Madeleine d'Leon is a corporate lawyer and the successful author of the Veronica Killwilly Investigates historical crime series. When the idea for a totally new story, with a new protagonist in Ned McGinnity, presents itself to her, she has a new enthusiasm for her craft and allows the reader to peek through the window at her writing process as the story germinates. She's not a plotter, she readily acknowledges, preferring to let the story flow through her fingertips with only the lightest of conscious nudges from her to adhere to the rules of crimewriting. Starting from just a spark, the character of Ned develops very quickly in Maddie's mind, and he's someone that she is keen to spend a lot of time with. They actually have a lot in common as Ned's a writer too, although his work is decidedly more literary. And here's the kicker - he's currently writing a book about a crimewriter named Madeleine d'Leon whose husband is gaslighting her.

At first Maddie's husband Hugh is very tolerant of her new creation, but as time passes and she becomes increasingly caught up in Ned's world, their relationship suffers and this sends her seeking solace from Ned. Meanwhile, Ned has a lot of problems of his own, under suspicion for the murder of a second-rate art critic and about to be the subject of an apprehended violence order against the husband of his best friend Willow. His life is suddenly so busy he barely has time to write...

The premise for this story was irresistible to me, and to a large extent it delivered. Previously published under the title *Crossing the Lines*, it does just that - the line is blurred very quickly until it is difficult to decide which of the authors is real and which is the creation. Although the two stories are intractably co-mingled, I always understood which one I was reading, and enjoyed the intellectual challenge of keeping track. The only reason I didn't rate it a little higher is that I would have preferred it to remain in the intellectual realm. A couple of times the story took on a supposedly physical dimension, and that was a stretch too far for me.

Nevertheless it was a really entertaining story, quick to read, and made me admire Sulari Gentill more than I already did as a new-ish reader of her Rowland Sinclair series.

This was an unusual and fascinating novel. “After She Wrote Him” is a mystery book that delves into the writing process, the act of creating, and the dangers of becoming obsessed with one’s work.

Madeleine de Leon is a crime writer obsessed with her latest protagonist, Edward McGinnity, who is also an author obsessed with Madeleine. Edward is writing a book about Madeleine as she writes a book about Edward.

The two author’s stories become entangled, so it’s difficult to know which one is actually real.

The book about Edward is a murder mystery, whereas the one about Madeleine focuses on her crumbling marriage and raises questions about her sanity versus the deviousness of her husband.

Many of the questions are left unanswered as the book ends rather abruptly. Nevertheless, this is a book that will stay with me for some time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Edward has ensnared his author, Madeleine d'Leon, with his luxurious dark hair, the fact that he is also a writer and not to mention his subtle magnetism. He may be the character in her next book but she doesn't know what facet of her mind created him.

Edward McGinnity has found the perfect heroine for his next book. Madeleine's character is all consuming; damsel in distress, doggedly enthusiastic and that soft smile that brightens any room.

When what's real starts to crumble; longing, lust and desolation blur the distinctions between author and fictional creation. When the story's killer is finally written who is he after?

"What if you wrote of someone writing of you? In the end, which of you would be real?"

The quote above sums up this book eerily well, at several instances in this book I had to go back and reread portions because I didn't know who was actually talking. The words flowed seamlessly at times between Madeleine and Edward. I imagine that people have varying opinions on who is actually the author and the character; as for me, my money is on Edward. I did not fully expect the ending, a hint of it but definitely not the full extent of Madeleine's conclusion and after all the build up from both stories it was... sudden. Yet another reason I enjoyed this book is because it is meta fiction (aka breaking fourth wall) - I happen to love when this happens in books and other media. I happen to love Deadpool, who is likely the most famous for it in the geeky world. 

"Sweetheart, you know I love your novels. They make me think, they astound me with their artistry, dazzle me with their vocabulary, and when I've finished reading, I'm mentally exhausted and probably cleverer than I once was. But, you know, sometimes I read books because I want to fall in love." She shrugged. "Call me shallow."

Sulari Gentill did an awesome job at capturing both genres of writers which leads me into the reason behind the above quote. I do read books to fall in love, to experience things I normally wouldn't, for a break from my current reality, as an escape etc. Since I am not really a writer - just a reader - it does make me wonder about the relationships of my favorite authors with their characters. 

