This story is written so cleverly! It’s a story within a story and it’s fantastic! I loved all the layers. This story is full of mystery and intrigue. It held me captive from the start, and I couldn’t wait to get to the bottom of everything that was happening. Great twists and turns that leave the reader feeling excited.

There were a number of clever, enjoyable elements to this book, but the characters just fell flat for me. The story we are reading is presented as chapters sent to a beta reader named Leo. Leo's letters and observations allow Sulari to address some things that might be bothering the reader--like the fact that the characters are barely given a physical description. While I appreciated the self-awareness of some of the story's flaws, it didn't keep me from feeling like I was reading a draft that could still use some polishing, The protagonist--who is also supposed to be writing a book based on the characters that we meet in The Woman in the Library--dubs these characters Handsome Man, Freud Girl, and Heroic Chin. And, for me, they never progressed to much greater depth than that.

When the silence of the reading room at the Boston Public Library is shattered by a woman's scream, it serves as an introduction between four strangers sharing a table: Freddie (Winifred), an Australian writer spending a year in Boston on a scholarship; Cain, a published author working on his second book; psych student Marigold; and Whit, a law student trying to flunk out so he doesn't have to join the family firm. While they wait for the library guards to let them leave, these four young people get to know one another and a friendship begins. When the body of a young woman is discovered in an adjoining room, they realize they all have an alibi since they were together when they heard the scream. But things may not be so straightforward, and danger and suspicion follow them from the library. The writing style of this book is different: each chapter is presented as a chapter in a novel being written by an Australian who has not been to Boston, and concludes with an email response from a fan and "helper" who lives in Boston and provides the author with insights and advice. The emails become a subplot that some may find distracting from the main story, but for me it added an extra dimension of mystery. The book is well written, the characters are engaging, and the plot is twisty and current.

THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY by Sulari Gentill is my first time reading this author's works, so I can't speak to anything other than this novel, which I found odd.

Four people at a table at the Boston Public Library hear a woman scream--that brings them together into a friendship. I don't know why.

These four people have NOTHING in common, and maybe they would meet for a coffee, but to become besties is not in the realm of reality.

One would think a murder in the BPL would make for a fascinating puzzle mystery. It didn't. I guessed the killer 1/3 through despite intense efforts to make the reader believe otherwise.

Thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC.

First off, I'm a sucker for an epistolary novel and an unreliable narrator.

The slow-burn of the frame was wickedly delightful.

Sequel bait at the end? I kid. Maybe.

The Woman in the Library – A whodunit worthy of Agatha Christie! When four strangers are seated together in the reading room at Boston Public Library, they have no idea how intertwined their lives will become after a murder occurs while they are all there – kind of a reverse “locked room” mystery! I’m sure they would have never guessed that one of them would end up the murderer! After talking to the police, they decide to get together again to talk over what has happened and discover all of them are established authors.. The narrator is Freddie, who decides to write a book with the four of them as characters. (There is also a weird writer named Leo who keeps sending her advice on her book, not sure of the purpose but creepy!) and the other three friends are all so believable it is hard to figure out which one is the killer!! Well done and a fun read, Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my copy of this intriguing mystery.

Wow! This book is one fast paced mystery that keeps you guessing who the muderer is until the very end.

I loved that the murder took place in a library as that seems highly unlikely. Four people share a table not realizing that one of them is a murderer. How creepy is that-Yikes! I enjoyed that this had a story within a story.

The book had a slow start. Despite what could have been a good ending to the first chapter and having an amazing hook, the pace was so slow so as to render it dragging.

I also found the book to be littered with mistakes

The Women in the Library by Sulari Gentill begins with an email to Hannah from Leo. We learn that Hannah is writing a new novel about a group of 4 people who hear a scream in the Boston Library. The four begin their friendship to find out what happened. Leo gives Hannah advise and insight after each chapter. I loved this part of the book. I really liked the insight into what one thinks while writing a novel.
From the beginning, we know one of the four is the killer but who is it. This book sucked me in -I was unable to put it down. I don’t know which part I enjoyed more the actual story or the subplot of Leo and Hannah’s correspondence..

