This novel was such a joy to read. It begins with four strangers sitting in the Boston Public Library, who become friends after they all hear a woman scream. But it is also a novel within a novel, and chapters are interspersed with the author’s correspondance with another author, who offers her feedback. Bot stories are compelling.

This book could very well be one of the most enjoyable thrillers I have read in the last couple of years. The TL;DR is this: this book is an interesting, complex and layered mystery novel laced with red herrings and curveballs that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Do yourself a favour and get stuck into it ASAP.

Freddie, an Aussie author who is living in Boston on a prestigious Marriott Scholarship, sits in the Boston Public Library as she seeks literary inspiration. As she sits, she surveys three strangers around her; all seemingly unrelated with their own reasons for being there, and all from diverse backgrounds. When a chilling scream rings through the reading hall, the foursome are locked in while the building is swept. They strike up a conversation, and a budding friendship is born. Freddie uses her new friends as character inspirations for her novel, and one arm of this book follows her story as she writes this novel, inspired by events occurring around her. When a young woman subsequently is found murdered in the library, the four are rattled; they were there when she was killed. What they don’t know, however, is that one among them is the murderer.

The format of this book is interesting – there are essentially two arms to the novel, woven expertly into a cohesive narrative. Each chapter ends with a letter representing correspondence between the author of a novel (Hannah), and an aspiring writer in Boston (Leo) who critiques and provides feedback on each chapter. I won’t say much more on this, because dissecting out this crosslink was one of the most enjoyable aspects of this book. Contained in this letter is an analysis of the preceding chapter, and the writer’s interpretations of what is going on in the story thus far, and who the killer may be. As you would expect, one does get a feeling that many of these are red herrings designed to deflect and obfuscate the reader (you) and your assumptions. I haven’t previously seen this kind of structure and I really enjoyed it.

As a whole, the characters in the book are all well thought out and developed. I was particularly struck by how each character developed their own perceptions of other members of the group and how this dynamically changed through the course of the book. These dynamic relationships between the foursome are key in this novel. The plot is believable and well crafted. As an Australian author, I loved Gentill’s ample references to Aussie culture, and the in-detail depiction of many aspects of Boston itself.

In summary, this is an awesome read and one that I highly recommend – 5 stars. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the provision of an ARC. The book is out in June 2022.

Sulari Gentill sure knows how to put merriment into murder mystery.
From the moment the action kicks off in The Woman in the Library when a scream pierces the rarified air of the Boston Public Library, through its myriad twists as the crime is solved, there is a buoyancy to Gentill’s prose that keeps the mood light and pace steady.
The novel’s main delight is in the Agatha Christie-esque ‘whodunnit’ set up that brings together a group of strangers with a common interest in exposing the murderous culprit, each one in turn becoming a possible suspect.
But Gentill has thrown in some extra sweet layers, with a secondary thoroughly entertaining narrative that creates a story within the story, through which she explores the art of writing itself.
This quite unique structure is worthy of a little more explanation. In short, each chapter of the murder mystery is bookended by an email from a fan to the fictional author of the novel, offering his critique. It’s initially brilliant to see the way the author reflects the fan’s comments in each successive chapter. But as the novel progresses, the fan’s meta commentary becomes increasingly disturbing, taking this sub-story in a deliciously sinister direction.
Meanwhile, the unfolding chapters of the author’s murder mystery provide an engrossing main story, through which the lines between imagination and reality become ever more blurred.
The way Gentill has combined these two narratives provides a unique and thoroughly entertaining reading experience. Even the farfetched nature of the plot was endearing, as were the aspects of Gentill’s approach that were akin to a master class in novel writing.
While this is my first Sulari Gentill novel, the Australian author – who lives in the small country town of Batlow near the Snowy Mountains and grows French black truffles – has many award-winning titles to her name.
After reading The Woman in the Library, I can’t wait to pick up another.

‘What are you writing?’

Four strangers are sitting quietly, working individually, at a table in the Boston Public Library, when a woman’s scream is heard. Security guards prevent people from leaving while they investigate, and the four strangers pass the time conversing. Friendships are formed.

Later a body is found in a nearby room. A woman has been murdered. The four strangers, now friends, are on a quest to find out who killed the woman. But some of the four have their own secrets. And the story becomes more complex when one of them is mugged, another is injured in an altercation, and when disturbing messages are sent from a phone which was apparently stolen. What on earth is going on?

At the table meet Winifred Kincaid (Freddie) a young writer from Australia, Cain McLeod, Whit Metters and Marigold Anastas. Also meet (often via correspondence) Leo, an author with a mountain of rejection slips and Hannah Tigone who is working on a murder mystery. Leo makes suggestions to Hannah, and she incorporates some of his suggestions into her manuscript.

A writer is writing a story about a writer writing a story. Nothing is as it seems: the twists and turns kept me scratching my head and wondering ‘who?’, ‘how?’ and ‘why?’

