Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC for review.

This book was so fun, so unique, and so compelling. The way it demanded my full attention is something I haven't really ever experienced before.

At the center of it all, The Woman in the Library is a murder mystery. Four strangers meet one morning in the Boston Public Library and are all disturbed from their work by a sudden scream. We're told by the narrator that the murderer is among this new group of friends, creating a locked room mystery of a sort.

The mystery itself is interesting and well-plotted, but the really compelling part of this book is the structure. It's told in alternating parts - this scene in the library turns out to be the opening chapter of a novel by an author an Australian author named Hannah, who sends her pages to a critique partner of sorts in the US, named Leo. The second perspective is in the form of letters from Leo, with his responses to each chapter, providing her with feedback, helpful information about the Boston area, tips on how Americans would phrase things, and his ideas on where he thinks the story will or should go.

For a further layer, our main character herself, Freddie, is also a novelist. She uses the situation as inspiration, assigning her new friends temporary nicknames - Handsome Man, Freud Girl, Heroic Chin - and they develop as characters in her brainstorming sessions alongside the knowledge she gains as their investigations & friendship develop in real life. It's another way the book winds around on itself - the main characters are also characters in Freddie's novel, and Freddie herself is a character in Hannah's novel, and Hannah's novel is the subject of Leo's critique, and it's all the framework for The Woman in the Library as a whole, and right in the middle, there's a murder to solve. It's an absolute tangle, and I loved it.

While the structure was the standout part of this book for me, the mystery was also right up my alley as well. It was well-plotted and gratifying in exactly the way I enjoy. Just enough information was spread along throughout the book that reveals felt earned, and I felt "in on it" when they came along - they weren't foreshadowed in such a way that when I began to suspect, I felt spoiled, but rather vindicated and stupidly pleased with myself. I don't know if I'm explaining that clearly, but I assume someone will know what I mean - the author regularly drops bits that get you thinking of various theories, not believing you have it all figured out. It kept me engaged all the way through.

My feelings are overwhelmingly positive, though I'm not 100% sure how I feel about the ultimate wrap up. If I think about it too much, I might consider it a bit rushed, a bit convenient, or suffering from a slight fumble just short of the end zone. However, on balance, I had such a good, engaging time reading this, was so absorbed, and found it so unique, that ultimately I give it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.

Two stories in one?! A treat! The major focus story is about our MC who is an Australian writer living in Boston and one day while in the Boston Public Library a woman screams. Joined by her 3 table mates the MC tries to solve this mystery. The second story is Leo, a beta reader, replying to our author of the mystery novel with his opinions on each chapter. Leo’s emails are the end cap to every chapter as if he was experiencing the book with you. This is very difficult to explain, but I promise you that while reading it makes more sense.

I was intrigued the whole time. When I go into mystery/thriller type books I just want the journey so I personally try to not guess anything. That way I’m always shocked at the end. The concept of this book is interesting, but some of the things Leo had to say about the chapter made me confused because of the writing style. A few of the misdirections seemed to just be more annoying than mysterious.

I did really enjoy this though, I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen with both stories being told. Some of the writing just didn’t work for me and that is why this book did not sit super high on my rating.

3.5 stars. Thank you for allowing me an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When you finish a mystery, the first thought isn't usually "hmm, that was an interesting structure." But that's the case with "The Woman in the Library," in which Sulari Gentill follows four new friends as they investigate the death of a woman whose scream united them in the Boston Public Library. (One is a murderer, we are told in the first pages.) But Gentill intersperses emails -- helpful, pushy, ultimately threatening -- sent by a "fan" to the author of the story that's unfolding. So, we get two stories in ne, or maybe three, if you add a sweet budding romance.

I gave this book several starts, started completely over twice, then picked up where I left off at least 3 times and just could not keep my interest in it. Quite a few characters to keep track of and it seemed the scream was the main happening. I had to give up. I am sure this murder mystery will be great for some readers, just not me.

I want to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an e-galley of this book to read and give my honest review.
First off, being a bibliophile, how could I not want to pick this book up? A book whose premise starts in a library. I had to read it. Second, the idea of meeting friends in a library? SIGN ME UP! I've been very into mysteries lately, so once I read the blurb, I had to see what this one was about. Plus it's an author I have never read and I like to try new authors!
Fast forward to a few chapters in and I'm really intrigued. The author is receiving emails from a long time fan and reader who wants to read the work she's writing. But half way through, things become a little creepy, and then all out stalkery and there went my love of it. I didn't understand what the point of the correspondence was. It didn't add anything to the story for me. Couple that with huge plot holes and the introduction of information that for sure seemed pertinent but never played out and you end up with a book I just didn't love. I tried, I really did.
I could not connect with the characters. Their fast friendship seemed almost forced. They went from a short chat in the library about a scream (the thing that ultimately throws them together, in more ways than the reader won't realize until the end) to suddenly spending all their time together, as if there were no other people in their lives. It's not relatable, it's not understandable, it just didn't even make sense. And there was nothing all that unique about any of these people. Not one of them made me like them, or hate them, in any way. Zero connection which lead to not really caring what happened to any of them.
Then add to it how convoluted the story becomes. It made it really hard to keep things straight and to get into the story.
And the ending? I'm not even sure what the author was trying to do with the ending. I get it was supposed to initiate some kind of suspense and leave you guessing but I didn't really understand what even happened.
The writer has potential, though she needs to tighten things up. The main character is an author who doesn't plot and I'm wondering if this was a hint at the actual author herself because with all the holes she left, it seems like she didn't plot it out to make sure it all made sense.
Overall, I'm disappointed to say this was not my cup of tea.