I just reviewed The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill. #NetGalley
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Definitely an interesting idea with the two different stories that are told in this book. However, the book itself was kind of average to me.

This was a good read and books that center around a library or book themselves always have a unique vibe to them. The book brings us into the life of writer Winifred, “Freddie” who while working on her story at the Boston Public Library experiences a chilling scene. A woman screams and Freddie, along with her ensemble get to the bottom of it. Nothing is found until the next morning, where it is exposed that a body was found in the library. But with Freddie being a writer, she can’t pass up the opportunity to turn her new found friends and murder mystery into the topic of her next book. The only negatives about the book for me were the extreme mix of Australian, British, and American slang. I found it confusing and kept second guessing myself on who was speaking. I think it could be beneficial for subheadings to be added as the flow from Freddie, to Hannah, to the letters from Leo wasn’t very fluid and I had to do some rereading to reposition myself back in the story.

This was a really interesting mix of two writing tropes--epistolary mixed with a book-with-in-a-book. It's also somewhat of a locked room mystery. We read an Australian writer's work as she writes her mystery story as well as the letters she receives from a fellow writing colleague in Boston with notes on her chapters and ideas about structure and place. It was a very propulsive book and definitely very twisty. The author did a great job balancing both stories.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie or Peter Swanson.

4 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think the idea of this book was unique, having a story within a story is different from other books I’ve read. After each chapter there is a letter from this person critiquing the last chapter and corresponding with the author of the book. Towards the end the letters start to get More interesting but in the beginning I didn’t love it because I feel it kind of messed with the flow of the story. The actual story was fairly interesting but I honestly just didn’t find the characters and situations very believable. Because of this, I became less interested and honestly struggled to finish the book.

Four strangers are sitting near one another in the Boston Public Library when they hear a woman scream. Later, a woman is found dead in the libaray, and these four strangers form a friendship working to unravel the mystery of the murder of The Woman in the Library, by Sulari Gentill.

But this is not just a straightforward murder mystery. The story is framed by emails sent by Leo to an Australian author who is writing the aforementioned murder mystery. This is a totally engaging mystery with surprises around every corner. If you enjoy a mystery, with a little romance thrown in, you'll want to read this book.

Be warned, there are a few bits of foul language

I love reading about books in books and "The Woman in the Library" ticked all the boxes! Gentill's writing style and plot were very unique but I couldn't deny the lack of tension. It's very slow-burn and I like fast-paced books way more!

*DNF*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

I tried to get into this one, but it just was not for me, so I chose to DNF.

Who you meet may not be who they are.
Four strangers begin a conversation while waiting for an all-clear from police after an incident in the Boston Public Library. Three of them inspire characters in the protagonist's draft of her novel. This leads to unexpected relationships, consequences of the initial incident, and a reader who gives initially helpful but increasingly unsolicited input. The result is a cleverly complex reading adventure.

The Woman in the Library will certainly be at the top of my 2022 favorite book list. It is a delightfully complex and unique work where the reader is transported into an author's world and allowed a peek into the development process. The complexity of the embedded story and correspondence is so skillfully blended that it led to a unique and enjoyable experience for this reader

The description of the Boston Public Library and other locations in Boston pulled me into the story; also, it was very interesting how the fictional author was learning such details from another continent. I think many writers will admire the craft of this book as well as the plot.

Sulari Gentil was one of four Australian authors who toured the U.S. in 2019, and I was fortunate to see them at Bouchercon in Dallas, Texas. Their panel was so successful that the conference bookstore ran out of copies. The series has provided welcome escapes during the pandemic, and this book will certainly lead to more American readers joining the Australian fans of her work.

Finally, I must note and compliment the book's gorgeous cover; the print edition will be a welcome addition to my collection.

