My first book by Kate Belli and definitely won’t be my last!! This was a fast paced thriller that kept me captivated throughout the whole book. Chloe wakes up after the night of a party with no recollection of what happened. And the cops come knocking because the host of the party is dead.

I loved the atmosphere of this book as we are taken into the art world. This takes place just a couple of months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the trauma of that really adds so much to the story. We see Chloe spiral while at the same time trying to find out who is responsible for Inga (the artists) death.

We go back and forth wondering who is involved and who we can trust in this story!

Chloe Harlow wakes up in her own bed after an all night party, not remembering how she got home or what happened during the party. She has had black out periods before because of excessive drinking, but her situation is now serious as the host of the party, an up and coming artist, a friend of hers, died at that party.

Chloe's own sleuthing leads her to discoveries regarding the gallery where she works and art owners, painters, and works of art. What she finds out during the book shocks her and puts her in danger as well.

Well crafted and suspenseful, the novel is entertaining, with a likeable main character who is both vulnerable and savvy.

I really enjoyed this book. It is my first by this author. I usually do not read thrillers but this book makes me want to read more.

It’s a fun, smart mystery set in the high-pressure world of New York art galleries, and it totally pulls you in. The main character is likable and quick-witted, and the behind-the-scenes look at the art scene felt fresh and interesting. I personally loved the time this book takes place - post 9/11 which compared to now, are less attached and connected since phones, etc were not things everyone had and depended on.

The story moves at a good pace and has enough twists to keep you guessing.

If you like mysteries with a little glamour, a little romance, and a lot of smart writing, this one’s definitely worth picking up. I’ll be keeping an eye out for what Kate Belli writes next!

This was so much fun for me as an art girlie!

This follows an assistant at an art gallery in New York City. She stumbles across the dead body of one of the artists of the gallery and she has to overcome her own personal struggles and drama to try and figure out what happened.

And I thought the pacing of this was really great. Lately, I've read so many books with pacing issues and I really don't find that happening here. Something was always happening and the story was always moving along and being added to.

And, of course, there are hidden messages within the artwork. I JUST LOVE THAT! Gimme more of that, please and thank you!

I also think that putting this in the time period it was in was really smart. This takes place after 9/11 but before smart phones were everywhere, so our characters are a little bit more separated from information but still struggling with the aftermath of 9/11. I think that was a clever way to add more to the story that assisted in its telling.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I was a little hesitant about reading this book since I'm not interested in art, but I needn't have worried. The Gallery Assistant is a great mystery! Chloe is a likable character even though she frustrated me. She keeps blacking out from drinking and was upset that she couldn't remember the party, yet she just kept drinking! It was exasperating watching her make terrible choices, but I was rooting for her too. She was dealing with PTSD from being in one of the towers during the 9/11 attacks, so it was hard to blame her for making poor decisions. The mystery was rather complex and there were plenty of twists and turns I didn't see coming. There are a lot of sketchy characters, and I had no idea who was involved or what was going on. I thought this was an engaging, fast-paced novel and I would definitely recommend it! I look forward to seeing what Kate Belli writes next!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

The Gallery Assistant is a gripping mystery set in post-9/11 New York City, and the 2001 backdrop is truly chef’s kiss perfect—haunting, raw, and full of tension. The atmosphere adds an extra layer of suspense to an already thrilling story. Chloe, the main character, is both likable and believable, making it easy to root for her as the mystery unfolds. The pacing keeps you hooked, with just the right amount of twists and turns. This is a great read for anyone who loves mystery thrillers with emotional depth and vivid settings.

I honestly wasn't sure how I felt about The Gallery Assistant for a while, but in the end, it really grew on me. I enjoyed the near-past nostalgia of NYC in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and the mystery was both satisfying, and unexpected - I didn't really clue in to what was going on other than getting vague bad feelings from certain characters, until it was much further along. And then the depth of the connections/web that our MC was in made it all the more satisfying. Solid 4 star read for me.

"The Gallery Assistant" is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that plunges readers into a story where memory, grief, and mystery collide. When Chloe wakes from a hazy night to find a rising artist dead, her search for the truth becomes a heart-pounding descent into the secrets of the art world—and her own mind.

Tautly written and emotionally charged, this novel masterfully blends psychological suspense with a haunting sense of place. Fans of The Girl on the Train will devour this.

An unforgettable, twist-filled page-turner.

I was completely pulled into The Gallery Assistant from the first page. Set in late 2001, the atmosphere is thick with post-9/11 tension, and I could really feel Chloe’s sense of unease and disconnection as she tries to remember what happened the night of the party. The mystery unfolds slowly but grippingly—I found myself second-guessing every character right along with her.

What I loved most was how vividly the book captures New York during that moment in time. The contrast between the upscale art gallery world and Chloe’s grittier life in Williamsburg gave the story depth, and the writing made it easy to feel the weight of what she was going through emotionally. It’s not just a murder mystery—it’s also about memory, trauma, and how we navigate truth in the middle of chaos.

There were a few parts that dragged a little in the middle, and I wish some of the side characters had been more fleshed out, but overall, this was a smart and moody thriller that kept me turning the pages. The ending was satisfying and left me thinking long after I finished.

If you’re into atmospheric mysteries with a psychological twist and a strong (but very human) female lead, I’d definitely recommend this one.

The Gallery Assistant is exactly my kind of novel and I loved it. It pulled me in quickly and the rapid pace kept me reading late into the night. The events are set in NYC immediately following 9/11 and this story made me realize just how long ago this period actually was and how much life has changed. To me, this setting created an intriguing environment and allowed the author to present Chloe in a particular way; although reading about what happened to Chloe was not easy I found it really gripping. The artists and gallery staff depicted are just believable enough to make this story come to life and I adored the twists and turns as Chloe tries to figure out exactly what is going on, when she can't really remember what actually happened on the night in question. Highly recommended for readers looking for a captivating thriller set in the NYC art world. Thanks to the author. publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I look forward to reading more by Kate Belli.