It was fun getting to read Sulari Gentill’s THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY due to the fact that it takes place in Boston. As a New England girl, I enjoyed seeing references to familiar places in and around the city.

The story itself is a modern take on the classic “locked room” style murder mystery. I will say that I honestly enjoyed the majority of the book, but found the ending to be a bit rushed. I I felt the story built up so much, only to hastily throw a quick (but sloppy) finish in. Also, there is one part that never seemed to really be resolved and was left hanging.

Overall I’d say still worth the read, but fair warning you may be a bit disappointed with the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read a digital ARC.

The Woman in the Library releases on June 7th!

This just wasn't for me. The story within a story got old. The ending was so rushed for both stories. I was also heavily put off by the inclusion of the pandemic. We are still in this and so many people have lost their lives and are traumatized by it. Using the pandemic just didn't land right and made me dislike this book even more.

Winifred (Freddie) was a writer and she had met Cain McLeod (Handsome man), Marigold Anastas(Freud girl), Whit Metters (Heroic chin) in the library. When suddenly they all hear a woman scream. This is where this mystery starts but was it planned for them to all meet there? Is one of them the killer. As, Freddie writes her book it is playing out the murder and she is in contact with Leo and he is helping her with the correct wording. This kept me on the edge of my seat because I didn’t want it to be the one that Leo was suggesting. It went a total different way than what I was thinking. Enjoyed this book and would definitely read more from this author.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving an honest review.

I'm not sure what my thoughts are on this book yet. It was twisty and odd and interesting and creepy at times - pretty much everything you could want in a thriller. But it did leave me hanging just a little bit. This was such a unique writing and I don't think I've read something like it before, but I wish there was a little more to the Hannah/Leo story. The story-within-a-story was an interesting addition to this book. Overall, I did like this book and would recommend it to someone looking for a different kind of thriller. Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital arc of this title.

<ENG> & <ES>
The desperate scream of a female voice is the triggering spark of this slow burning mystery. A murder in the Boston Public Library? Are there witnesses? Slowly, the intrigue is getting temperature, seasoned with a combination of 'sweet, spicy, bland, refreshing, gloomy, provocative, controversial ingredients,... until reaching the boiling point, when I couldn't put it down until the resolution. I will not reveal details so as not to spoil the reading of this carefully intricate plot of writers and writings that I have enjoyed.

Maybe it is noteworthy that towards the 40%, the story seems to stagnate just before a significant twist. And although in retrospect I think it makes sense, I recommend not giving up because thereafter it is action-packed.

in my view, Sulari Gentil is an intelligent, sensitive and courageous author, that I definitely want to keep on my radar.

And, ladies and gentlemen, I think this is a great book to be discussed in a book club !!!

Thanks to Sulari Gentil for the opportunity to enjoy this thoughtful thriller, and to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for being able to access a copy in advance to give my honest opinion.

<SPANISH>
Misterio cocido a fuego lento.
El grito desesperado de una voz femenina es la chispa desencadenante. ¿Cómo? ¿un asesinato en la biblioteca de Boston? ¿Hay testigos? La intriga va cogiendo temperatura poco a poco, salteada con una combinación de ingredientes 'dulces, picantes, sosos, refrescantes, controvertidos, estimulantes,...' hasta llegar al punto de ebullición, momento en el que ya no he podido soltarlo. No desvelaré detalles para no arruinar la lectura de esta especialmente cuidada e intricada historia de escritores y escritos con la que he disfrutado.

Creo que Sulari Gentil, es inteligente, sensible y valiente. Arriesga desarrollando argumentos paralelos, y esa competencia por la atención tal vez frena un poco el ritmo en la primera mitad, pero con ello también alimenta el desconcierto, es provocativa y aviva la curiosidad. 

Creo que es digno de mención que hacia el 40%, la historia parece estancarse justo antes de un giro significativo. Y aunque en retrospectiva creo que tiene sentido, recomiendo no darse por vencido porque a partir de entonces está llena de acción.

