This is my first Kate Belli book and I don't think it will be my last! I was intrigued by the premise - a young woman, Chloe, living in New York and working at an art gallery while still suffering from extreme post 9/11 PTSD and survivors guilt after narrowly escaping the towers alive. About four weeks after 9/11, Chloe is invited to a party for Inga, one of the artists working for the gallery. Chloe overdoes it with alcohol (self medicating) and wakes up in her bed with no memory of leaving the party, only to discover at work the next day that Inga was murdered and Chloe was (allegedly) last person to see Inga alive. Chloe struggles to figure out what happened and fill in the holes in her memory, while nearly everyone around her is gaslighting her (SO MUCH GASLIGHTING). As Chloe discovers clues from the night of the party, clues within the artwork, and clues within the gallery - she questions herself and whether or not she can trust her closest friends.

The overall vibe of the book is pretty bleak because it takes place weeks after 9/11 and Chloe is very clearly unwell so that is something to keep in mind. It's hard not to feel for Chloe and I think the book can definitely warrant a trigger warning - she's clearly suffering, has no support system, drinks to self-medicate, and feels she can't trust herself. It was hard to read at times, probably because it was also somewhat relatable. I appreciated the vulnerability and self-awareness that the author provided in writing Chloe. That said, there were a few drawbacks to the book that I found off putting. For example - when things were starting to get dangerous for Chloe, I felt those situations were one of two extremes: either realistic plausible perceived threats, or straight up chaotic over-the-top chase scenes that didn't seem... likely. Then, after literally jumping in the East River to escape thugs, the next day she would go back to walking alone (albiet hesitantly) and basically proceed with her life as normally as possible, so that stood out to me as a strange deviation from the slow burn mystery of the story. Another one (hidden on Goodreads for spoiler) was her friendship with Gio - we know the basics: he's a nice guy, he's Italian and is close with his family, food is important, his NYFD brother was on vacation during 9/11, but that's pretty much all we know about him, yet he also seems to know the answers to fix all Chloe's problems without a second guess, accepts everything at face value, asks no questions, and this causes no issues or any inconvenience or risk to his life. It felt a little.. too easy. While it was great for Chloe to admit she needs help, finally open up to someone, and have someone on her side, I just wish his character was less of a swoop-in-and-save-the-day-guy.

That being said, it had a VERY satisfying ending! Would recommend for those who like mysteries and I'd definitely read more of Kate Belli's work in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC and for the email invite to read!!

Chole wakes up in her apartment with no idea how she got there and when she goes into her job the police where there questioning her about a rising painter had been murdered.

This book started off slow to me but it did pick up in the middle. The book to me kinda came off as more of a story about her dealing with PTSD form 9/11 and being less of a thriller. It wasn't a bad book it just wasn't for me.

Overall I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I really enjoyed the art side of this and found it very fascinating. I was interested in learning more about the characters and their backstories but the FMC wasn’t my favorite and I found her extremely unreliable and somewhat annoying at times. I thought there was going to be a bit more of a connection/ explanation with the 9/11 references - only bc I can connect with that aspect of it since I work in NY and this is a thought always in the back of my mind. Unfortunately I felt like the story dragged on a bit at times, which was incredibly odd for me since it was a shorter book. I did enjoy it, but it fell a little short for me.

The Gallery Assistant was a fun edition to the thriller genre and led me to ask the question: Is it historical fiction? Chloe is an interesting and flawed main character but her flaws are easily understood as you try to unpack the trauma she faces in the wake of 9/11 in New York. I found the mystery interesting and loved how art was incorporated. While I was able to figure some aspects of the mystery I was left shocked by other parts. My only real complaint is that I only found myself totally engaged and hooked in Part 3. Parts 1 and 2 seemed to really dragged and I felt lost by the dump of names and other information.

Once the story got to about 30%, the pace definitely started to pick up and I was drawn in! For me, it was very reminiscent of The Flight Attendant, and like that story this one would likely make a great movie or show. I loved the authors overall writing style - I felt like I really could picture the characters and events. I’m not a huge fan of the plot device of a main character losing themselves on substances instead of dealing with their traumas, but it’s popular for a reason. Good characters and overall pace. I’ll read more by her!

Oh goodness this was fun! A sleek mystery set in a city still nursing old wounds in the 9/11 era. It’s a story of ambition, blurred lines, and the strange ways grief can surface—especially when art, power, and money are involved.
It’s a fun ride! This one was my first book by Kate belli but it won’t be my last!

Thank you Netgallery for the opportunity to read this book!

