Source: DRC via NetGalley (Poisoned Pen Press)
Pub. Date: June 7, 2022
Post date on Angry Angel Books (angryangelbooks.com): June 2, 2022
Synopsis: Goodreads

Why did I choose to read this book?

I don’t read a lot of bottle episode-type books, so the description of this one grabbed me because (1) they are stuck in a library and (2) it’s a murder mystery. I’m trying to lean into my new love of thrillers/mysteries.

What is this book about?

It turns out that they are not stuck in the library until the murderer is uncovered. Four people meet in the Reading Room of the Boston Public Library after a blood-curdling scream interrupts the silence. They get to talking, become friends, and then slowly each of them is targeted by the unknown murderer of the woman in the library whose scream brought them together.

This book is also a bit about craft. After each chapter there is a letter of correspondence between a person named Leo (Winifred’s neighbor in the actual novel) and the author of the novel, Hannah. Leo is based in Boston and the author is based in Australia (as is the main character Winnifred in the novel parts). Leo seems to be a reader who gives feedback and location research/info, but also includes correspondence about their own “opus” and its inability to find an agent. They are also a huge fan of this author, and say so multiple times. We are led to believe that the author trusts this person enough to send them their pages for review.

You’re reading a novel AND someone’s opinion of the novel side by side (or rather, back and forth), and things eventually get kind of stalker-y.

What is notable about the story?

Everything about this novel is strangely convenient. From Winnifred’s scholarship to her new group of friends bumping into each other to begin with and then being together/bumping into each other WAY TOO MUCH – you would be hard pressed to not be like How? or What? or No Way That’s Not Believable.

Also everyone is always ready to “come right over” to support each other. I think a couple of times Marigold (the tattooed psychology major) is already outside Winnifred’s building basically fighting the doorman for access. Plus Winnifred is WAY too willing to let people just sleep over in her apartment. It’s wild. Get out of my house, I’ll call you an Uber. It’s Boston, just throw them on the Green line. And visa versa, Americans would be very unlikely to stay in the apartment of a person we just met, and call an Uber for ourselves at the end of the night.

Was anything not so great?

I hate to say it but this book wasn’t exactly thrilling. I think I reached almost 50% of my way through this one and just started rooting for them all to be the murderer so they could just all murder each other and be done with it. What killed it for me was actually also what was so notable about the book: the amount of coincidence. Every interaction was “oh! I didn’t expect to see you here!” like Boston isn’t a gigantic city and these 4 people that met randomly at a library would just be constantly bumping into each other everywhere they went.

What’s the verdict?

I’ll give it 3 stars because it was good enough to keep me reading until the end, but I think this book may suffer from culture ignorance. These interactions are not believable in Americans. A lot of this book was unbelievable or too convenient, and that took away from the suspense and mystery.

I think the synopsis for The Woman in the Library is misleading. I went into this expecting a locked room mystery, so it was pretty disorienting to realize that's not at all what this is! In the end though, I fell in love with this story within a story and thought the direction it went in was quite brilliant. This is going to be a difficult book to describe because I want to give my audience the right expectations but I also don't want to give anything away! Knowing that the main storyline is actual a novel allowed me to suspend my disbelief and to just go along with it.

Wow! What a read! I was prepared to like the book from the opening scene, because it was set in the Boston Public Library. Now, I have never visited the BPL, but I have visited enough wonderful old libraries to be excited about visiting again--and this author has the rare ability to put the reader into the scene. I could smell the old books and hear the rustling of pages as the other patrons tried to be quiet--until the shocking scream that kicked off the action.

. . . and it just got better from there! The characters were well developed, the dialogue pitch-perfect, and oh, the plot! I give up quickly when a book is hard to follow, and too many authors--I suppose in an attempt to introduce twists and surprises--lose me in their labyrinths. Not this one! I stayed just off balance enough to be caught up in the story, but not enough to have to go back and try to find where I got lost. It's been a while since I enjoyed a book this much.

I really liked the premise of this book, but ultimately it was a little too unfocused for my taste. It also probably does not help that I work in the Back Bay, across Copley Square from the BPL. It was hard to forgive the fake author for her mistakes and fabrications. This book is definitely entertaining, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to locals. And the lack of focus might not be everyone's cup of tea.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I was expecting to. The plot started out fine, but we were instantly introduced to some correspondence between two authors that didn't add anything to the story - it wasn't mysterious nor creepy, it just felt like some filler to the plot. The characters of the main story were very unappealing and I honestly couldn't care less about them or their current or background story, specially when they constantly made questionable and stereotyped comments about other people.

As for who the killer was, I can't really say I figured out who it was before it was reveled, but I can't really say that I was surprised either.

Right from the start I get like I was in some sort on inception of books! Reading a book about an author writing a book about an author writing a book! Because of this there are two separate but connected story lines. It was so interesting seeing the different stories coming together. It was slightly predictable but didn't take too much away from the story in general. The ending was sadly anticlimactic and I felt a little disappointed in how it all played out. Overall it was a fun read and I could not put it down unless I had completed each chapter! 3.75 star rounded up to a 4!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review "The woman in the library" I really enjoyed Sulari’s stand-a-lone novel. This story had me at the first sentence in chapter one, set in the architecturally awesome Reading Room of the Boston Public Library such a fabulous location for this thrilling read. Depending which chapter, I was up to at the time, I was certain on multiple occasions that I knew exactly who-dun-it until Chapter thirty-three when I learned I was spectacularly wrong.