After She Wrote Him was an easy and hard read all in one - it took me a bit to get into the writing style but I did end up thoroughly enjoying it. I expect that some people might have a hard time with the writing style. This book doesn't have many sensitive subjects the main ones being: mental illness, murder, drug/alcohol use and animal death. I would like to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars
I was super excited when I read the premise of this book. What an amazing concept! It started out so fresh and exciting but I quickly became disenchanted with this style. Each of the writers explained every minute thought process behind each other’s actions. For me, having everything explained takes away some of the magic of reading.

As a fledgeling writer, I did enjoy the look into the publishing community and other writer’s processes.

It was an enjoyable book with two well paced plots and a great cast of characters. If you’re looking for something different and don’t mind being spoon fed certain details, definitely check this out.

4,5 Stars.

I will start by saying that i loved this book much more than i hoped for. It kind of ended the reading slump i was experiencing and i was so happy for that.
I requested it because it had no variation of "the girl…" or some form of words of betrayal in its title, and the cover was mesmerizing. At some point, i got really sick of the prototype stories going around now, and i knew i was going to love the moment i read the note of the editor. I felt already part of the story.

Madeline, a crime writer, got a new idea for a book like she never wrote before. The story of Edward came from nowhere and captivated her, she made him the hero of the new crime book she was writing.
Edward, a more "serious" author, found himself in the middle of a murder investigation. The good thing is that the new book he was writing featured a crime author, Madeline. That way at least he could get inspiration for his next step.

Who was the real author, and who was the creation of a brilliant mind.
I kept wondering about for a while, until i got so caught into both their stories that i didn't care anymore. I just wanted to keep on reading and knowing more about them
I love the style of Sulari Gentill, the transition between the two stories was always so swift that it was as if i were reading just one story.
The end was simply brilliant. I loved it.
I don't think i need to add anything more about this book. It was a breath of fresh air for me.

I really wanted to love this book... but it is so confusing. My brain cannot cope with it at the moment. I am struggling to keep up with who is who and who is realand who is fiction.

Thank you for the chance to read it but not for me

As I reflect on this book I feel like I'm sitting at the theatre at intermission. Waiting for the second act, the resolution, the ending. After She Wrote Him ends so abruptly I was taken aback and actually flipped the pages back and forth a few times to see if I missed something. All I can think is that maybe there will be a sequel of some sort to finish what these characters starts. I sincerely hope there is because I must know what happened next. If so PLEASE send me an early copy!

Let me back up, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are amazing, well thought out with lots of background. The idea that it's about a writer writing a book was intriguing enough for me to request the advanced reader copy. The insight into how some authors write their books was so interesting to me. I just assumed that they all had a preview mapped out before they started. The characters are likable (except Hugh, he can jump off a bridge) and I truly came to care about them.

The writing itself was very confusing at first though. I feel like it kept switching between Maddie being the writer of Edward to Edward writing Maddie and I felt like I was missing something, like it was going over my head. I think that may have been the point though so I rolled with it.


My 3 star review is simply because I did not like the ending at all. I really feel like there should be more of a resolution so readers don't feel like they are left on a cliff.

*Review not yet posted on instagram but will be within the next week* @shelf.loving.mamas

Oy this book was not for me.

I read the description of this, thinking this would be a very unique ride of a book. Blurry lines between writer and character - how interesting! Count ME IN!

But then I started reading it...oy.

My issue was not the actual writing of the book, the writer is definitely talented. My main complaints with book were mostly that it was pretty boring, and pretty weird...I mean sexually weird. Think writer fantasizes about character she is writing...in a very sexually graphic way. You know when you are reading something and your face is literally cringing? That was ME during these parts of the book.

description

So parts of this book were physically, hard to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC and wanting my honest opinion!

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy of this work**

I requested this on an impulse, for the most part I typically stick with Fantasy or YA contemporary novels.
But there was something intriguing about the synopsis of this novel.
It's a meta story about a crime writer, who is writing a story about a man, who happens to be writing her story.

This was a wild, quick ride. And once I started I had to read it to the end.

And WOW, no spoilers but that ending had me completely shocked. It was satisfying, but infuriating as well. I love stories like that. Stories that make me think and leave me wondering at the end.
This was definitely a 5 star read for me. And I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others.

The premise of this book fascinated me. Madeleine is a lawyer who is also a crime writer. One day, she dreams up the character of Edward McGinnity, a literary fiction author in love with a painter. Edward is the main suspect in the murder of a famous editor at the art exhibit of his love interest. Edward, literary fiction author, dreams up the character of Madeleine, a lawyer/ writer in a misguided marriage who is writing a new book. Who is real and who is a story?

