Cover Image: The Woman in the Library

The Woman in the Library

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

Was this review helpful?

A captivating mystery that at first had me confused... a book, within a booK?! Who is real and who is fictional again?! As I read on, the way the novel was formatted helped to keep all that clear. There were actually many twists and turns, revelations, etc. that kept me on my toes and kept me guessing! I thought that each of the primary characters in the "book" could have been a culprit. My only complaint was that the story of the "real" people in the novel wasn't quite as fleshed out as I was hoping. I am sure this was intentional, but I think some additional details would have really helped round out the story.

Was this review helpful?

The woman in the library isn’t who I expected her to be. This story isn’t as I expected at all and I really enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

2.5 stars.

When I had requested this book way back when, I’d found the title intriguing. There was a library involved and what it seemed to promise to be: a murder mystery. And though both of these are true, it missed a crucial part of the whole setup - that of being coherent.

While I get that some mysteries take some time to build on the premise, to be slow in doling out chunks of information to the readers so that they can savor it as they do, they also need to be able to hold the reader’s attention and not make want to roll their eyes back into their heads. Though The Woman in the Library starts off with a promising premise, it doesn’t manage to keep my attention and some of the ‘character studies’ were so bare, rough, and obvious that I did indeed roll my eyes so hard, I still feel the after effects as I write this.

The Woman in the Library is about four people who happen to meet in a library and become friends when they live through what can only be described as a coincidence. A woman’s scream rents the air, giving them a common talking point, and how the story went from there tested my patience while keeping me invested - a strange combination to be.

Everything seemed contrived and abrupt, like a Jenga tower at the end of its tether, balanced precariously on a column of bricks. The part at the end of each chapter where the fictional Australian author Hannah corresponds with her American ‘friend’ Leo had me sighing in irritation. That whole plot point was probably not necessary and yet, as I think of how it would look if it were to be removed from the book - I can’t contemplate it. Which is strange. And it annoys me even more!

One might think that, “Hey, even if the book didn’t deliver, at least the ending delivered, didn’t it?” And my answer would be an emphatic NO. I usually tend to like open endings, trust me, because they leave so much room for interpretation. But in a book that’s tested my patience like this, I like to know that I’ve walked away with a story that’s been wrapped up well. That ending wasn’t left open for interpretation; it was left open to keep that itch alive in my brain. I can’t tell you how it’s succeeding so far!

My talking about the book might give you the impression that I HATED it. I did not. As I’ve mentioned before, I was invested even though I didn’t find the payoff to be great. And that’s the gist of what I felt about this book. Nothing else to add.

Was this review helpful?

This was interesting story- it had a lot of potential. At some parts I felt let down and with some others I loved it. The ending was WTF.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book for free from netgalley for an honest review.

Really well thought-out book with amazing characters and amazing setting.

Was this review helpful?

Okay, I don't know how to feel about The Woman in the Library.

The entire book is written as a story within a story. Which, at first, was a really interesting concept. However, it started getting really confusing to follow along with. Especially when I'd put the book and pick it back up later. I'd forget what side of the story I left off on, and then it'd get muddled.

Add to that, the "real life" side of the story was kind of boring. I started skipping through all that at one point. Then when it started getting interesting, it also started to not make a lot of sense . . . to the point that at the ending, I have no idea what the point of it was. A lot of it was irrelevant.

Great concept, but poor execution. I admit that it did keep me somewhat entertained and curious, so I do give it that.

Was this review helpful?

I couldn't get through this one, i couldn't find myself to care about the characters or about the mystery. Slow pacing and it didn't keep my interest.

Was this review helpful?

while the plot and setting were an excellent combination, the characters were hard to relate to and care about.

Was this review helpful?

The Woman in the Library was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022 and it was so good! I loved the writing because it really kept me engaged in the story, and the twists and turns kept me turning the pages long after I should have been asleep. Definitely keeping an eye out for more by Sulari Gentill!

Was this review helpful?

