This was so confusing to me.
I wanted to like it so much, but there was a lot going on and I couldn’t always keep up. I also was more interested in some stories than in others. I almost feel like I need to reread now that I know what happens.

This book was highly entertaining and engaging.
The narrative follows two different paths: One, in e-mails sent to an author (Hannah) by a fan/ prospective future author (Leo) who has, apparently, been corresponding with her for years. The other narrative is the book that Hannah is writing, and Leo is beta reading for her, centered around a character named Freddie and her new companions following a mysterious scream heard in the library. We get to know the "real-life" Leo while also reading the "fictional" story, and both are intriguing. Bouncing between the two narratives was handled really well.
Leo, to me, is one of those well-written, unlikable characters. I wouldn't want to know him in real life, but he's a good character for reading about. His communications to Hannah move the story forward without taking the reader too much out of the woman-in-the-library storyline.
I think it's relevant and important for various social views to be expressed in fiction since they are present in reality, and the author includes a few moments in this book that may take readers aback for not being politically correct by today's societal standards. They're all relevant to the story's progression.
One thing that could have been improved in the handling of Leo's narrative is when he starts referencing the COVID pandemic. It's completely relevant, if set during the past couple of years, but it won't age well with how it's introduced without much explanation. It seems it should have been explained a bit more so that future generations will know exactly what's being referenced when he begins talking about it. It makes me think of some aspects of Les Miserables that I didn't quite understand because it was written with the assumption that all readers would be familiar with the exact political and social issues of that era. The Woman in the Library should provide readers with the information necessary to understand what's going on even if they read it in 100 years, or 200 years from now.
The mystery that unfolds in the fiction-within-the-fiction story is quite captivating. I was kept on my toes, and was quite scared at a few tense points; I had to stop reading those at night, and pick back up the story during the daytime. Yeah, I'm a scaredy cat. The writing had me questioning most of the characters' possible guilt, and although I did have my suspicions mostly placed on one person in particular, I was kept guessing right up to the reveal. It was a well-done whodunnit.

This is a book that I likely would not have picked up on my own because I've been mostly into fantasy, but when I saw this as an option in Net Galley, it sounded intriguing enough that I decided to give it a go. It actually exceeded my expectations, and I'm really glad that I read it. When it is released, I will recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery and/ or contemporary fiction.

Wow, this was fantastic, clever and just brilliant. I loved how we have two stories connected by a long distance communication that has a surprisingly disturbing edge to it. I have to admit that I did guess who the murderer was but not after some very ingenious red herrings. A fabulous book.

I have mixed feelings about this one. This book is a turducken. You have Sulari Gentill writing as Hannah who’s writing as Freddie who’s writing a story. On one hand, I thoroughly enjoyed including Leo’s letters and his own story, although it confused me at first. On the other hand, there was so much happening and also not enough that I felt like I was dragging through it. Leo’s story wrapped up far too quickly, if you ask me.

The initial mystery was forgotten and came back to at the end, which I was slightly disappointed by. We went round and round with the same info for the book to wrap up in less than one chapter. I was also annoyed by the constant American vs Australian commentary as that’s all I could focus on.

All that being said, I love the premise of the story and the turducken aspect of it. As Gentill put it, she is commenting on the pandemic without making it a huge piece of her novel.

The Woman in the Library starts off in the Boston Public Library. Everything is quiet then all of the sudden a woman's terrifying screams can be heard. Security guards instruct everyone to stay up until they are given the all clear. To pass the time four strangers talk to each other and become fast friends. Each of them has their own reason for being in the library that day. And one of them might just be the murder. 

This was one that I was so excited to read and I was so sad that this book did not live up to my expectations. This book was a story within a story and it made it hard for me to keep up with what was going on. And the story with in a story added nothing to the plot other than confusion. I only kept reading because I got an ARC and I wanted to find out who the murder was. But by the time I got to who the murder was I was very unimpressed. Also, the letters from a fan to the author ( of the fake story with in the book) seemed like a waist of a plot point. I feel like that was added just to get the author more words in this book. I really wanted to like this one because a while murder in a library vibe sounded great. But this one was not for me and I am big fan of thrillers. But thank you so much Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC of this one. I do not think I would suggest this one.

"Clue" vibes, "Misery"-esque, meta murder thriller!

When four strangers hear a blood-curling scream while in the reading room of the Boston Public Library, it seems like just a weird coincidence. But when a dead body is found, a complicated web of lies and revenge traps them in a nightmare. Strange text messages, violent threats, and shady histories weaves together a story of a fiction within a fiction, perfect for fans of the game/movie Clue. Interspersed at the end of each chapter is another character who becomes increasingly obsessed with this fictional story, making this a meta-murder mystery with total Misery vibes that will have readers turning pages not knowing who to trust in order to figure out both mysteries.

