Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me. The plot revolves around Hannah, an author who is writing a novel about a scream overheard by a group of strangers at the Boston Public library. Each chapter in the book is a chapter of Hannah's manuscript that she sends to a devoted but strange fan named Leo. The end of each chapter includes a letter that Leo writes to Hannah with his feedback about the chapter and his general musings in life. This unique plot structure sets up dual mysteries - who murdered Caroline (the scream at the library) and what is the deal with Leo?

I had issues connecting to the characters from the very beginning. I didn't dislike any of them but I didn't really enjoy them either. I couldn't understand how quickly they became completely intertwined in each other's lives and why it wasn't strange? If Marigold starting popping by my apartment every day because I didn't text back. I would be concerned. The story also had some small romantic plotlines which I never care for, especially in thrillers.

I think my biggest issue was that the secondary plot - Leo's letters to Hannah - drops a MASSIVE bomb about halfway through the book which made the primary plot even less exciting. I only cared about Leo from that point on. I already felt the story with Freddie, Marigold, Whit and Cain was dragging along but this made it even worse.

I almost bumped my rating to 3 stars because I really enjoyed the unique, double plot structure. Unfortunately, it didn't go far enough for me. They two stories never overlapped or mirrored each other like I was expecting. The ending, at least for one of the plotlines, was very anti-climatic and settled within two pages.

Ultimately, I think there is a lot to like in this book but it wasn't for me! Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

I'm not sure what was fact or fiction in this book, what was plot and what was contrived. So unfortunately this was a dnf for me.
Thanks for the digital review copy.

The Woman in the Library is a mystery story within a crime story told in narrative and email correspondence, which is a fun format. The main mystery centres around an Australian author named Freddie and is all the work of fiction by an Australian author named Hannah, who is the absentee star of the crime story (bear with me as I try to explain). Freddie is on a fellowship in Boston, USA, and her story starts in the library as she observes three strangers who will star in her story – so, we actually have a story within a story within a story. But back to the library… a woman’s scream, heralding her murder, throws those four strangers together (Freddie, Cain, Whit and Marigold). Apparently coincidental, but you know what detectives and crime writers think about coincidences… While Freddie’s story is rolling out, a man named Leo Johnson, a fanatical fan of Hannah’s, is writing to her from America, offering feedback on her developing story. As we only have access to Leo’s emails, Hannah remains rather elusive. To confuse things a little, fictional Freddie has a neighbour of the same name (Leo Johnson) who has a minor role while the fictional characters of Freddie, Cain, Whit and Marigold all flesh out and their secrets come to light. Meanwhile, the other Leo is increasingly attempting to direct Hannah’s story. Wow, so there is a lot going on in The Woman in the Library! It is rather in the style of a cosy mystery, and yet not because of some dark themes. It is also reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. The thing I enjoyed most was the four main (fictional) characters, who I found quite endearing, but at the same time, the story within a story creates a distance between the characters and reader, reducing the tension and impact somewhat. I highly enjoyed The Woman in the Library though, hence my rating of 4–4.5 stars, and look forward to what twisty surprises Australian author Sulari Gentill delivers us next!
Advance review copy received with thanks from the publisher and NetGalley.

Wow. I've read other books by this author but this one is nothing like the others (which were good) An unusual format--a fan's letter interspersed with the chapters of an author's new book. We learn more about the fan as the book progresses. It starts out sounding normal but becomes more like stalking as the book goes on. The story the author is writing is also good--kept me guessing. I highly recommend.

Such a cool premise but reads differently than I assumed it would based off the synopsis. I thought it was gonna be a locked room mystery set in the library but it wasn't.
It follows a group of people who overhear a scream in the library one night as they try to figure out who screamed and what happened. There is a story being written by an author who inserts this story and it gets a bit confusing at times.
Also, it was very dry in many parts. I kept putting it down for other things and didn't give it my full attention but it ended okay.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks, Inc (Poisoned Pen Press) for sending 'The Woman in the Library'!

