wow.

I really enjoyed this book. Four strangers meet by chance at the Boston Public library when a scream is emitted nearby. The guards in the library keep everyone there until they can investigate and come back shortly telling everyone they are free to go, as they find nothing. Thus we begin the story and mystery of what happens next. The main characters of this story are Winifred Kincaid (Freddie), Marigold Anastas (Freud Girl), Whit Metters (Heroic Chin) and Cain McLeod (Handsome Man).

Along with the mystery, is a subplot of the 'author' of the book, Hannah, written via letters from a mysterious Leo, who is shrouded in mystery. But as each chapter progresses, we learn a little more about him.

While I really enjoyed this book, the only thing I did not like was how open-ended Hannah's story ended.

A very unique whodunnit that kept me intrigued in ways that so so so so many mysteries fail to do. Written with amazing verve and precision and creativity, this was exactly what I needed to revive my interest in the genre (if even a little bit). Beware of moments where the author seems to try too hard to be culturally and societally “in the know” but that’s very minor. This book kicked ass! I’ll be looking at Gentill’s back catalogue for sure.

Thank you for this opportunity. Readerly gist under invisiblemonster is by me.

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.

Award-

This was SO well written! It was intelligent and extremely addicting.

It’s a thriller story hidden inside a thriller story about a woman writing a thriller story…. I know that sounds super confusing, but it’s totally not when you’re reading it! I’m not going to say much more about the plot because it’s better if you go in blind.

The beginning was a bit slow, but it starts to pick up about 10 chapters in. When it got going, I couldn’t stop reading. I had to figure out what was going on.

Read this if you liked the movies Knives Out or The Murder on the Orient Express!

I so much wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, I had so much trouble getting into this book. In appreciate what the author was trying to do. It backfired for me. Telling the story as if it is the work in progress of an established author could work, except that the story being told is of a new writer writing about the people she meets when the crime takes place. So we are reading about someone writing about a crime. As if that were not difficult enough to connect with on any level at all, then each chapter is followed by feedback about that novel within the novel. This just took me further out of the story. It was almost impossible to get myself emersed in this mystery.

Written as letters inserted and commenting on the main novel being written with emails also inserted occasionally, this story was well written but somewhat confusing to follow. I enjoyed the mystery and by the end, the creative format came into focus and I could admire the skill of the author to both imagine and write this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC to read and review.

A scream breaks through the silence of the Boston Public Library. Four individuals, unknown to one another at the time of the scream are brought together because of it. But as individuals close to them begin to come in harm's way, these new friends attempt to discover the truth of what happened at the library. As the danger mounts, these four must decide who to trust and who to fear.

This was so intriguingly crafted. I did not know the twist until the very last moment (well done Sulari!) and the way it was told between the story itself and the correspondence with Leo made for a very interesting read. And, I’m still trying to figure out the ending - always a plus! Definitely would recommend!

A crime within a crime within a crime. This gave me a murder mystery in a plot line I never knew I always wanted.

Original and inventive, which is a feat in itself in the days of the constant retelling. Sulari Gentill gives us something completely new and mind staggeringly brilliant.

The setup was unique and the first few chapters drew me in and had all of the what ifs going through my mind, trying to figure out the relationship of our email counterparts, it was all amazing.

I'd run through what I thought was every possible scenario just to be completely blindsided at the end.

I loved everything about this book and the format is just fantastic.

This one is going onto the book club list.

Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and exciting take on a classic mystery format, centered around books and knowledge. Perfect for readers and those with a love of hidden knowledge.

A two-fold story: a novel following a murder in the Boston Public Library and the increasingly suspect email feedback of the novel's beta reader.

Unfortunately, the story within a story format was a complete miss for me. The stylistic choice of presenting an author's manuscript interspersed with notes from her beta reader at the end of each chapter completely disrupted the flow of what was already not a particularly compelling mystery novel. I was so distracted by the commentary that I find it hard even now to comment on the murder mystery part of it all because it felt so... fake? Almost entirely without consequence as it was presented as though "written" by the fictional author Hannah Tigone and not Sulari Gentill.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review

4.5 Stars

Four strangers are sharing a table in the Boston Public library when they are united as a scream is emitted nearby. The guards in the library keep everyone there until they can investigate and come back shortly telling everyone they are free to go, as they find nothing. The four who had been sitting near each other decide to get to know each other better by having coffee together at the Map Room Tea Lounge. They spend hours together getting to know each other and joking around together. The author pulls readers in with this line: “And so we go to the Map Room to found a friendship, and I have my first coffee with a killer.” With this line, we know that one of the three people sharing that table is a killer, but it takes a while to figure out who it is. The main characters are Marigold Anastas (nicknamed Freud Girl), Whit Metters (Heroic Chin), and Cain McLeod (Handsome Man), and the narrator/author of the story as it happens is Winifred Kincaid (Freddie). It also turns out that the woman who screams actually ends up dead and makes the papers the next morning.