A book within a book that begins with 4 mysterious strangers in the gorgeous and atmospheric Boston Public Library brought together by a blood curdling scream? I was invested from page 1! This one was more of a modern cozy mystery versus fast paced thriller, and I found it to be completely unputdownable. The characters were well established and I enjoyed getting to know each of them as I tried to piece together the clues as to the whodunnit behind it all.

I loved the book within a book premise involving our main character Hannah, who is working on a fictional mystery about four strangers united by a murder mystery as she’s receiving correspondence and advice from a fellow novelist, who may have his own ulterior motives.

Overall, the mystery was well done and I would absolutely recommend this to my fellow mystery lovers! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this gifted ebook ARC in exchange for my review!

The premise of this book immediately captured my attention. I loved the structure of a story within a story. It added to the mystery of the book overall. The writing was powerful and didn’t rely on cheap twists to convey a sense of thrill. The plot was well-crafted and clever.

Fun mystery romp. A lovely little twist with the letter between the “author” and fan. Quite enjoyed it.

I was so excited to get a copy of The Woman in the Library .

Sadly this book was not for me . This “book within a book “ was so CONFUSING!

I had no idea what was going on for the entirety of the book .

There were surely two mysteries but I couldn’t figure out which was which and I kept having to reread passages .

The concept of this book is very interesting. It’s essentially two stories in one - the story that Hannah in writing and sending to Leo, and the emails that Leo sends to Hannah. Leo critiques Hannah’s chapters and provides her with inside info from the US, since she lives in Australia. After a few chapters, you start to notice a few strange comments that Leo makes in response to Hannah, and his comments and suggestions become increasingly disturbing throughout the book. You can also see how Hannah weaves Leo’s suggestions into her story. My favorite is when Leo comments on how he cannot tell if Hannah’s characters are black and that she should describe Cain as wearing hoodies if he is indeed black, so in the following chapter Hannah has almost every character wearing a hoodie.

The story that Hannah is writing is about a group of people coming together after hearing a scream in the library. The story follows Freddie, Cain, Marigold, and Whit as they try to solve the mystery of the scream and the dead woman in the library. As Freddie says in chapter one, “I am a bricklayer without drawings, laying words in sentences, sentences into paragraphs, allowing my walls to twist and turn on whim.” That is exactly how it feels like Hannah’s story is written. There are some very great, attention grabbing sentences that a lot of the chapters end on, but the story itself is predictable. The ending of Hannah’s story is just okay, but the overall book itself is complex and fun. I like the idea of an informant and fellow writer/researcher being an actual killer. It’s an interesting peak at an extreme creative process.

This is a book within a book within a book. An author is writing a story about a writer writing a story. Confused yet? The plot really isn’t this confusing and the real story told is told in a unique way. An author is sending chapters of their book to someone who communicates back to her his thoughts on what she is writing. Each chapter alternates with the story she is writing and the emails commenting on what she has written. The book is described as being twisty but the twist (or really the actual story) is given away half way through and spoils the natural progression of letting the reader figure it out and realization of what the real story is. The ending became anticlimactic for me. Anyway, the story within the story was interesting. Thanks NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I loved the start of this book, it had such a great hook! But to be honest I got so lost in the story within a story and kept getting the "real" characters confused with the "book" characters and the formatting of having both felt like it kept drawing me out of the story.

Four strangers hear a woman scream while in the reading room of the Boston Public Library. The scream starts a conversation and then a friendship among them that evolves as they learn of the murder that was discovered after the scream took place. Could one of the friends be responsible for the death?

This is a clever story within a story where the author alternates between the murder mystery she’s writing and emails from a fellow writer offering editorial advice on the novel-in-progress in increasingly disturbing ways. The two storylines provide tension and suspense to keep the pages turning in this unique mystery thriller.

If you’re looking for an engaging and fast-paced summer read, this one will fit the bill. The quirky characters and dual story arcs make this a quick and enjoyable read that will keep you guessing how it will all turn out in the end.

Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity of reading an ARC of #TheWomanInTheLibrary for my honest review. The book is available June 7th, 2022.

The Woman in the Library is a mystery within a mystery that starts at the Boston Public Library.