As the daughter of a Librarian and Mystery enthusiast, what initially drew me to this book was the fact the setting of a crime is a Library. The first page was beautiful, and really grabbed my attention.

But, once I got towards the end of the first chapter and a few places in earlier chapters of the book the structure of the dialogue felt a little weird: --- For example the "How was he killed? Whit speaks reflexively as if he's asking about where Cain bought his shoes." -- maybe it's just me, but things like this flow of the text.

Also, The Hannah/Leo letters between chapters initially threw me off a little. Normally I appreciate having stories within a story... but it took me way longer than I would have liked to appreciate it within a novel this time. I did end up enjoying how it helped build up the 'story' later on, create a secondary story, and even some misdirection!

Was the Mystery itself compelling? Yes, it was. Which is what probably redeemed the book in my eyes. The author did a fantastic job with building up the story with a twist at the end.

Is this a book I will recommend to my students: Definitely.
Will I be buying it when it come out in June, and reading it again in the future? Yes, yes I will!

Solid 3/5.

Gentill's new book, Woman In The Library is set in the Boston Public Library.

The library is full and at a table sit four folks who don't know each other. A scream fills the air and security rushes to find the source.

While the library is being searched, the four people at the table begin to talk and strike up a friendship. Problem is - one of them is not who they appear to me. One of them is a murderer.

I was surprised at the ending. The descriptions of the library make the atmosphere part of the story. The books discussed have the feel of a "salon."

This is a satisfying read.

first of all, can we talk about that stunning cover?! it’s so good! and i’m glad to report that this book was just as perfect inside as it is outside.

the woman in the library had the perfect pacing. i haven’t read many books with pacing this tight. it really lent itself well for the tone and atmosphere of the book, making the whole reading experience so addictive. the mystery was pieced together so well, and i had reason to be suspicious of all the characters, without it feeling like red herrings were introduced left and right just for the sake of throwing off the reader. and despite having reasons to think all these characters could be cold-blooded murderers, they were still written to be such likable characters. i got really invested in where the mystery will go, if only to find out which of them would make it through alive. my favorite character was marigold, and i loved every time she was on-page.

overall, this was an amazing ride from start to finish. highly recommend.

This book is twisty and inventive. I enjoyed the central mystery and also the letters between the "author" and another author adds an extra layer to the story.

This book was a unique, engaging, and thrilling read! It feels a little tricky to describe as the majority of the content is a manuscript of a new mystery novel written by an author named Hannah. Hannah, located in Australia, is sending chapters of her book to a beta reader in Boston named Leo. Each chapter is a chapter in Hannah's new book and ends with Leo's emailed response to that chapter.
So essentially the mystery that we are reading is the mystery that fictional Hannah is writing and I kept having to remind myself of that because I really did become fully immersed in that story (which revolves around a writer named Freddie who makes some mysterious new friends and gets involved in multiple murder investigations). But then we get an added thrill watching the relationship between Hannah and Leo change.
All in all this was a very captivating book that I really enjoyed.

i found the premise of the book very intriguing, like a locked room mystery, but in reverse, and i was not disappointed! i always like the idea of a story within a story and this is another good one. very unique and intelligent with a few good thriller twists. i would recommend this to any thriller lovers, those who like books about books, and fans of lucy foley

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

I was captivated by the book from the beginning and couldn’t put it down!! I had to know what happened next, and then after that, and then again!

The “book within a book” approach that Gentill weaved into the story added greater depth. As a reader, I got to see a mystery unfold before me, and simultaneously witness the creative process of writing a book unfold as well. Fantastic book that will keep you guessing!

I wanted to love this book SO much more with the beautiful setting in the Boston Public Library. I was hooked right away and couldn't put it down. It was cleverly written as a novel within a novel and we saw the author's email correspondences with "Leo" in America. Many fun twists but too many coincidences and unbelievable in the end. Thanks NG for advance copy!

I started this book this morning and could NOT put it down! It’s now 1am and I start work at 7am….