Alright, so the framing device for this book might not be for everyone, but I loved it. In this book, you get to read a polished manuscript chapter, then feedback from a mysterious man named Leo. So you, as the reader, have two mysteries to solve: the library scream and dead body in the manuscript and who this Leo person is. The pacing was perfect. I stayed up maybe way too late reading this one.

(I hated the ending, though.)

Was this review helpful?

Oh, this was so disappointing. I was pulled in by the promise of a murder in a library and a group of unlikely friends, but all I got in the end was an incredibly disjointed mystery and a lackluster ending.

I'm not sure this book knew what it wanted to be. We jumped between character studies, relationships between the characters, montages of the writing process, the murder mystery plot, and these incredibly unnecessary interludes.

The interludes with the beta reader that turns out to be an unsavory character were so unnecessary and never tied into the actual plot of the rest of the book. I kept waiting for it to come full circle and it never did. I was also incredibly uncomfortable with the discussions of race and the pandemic, especially in this context because I feel like they were irrelevant to the story and not wrapped up properly enough to justify including.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first Sulari Gentill book but it certainly won't be my last. I loved the plot and the setting. Gentill did an excellent job of fully developing the characters -- it truly hooked me until the very end. A great book for 2022!!

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately this was a DNF or put aside book. It did not grasp my attention nor could I get into the story. Maybe I’ll pick it up later and try listening to it? Thanks anyway NetGalley for the ARC. 😞

Was this review helpful?

A group of people are forced into friendship over witnessing a murder in a library. As they try to solve the mystery, we as the reader learn we are actually witnessing a real world However, these friends are fictional characters in a book that is being written by a real-world author that is corresponding with her editor long distance during the pandemic. One oscillates between the story being written and the author/editor "real world" story. it is an interesting premise, but I felt it was choppy and odd to create a story centered around creating another story. It ends up being two mysteries unraveling at the same time. I felt there were too many Australian wording choices constantly pointed out and descriptions that were unnecessary. The editing could have been better. The story was not super compelling. The characters were not overly likable and had dull predictable personalities. Also, the whole pandemic emphasis was over the top and now dates the book. overall, not one I would recommend unless the person is a diehard mystery reader for something different.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great book but it definitely did my head in. I am not the audience this book is for. The writing was good and I did like the characters- but I had no idea what was going on. It confused me so much.

Was this review helpful?

Found this extremely hard to get into so I ended up DNFing after a couple of chapters. The introduction of the characters was too forced and the entire set up just made it very hard for me to get into, my apologies.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eArc in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Harriet is an Australian implant writer who hopes to find inspiration for a novel while staring at the ceiling at the Boston Public Library. Cain, Whit, and Marigold happen to be sitting at the same table when they hear the horrendous noise of a woman’s screams. Shocked, they end up striking up a quick and effortless friendship…only to find out soon after that the screaming woman was murdered. Who murdered her? Could it possibly be someone at the table?

This is a fun whodunnit that is told from Harriet’s POV. Alternating chapters tell a story within a story through Leo, a fan of an author named Hannah, who is writing the story we’re reading. She sends him chapters of her book and he responds to each one, helping with advice. Will his insight be impactful?

This mystery is fun, with a great group of characters to get to know. I suspected quite a few folks at one time or another…and yet, I wasn’t completely blown away when all was revealed. That didn’t deter my engagement.

While I don’t want to say too much more (although other reviews do…beware), I’ll add that this novel serves food for thought on racial equality and pandemics in writing. It does NOT get too heavy though.

Overall, I would recommend this to readers looking for an entertaining and sometimes humorous mystery that balances the right amount of depth without ever taking itself too seriously.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book was quite the adventure! I really enjoyed the back and forth between the novel and Freddie's exchange with "Leo". I listened to this one on audio, which was extremely well done. The wordplay between Australian and American culture as far as words, mannerisms etc that Leo educated Freddie on via his letters was fun to learn about, although his increasing obsession with crime was less so. Overall there were plenty of plottwists I didn't see coming and this was a very well-woven story

Was this review helpful?

I’m not quite sure what I read here. Is it supposed to be a mystery? It sure didn’t seem that way. Bland characters, slow pacing, and boring storyline. Need I say more?

Was this review helpful?