Four strangers meet while sitting together at a table in the library. After hearing a woman scream and later finding out she was murdered they realize they have a lot in common they become friends, try to help in assisting to find the woman's killer.

This story is told as a book within a book. At first I found it very difficult to follow, once I caught on to it and got attached to the charming main characters I didn't want to put it down.

I gave this very exciting thriller 4 stars.

As a library worker, of course I was intrigued by the title and cover. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. I liked the creative idea of a story-within-a-story, but didn’t feel it ultimately paid off. I also thought the main story’s mystery wasn’t difficult to solve.

I am a library associate and received an advance copy from #NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”The Woman in the Library.”

I very much enjoyed the story within a story in this book. At first I was a little confused, but after a couple of chapters it started to make sense. It ended up being an intriguing mystery!

The joy of Sulari Gentill's The Woman in the Library is that it's a story within a story within a story, and each successive chapter reveals one or two more puzzle pieces for readers to ponder. I could compare the unfolding of the plot to peeling back the layers of an onion, but not only is that comparison worn out, but it also doesn't really fit. No, this story is a beauty, and much more like the slow but certain blossoming of a rose, petal by soft, scented petal.

A series of emails from Australian writer Hannah Tigone to Leo Johnson tells readers that Hannah is in Australia writing a novel about a murder set in the Boston Public Library and Leo is her American contact who reads Hannah's manuscript and searches out locations and offers tips on clarification. But that's not the only thing going on with the Hannah and Leo layer. The Freddie/Cain/Marigold/Whit layer also blossoms with the steady infusion of kernels of information about each character. These stories play off each other beautifully.

The Woman in the Library is one of those books that you can't talk about very much without giving something away, so I'll just say this: I decided right at the beginning to let myself become a leaf caught in a current in the river. This means that I didn't bring out my deerstalker hat and magnifying glass in order to solve the mystery before the characters in the book had a chance to. No, I simply went along for the ride and enjoyed every page. Once the rose that is The Woman in the Library has completely blossomed, there was nothing left to do but marvel at the story Gentill created. Wow!

How is it possible that I enjoyed a book but never understood what was really going on? I don't have an answer, but this story-within-a-story concept truly left me shaking my head despite the surprising reluctance to put it down. Even now, I'm not sure what was real and what wasn't (ditto the who) - but I'll try to explain it as best I can. To paraphrase Billy Joel, I may may be wrong for all I know but I may be right.

Hannah Tigone lives in Australia; in part because of pandemic-related travel bans, she sends chapters of the Boston-set mystery she's writing to Leo, a Boston writer who has agreed to contribute background information and correct content errors. Enter another setting: Four strangers in a Boston library include Winifred (Freddie) Kincaid, an Australia native in Boston on a prestigious writing scholarship. Their quiet is interrupted by a terrifying scream from an unknown person - female, all four conclude after they begin to talk with one another and form a collective friendship based on that common bond. Then, an actual body is found - that of a murdered woman.

Okay, correct me if I'm wrong here, but that second scenario appears to be the book Hannah is writing. Freddie, the star of that show, is writing a book herself - and one of her neighbors is named Leo. From then on, chapters shift from exchanges between Hannah and Leo and the four new friends - make that the story Hannah is writing. That story held my interest most just because, I guess, of the whodunit factor (even though, I think, it's coming from a writer's imagination).

I can't say I much liked any of those characters - at least two of which are likely murder suspects - but the action did hold my attention. The only thing intriguing about Hannah's exchanges with Leo, on the other hand, was his progression from the role of editor to control freak. In the end, the whodunit was resolved, although I'm not totally sure whether that happened in real life or fiction (the latter, I think). I spent maybe half an hour after finishing the book trying to make sense of the whole thing, but total enlightenment never came. To be sure, it's cleverly written, but overall it just wasn't my cup of tea (or the awful American coffee Freddie - or was it Hannah - complained about). Still, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

Didn’t love this. Wanted to love it. I thought the character development with secondary characters was weak. And the ending, while supposedly a twist (I think?) was just meh. I feel like there was a lot of potential with the parallel story but that fell flat too. Just a really pointless plot.

Written for an adult audience, #WomanInTheLibrary layers the story of an Australian author with the mystery novel she is writing. People she encountered in the Boston Public Library reading room grow into characters in her developing murder mystery novel. Corresponding with an American author provides authenticating research details for her writing while involving her in a dangerous mystery of her own.

Readers who love the writing process, bibliophiles and those who enjoy a jigsawed tale without obvious red herrings will enjoy this book. I struggled a little since both a real character and a fictional character share a name. But that has more to do with my crowded brain and busy schedule than any fault of the author’s. I enjoyed being immersed in the “fictional” story so I didn’t want to pop out for the “author’s” writing exchanges. But I enjoyed how the two stories dovetailed together at the end. A fun read.
Thanks to #netgalley Look for this one publishing on June 1.