Absolutely phenomenal. I was hooked from about 15% in, at times early on I wondered was the story going to be a bit too perfect and tied up in string? Than the author addressed this almost as even though the beginning felt predictable, the plot changes got more and more dynamic.

And then Leo’s letters came in at the halfway point and I was BLOWN away. This is a terrific book, though I do wish the ending didn’t unravel quite as quickly. The last few pages from the killers reveal seem to rush out too fast, but I can see why too. It is impossible to keep up the momentum here. Maybe even if the subplot of Leo was handled a little more clearly towards the end? Just one or two more letters would have balanced the ending out for me more.

I’d give this a 4/5 stars out of ten. With my only deductions being the title (I feel like the titles of ‘the woman’ or ‘the girl’ are a bit overdone? And I feel like another title could better describe what we’re getting into here) and also the unravelling end. Though I liked the conclusion I would have appreciated a better landing.

Amazing though, I’m going to be ordering more of the authors works to read. This was fantastic.

This book is about how tough it is to write a book. Two simultaneous mysteries –one in the library and one in correspondence from afar to a person who viewed the murder. The book was twisty, turny and had a “moral to the story” about what love means and how we can love someone even when others suspect them. I liked the play on words of Cain’s name (renamed Abel) and the subtle implication of all of us having some good and some evil. There is also a muder in the past, some retribution, shifting shades of guilt, romance, a donut shop named Around the Hole (ha), and an investigation by a magazine called the Rag.

My attention was held throughout and I kept guessing what was going on. If you curvy mysteries with a bit or intrigue and romance included, this is a book for you.

I felt this book was overly confusing. The premise of a book within a book was a great idea, but it lost luster for me the further I read on...and well it had some great fast paced moments and I enjoyed the mystery it just wasn't great..

Dear Author,

You wrote a delectable literary mystery. Freddie, Cain, Marigold, and Whit are perfect strangers, but you bring them together randomly to unravel the mystery of a woman’s scream and a body found in the BPL.
I wondered right away if they met by chance because their friendships bloomed right away.
You piqued my interest in the first chapter with your claims that one of them is a murderer.

Now what to say about Leo? Your faithful email correspondent from across the globe who gets creepier with each email. His unsolicited advice on your manuscript and details about murders with photos gave me creepy stalker vibes from the beginning. I knew that guy was no good. How smart of you to include him though. How else would you know the ins and outs of Boston since you were writing your manuscript in Australia? So lucky your biggest fan lives in Boston.

Thanks for keeping me guessing the real murderer’s identity until the end. And for throwing in the other murders all the while connecting them all. Pure genius! Your murder story within a murder story was so riveting and unique. Bravo to you for writing this addictive unconventional mystery! I can’t wait to read more.
Yours,
A fan
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm so glad I knew nothing going into this book, the end of the first chapter took me completely by surprise. I hope everyone goes into this book like I did, just wanting to be entertained because oh boy I did. Such a fast-paced easy read! The only reason I took off a star was that I guessed who the killer was pretty early on but I was not super upset about that. Really interesting how real-world issues slowly seeped into the narrative, it didn't feel forced. I will now be going into the author's back catalog I loved this one so much. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read.

I finished this on 1 day, that is how amazing it was. The twists and turns of who was responsible kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The subplot throughout was totally fresh and different. Gave it all an extra ompf to put it all over the edge.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill is definitely not what I expected. The blurb for this book had me hooked! This is a murder mystery set in the Boston Public Library, but with many layers, so it took me a little while to figure out the actual premise of the book, which I suppose was the point, so I definitely give it points for creativity. This is really a story within a story, which isn’t immediately clear, but I can’t say more without giving too much away. The book is well researched and a lot of thought was put into the setting, and I enjoyed being transported to Boston and BPL. This book will appeal to fans of The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Novels centered around writers seem to be making a big splash right now, and this one will be appreciated by readers looking for a unique story with a literary themed plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this digital book, in exchange for my honest review.