Me ha gustado mucho por todo lo mencionado anteriormente y porque tiene un estilo fluido, aporta emoción y valores. Decididamente quiero leer más cosas de esta autora.

Por cierto al final, el ebook incluye una batería de preguntas para discutir, lo que añade un plus para tenerlo en cuenta para nuestro club de lectura. 

Gracias a Sulari Gentil por la oportunidad de disfrutar del suspense reflexivo, y a Sourcebooks y Netgalley por poder acceder anticipadamente a una copia para aportar mi honesta opinión.

The Woman in the Library is a story within a story. Hannah Tigone is writing a “reverse” locked room mystery. The story she writes is about four strangers whose lives become entangled after hearing a woman scream while sitting in the Boston Public Library. The four of them later learn that a woman was found dead and one of them is accused of being the murderer. Hannah is sending drafts of her book to Leo, a fan and aspiring writer. Leo sends comments and suggestions to help develop her story, but his correspondences become increasingly dark as the story progresses.

I really enjoyed the story within a story concept. I thought this book had a strong start but the ending felt a bit rushed and I had wished we got more of the Hannah/Leo story. I would still recommend this one if you want a quick read as the chapters are short.

Oh my goodness-a fantastic book;. Creative literary devices; entertaining characters. So many layers-so many mysteries! And the setting added so much to the story. A high recommend. To write more would give away the complexities of the plot.

This was a smart, tense, twisty story, and I enjoyed it very much. This is a story within a story, about an author actively working on a book. We read what's happening in the author's world, but then also get glimpses into her manuscript. It's really clever, and I enjoyed the back-and-forth.

Add in a crowded library, a table full of strangers, a mysterious scream, and you have a wonderful adventure.

The portrayal of an author being distracted by the details of her surroundings instead of getting work done is laughingly perfect.

The Woman in the Library is an ingenious mystery within a mystery. It begins with a murder in the library when four strangers hear a scream and retire for some coffee to talk it over. They subsequently learn there was a murder and think they might solve it. And they’re off…

Or more accurately, a new mystery novel is off to a bracing start. The author shares her ongoing manuscript with her greatest fan who offers his opinions along the way. His opinions get more forceful as the mystery takes shape. She includes a character with his name which flatters him tremendously but he becomes dogmatic and demanding when the character does not meet his expectations. She is simply not writing the mystery the way he wants.

Meanwhile, the four sleuths learn more about each other and find reasons to suspect the killer might be one of them.



I have enjoyed Sulari Gentill’s series featuring the charming Rowland Sinclair and his coterie of creative and interesting friends. The characters are easy to love and I usually enjoy the characters more than the plot. The Woman in the Library is a stand-alone novel and I am blown away by both the characters and the plot. It is ingenious, so very ingenious and you simply have to take my word for it because I absolutely will not spoil the surprise for you.

I received an e-galley of The Woman in the Library from the publisher through NetGalley

The Woman in the Library at Poisoned Pen Press | Sourcebooks
Sulari Gentill author site
My reviews of five Rowland Sinclair novels

This was the mystery I didn't know I needed! Not only was the story amazing, but the format made it even better. It all starts with a scream at the Boston Public Library that tie four strangers together. We follow them as they try to determine the killer. But wait! We, the reader are following Australian writer, Hannah, as she writes this book and sends chapter's to her colleague in Boston. Things get a little strange as we follow their correspondence. Two mysteries in one book! Thank you, NetGalley!

Author Sulari Gentill gives us a story within a story and I was here for it!
I love reading keeping me on my toes books on the final outcome.
Well written thriller, suspenseful, and had me feeling like I was part of the story.
Good read!