This is a complex story containing a lot of interesting detail and a red herring or two. Juxtaposed within the story are a series of email letters between a would-be writer named Leo in Boston and an established author in Australia named Hannah Tigone. Leo starts off as helpful and sends detailed information, corrections, and suggestions to Hannah as she fleshes out her book, which is the story of what is happening with these four characters that get together in the library Map Room. However, as the story progresses, Leo gets a bit unhinged and starts exhibiting signs of anger and frustration at the direction of Hannah’s novel. It’s a fascinating study of watching Leo unravel, as we watch the killer unravel as well, only we don’t know who the killer is yet; we just see another murder and a couple of attacks and some strange goings on as things escalate.

This book is an original! The format is uncommon, yet effective. There is a low-level tension throughout the story, but it isn’t so suspenseful as to be un-put-down-able. Curiosity about how, why, and whodunit will keep readers returning to the story until the end.

Book Review: The Woman In The Library by Sulari Gentill

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Release Date: 7 June 2022

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book to review!

My Thoughts: 4 strangers, 1 murderer. The idea of knowing who the bad guy could be from the very beginning is always a fascinating premise to me. It doesn’t completely leave you surprised in the end, but how everything unfolds does.

I loved the way this book was written! There is a subplot between the author writing (the reader is reading the book that the author- Hannah - wrote) the book and a fellow author that adds in a cool twist. I love when details like that are added into books. I also loved how the main character stuck to her opinions and didn’t let people convince her she was crazy or stupid for decisions she made. She of course did have moments of questioning, but she stuck to her guns overall.

Overall I loved this book and think it was well worth the read. I think if you love the mystery genre, you will love this! This book’s release date is today so go get yourselves a copy! I know I am!

Pros: My favorite thing about this book is its unique format. Rather than being a linear thriller, it is written as a book within a book where the author of the book receives a letter with edits/notes after each chapter from a fan. I had no idea who the murderer was until the very end, and the reveal was a fun surprise. I also love a book that takes place in the literary world, especially one that begins in a library. I thought this book, which is under 300 pages, is a well-paced, fast read.

Cons: I read this book both on ebook and audiobook, and I did not love the audiobook narration, specifically the southern accents.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this book.

3.50 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley for an E-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I loved that the author accomplished a full novel under 300 pages. Too often publishers push writers to extend the length of the book. There must be an assumption that we won't buy a novel unless we feel like we're getting our money's worth. However if you write something well and get it done without unnecessary fodder I appreciate it even more.

The plot on this book was incredibly unique. As we begin reading the book we're introduced to the character, Hannah as the author of the book. Her acquaintance, Leo is writing to her to express his opinion on the rough drafts of each chapter. Hannah's novel itself features the characters of Cain, Winifred (Freddy), Marigold and Whit. These four characters are at the Boston Public Library when a woman named Caroline screams and is later found dead.

The author did a great job of creating confusion and I questioned who the "bad guy" was even as she was revealing the dénouement. It was incredibly well played when we got to the conclusion and the characters themselves were arguing as to who the murderer was. I doubted where the book was going and second guessed myself.

I gave the book 3.50 stars because I was disappointed with how the relationship of Hannah (the fictional author) and her acquaintance Leo progressed. Sulari Gentill wrote the progression of Hannah's book in tandem with the progression of the letters between Hannah and Leo and I expected some incredible shock factor to occur. Instead, those exchanges between Hannah and Leo served no purpose and might cause confusion with readers.

In summary, Sulari Gentill is the author of The Woman in the Library but she's writing a book about an author named Hannah. Hannah is writing a book about Cain and Winifred who are also authors writing books. Ugh, what?

Readers who normally get their content via an audio book may want to skip this one unless they're following along with the book.

When four strangers hear a scream in a library they quickly band together and become fast friends. When a body is discovered many hours later, they become each other’s alibis, but as their backstories come to light and more crimes occur, they are soon questioning if one of them is a murderer, but which one? Gentill has cleverly crafted this book, as the reader finds out early on that the story being told is actually a novel that’s being written, but this novel has a rather creepy twist!