Thoughts: I'm a huge fan of the game and movie Clue, so the fictional story making the up the bulk of this work had me hooked. I honestly didn't know who to trust. At one point it does become a bit predictable, but the underlying story-within-a-story is what really kept me invested. It's hard to describe, but basically readers are treated to a fictional murder mystery chapter by chapter along with a struggling author and fan who's offering suggestions to help the mystery's author. But as each chapter passes, the struggling author/fan providing feedback becomes increasingly aggressive and agitated. As the story escalates, so does this author/fan -- until everything comes to a dramatic conclusion. I like that we don't hear from the actual author but instead hear their perspective through their fictional chapters as the two stories unfold. While the murder mystery had some predictable aspects, the story-within-a-story is a twist I've only encountered a few times before and Sulari Gentill really hits the right notes with this format. It definitely enhanced the suspense of the story and kept me reading late into the night. As mentioned, this mystery is perfect for fans of Clue and Misery.

**Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

I received The Woman in the Library as an ARC through NetGalley. It was a little confusing at first with a writing, writing about a writer while receiving correspondence from a colleague abroad. But by chapter 3, I could not put it down! This is my first book by Sulari Gentill and will definitely looking to read more of her novels.

Four strangers in a library reading room bond after they hear a woman scream from another part of the building. Freddie, Cain, Whit and Marigold become quick friends as they try to untangle the murder of the woman who screamed in the library. Could one of them been the murderer? Freddie the writer at college on a grant, Cain a published novelist, Whit who is purposely trying to fail law school or Marigold a psych major?

LOVED the originality with this one. Thrillers tend to be a dime a dozen these days, but this one was special. I actually enjoyed the story within a story within a story plot device. It might not work for all readers, but I vibed with it. Loved the "letters" in-between chapters too -- it gave me something to look forward to.

I wasn’t expecting this story-in-a-story mystery and wasn’t sure if it was going to get confusing along the way. It did not. Instead, it pulled me in so fast, keeping me enthralled along the way. I literally could not put this book down.

The characters were all intriguing and I didn’t have a clue who the killer was. Of course, at some point the author gives us enough to know where to look, but then the anticipation really began to mount as I waited to see how it was all going to play out.

The resolution was satisfying and left me wanting more from this author.

I really didn’t enjoy this book at all and I struggled with it. I read it quickly but was very disappointed with it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Structured as a novel within a story, The Woman in the Library is a tension-filled mystery. Hanna is an established Australian author of thrillers working on a book that takes place in the Boston Public Library. Leo, also a writer and living in Boston, is a fan and the two have an epistolary friendship where we see Leo offer encouragement, constructive criticism and logistical advice. Leo is specifically well positioned to aid Hannah with her novel-in-progress story as he happens to do most of his writing at the Boston Public Library. These letters are interspersed with Hanna’s actual novel, which centers around four library patrons working in the reading room of the library when they hear a terrifying scream. Turns out, one of them is the murderer. There is quite a bit to follow in the dual narration and the fact that the reader is aware that the main plot of the novel is a novel itself (so a novel within a novel) puts some distance between what can typically feel like a propulsive mystery. But if you like meta novels, such as The Plot or Agatha Christie-type mysteries, then this is the book for you. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

Enjoyed this mystery about novelists, friendship, and revenge set in Boston with a unique story within a story mystery unfolding at the same time. This work centers on an Austrailian novelist who has won a fellowship and is writing her book in Boston. She is working in the reading room of the Boston Public Library, along with several other intriguing characters, when a scream echoes throughout the library. She and the other interesting patrons quickly bond once they learn that a woman was actually murdered. Who do you trust when you are new to the country and are pretty sure one of your friends is a murderer? Great for fans of Anthony Horowitz's Susan Ryeland series.

I gave The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill five stars.

This was the first book I read from this author and it will definitely not be my last.
This was such a brilliant book and it was written in a unique way that I truly enjoyed. A story within a story. My favorite part was the letters to the author at the end of every chapter giving her tips about Boston and how she can write the story and later you get to see how she is using it while she is creating the amazing story.

I have seen reviews comparing this book to Inception meeting Agatha Christie, and I could not agree more. If you love a classic whodunnit with twists, check this book out!

This book comes out June 7.

Thank you Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4767486424

This book is possibly the most meta book that's ever been written- a book within a book within a book, and you'll need a flow chart, red string, and a blank wall to keep it all straight. This probably would have been great without the addition of the first layer- the Australian woman writing the book about the book, but with it, there were simply too many characters, plot lines, and narratives to keep track of.

The Woman in the Library is truly a unique mystery novel that captures the reader from the first chapter. The actual mystery is a story within a story- if you can imagine! At heart is the story of four strangers who are sharing a table at the Boston Public Library when they hear a horrendous scream. This scream catapults the four strangers into an unlikely friendship as they try to solve a murder mystery. The story within a story framework was ingenious and allowed the issues of the "real" world to creep into the story in a thoughtful way. This is a book I will definitely recommend to fellow mystery lovers and probably re-read again!

I received a digital advance copy of The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill via NetGalley. The Woman in the Library is scheduled for release on June 7, 2022.