Brava, Ms Gentill!

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Gentill's book is a clever mystery/thriller. I enjoyed the 'nesting doll' plot structure. The characters were interesting and, collectively, produced an intriguing group dynamic that kept me engaged. I feel the author did a great job creating psychological complexity to the characters. It really makes you question how well you can know a group of strangers and how we truly are the stories we tell about ourselves. A fun page-turner for a lazy Sunday or a weekly commute

This story was different from what I expected. Written in an interesting way that keeps you wanting to know more about more than one storyline.

I LOVED this book! This is one of my favorite books of the year so far. It has everything: books and more books. Writers. Mystery. Thrilling moments. Teasing intrigue. A story within a story within a story. Oh my goodness, I cannot gush enough.

I don't want to write too much because it would reveal the plot but listen: if four strangers meet in a library and become twisted up in a murder investigation is it coincidence?

If you want to know, PRE-ORDER this book. Do it now. Give it as a gift to the readers in your life and keep a copy of it for yourself. It comes out in June and you need to read it. Put it on your library lists. Do whatever you possibly can.

Just, wow.

*Thank you to Netgalley for this arc!*

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022. I heard that this was going to be a locked room mystery, which are my favorite, so I was eager to get started reading it! We are following a group of 4 people who are sitting in the Boston Public Library, they don't know each other, they just so happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Someone is murdered, and this brings these four people together, and spikes up a friendship. Little do they know that one of them is a murder.

This was not what I expected at all. based off of the summary I thought this would be a fun time. Instead I found it to be incredibly confusing. We are not actually following the four friends. We are following our main character Frankie, who is from Australia. She is an author who is writing the story of these four friends who witness a murder, so as the reader you are confused if there ever was a murder or if this is all fictional. But then on top of that, we are also getting the perspective of the editor of the author. So it is a story within a story within a story. It just was not what I expected or wanted out of this book. I don't feel like it was advertised as it should have been. This was a book that fell short for me.

The Woman in the Library was a terrific read. The cast of characters constantly shifted, making it difficult to solve the murder mystery. This is the first Sulari Gentill novel that I have read, but Gentill certainly held my attention.

The Woman in the Library is an unusual book, with a framing that helps to develop the flow of the story. This is a clever locked room mystery that kept my attention on the mystery and on solving it. This story within a story is compelling. The small details, such as Cain/Able, are brilliant. No way am I going to provide clues or give away the ending. I urge readers to read the book and solve the mystery themselves.

This is a framed story: an Australian author writing a mystery set in Boston and getting advice/feedback from a reader in the area through letters added to the end of each recently finished chapter. It's an interesting device, but the relationship of the characters revealed through letters (and the way it changes the manuscript pages) didn't quite land for me. I think the author/reader portion needed to be more prominent and effective than it was. Overall, The Woman in the Library starts off a bit slow, but it does pick up and was a quick and enjoyable read for me even though I found myself mostly only paying attention to the mystery pages by the halfway point.

This was unlike anything I have ever read before because it was “a book within a book!” The alternating points of views started as an email correspondence between the author & a fan who was helping her edit a new story— & the book that she was sending the fan was the actual storyline that as you as the reader are experiencing.

It was like watching someone’s novel come alive before your very eyes while also seeing an editor critiquing it along the way. It was a lot of fun to read a chapter, make assumptions of what was going on & then read the email portion to see if the editors train of thought/suggestions were the same as mine.

This was much more of a mystery novel than a thriller in my opinion which originally bummed me out a bit. I also felt like the ending fell a little flat for me in regards to the plot behind the email correspondence & one instance with a character in the story that seemed misplaced to me.

However, at no point did I want to stop reading & I did find myself really intrigued with the enigmatic aspects of some of the characters so I felt engaged & overall really enjoyed it.

This story within a story mystery was quite entertaining and definitely had me questioning the answer.

We meet aspiring author Freddie in the Boston Public Library as she hears a woman’s scream shortly before a body is found. Having formed a bond with the three strangers at the table with her, she and her new friends set out to work out what happened to the woman, why, and uncover whether any of them could be involved, since they were together at the time of the woman’s death....

“The Woman in the Library” is a classic locked-room murder in reverse, with excellent characters and some great twists and turns along the way. The author also builds upon the theme of “a play within a play” by giving us “a book within a book within a book”! This clever and imaginative whodunit is a masterclass in keeping narratives flowing beautifully, meaning that this device adds to the overall air of mystery and tension without ever getting convoluted or confusing. I was very impressed and will read more by this author.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

his was a cleverly written mystery, with two stories running parallel before coming together - in a way - at the end.

Hannah, an Australian author, is writing a new murder mystery, set in Boston, and is corresponding with someone called Leo Johnson, who is a fan (?), and who is giving her advice about Americanisms and landmarks in Boston so she can make the story sound more authentic.

Over the course of a few weeks (months?), Leo becomes increasingly dark, telling Hannah about murders he’s happened across, and sending her photos, ostensibly to help her with writing.

He’s increasingly annoyed by her lack of reference to the current pandemic, and eventually becomes dangerously unhinged.

The actual murder mystery is a bit tame in comparison, with one character named after Leo, acting in a slightly odd manner as well towards the MC of the novel, and overall it moved a bit slowly for me and stayed that way until the end. The reveal of ‘whodunnit’ was likewise a bit flat after everything.

It was a clever idea but, for me, it needed a bit more tension and - dare I say it? - drama to make it more engaging.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill is an epically clever mystery novel that offers a book within a book as well as an epistolarian feel with the letters spliced between each chapter from their pen pal, including their comments & critiques on each chapter. It’s an absolutely brilliant mystery & an easy 4.5 stars!
Elle Marney, who wrote one of my favorite books I read in 2021 called None Shall Sleep, recommended this book in her newsletter & after reading the blurb, j immediately requested! I felt so fortunate to receive this arc.
I was completely enthralled in both the book within the book & the critiques from Leo about the book. I found it to be a fascinating view into a brilliant writer’s mind.
To be self aware enough to simultaneously write a book within a book & critique said book within the book is next level, amazingly unique & genius tier of writing. I was completely engrossed reading Leo’s critiques of the book & his corrections of sayings & slang from American vs. Australian. I found this whole novel & concept extremely clever & well executed. I devoured this book in two days.
I felt the part leading to the climatic reveal dragged a bit & then the chaotic reveal scene itself was a little too rushed but perhaps that’s just me. Overall, this book is fantastic & I will happily read anything else from this author.
I was so invested in both the book & the book within the book. I loved this & I’m now a fan of Sulari Gentill.
If you are a fan of mysteries, thrillers, intelligent books &/or books about books, I would definitely check out The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill!
The woman in the Library comes out June 7, 2022!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

Extra things I loved:
-Cain & Able is brilliant.
-The mention of Tim Tam biscuits warmed my heart as it has been a nickname of mine for many years. As someone who doesn’t drink coffee, I’ve never heard of the Tim Tam slam though!

Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains murder, gore, violence, abuse, stalking, harassment, addiction, drugs & gun violence.

My thanks to Net Galley and Poison Pen Press for this ARC to review.

This read was a very unique concept about someone writing a book about someone writing a book.

Winifred (Freddie), Marigold, Cain,and Whit become friends when they meet and bond at The Boston Public Library over hearing a woman scream. This event sets off a chain of events of mini mysteries tied to the friends. Each chapter ends with the author writing the about the author writing the book receiving letters from someone feeding her book suggestions and from an FBI agent.

Quick read, a bit confusing with lots of twists, but different and unique.

This book is uniquely framed as a mystery novel as it is actively written within a separate narrative of letters received by the author. As someone who is constantly trying to work out "who done it" from the first word on the page, I found it to be wonderfully paced with the twists and turns placed at moments that kept you turning the page to continue on to the next chapter. I've never read anything by this author before and was impressed with the wonderfully descriptive writing and how it painted the very real and contemporary world through both the manuscript and the letters.
The initial description of the book makes it seem like the characters are kept locked up in one place and must solve the mystery from there. That is not the case, however, as the book takes place all over the Boston area over a short period of time. Description aside, I found myself gasping out loud multiple times at the events and revelations as I read this novel which has ignited an interest in other works by this author.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC that allowed me to read and review this fantastic work!

A story within a story, very interesting idea and made for an interesting read. Freddie falls quickly for Cain, but Cain is accused of murder. The other story of Leo sending edits to Hannah to guide her away from Australian verbiage to American, becomes increasingly alarming as Leo begins sending crime scene photos. I would have loved to see Hannah and Leo's story more developed, however, then it may have overshadowed the main story of the four friends. Overall, I really enjoyed the read and definitely kept turning the pages.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

I’m not generally one for the mystery/thriller genre because I think a lot of authors think they’re smarter than their reader. I requested this and immediately regretted it because it meant I was going to need to read it - but I’m so glad to be wrong. This is a book about a woman (Hannah) writing a book about a woman (Winnifred) writing a book. Each chapter is interrupted by the response of Hannah’s beta reader, and the purposeful break in immersion does so much work and really builds the tension. By 20% of the book I had the “oh no” TikTok sound going the whole time I was reading. I can’t say more because, like with most good thrillers, what makes the book good is the surprise - so I will just say that I read the book, and I wanted to discuss every question in the “suggested book club question” section at the end.

I read this book fast. It definitely let my attention and I enjoyed the unique concept of the letters as well as the “writing a novel” portion. I just didn’t care for the racism of the villain and the way the author wrapped up the reveal in a bow. I felt like the romantic and non-romantic relationships were difficult to fully understand their depth. This was lacking for me.