This book was fascinating. Gentill does a great job of seamlessly moving between stories which forces the reader to stay on their toes and pay attention. I thought that the writing was so good and the reader was invested in both story lines. It really gets the reader thinking about the writing process. How do writers come up with their stories? Do they process their tales in the way these characters do? It is so interesting to me and I thought the book did a great job forcing the reader to ask those questions.

My only regret with the book is that the ending came so quickly. I wanted to see and experience much more advancement of both story lines before it ended. To me, the ending felt rushed and was less satisfying that I had hoped. However, the rest of the book made up for the ending in many ways. This is a great book that I would recommend for those readers who enjoy unique writing styles!

This is one of the most gripping and fascinating books I have read in a long time. From the very beginning Sulari Gentill creates characters so seamlessly interwoven that the reader is constantly questioning which character is the created and which is the creator.

I absolutely loved the unique perspective that Gentill uses throughout her story. This had a very intriguing story within a story feel to it. There were mysteries to be solved on both sides, and the ultimate mystery of who the real writer was. I appreciated that even when Gentill used foreshadowing, it was wonderfully subtle and felt natural to the overall storyline.

I would highly recommend this title for anyone who is looking for a breath of fresh air in the world of mystery writing. This went beyond that of a normal mystery or psychological drama, and landed in a realm all of its own.

After She Wrote Him is a depiction of a mystery plot that is mind-blowing. It is like looking in a funhouse mirror and seeing endless reflections of the same thing. My challenge and yours, if you choose to read it, is to determine which of those reflections is the actual one – or which is the main character and which is the creation. That is the underlying mystery throughout the entire story, though – mystery lovers – never fear, there is a murder to be solved.

What I Loved

This story sounds like it could be too confusing to even bother with, but I found it to be easy to follow. There are not that many characters, and a few even cross over, so that keeps the stories contained and manageable to my challenged brain. I didn’t even try to think about my interpretation too much until I finished the story, and then allowed the wheels to turn and my analysis to form. There may have been smoke coming out of my ears, but that’s okay. I enjoyed coming up with ideas, processing them, and rejecting the ones I decided are just not possible.

The characters are brilliantly developed. Madeline and Ned are deeply flawed, face many challenges but are ultimately sympathetic and even likable. I didn’t list a favorite character this time because I could never choose between the writer and the creation since one is an extension of the other.

The symbolism at the end of a laptop breaking rocked my world. Such a simple thing, but it said so much and had such far-reaching implications. This symbolism caused one of many times my brain gave in and exploded. Also, I highlighted so many quotable moments. I can’t share any gems with you because I read the advanced copy, but know – there are quotes from this book that you will want to copy down and discuss.

To Read or Not to Read

Why would you want to let this book pass you by? It is compelling, challenging, and all that is good in the mystery/psychological thriller genre. It is excellent for book clubs, partner readings, or just solo endeavors. Just know, you will want to talk about it however you choose to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful book! Complex and very well-written.

Madeleine d'Leon is an author of fictional novels who is writing a book about an author, Edward McGinnity, who becomes a suspect in a murder. She soon finds herself entangled in her own story, preferring to spend time writing it and being with her character than with her spouse, Hugh. The lines become blurred as Edward begins to write a novel about Madeleine, which leaves one wondering which is the character and which is the author?

It's smart and quick, and we watch the relationship between author and character begin to turn into something real and almost tangible. We see Edward trying to solve the murder in which he is suspected of committing. I enjoyed this book because Sulari Gentill gives us a real peek at the inner workings of how an author writes a book and how they interact with their characters, the storylines, publishers, and how the characters and storylines affect the story themselves.

This book would make an excellent movie. Very detailed an interesting. It captured my interest from the very beginning. I was unable to put it down and read it all in one sitting. I definitely recommend.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and exchange for a fair and honest review.

After She Wrote Him is truly, a one-of-a-kind reading experience. From the cover and the blurb, I was excited to dive in and see how Gentill tackled the admittedly meta premise. Maddie is a lawyer and a writer with an idea: a protagonist writing the writer as she writes the protagonist. Ned is a writer, the protagonist, who has a crisp idea of a lawyer trying to write a protagonist, himself. The further into the narrative they go, however, the more blurred the lines between fiction and reality become.