(3.75 stars)

This was a strange one for me. I don't usually go for thrillers/murder mysteries but I found it quite difficult to put down. And yet, I can't say for sure that I particularly enjoyed it. The writing style was strange, I thought it fluctuated between flowery prose and very blunt and straight to the point sentences, and I didn't really care for any of the characters outside of Joe the Doorman and occasionally Marigold when she wasn't blindly following Whit. What really hooked me in was the fact that we got two books in one: the main plot (a novel being beta read by Leo), and what was unfolding in the emails between Hannah and Leo. Leo, I think, was the most interesting character in the novel and we never even met him outside of his emails.

Overall, it was an intriguing novel but not one I'm sure I'll ever go back to.

A story, within a story, within a story? Sign me up! This was a very unique novel that turned out to be a cozy, reverse locked room mystery. The emails from beta reader, Leo, confused me as first but when I realize their context to the overall plot I really enjoyed them and their increasing intensity. I enjoyed the COVID commentary that includes the pandemic but also doesn’t really include the pandemic. If your looking for a mind-bending mystery, this one is for you!

"The Woman in the Library" by Sulari Gentill is a book with a Double Mystery and a quadrilateral cast of interesting characters. This twisted story begins when a Mysterious Woman's SCREAMS in the Boston Public Library! We have strangers in the library Freddie, Cain, Whit, and Marigold who are terrified and curious by the SCREAM of death! Next we have a Cat and Mouse twisted style Who Done It Mystery!! Are the strangers really strangers and who is telling the truth and who is keeping big secret's and who had coffee with the murderer?!?! Definitely a must fast paced read!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐

💫THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR, Poisoned Pen Press, AND NETGALLEY FOR THE E-ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!

#TheWomanintheLibrary
#NetGalley

I thought the book was intelligent and an unputdownable book. I enjoy books that have a story inside the main story since it makes the book very interesting. even though you may have to go back a few times to see if you read something correctly.

The was an interesting premise, with a book inside a book. I would've liked to get a better sense of all the characters. The answer to the whodunit was not a huge surprise, but the motive was implausible. Good beach read.

Aussie writer Winifred “Freddie” is in Boston on a scholarship decided to take her writing to the Boston Public Library for inspiration. While sitting at a table with three strangers there’s a woman’s terrified scream. Security comes up to them and tells them not to move until they have located the scream and resolved what ever issue has arose. The four strangers strike up a conversation and it’s not long before they are fast friends. When a body is discovered the four of them set out to find out exactly what happened. It becomes really important to find that killer especially when it seems that the murderer thinks the four of them might have witnessed something and decides to come for them.

Whoa, ok first off this is like a book within a book and I’m here for it. There’s two separate storylines here and I think it works really well. I also find it quite original. This one is full of suspense, twists, and surprises that you won’t see coming. This kind of gave me Agatha Christie vibes and y’all know I love AC vibes. My first read by the author and it definitely won’t be my last one. Thanks to Netgalley for an arc to review for my honest opinion.

Oh how I love metafiction and The Woman in the Library pulls off three layers of meta expertly! The author recognizes the intelligence of the reader and progresses the intricate, but not confusing, story at quick pace. There is significant tension in the first and second layers so the reader stays actively engaged and worried for the characters and characters of the characters. So often, thrillers rely on tired, overused tropes to create suspense, so I commend Gentill on her ingenuity in creating a new tactic for the thriller genre. No doubt it will likely be copied by others as it is genius! I particularly loved how the multiple storylines intertwine and inadvertently muddle the perception of the characters, steering the reader in a direction that adds to the suspense. A must read for anyone tired of the same old thriller tropes and looking for a creative and engaging read!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy.

This author is so talented and gave a us a book worth reading. Pay attention, this mystery is layered and intertwined with another story and an additional story within itself. All this adds to the mystery and keeps the reader hooked on this journey to find out who dunnit! I was commited from the beginning, it was a bit slow, but the reward was worth it all. A must read for 2022.

Perfectly twisty and clever. A story within a story in a story. Not always easy to follow but a fun read nonetheless with an Indian structure. The beginning was slow but makes more sense later in the book and by midway, I needed to know what was going on, really.