Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to review The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill that will be released on March 19, 2024.

A tagline for this book is "There's nothing easier to dismiss than a conspiracy theory - until it turns out to be true." Our main character Theo comes to America from Australia to visit and stay with her brother Gus. She has left law school to become a writer which turns out to be her true passion. During her stay she picks a bar/cafe to go every day and write, and there she meets another writer that literally changes her life. (Not in a good way) If you as a reader, who appreciates a story involving preppers, conspiracy theories, writers, mystery and suspense with a little bit of small-town life and romance thrown in, then this is the book for you.

My interest while reading this book ebbed and flowed. At times I was incredibly invested in the story and other parts seemed confusing and/or too rushed, but also slow if that's possible. I loved all three main characters (Theo, Gus, and Mac) and was definitely invested in what would happen to them. The plot and climax at the end of the story was not strong enough for me after reading all the led up. On the other hand, I did still enjoy the book and would recommend to thriller, mystery/suspense readers. I gave this book a solid 3.5 star. The Mystery Writer will be released in March of next year.

The Woman in the Library was one of my top three books last year and The Mystery Writer has officially cemented Gentill as a must read author for me. Her plots are inventive and gripping without ever crossing the line into unbelievable or ridiculous, and she’s one of the few mystery writers who crafts fully developed characters and is truly gifted with words.

I think I have read every book written by Sulari Gentill and I must say I have really enjoyed them, their style and the the twist, but this one, for me, did not hit the mark. A well written book, an enormous twist and very thought provoking. ending. Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DR .

Finished this book in 2 days. It was captivating with a plot that I have never experienced before. Yes, there was murder and mystery but until about the last few chapters, I had no inkling of who was behind everything. It was fun reading about the chaos unraveling but keeping it light and both stressed for the main characters. There were parts in the book at first that made no sense and I was confused why it was in there. I skipped it initially but later on, everything was wrapped up in a nice bow so I had to go back. The ending was thought provoking and made me reflect on process of writing and publishing a book.

Mystery thrillers aren’t usually my gig - I really enjoyed this. It was well written and intricate plot with lots of twists and turns. 3.5 rounded up. Good read. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I loved Sulari Gentill's most recent novel, The Woman in the Library, so I was excited to get an advance reader copy of The Mystery Writer. Like the Woman in the Library, The Mystery Writer a very clever and meta look at writing and publishing, which had me smiling as I read. Both the plot and tone shifted from mystery to thriller part of the way through, which was a bit jarring, but I was glad I kept reading for the satisfying resolution.

I liked the first 20% of the book, but when what was happening became apparent, I was less interested - felt a little ridiculous (and maybe it was supposed to be?) I think this just wasn't the right book for me.

Theo or Theodosia leaves her career as an attorney to finish a novel. She shows up at her brother's house asking to stay with him. The person she admires the most (a very successful author) is murdered and she is determined to find the killer.

Theo's brother Gus, becomes a murder suspect while Theo continues to try and solve this crime. This book is thought provoking and fast- paced, one that keeps the reader turning pages. Powerful, Enthralling and Thought- Provoking! 3.5 stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy! The release date is 3/19/24.

Before I begin, I want to express gratitude to Poisoned Pen Press, Sourcebooks Inc., and Sulari Gentill for giving me an Advanced Reader Copy of The Mystery Writer.

Plot:
Abandoning a lucrative career as a lawyer, Theo appears with her two suitcases at the doorstep of her lawyer brother, Gus. Why? Because she wants to be a writer. With an unfinished novel and a supportive brother, Theo finds time to write at the Benders.
An extraordinary stroke of luck brings an accomplished author, Dan, to become her mentor. Only, he ends up brutally murdered. And then chaos ensues; people start turning up dead. Gus is implicated and interrogated. To protect Gus, Theo must do the unthinkable; she must die. But there's more at play than what meets the eye.
Amidst dying hope and danger, Gus and Mac must untangle the web of lies surrounding them.

Review:
I loved the central characters: Theo, Gus, and Mac. They were engrossingly alive and endearing. Their aspirations, actions, and quirks made them relatable.
The coffee bar setting, the detailed references littered throughout, the writer community representation, the influence of writers, the Lawrence vibe, and the Christmasy mood, I liked it. The element of absurdity introduced by the conspiracy theorists was a very creative move that was well executed.
The first 75% made me enjoy the book. However, the last 15% undid the entire mood. At that point, there was no mystery; the narrative suddenly became very caricaturish, and then random stuff happened to create a climax.
This book was very close to becoming a whodunit that you re-read for the mood, the setting, and the themes.