*spoilers*
I think what I enjoyed most about After She Wrote Him was the constant feeling of unease. Is Maddie writing Ned? Is she a figment of his imagination, a character in his book? Is there something paranormal at play? Has she somehow conjured this character to life? Indeed, Maddie's experience with Ned breathed life into him, poking the flames of uncertainty. At times, I didn't know what the A storyline was. I loved the quiet moments where Maddie was introspective, plotting her story through imaginary discussions with Ned. As a writer, I don't think I've ever gotten this deep into my characters, and it was interesting to see someone else's writing process through this experimental narrative structure.

I found this book to be intriguing and interesting, but I'm not sure it would be for everyone. I appreciated the discourse and jargon of the writing world, the ins and outs of publishing, agent deadlines and advances, and selling points--the conflict between writing what sells/is marketable versus writing the story that demands to be told. However, I'm not sure someone outside the sphere would enjoy this as much, as it was a bulk of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for review consideration.

After She Wrote Him was not the book for me. I couldn't get into it at all. Right from the first page, I couldn't connect, and usually I give books about a 1/3rd pages read before I give up, and this was one of those.

4.5 stars

Now THIS was a creative story! A writer (Madeline) writing about a writer (Edward) who is in turn writing about her. Talk about a brilliant and mind-boggling read! At times I found it a bit difficult to follow along and had to re-read a few sections because it switched the POV so abruptly, but as I read further, I became more accustomed to the author’s style of writing and it flowed seamlessly. It also did not feel like I was reading a story written within a story because of the two writers interacting with one another...I really loved that about this book!

Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3220824000

I am unsure as to why I did not do a #honestreview for this #ebook that was given to me via #netgalley. I liked this book alot. It ended up opening my eyes to other peoples thought processes. After she wrote him was a wonderful story. You just have to read it for yourself.

DNF. The premise of this sounded intriguing, but it just could not hold my attention for more than a few minutes at a time. Ended up being way more convoluted than I was in the mood for right now, and I haven't been able to motivate myself to push through it. Most of the reviews are great, so I think a lot of others will love it!

This was a brilliant read! A very unusual novel where the act of writing the novel becomes the story and was perfectly carried out.

Madeleine d’Leon is the fictional author who is writing a novel about an author, Patrick McGinnity who becomes a suspect in a murder. She soon finds herself engrossed in Patrick, preferring to spend time with him than her distant husband Hugh. Patrick in turn is writing about a character called Madeleine d’Leon and also falling in love with her. Sounds confusing? It’s really not, as it’s so well written, but the lines do become blurred as you try to work out who is writing whom and it is best to keep a clear head when reading this.

Written with humour and intelligence, the relationship between Madeleine and Patrick starts to morph into something real and tangible as Patrick tries to solve the murder for which he is a suspect. At the same time Ms Gentill is also cleverly giving us an interesting insight into the writing process and an author’s relationship with her characters and the impact those characters can have on the story itself (and there are several obvious parallels between Ms Gentill’s popular crime series and her background and those of Madeleine, her fictional crime author).

Originally published as ‘Crossing the Lines’ in 2017, a revised edition is being released in March 2020 and is recommended as an original and entertaining read.

Normally, I am anti-synopsis: I never read them; in fact, if I could put out a Public Service Announcement warning people not to read them, I would. I feel like books should be a journey to be savored as you go and not be ruined by the anticipation of what you already know is coming thanks to those uber-chatty synopsis writers. However, this book is an exception to that rule.

After reading the first few chapters, I was pretty confused, and I figured that a synopsis just might be the prescription for what was ailing me. So, I read one, started the book over, and then I got it. It’s being marketed as “creative” and “inventive,” and it absolutely is.

Basically, Madeleine and Edward are both writers, and they are writing the same story. In one version, she’s the author and he’s the main character, and in the other version, that’s reversed. One of them is real, and the other one is not. Obviously, the line between author and authoree, if you will, gets a bit blurry. Madeleine and Edward discuss plots and character development with the, uhm, characters in their lives, and we as readers are treated to valuable glimpses into the lives and minds of writers.

Edward, who is aware that he is her character, ponders: “What if you wrote of someone writing you? In the end, which of you would be real?” Later, we are told this: “It’s an exploration of an author’s relationship with her protagonist, an examination of the tenuous line between belief and reality, imagination and self, and what happens when that line is crossed.” Those two quotations pretty much sum up he author’s goal for this book. What a fun premise and what fun ideas to explore!!

Alone, the creator/created aspect would have been enough for me to recommend this book, but wait, there’s more!! There is a classic “whodunnit” mystery thrown into the mix. Someone dies, and several people have motives for murder. It’s entertaining and exciting.

So, if you’re feeling a bit experimental with your reading, pick this one up and give it a go. I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed.