I could not put this book down! The Gallery Assistant totally sucked me in—from the very first page, I was hooked. It’s set in NYC just after 9/11, and follows Chloe, a gallery assistant who wakes up after a party with no memory of the night before… and finds out someone she knows is dead. From there, things spiral fast. It’s twisty, smart, and just when I thought I knew what was going on, nope—wrong again. It kept me guessing the whole way through.

What I loved most (besides the suspense) was how layered it was. There’s mystery, yes, but also trauma, memory, and how complicated the truth can be. And the art gallery setting? So cool. You can tell the author knows that world—it made everything feel super real.

I’d actually recommend this to students too. It’s a great read that opens up a lot of deeper conversations—plus, it’s just a really good story. Definitely adding this to my “summer fun read” list.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Gallery Assistant.

This is my first book by the author so I went into this with an open mind.

First, the narrative references 9/11 and may be triggering for certain readers so please be aware.

Second, Chloe is a typical main character in these genre books; unreliable, a closet alcoholic, and dealing with guilt after surviving 9/11 when she was in the area when the terrorist attack occurred.

When Chloe begins to investigate Inge's death, her friends gaslist her, call her crazy and naturally, considering her tendency to drink as a form of self medication, who can blame them?

There are a lot of characters, but some of the narrative is about Chloe drinking and binging and bed hopping. To each their own.

The mystery felt like a subplot to 9/11 and Chloe's PTSD and her unwillingness to seek therapy.

I didn't realize 9/11 was such a factor in the narrative; I would not have requested it if I had known.

I couldn't stand Chloe; yes, I know, she's dealing with PTSD and she's young, but she didn't seem very smart, intelligent, or resourceful.

I did like learning about how an art gallery works, the procedures behind the scenes.

The writing was good, but too wordy and descriptive at the same time.

The pacing was slow, tedious, and the narrative lacked suspense and urgency.

The subplot with the hidden messages could have been explored further and used to create additional tension.

Also, why does every book need a romance?

There was no chemistry between Chloe and Gio; why can't a friend just help another friend out without it turning into a relationship?

It's possible!

The Gallery Assistant
By: Kate Belli
November 2001-I think most of us will never forget 9/ll.
Chloe works at an art gallery in the Upper East side to find a pair of detectives wanting to talk with her. She was at a party the night before and her memories are clouded. Turns out the host of the party, her galleries newest artist is found dead.
Soon she finds herself in in the dark world of art while trying to recall that horrible night.
This one kept my interest and the suspense was inviting me in until the final page.
Trigger-PTSD, 9/11

A fast paced, twisty thriller.

Chloe Harlow, a young assistant in an elite New York gallery struggles to piece together how she got home after a drunken party for an aspiring artist - who was found murdered the next morning. Still haunted by a narrow escape from the World Trade Center on 9/11, Chloe is hanging onto her sanity by a thread as she unravels the mystery surrounding that night.

Really happy to have received this ARC.

This book centers around Chloe, her job at and art gallery, and her post 9/11 trauma. I really enjoyed the setting of NYC shortly after the attacks. It added to the feeling of tension and suspense that was present throughout this book.

Chloe was a bit of a frustrating main character because she made a lot of self-destructive decisions. She clearly was struggling in the aftermath of the terrorist attack, and when we finally heard what happened to her on that fateful day some pieces fell into place. It did leave me feeling like I couldn't trust her narration.

I really enjoyed learning a bit about the questions of art. I liked that Chloe was inexperienced so we kind of learned and discovered things together.

I did not see so many of the surprises coming throughout the book. I am glad that the author gave us a satisfying ending.

Thanks to Net Galley for the book to review.

This book has a lot to offer my students, a story that will get involved in, mixed with a history lesson for them and a look at post 9/11 trauma , grief , shock and racism. So I would use this to foster classroom discussions and I think my students will enjoy the book as well, It is a fast read and an easy read, though some of the subject matter is of course not easy

This ended up being a powerful and moving read. A mystery set in the months after 9/11. A strong, brave, damaged heroine, suffering from PTSD after being in the towers that day, using alcohol to cope. Someone she knows get murdered and she has no memory of the night. An unreliable narrator in the middle of danger. An interesting mystery and the parts about 9/11 were very moving, brought me to tears twice. Really enjoyed this book

This book was darker than I thought but also amazing. I was transported back to fall 2001 and the writing was so great it really felt like I was THERE! So many parts were heartbreaking and I appreciated that although this book has romance, it wasn’t the biggest plot line.

The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli was an extremely slow burn for me. Rather than building tension through non stop action, Belli built tension through the character dynamics. Belli had a moody, atmospheric writing style here and she layered her narrative with sensory details, lingering tension, and a measured pace.

Regrettably, this wasn’t a narrative that engaged me enough to ‘wow’ me. I found the writing style flat and overly descriptive which therefore made for a slow pace and voided tension from what could have been a gripping mystery thriller. On the contrary, Belli expertly generated a strong female protagonist. Juliet was a thoughtful, guarded, and introspective woman in her early thirties. She was trying to piece her life back together after a deeply traumatic experience. While she appeared unassuming and quiet, beneath her reserved surface was a sharp woman with a strong sense of self preservation. Watching Juliet’s transformation from the start as an emotionally guarded woman then learning to trust herself and others to allowing her trauma to no longer define her by confronting darkness rather than running from it, was intriguing.

Although I wasn’t captivating by Kate Belli’s “The Gallery Assistant”, I am interested in trying other books by her. All things considered, I think this book would be most suited for readers who are art world enthusiasts and those who love character driven and slow burn mysteries.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by Kate Belli and I really liked it. It pulled me in right from the beginning and I enjoyed the ending. I look forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Slow, winding suspense. Half truths. A collection of painting hiding a secret. I really enjoyed reading The Gallery Assistant. It was not groundbreaking nor genre changing but it did provide a good bit of entertainment that I devoured in two days. As someone that grew up during 9/11 it was oddly cathartic to the event and the trauma it created used as a plot device. I will definitely be checking out the author's other works!

~thank you to the publisher and author for the e-arc~

I really should know when a book is advertised as "twisty and sinister" that it's probably going to be relatively bland. I don't have much to say about this one other than that it just wasn't memorable and pretty boring - characters, plot, setting, and more.

Part of what didn't work for me was the writing style. The author over-utilized run-on sentences to an impressive degree. One that I noticed early on had six commas, took over half a page, and wasn't a list. This may not bother everyone, but it made it difficult to connect with the writing for me. There was also awkward wording/phrasing scattered throughout, adding to my disconnect.

If you're looking for a slow mystery set just after 9/11, then you may like this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A murder mystery set in NYC art scene. Quick and easy read and loved the NYC setting and descriptions. Wasn’t expecting to run into a 9/11 terrorist plot and ultimately it took me out of the story a bit. Overall a decent thriller.

The Gallery Assistant* by Kate Belli is a smart, stylish mystery with just the right touch of glamor and grit. With its art-world intrigue and a compelling protagonist, it’s a fast-paced, addictive read. Perfect for fans of whodunits with a modern, metropolitan edge.

A solid five stars for The Gallery Assistant. Yes, even though I’m cranky by nature and annoyed by the rest of the world, I relished The Gallery Assistant. I received a free copy of The Gallery Assistant from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Why five stars?
1. I like the MC. She’s vulnerable but not whiny, though she has her share of vices. Now, I’m a Mom and a Granny, so those parts of me wanted to sit her down for an intervention. She drinks too much, smokes too much, takes ridiculous risks—walking home late at night in a sketchy New York neighborhood--and she hooks up with unsavory guys on impulse. But she’s dealing with trauma—something we all dealt with at this time. (see #2) I want her to find a way out of this, and I kept reading, in part, to see if she would.
2. The setting is compelling. We are in New York shortly after 9/11. The MC was in the North Tower when the first plane crashed. She made it out alive through sheer good fortune and the guidance of a total stranger named Maya. Her memories of the event are chilling. The author captures the atmosphere so well, I admit I relived that day as I read. The MC, like the entire country, struggles to come to terms with what happened.
3. Shit goes down! After a late-night party, the MC can’t remember how she got home—or much else about the night. Her roommate is acting weird. Her bosses at the art gallery aren’t talking—at least not to her. Oh, and the artist hosting the party turns up dead the next morning and the cops turn up at her office soon thereafter. Are her faulty memories of the night and the ever-present terror of 9/11 conjuring conspiracy theories, or is something rotten? If she could only piece together the fractured images of that night. The plot percolates until it bubbles over—Nicely paced.
4. Solid writing. Imagery, check. Character development without info dumps, check. Plot points clearly lead to a conclusion, check.
5. A little love. Yep, even my blackened heart can appreciate a sweet romance. Can’t say more about that except that it worked for me.
I loved the inside look at the fascinating, high-stakes art world. The plot is intriguing and moves right along. The characters are distinct and believable. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to urban mystery lovers.

Do not pass this one up! It kept me up late trying to figure out all of the plot twists. Chloe is a gallery assistant who is trying to get by in a post-911 world. She drinks to numb the memories and what she witnessed. The novel starts out with Chloe trying to remember how she got home from a late night party at an artist's home. The novel than propels forward when the artist is found murdered and Chloe still can't piece together what happened the that night. The novel gives an interesting glimpse into the art world as you try to figure out who is responsible and to what extend everyone is involved.

Yes lord! Finally a thriller that was well written, great characters, twists and turns. I felt like I was in NYC post 9-11 the way Kate Belli wrote. Also learned a ton about the art world, galleries, auctions which was super interesting.

It was refreshing to find such a different take on the genre and I highly recommend this little novel.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc!!

Date of publication: October 14, 2025.

Chloe wakes up in her apartment with no memory of how she got there. She heads to work at an art gallery where she is met by her boss and detectives investigating a murder. Chloe is sure that she was not involved in any way. But, she also can't remember anything about the night before.

This is quite a ride!

The Gallery Assistant was a very good thriller. It kept my interest. What a nightmare it would be to wake up not knowing how you got into your bed or not remembering how you got there!
Kate Belli is a very good author and I would recommend this book to others.

First 5 star thriller of 2025! Thank you net galley for the opportunity to pre read this incredible book! Loved the plot, the characters, the time period…everything! It’s a slow burn, but the ending is worth the read. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a thriller with lots of realistic twists and turns. Excited to read more from this author.