The Woman in the Library is a story within the frame of another story. The framing story is correspondence between Leo and Hannah. Hannah is a novelist, currently working on a mystery involving four people brought together by a scream in an otherwise quiet Boston library. As she writes, Hannah sends chapters to Leo, who reads and replies, offering criticism and suggestions.

The second story is Hannah’s mystery novel. Four strangers become friends when a scream shatters the silence in the library where they are each working alone. While security investigates the scream, patrons are asked to stay put, resulting in the four strangers talking and forming unlikely friendships. Those friendships grow and are tested as bodies are found. One of them is a murderer.

Due to the framing structure of this novel, it’s a bit hard to describe and talk about. Honestly, my brain often struggled as it attempted to sift through and put together the pieces of the story. As the bulk of the novel was the novel Hannah was writing, that part of the story felt distant to me. While it was well written, and had clear characters with their own sets of motivations, the fact that it was a fiction within a fiction kept me from becoming fully invested in the characters and the situation. My brain kept insisting this story was not real. To my mind, the only part of the story that was real was the correspondence between Leo and Hannah. Even as I write this, this makes no sense, as the entire book is a work of fiction. I’m not sure why my mind made this distinction between the frame and Hannah’s novel. I am very curious to know if other readers had this same experience.

A side effect of this distancing for me was that the only character I ended up “knowing” was Leo. We get to read each of Leo’s emails to Hannah, discussing the story, his perceptions and suggestions for the story, and his report of what is happening in his world. From Hannah, we only get the chapters she is sharing. We don’t get any text she might have included in her emails to Leo. The result is that my only view into Hannah’s character is through her story, and my only view into Leo’s character is through the words he chooses to share with Hannah. In the end, I felt as if I had a decent understanding of Leo as a character, and a set of guesses surrounding Hannah. The characters within Hannah’s novel remained fictions.

Despite these challenges, or really because of them, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The mystery within Hannah’s novel is solid, and due to Leo’s commentary, I found myself reading with his (somewhat skewed) critical mind, as I was working to predict what he might comment on in his next email to Hannah. The correspondence between Leo and Hannah held it’s own mysteries, which added another layer to the mystery within Hannah’s chapters.

Overall, The Woman in the Library is a thought-provoking twist of a mystery. The story within a story will make readers consider and question everything from the various forms relationships can take to the power of words to influence our thinking. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and reading/ writing.

One of my favorite things about getting an Advanced Reader Copy of a book through NetGalley is discovering a writing that I would not have purchased for myself. The description of The Woman in the Library seemed to fit my preferred reading genre, but the cover and marketing indicated that it might be outside my comfort zone. However, the establishing event occurs in the Boston Public Library in Copley Square and that library and location hold fond memories for me. So I took a leap and started reading. What a fun book! There are several timelines and story lines occurring within the book and it took me a little bit to figure out what was going on. I was still concerned that it might get too intense for me, so I stopped reading it at night. I am extremely glad I persevered and finished the book. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good Whodunit. I was enthralled until the final words.

This was such a fun book. While I didn't find the mystery itself super unique, the format of a story within a story, was genius and made me feel like I was reading this book alongside someone and exchanging thoughts. Loved the format so much.

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE:
-books about writers
-amateur sleuths
-plot twists
-frame narrative structure

Four strangers are drawn together when a blood-curdling scream rings out in the Boston Public Library. Two writers, Winifred ("Freddie") and Cain, and two students, Marigold and Whit, are sitting at the same table when they hear the scream and decide to discuss theories over a meal. Within hours, the news reports that a woman's body has been found in the BPL and the foursome discuss possible motives and identities of the presumed killer. Freddie is a mystery writer and uses her new friends and the strange incident at the library as inspiration. There is also another layer to this story--the tale about Freddie and her new friends is actually a manuscript from an author named Hannah, who is sharing chapters with an acquaintance named Leo. Leo provides feedback and checks out real locations in Boston for Hannah to use in her novel, while also correcting some of her Australian jargon to American phrases. As the book goes on, both of these narrative layers get progressively creepier and claustrophobic.

This was a unique and fun reading experience. At first I felt that Leo's letters were interrupting the story I preferred but then it got really interesting. I suspected nearly every character in the story within the story, including Freddie herself, at one point or another. Contrary to the title, the majority of this story takes place around Boston, but not actually inside the library. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I thought the mystery's conclusion was surprising but made sense-- pretty much the best way a mystery can be concluded if you ask me. If you're looking for a twisty novel and especially if you like a frame narrative, THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY is a must-read.

Thank you very much to Poisoned Pen Press for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the digital ARC!

Things I enjoyed:
▪️Short chapters that ended leaving you wanting more.
▪️Unique storyline for a thriller which seems hard to do with so many of them out there.
▪️Thought-provoking topics that left you pondering what you would do.
▪️Classic whodunnit.

What I didn’t love:
▪️The story in a story set up. The letter writing from Leo didn’t seem needed. I didn’t understand how it was all tied together at the end.
▪️I never felt connected to the characters. They weren’t likable for me and I didn’t believe they would have become fast friends the way they did. It didn’t feel believable.

If you’re looking for a quick thriller this summer, pick this one up.