I was (impatiently!) awaiting the availability of this book in the U.S. (June 2022), and therefore delighted for the opportunity to read the digital copy in exchange for a review. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for their generosity.

Extremely slow paced and found it to be long winded and boring. Just wasn't my idea of a good readable novel.

3.5/5⭐️

In this contemporary mystery-within-a-mystery, four strangers who happen to be sitting at the same table in the Boston Public Library, bond and become unlikely friends following a murder in a nearby room. The only catch? One of them is the killer.

The “within” plot is that this murder mystery is being written in real-time by Hannah (in Australia) who is receiving written unsolicited advice/counsel on this story (and all things Boston/American) from obsessive stalker fan Leo. And I promise it’s not as confusing as I’ve made it sound.

While I did enjoy this to a certain extent and found the idea intriguing, it was entirely too long (however, I was surprised to find that it’s actually just under 300 pages…didn’t seem that way). Better editing would have helped.

So while parts were rambling and needless, otherwise I found it OK…not outstanding but OK.

My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing the free early arc of The Woman in the Library for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

An Australian author writes a murder mystery set in Boston, about an Australian author writing a murder mystery set in Boston, about - well, we’re not entirely sure what Freddie’s book is about because she’s too busy solving a mystery… The Woman in the Library is very clever, and chock-full of bookish references and literary in-jokes. It has very polarised reviews - I guess books with a lot of buzz tend to - but I was thoroughly immersed in this and appreciated the playful and original way Gentill pulls it all together.

Winifred “Freddie” Kincaid has won a scholarship which awarded her a year in a fancy apartment to write her next book. Seeking inspiration, she settles in to the Boston Public Library and observes her fellow bookworms - but the peace is shattered by a woman’s scream. She goes for coffee with the three people at her table, beginning a friendship, a love affair, and an entanglement with a killer…
So begins Hannah Tigone’s latest novel - written from Sydney as the Covid pandemic begins to bite, she is prevented from travelling to the USA for research, so relies instead on her devoted beta-reader, Leo, himself a frustrated writer, to provide local details. Leo, however, has his own ideas about how Hannah’s book should play out…

I’ve done a bit of beta reading for a few authors I’ve befriended by email in recent years, so loved the way this was written into the story - I hope I never become as obsessed or prescriptive as Leo!! This is the second “book within a book” I’ve read recently - not enough to call it a trend, although there are definitely a lot of books about libraries/bookworms/writers coming out - not that I’m complaining!

Lately I’ve become quite critical of authors who try and pretend the pandemic hasn’t happened, so was delighted when this is dealt with - in this case I’m with Leo:
“I notice that you have not once in this novel made any reference to the global pandemic. I understand of course. We’re all sick of it and all it entails. But I think it is the responsibility of writers to bear witness to the darkness as well as the light. Without any mention of the virus, your novel risks being dated before it’s released” and then “Writing a contemporary novel without the pandemic is surely more fantasy than mystery.” The (real) author actually addresses this in the “interview” at the end - I thought this was a brilliant way of dealing with it.

The issue of character race was also addressed using the same device, as Leo writes: “I just defaulted to white because no one mentioned they were Black. I know you’re not white, so maybe your characters aren’t either, and it is only my inherent bias that makes me see them as white unless you tell me otherwise.” (I confess I’m as guilty of this with fiction as Leo.) He comes back to this point again later, getting quite frustrated that Hannah refuses to address it - it’s definitely something I’ve noticed is much more of an issue in the USA than here in Australasia, and the way Gentill handles it (as a woman of colour herself) would make an interesting book club discussion topic.

The mystery part was very well done - even though we’re given only a limited pool of suspects, I didn’t guess whodunnit until the final reveal. I’d never heard of Knox’s Ten Commandments (google it if you haven’t either - it’s amazing how they’ve stood the test of time) but this book manages to follow them while still bamboozling the reader with subtle red herrings. I’ll be looking out for more from this author. 4.5 rounded down for the present tense narration and rather abrupt ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Woman in the Library is published on June 7th.