The Woman In The Library by Sulari Gentill is making waves, showing up in all the upcoming thriller lists, and rightfully so, as this thriller had me spinning in crazy circles trying to keep tracks running in the story.

The Woman In The Library is ' a book, about a book, about a book'…I should probably write another’ about a book in there, It is that convoluted but the plot is definitely not a conundrum of mess which is hard to follow. Sulari Gentill is writing the story of an author called Hannah Tigone, who coz of the pandemic is in Australia unable to travel. So we have got the thread with Hannah who is an author writing the story of a woman called Winifred or Freddie as she is called who is again a mystery author. Thus Sulari Gentill brilliantly establishes 2 threads running in the story and then we begin thread #3, with Freddie writing a story based on her experience meeting 3 people in the library in the reading room of the Boston Library. Finally adding to the pulse-pounding action is the email correspondence from Leo Johnson, the beta reader for Hannah who becomes the eyes and ears for her scouting for locations and correcting the commonly used colloquialisms that may not come naturally for an Australian author.

Leo’s emails to Hannah begin in a benign fashion, the profusion of love and respect for a well-estabihsed author very well evident, but soon the tone changes into something dark, criticizing, and forceful in rewriting the story to his vision. Meanwhile, Freddie faces the dilemma of having bonded with the 3 other people upon a “scream” and then facing the danger of a murderer amidst them.

A crackling mystery that keeps the readers on their toes, I loved Sulari Gentill’s lacework braiding together layers upon layers towards a dizzying race to the finish line. It was also refreshing how Gentill explores the different types of techniques used by the authors, we have Freddie thru Hannah who writes things from a blank mind, letting the story speak for itself, we have Cain who follows the methodical plotting of the story complete with flow charts and diagrams. There is also the discussion about all stories are in one way or another about relationships and particularly romance; irrespective of the genre it is tied to, something that I have always believed to be true. Highly intelligent and cleverly crafted, The Woman in The Library will mess up with your head but YOU ARE GONNA LOVE THIS MESS.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

This review is published on my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Book Bub, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I LOVED this one, I loved the story within a story. At times I felt so lost but it all made sense in the end! 4 stars!

4ish stars

This was a weird, interesting, multi-layered story within a story (within another story? wild). I requested and received this one so long ago that I’d kind of forgotten what it was supposed to be about, so I went into it not really knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by much of it; good choice, past version of me! It was definitely a fun book.

I want to start off by saying that I received complimentary ebook copy. In return for my honest thoughts and my review. I have to say that I enjoyed the characters and the world that the author created. A book about a story within a story amazing. I never read a book that has a story within a story before. I couldn’t put this book down. Can’t wait for the release of this book. Definitely will be ordering my own ebook copy. I would of like to know what happened to the character who was emailing Hannah the author left me hanging on what happened to that character. I would have also like to know how things went with Cain and Freddie.
I was on edge while reading I was trying to figure how and who was behind murders and why. I believe I am like Freddie always wanting to give people the benefit of the doubt. I highly recommend this book it releases June 7, 2022. Thank you to publisher and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read such amazing book.
About Book:
Four strangers who happened to be at the library when they all hear a woman scream. Later to learn that she was murdered. These four strangers learn that somehow things are connected. Freddie try’s to understand what’s going. These four strangers become friends really quickly. Even some love interest. Again highly recommend this book. All my reviews will be posted to goodreads and bookbub. My review will be posted on amazon on release date.

3.5, rounded to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC of The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill. This was my first time reading this author. What was different to me about this book was the story inside a story plus email correspondence giving constructive feedback on the fiction story. Boy, I hope I got that all right! Freddie is an author, in Australia, who is writing a fiction novel about a murder in Boston. She has an assistant, Leo, who is her eyes and ears in Boston to help her get all the details right. The four strangers who dominate the story are interesting, each carrying their own stories,lies and secrets. It is a book that must be paid attention to, or I'm afraid the reader could get hopelessly lost. This was not a fast read for me, but I was curious to find out who the killer was. The author is good at misdirection, but there were some clues that were inconsistent and/or hard to believe.
#NetGalley

the general setting of the book sounded great. the plot line was not bad, it kept me wanting to read, to know what was going to happen next. however i think the narrative style of this isn't the best and it actually takes away form the story. it could've been a good, good book,

Really enjoyed this book, the setting and the mystery was great and can't recommend this enough. If you want a bookish exciting read then pick this book up.

A story within a story as well as a murder mystery? Sounds like a fun time. For some odd reason, I couldn’t quite get Agatha Christie’s “Cards on a Table” from my mind as I was reading. Maybe there’s slight similarities, I digress. Will say this book wasn’t as fun as I expected, it was an okay time. the writing style is light and easy enough for anyone to sail through in a few hours and the mystery intriguing enough to keep your attention. Didn’t quite get that ending however.

I looooooooved the first 90% of this book. Flew through it. Can't remember the last time I read a book this fast.
And then I realized I only had 10% left and I was like oh no. There is no way that's enough time to wrap this up well.
And I was right. The conclusion of both of the storylines really disappointed me, which was tragic because this was a rare book where I loved them both. I thought the entire concept of this story was BRILLIANT, and I just wanted so much more to be done with it.
I literally read through the entire reader's guide in the back because I was hoping it was secretly a fake reader's guide with more content.
That being said,,, I know endings are really important in a thriller, but I still loved this one. If the concept sounds good to you, I think you'll still enjoy it and it's worth a read. The 2020 setting adds some very interesting depth to the story, without being pandemic-y. You'll see what I mean.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with this amazing e-arc.
4 stars
This was one of my most anticipated reads for this month and let's say it did not disappoint. I didn't know the author before reading this, but I can't wait to check out more of their work in the future.

I enjoyed this book! It was different from what I expected but in a good way! I enjoyed the format. It was a story within a story. I liked the visuals and description of the library. It's a cool concept. A murderer in a library. It became darker as it went on and was a good show burn. Sometimes it felt a little forced and I didn't feel as connected to the characters. The difference in dialect also threw me off sometimes. But overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it to other mystery/thriller readers.

I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately it didn't work for me.

I struggled with the format of the narrative. I found the emails between the chapters distracting and a bit confusing. I understood that they added another layer of tension to the book, but they also interrupted the flow of the mystery.

The main mystery itself was intriguing, although I wish there was more to the ending. This could be a solid pick for fans of unique, intellectual mysteries!

What a fantastic read! This is a one of a kind, must read, cannot put down story. Oh and there's a story within the story. This creative writing just blew me away. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will just say go and preorder this now!
Pub Date is June 07, 2022.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a very confusing book but very good. It’s like a story within a story. Four become friends at the Boston Public Library when they hear a woman scream. Eventually a woman is found murdered and they discover that one of them might be the murderer but do t know how because they were together when the scream happened. Cain, Whit, Marigold and Winifred, (Freddie) become good friends in the midst of a crisis. One is a journalist, two are writers one is a student.. Freddie is a novelist with main characters of Handsome Man, Heroic Chin and Freud Girl based on the three friends in the library. Leo Johnston, who is a beta reader Hannah Tigon an Australian who because of the pandemic and closed countries can’t travel to the IS for research for her novels progress.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC of this hook.

I seriously could not put this book down. I did not know what to expect from this book, but the twists kept coming and I needed to know what was happening! It was a bit Inception-esque with a mystery book inside a mystery book. It is a fun and exciting spin on the mystery novel.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 7, 2022
Hannah is in the United States, from Australia, after receiving a literary award. Now, desperate for inspiration for her new book, she winds up at the beautiful Boston Public Library. Around her at the table are four strangers whom she gives nicknames to in her head based on their appearance or chosen reading material, but when a woman’s panicked scream echoes through the library, the group become fast friends, bonding over the mystery. As Hannah and her new friends, Whit, Marigold and Cain try to uncover who screamed (and why), they become tangled in a mystery that serves as inspiration (and warning), to them all.
“The Woman in the Library” by Sulari Gentill is a story-within-a-story. As Hannah’s story is told, each chapter ends with a letter to Hannah from a fan (who is identified as “Leo”), who, as Hannah’s story continues to unfold, becomes more and more unsettled and disturbed. “Woman” is also about the act of writing (well before the final pages are published) and Gentill is honest with her depiction of the struggles and challenges of the writing process. Of course, the beginning of the novel takes place in a library, so that piqued my interest, too.
I loved all of the characters in this novel (regardless of their unusual names) and when the woman is found dead, and any one of them could be a suspect, I was caught up in the mystery. The mysterious “Leo” brings up the fact that none of the characters are described by race, which leaves the reader to make their own assumptions (and through that, their stereotypes). I enjoyed being able to completely develop the physical images of the characters in my head based on Gentill’s purposely scant details.
Although Hannah’s story was entertaining and suspenseful, the “Leo” subplot left me wanting. I loved the crazy, stalker, obsessed “Leo” (and the fact that his name existed in Hannah’s real world friendly neighbour), but I did not get enough of him. I wanted more of how he came to be, his relationship with Hannah (real or imagined) and every nitty gritty detail, beyond what was depicted in letters. I loved both the library and the Leo storyline, and I think Gentill would’ve done better to use each storyline in their own novel, instead of weakly connecting Hannah and Leo.
I am quick to devour any novel that has a library as a setting, or is about books, writing or libraries, so “The Woman in the Library” was a hands-down obvious choice. I thoroughly enjoyed each twist and turn, and the ending was just surprising enough that it left no unanswered questions but still managed to not be completely out of left field. Gentill is a writer that I was pleased to discover, and I look forward to her future works.

A scream rings out in a library bringing together four strangers, striking up a conversation that evolves into a friendship. A woman is found murdered in the library and there is a murderer among them.

Sounds like a fantastic plot to a thriller.. and author, Hannah Tigone, concurs and is up to the task of seeing where this plot will go. The Woman In The Library is a story within a story.. within a story. Hannah is writing a story about aspiring author Winifred Kincaid (Freddie), who is one of the four strangers in the library. Freddie is taking the events of what is happening in her life and trying to piece them into a novel of her own. Meanwhile, Hannah is receiving correspondence from a fan that at first seems to be advisory but slowly spiraling into something a little more sinister.

I was entertained by this book. I thought it to be interesting and a unique take on the thriller genre. Red herrings are thrown all over the place keeping the reader guessing until the end. While I enjoyed the correspondence from the fan and I felt it added a quirkiness to the story, I was at times distracted by the switch in story and also that ''story'' didn't feel complete to me. Overall a great story, I recommend for those that love a good whodunit with a few twists and turns to keep you guessing.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.

The peace of the Boston Public Library Reading Room is destroyed one day when a woman screams and four people are brought together. Freddie, Cain, Marigold, and Whit strike up a friendship that day, and then decide to investigate. Yet, one of them is a murderer.

The start of the book left me a bit confused as it starts with a letter to Hannah from someone named Leo. But it soon becomes clear that Hannah is writing a new book and Leo is a fan of her writing and is beta-reading her newest novel. The story of the scream in the library and Freddie, Cain, Marigold, and Whit’s friendship is all part of Hannah’s story.

Of course, we soon find out that Cain, a writer himself, has served time in prison. He killed his step-dad when he was 15, he claimed it was self-defense, but his step-dad was a decorated policeman. Cain served his sentence and is trying to put his past behind him. The woman who screamed, Caroline Palfrey, later turns up dead and is the granddaughter of the judge who convicted Cain. Then Whit ends up stabbed (he’s fine) and his mom was Cain’s lawyer. It doesn’t look good for Cain, but Freddie, who is in love with him, doesn’t believe he’s guilty of any of this. While it seems naive at times that Freddie still believes him, it also seems that Cain is too obvious a suspect throughout the book.

The twist at the end of who the real killer is was great and made for a good story. But the last chapter didn’t feel like the end of the book. I was surprised by the ending and super annoyed at the same time. I felt like there should’ve been another chapter or two. I also wonder if the ending in Hannah’s story is supposed to mirror her own story of what happens in her world.

Still an inventive story and I’m also up for a good frame story, and I’m curious if she’ll come back to these characters in the future.

Imagine if you were sitting in the prestigious Boston Public Library at a reading spot with 3 strangers. The security guards have everyone on lockdown after a woman let out a blood-curdling scream and it needs to be investigated. Later a body is found and you find out that one of the 3 people you were sitting with is the murderer. Isn't that creepy? 😱

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill is a very enjoyable book for several reasons. It's not just one fascinating plot, it's two! The story centers on a well-known author writing a book about an author who is writing a murder mystery. Basically it's a book in a book. Yes! You read that right! As crazy as it sounds, it works.

The characters are all interesting and the novel is a real page turner! I spent the entire book running different scenarios in my head trying to figure out who did what! Give this book your full attention. There is a lot going on, but it is totally worth the read.

The Woman in the Library is available on June 7th. (4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)

Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for the honor of reviewing this exceptionally creative book. I look forward to more from Sulari Gentill.

I just finished this book and I feel.... Confused? I'm not really sure how I feel about it tbh. I'll admit, the first 50% I almost gave up. I just wasn't invested or really interested at all.

Once hitting about 50% it really picked up and got exciting. I was actually enjoying reading to try to figure out what in the world was going on. I had many questions while reading this story, and unfortunately most of them were left unanswered. It ended and I was like, "wait what??".

A book within a book can either be a hit or a miss for me. This one (a book within a book within a book!?? Book-ception....) was a bit of a miss. It mostly just left me confused, and I felt myself wanting to skip the emails when I got to them!

Overall, this is a decent mystery that did keep me on my toes and have a nice twist, however it just needed more... Plot? Character development? A clear conclusion? Something.

Thank you Poised Pen Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is due for publication 6/7/22.