It’s November 2001, and Chloe, having survived 9/11, is trying to move on with her life and enjoy her job as an assistant at a prestigious gallery in Manhattan. However, she is drawn into a dangerous situation when one of their artists is murdered and Chloe has no memory of the night she died. What follows is an engaging thriller with the gallery, Chloe’s coworkers and even her Brooklyn neighbors tied in surprising ways. I really enjoyed this book! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc!

The plot of the story was great and I was very excited to read it but didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I felt like the book was very dragged out and felt like there was a lot of unnecessary details in it. I enjoyed the mystery part of it but didn’t get thriller vibes.

Vert interesting setting and storyline, but overall thought it was a better idea than execution. Slow at times, though the climax was a great thrill.

Moody, messy, and layered with just enough suspense to keep me flipping pages.

The Gallery Assistant blends post-9/11 NYC tension with the glossy, cutthroat world of art and ambition. Chloe is a fascinating, flawed narrator—reeling from trauma, foggy memories, and a night she can’t fully piece together. I loved the eerie atmosphere and the slow-burning suspense as truth twisted out of reach.

That said, pacing sometimes dragged in the middle, and a few side plots felt underdeveloped. But the ending paid off, and the art-world noir vibes were chef’s kiss. If you like unreliable narrators, tangled timelines, and books that feel like a shadowy indie film—this one’s worth a read.

I needed a thriller palate cleanser after a heavier read and this one definitely fit the bill, even with its dark undertones.

Chloe is an unreliable narrator, trying to fill the gaps in her own memory while also dealing with post 9/11 PTSD. Manhattan art gallery world is definitely an interesting setting for a murder mystery and I enjoyed learning more about that world. There were a lot of twists and turns and red herrings that kept my attention and kept me reading. The plot was a bit chaotic at times but seemingly purposefully so.

If you're looking for a quick, dark and broody thriller I would recommend.

3.5/5 rounded up

This story was unpredictable and nostaglic. It did seem fairly far fetched and the pro-cigarette/drinking and anti-therapy values of the characters were jarring, but that was also more the values of the setting so I understand why the author did that.

The Gallery Assistant proved to be an enjoyable historical mystery. Set against the backdrop of the art world, it follows a determined protagonist unraveling a sophisticated plot involving a stolen masterpiece. Kate Belli’s meticulous attention to period detail and character development elevates this tale into a satisfying read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy!

I enjoyed this thriller. The mystery kept me guessing, and the depiction of 9/11 added some emotional weight.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This book was not consistent for me. I felt like we were given two different book topics and made them into one.
It was a slow read and it was not something that kept my interest throughout. The potential was there for me but it lacked and was a bit boring.
The situations with 9/11 seemed a bit random for me. Parts it seemed like they were focused on more than necessary.
After getting to around 40% I felt like I didn’t really learn much at that point.

You almost forget what the book is even about with the parts thrown in about 9/11. I get it’s suppose to be a connection of her life but it just didn’t connect. Less is more in this case IMO.

I almost did not finish this book, but decided to tough it out on the hopes it would get more interesting. It didn’t. It was slow moving and didn’t feel realistic to me. I didn’t find the main character interesting or particularly care for her, which was likely part of my issue. I also felt like the 9/11 theme was overused and not needed - while it was meant to convey the patients trauma I felt this could have been done in other ways

At first, you’re excited because the book is setup for you to think it’s a “whodunnit”? However, the pace was a bit slow for me and didn’t move quick enough to keep my heart rate up as I normally would expect with a thriller/mystery. The main character is relatable as a broke NYC girl trying to get by. Quite unpredictable which is always appreciated because the more you read this genre, the more you can anticipate some endings, but this was def a surprise. Enjoyable, quick read if this is your genre :)

A page-turner mystery anchored by an unreliable main character who was blackout and doesn't remember what she was doing when murder occurred. Entertaining but not groundbreaking.

Murder mystery set in NYC in 2001 after 911
PTSD and disoriented view point after a night of drinking and hazy recollection
Mystery thriller
Wish I loved it more but I'm just getting back into reading books that aren't romance

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This moody thriller offers a compelling setup—a blackout night, a dead artist, and a protagonist unraveling in post-9/11 New York—but doesn't fully capitalize on its potential. Chloe’s disoriented perspective adds intrigue, and the atmospheric backdrop of the art world and a city in crisis is evocative. However, the pacing drags at times, and the mystery loses tension as the plot becomes overly convoluted. Still, the novel delivers moments of sharp insight and stylish writing, making it a decent read for fans of slow-burn psychological suspense with a noir edge.

Thanks, Net Galley, for the chance to read this early.

3 stars ⭐️ This is a fast paced, easy to read book. It’s more mystery than thriller. It was an intriguing read but I didn’t love it. That doesn’t mean you won’t though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

Chloe Harrow has made herself a New York local and finds herself in an eclectic group of friends who are all part of the art scene. Her now roommate, Vik, got her a job at Fletcher and Sons art gallery and in her twos years there she moved from a secretarial role to a more prominent role of research assistant. Simultaneously the upcoming artist that she's responsible for researching has been murdered in her apartment and the police are looking at everyone, but none of it makes sense. Chloe can't help but feel like there's something more going on but she doesn't know what and it doesn't help that her memory has been betraying her since a few months ago when the towers fell.

This story looks at life in post 9/11 New York with locals trying to go on with life as usual when no one knows what 'usual' is anymore. A unique combination of complicated relationships, unhealthy coping mechanisms, paranoia and murder all twisted in to white collar crime. Kate Belli's book kept me on the edge of my seat trying to make sense of what Chloe was experiencing and untwisting all the possibilities of who killed the galleries artist and why, and why can't she remember. This book was an unexpectedly good time for someone who isn't always sold on white collar stories or shows but I really enjoyed it and how it didn't feel like anything else I've read. I was also intrigued and emotional reading Chloe's experience in and around the towers falling on 9/11 and how that played into the rest of the plot line.

I would say The Gallery Assistant is a mix of Rob Pattinson's Remember Me, the television show White Collar and a little bit of Sherlock Holmes or your favorite crime procedural.

I have posted my review on GoodReads and will include a review on Instagram closer to publication date.

At first I thought “oh no, another unreliable female narrator who can’t remember anything because she drinks too much…” I am so done with that trope. And then somehow I got sucked in. While I didn’t find Chloe particularly likeable, I felt like I understood her. And the mystery kept me interested and engaged throughout. It wrapped up a little quickly, but overall a great read!

Theme words to describe this book: trauma, needing therapy, more trauma, addiction, poor choices, and murder.

Jumping right in, there seems to be a lot of unnecessary detail. I’m not sure if it’s because this is a mystery book so we’re supposed to notice all of the little things, but I don’t really care about Chloe’s towel she’d had since college.

Also, I feel like if I didn’t remember how I got home last night, I’d be freaking out more and asking more questions. Especially as her roommate brings up that she was with a guy. Chloe went to a party for one of their clients and partied really hard, so much that she doesn’t remember how she got home, changed out of her party clothes, or really much of most of the party at all. First, got to get to the bottom of that question. But a wrench is thrown in because the client, Inga, was found dead the next morning.

Also, yes, hating the smell of cigarettes, then trying to get rid of the smell, and then smoking more… I understand it’s an addiction but if there’s something about it that even drives them crazy, they should probably start seeking help for it. I’m sure the trauma and not dealing with it is directly part of this.

Being that late for your job- I’m surprised she wasn’t fired, especially for not checking in. And for someone incredibly late, I’m not surprised since she has no sense of urgency at all trying to get there.

Chloe survived 9/11 and has to deal with the trauma of this. She’s an alcoholic and nicotine addict who is trying to smother memories and feelings. Understandable with what she went through, but does need help. Lou, her mentor, sees this and tries to help as much as he can, but unfortunately his time is cut short because he’s fired from the art gallery they both work at. However, he didn’t just leave. He straight up disappeared and all traces of him and his wife are gone.

Aside from Lou, Gio is a good character. He seems to show up for Chloe when she needs support.

However, Vik, Chloe’s roommate. He’s an odd one. Great for trying to support her, not great for not trying to support her more, horrible for trying to gaslight her, even if he might be trying to protect her from something. Maybe he’s just trying to shield Chloe from it, but calling her crazy while she’s already trying to deal with her trauma, not good. I do feel for him, being in a coma and beat to crap. My other question, where is Ben in all this? (oooo low blow there dude)

Oh, and Bo, he’s a creep and he sucks. 0/10 on a “friend” scale. But, so is Carl.

Another note- justice for Groucho who is caught in the middle of all of this drama and should have been taken to Gio’s earlier. Think of that child’s safety.

I received an ARC from Atria Marketing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The novel explores themes of memory, trauma, and the complexities of the art world. Set against the backdrop of a city recovering from tragedy, it delves into the psychological turmoil of its protagonist as she seeks truth amidst uncertainty.

Great read with elements that will make you devour this book. The main character ter and the whole plot was beautifully thought making this an exciting and entreating book. Totally recommend!