TY to NETGALLEY/Simon & Schuster for the digital arc.
Although I am a fan of "thrillers" this one just didn't make it for me. Too many red herrings, twists and turns to be a satisfying read. Main character Chloe has too many conflicting thoughts to be coherent; considering PTSD from the 9/11 tragedy, I just didn't feel for her. Perhaps I had issues with the ambiguous time line. The art part was interesting BUT thus 3 ***

This was my first Kate Belli book and I can’t wait to read more. I love how Chile’s story unfolded and had so much fun trying to figure out the mystery of who could be trusted and who was on the wrong side. If I didn’t have to work this week, I would finished it all in one sitting!

This book was a bit slow to start I found it to be an ok read but I don’t think it was one for me I would read another book from this author

This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and it did not disappoint! There’s nothing I love more than being interested in a book that I can’t relate to at all. In this case, the art world is so far beyond the scope of what interests me that I probably never would have imagined I’d like this novel. However, it speaks volumes when an author is able to catapult the reader into a completely different world and connect to them. I also especially liked the setting of this book. As a millennial, 9/11 is one of the few core memories I have of living through a world-changing and catastrophic event. I love to read books that are set during this time period, because it brings back all those emotions all over again. Overall, this is a solid read and I will keep my eye out for more from this author in the future.

I really enjoyed this thrilled that is set in Brooklyn and Manhattan in the immediate aftermath of September 11th, with a protagonist who narrowly escaped the falling towers and carries with her the trauma of that day into an art world that is increasingly dangerous for her following the murder of one of its rising star artists. I was captivated until the last page, and appreciated the pacing at which this story tautly unfolded.

5 stars without question! Loved this book - I raced through it.
An insiders look at the rarified world of art galleries and the NYC rich. Our MC was onsite and barely made it down duringin the fall of the Twin Towers on 9/11 and her resulting trauma is a character all of its own.
Reminded me a little of The Art Forger which is one of my favorite books. Don’t miss this one! Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. My review and thoughts are my own.

This book took me a little bit to get into. It started on the slow side, but at about the half way point things really started to move. There were a few things that were mysterious about the characters, and I wasn't sure if it was purposeful or if that was just the writing. They may have been meant to build the suspense. For instance, the Protagonist woke up with no memory of what happened the night before, or how she got home (from a party.) While she was confused about it, it didn't seem like she was as frightened as a person should be in that circumstance. Yet she was afraid of either losing her job, or what her friends would think to say anything or to ask anyone about it. And when a murder happened and the police were questioning her, she didn't admit it then either, even though it appeared she was a suspect. We do learn more about it later in the book, but at the time it was just unusual behavior. There are many suspenseful moments when you are anticipating something happening, but nothing did. There are also many twists to the crime and what she discovers. Many possible motives and many people who were acting 'shady' or off. So for as far as the mystery, it was good and kept you on your toes. It does go into a detailed account of the 9-11 attacks (as the Protagonist was in one of the towers at the time it happened) and the aftermath of that, along with the new hatred/suspicion of people of Middle Eastern origins. There is no sexual content on the pages, but there is much drinking (and hangovers) and smoking involved, and there is talk about people having sexual relations. There are a variety of characters... the 'F' buddy, the secret admirer, the kind boss, the snooty bosses, the 'drinking buddies,' the gay roommate and more. Overall, it was an interesting story once you it gets going.

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

I thought that this was a tragic book. The protagonist, Chloe, was a tragic figure, quite possible due to her near-death experience in the Twin Towers when they were hit -- undisciplined, drinking and smoking to excess, indiscriminate with her sexual partners, and has a real problem making and following her own decisions. Her major concern is to wash the smoke and beer out of her hair from the night before. She IS interested in art, however, and researching details such its provenance, and she is surprised at just how good she is at that. With her house-mate's help, she acquired work in an art galley where she was exposed to famous artists at social gatherings. At one such party, her life got more complicated as the hostess was found murdered in the morning. Chloe feels compelled to try to resolve the crime and believes that the dead woman has left her clues. Chloe feels she cannot trust any of her so-called friends as she enters into uncharted and dangerous terrain. I liked the book...the plot, the writing, the way it unravelled, but the protagonist herself was in no way appealing. On that basis alone, I might have put the book down after the first 50 pages. Perhaps the author should have given Chloe some redeeming feature to help us identify or even emphasize with her? Otherwise, it was quite appealing.

2.5 stars. THE GALLERY ASSISTANT is a murder mystery set in the art world, and while I thought it was a quick and easy read with a fabulous NYC setting...it ended up being a bit underwhelming. Belli's protagonist is an unreliable narrator trying to fill in the gaps, and while I was intrigued to put those pieces together, I found my own theories to be more interesting than the resolutions we got. Belli sets the story shortly after 9/11, but because of this - it became less of a thriller, and more of an account of someone with severe PTSD from such a tragedy. I think that's interesting unto itself, but I found there to be such a schism between that and the mystery that it felt like two books in one, and the mystery portion was underbaked and boring to me. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t usually gravitate toward thrillers, but The Gallery Assistant totally pulled me in. I was invited to check this one out, and I’m so glad I gave it a shot. It was a fast paced, twisty mystery that kept me hooked the whole way through.

The story follows Chloe, a gallery assistant in New York City, who wakes up with a foggy memory after a party. She brushes it off, until the NYPD shows up at work asking questions, and she finds out the gallery’s rising star artist was murdered. From there, we’re taken on a tense ride as Chloe tries to piece together what happened, all while navigating the high pressure art world and dealing with her own personal struggles.

What really stood out to me was the setting. Having the mystery unfold in the NYC art scene made everything feel extra stylish and eerie. I loved how the artwork itself became part of the mystery, with hidden messages and clues woven into the pieces. More of that in thrillers, please!

Another big highlight: the way Kate Belli explored Chloe’s PTSD from 9/11. This book is set just a couple months after the attacks, and that trauma is a big part of Chloe’s character. It’s not something I see talked about often in fiction, especially in thrillers, and I appreciated how it added depth and realism. The timing of the story, which is pre smartphone but post 9/11, was a smart choice too. It made Chloe feel more isolated and made the mystery feel that much more urgent.

Overall, I loved the pacing (no slow spots!), the unreliable memory angle, and the ever present sense of tension. The art world backdrop was the perfect setting for a murder mystery, and I was kept guessing the whole time. This was my first book by Kate Belli, but definitely not my last.

If you’re into art, NYC settings, a bit of psychological suspense, and stories where you’re constantly questioning who to trust, then this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Belli, and Atria for the eARC of this book.

The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli pulled me in with its glamorous setting and the promise of secrets hiding beneath the surface—and it definitely delivered. Set in the art world, the story has that perfect mix of elegance and danger, where beautiful things mask ugly truths and everyone seems to be holding something back.

What I loved most was how immersive it felt. Belli does a fantastic job creating a world that feels exclusive and alluring, but also cutthroat and unsettling. You can practically smell the varnish and wine at the gallery openings, but you’re also acutely aware that things aren’t as polished as they seem. There’s a quiet menace that builds as the protagonist gets drawn deeper into the web of lies, betrayals, and, yes, murder.

The main character’s voice is smart and grounded—someone who’s just trying to survive in a world that wasn’t built for them. That sense of being an outsider, of trying to navigate power dynamics while keeping your footing, adds so much tension. You're rooting for her, even when she’s unsure of who to trust (and honestly, I wasn’t sure either).

The mystery itself is tightly plotted, with just the right amount of twists to keep me turning pages. It’s less about flashy revelations and more about the slow unraveling of truth—and the personal cost of uncovering it. It felt like a classic noir dressed up in modern clothes, with all the ambition, jealousy, and danger that genre promises.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. It was very confusing and I could not picture any of the characters at all. I had to really push myself to finish.

This book is not my usual go to, but the concept sounded intriguing. It’s not often that you read about characters being involved in 9/11, so that alone was different and felt very real and raw.

This book felt a bit long to me, but it kept my attention and I was not expecting the ending.

This story is quite a flashback to a turbulent time, set in New York City, right after 9/11. Chloe is a curator’s assistant who can’t remember getting home late from an artist’s party the night before. This really doesn’t bode well upon finding out later at the gallery she works at that the artist who hosted the party was found dead. She keeps trying to remember what happened that night, asking friends and coworkers for any information they have. She can’t help feeling that those closest to her aren’t being completely honest, but she can’t find any hard proof. The more she digs into everyone involved with that night, the more danger she believes she’s in until she feels everyone is against her. Is it her post 9/11 trauma making her mind imagine conspiracies that don’t exist? Or is she the next one to be silenced?

What bothered me about this book was the unreliable narrator trope with Chloe drinking to the point of blacking out so often that what happened the night of the party would be considered typical. Well, and that she kept the archival box, as if she ‘earned it’ because of the trauma. That just didn’t sit right with me, even with everything that occurred with the company she worked for. Otherwise, I like that there were many characters that could be either suspects or innocent acquaintances; you just couldn’t tell.

The information about art itself and the works described was pretty cool. And there are enough light-hearted moments to balance out the heaviness of the 9/11 depictions. So while it might be tough to get through, I think readers can appreciate the moments of stark reality woven in to this captivating story.