Though I was disappointed by the ending, still, it was a good first read. Readers who are new to the genre or occasional readers may really like it. It has debut-writer vibes, relatable characters, and a cozy mystery mood, that make it charming.

I enjoyed this book so much, it was an ARC I received from Poisened Pen press, and I appreciate the opportunity to give my honest review.
One thing that stood out to me about this book was the realistic portrayal of what it would be like to be an actual writer , or at least how I envision it in my mind. The other thing that I enjoyed was the relationship between Theodosia and her brother - it’s not often a relationship that is non romantic has such depth, and I loved that!
The ending was a nice synopsis of the tire book. I really enjoyed the ending.- even though it was totally not what I expected!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of The Mystery Writer in exchange for a review.

I’d give this 2.5 ⭐️ overall. The premise was interesting and unique, but there was somehow too much and not enough happening at the same time. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and had a hard time staying engaged.

In short, I really wanted to love the book based on its premise, but the execution of it was a miss for me.

What an engaging read! Sulari Gentill is a plot creater genius! The twists and turns were captivating. While I have to confess I "figured it out" early on - the author kept me wondering, maybe I was wrong. I really loved the character development and the interesting biological family back stories. I'm pretty sure this was written as a stand alone book but I'd love to see these characters in action again. Now, off to read other books by Sulari Gentill.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

This novel is a suspenseful mystery/thriller. It centers around a female author (Theo) seeking a publisher. When she has a brief affair with another author, it sets off a series of murders that may or may not be connected to Theo. Who is behind these murders? What are the motives? Are Theo and her family and friends in danger?

The characters in this book are ones that few readers could relate to. The book is more of a thriller than a mystery, as Theo's world is turned upside down by events surrounding her. The author takes us to the dark web, to a family of survivalists and a world full of conspiracy theories. Quite spectacular but not very believable.

This book will resonate with readers of fantasy thrillers, but not someone like me that likes character-driven stories.

This kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! I highly recommend this to any thriller book clubs out there!

I have read two of the author's standalone novels and loved them. This one is just as good.. I liked the three main characters. The chat room parts threw me at first, but they made sense after a while. I found the ending to be exciting.
This is a good mystery that I read in one day. .I recommend it to those who like mysteries and stories about writers and writing.

Wow- this book was not what I expected! The cover had me expecting a whodunnit type mystery. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure about this one for awhile. I was afraid it was going to go in an odd “lizard people” “election was faked” type of direction.

But it didn’t- and by the halfway point I was hooked.

Some things were a little predictable- I pinpointed the villain pretty early on, but that’s ok. Overall, it was fun and I really enjoyed this book.

A very stunning and captivating read by Sulari Gentile! Having read her other book The Woman in the library, I was interested in reading the upcoming book The Mystery Writer. Well written, intriguing to read for the development of characters and story line keep you guessing to the very end. I love a good thriller mystery and this book has all the goods! I highly recommend this book but most importantly this author is phenomenal!

This book has me curling up with my hot chocolate and a blanket and reading like there was no tomorrow. It was only made more perfect by the fact that it was a rainy day. This is a rainy day, summer day or beach day read.

I enjoyed this one! Quick read that hit the relatable on several accounts… a tip of my tinfoil hat to the fellow “conspiracy theorists”, Lol.

But truth is stranger than fiction, as they say.

Aspiring author meets famous mystery writer, conspiracy theorists / theories, dooms day preppers and “researcher” (a.k.a skilled hacker) with murder, mystery and mayhem that kept me guessing.

If that looks to be up your alley then I’m sure you too will enjoy! 😂

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy. The Mystery Writer is scheduled for release on 3/19/24.

Trigger warnings: sexual assault mentions

The Mystery Writer was a wild ride from start to finish! I was hooked on the premise of a burgeoning writer caught up in the dark web and conspiracy theories. I loved Theo’s development and her relationships with her brother and Mac. All the supporting characters are well developed and interesting, especially the Etheridge family. This book has so many timely themes packed into it, but the writer makes everything easy to understand and compelling. I was a fan of Gentill’s The Woman in the Library, and this is a fantastic follow up that cements her place as an author to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.