I was drawn into the story within a story that Hannah was writing and I loved how the characters all had nick names, I could clearly picture their physical attributes dependent on the name Hannah had endowed each of them.

I also loved how the idea for the story was as a result of letter written to Sulari from a dear Bostonian friend, and the author changed it up from letters to emails and cleverly included the pandemic in those email conversations with Leo, whereby not actually including Covid-19 as such, but by the shear demands of Leo to include it and Hannah’s reluctance, there it is. Leo was one of my favourite characters, especially how he’d email Hannah, even though he was also a writer and lived in the same building. Leo would include explicit photos of scenes he’d stumble across, and he was always offering more suitable American terms instead of the Australian terms Hannah had initially written.

My mouth watered every time ‘Around the hole’ trendy bakery was mentioned and I’m not sure if the doughnut flavours mentioned in the book are real, especially the savoury flavours, but O.M.G, I can definitely see a side hustle there 🍩

After reading this five 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 novel Boston Public Library is now definitely on top of my list of places to visit - th💕nk you Sulari.

I was very excited to receive this one as a Murder in the library sounds exciting. However I have been extremely confused by the “story within a story” in addition to the publisher’s emails at the end who didn’t add anything to the story just reiterated or corrected points already mentioned. It broke the flow of the story for me and I couldn’t get myself back into it.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the copy for an honest review.

"The Woman in the Library" was a quick, fun read, although I had my doubts when I saw the vintage crime novel-style cover. It's set in the present and not especially noirish, with no hard-boiled flourishes. The book-within-a-book -- a mystery story that takes place in the Boston Public Library -- is an interesting device, but there's a lopsidedness, in that it's much more intricate than the framing tale about an Australian author whose would-be writer fan is"helping" her with the Boston setting but getting increasingly close to a real-life murder mystery of his own. The characters in the author's book-in-progress feel underdeveloped, especially the romance between two of the principal characters. The younger people in the group who were -- or were they -- witnesses to a homicide don't quite ring true as American types, although the plot twists keep us guessing as to whether any of them was involved in the murder. I'll probably seek out other titles by this author, or at least pick one up if I see her name on another cover.

I love any book that is about reading, books, bookstores and/or libraries. This book was creepy, twisty and I love that it was a story within a story. I like that there is an unreliable/unknown narrator centered around 4 strangers in a library and a murder occurs. The creepy atmosphere in this book is so tangible. I also enjoyed all the twists and turns and the ending.

I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future if it is as good as this book was. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, Sulari Gentill and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 6/7/22

The Woman in the Library was a fun read that grabbed and kept my attention. Of course, any story where a library plays a part is usually of interest to me, and this one had mystery, a setting (Boston) that is not very familiar to me, and a nifty format. The story within a story was good- I liked the idea of the main story being currently written by the author, then the author corresponding with the fan vie email. Sort of a nouveau epistolary style, this and the pandemic setting of that part of the story gave this book a fresh, contemporary feel.

I enjoyed the developing friendship among the 4 main characters in the story- Freddie the writer, Marigold the psych student, Whit the Harvard Law student, and Cain, another writer. Thrown together by a scream in the library and the discovery of a body, their stories come together as they try to determine who committed the crime. There is a character named Leo that is another fellowship writer and neighbor of Freddie, and he comes in and out of the story as well. Set in Boston, the author adds interesting details about places around the city as the group goes about their activities. With the author of the story, Hannah, stuck in Australia due to COVID restrictions, and the novel set in Boston, the fan Leo offers to help add some veracity to the story by checking and adding details about the city. At first the fan seems pretty normal, but then he starts getting overly involved and pushy, and possibly committing criminal acts in his pursuit of realistic details. There were some red herrings as the story progressed and almost all of the characters seemed like they could have been guilty at one point or another. The resolution was fairly satisfying and the character Leo is left a bit ambiguous at the end. The Reading Group Guide and conversation with the author were a nice bonus. This is a book I will recommend for purchase by my library and that I will recommend to patrons. I think our community will enjoy this one.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC.

i really didn’t like the framework of this novel - it made the actual mystery part super flat and i wasn’t invested in either storyline
no real sense of 'thrill' or 'mystery' in this novel - both storylines
tried to be misery + grown up scooby doo but flopped on both ends

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and #Netgalley for gifting me an ARC of The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill in exchange for this honest review!

Freddie Kincaid visits the Boston Public Library in the hopes of making good progress on her current mystery manuscript. She finds inspiration in the table’s three other inhabitants, nicknaming them Freud Girl, Heroic Chin, and Handsome Man. As she creates their personalities and backstories in her head, a woman’s scream breaks the library’s silence. This mysterious scream acts as a bonding experience, and the four strangers forge an unexpected friendship. They become almost inseparable when a body is found.

The novel’s first few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. I found myself immediately invested in Gentill’s first-person protagonist, Freddie. Her thoughts and dialogue were authentic and very believable, although she did read older than 27 years old (imo). On that note, I also found characters like Marigold and Whit to act younger than they are meant to be. I was 100% on board for the brilliant chemistry between Freddie and Cain (aka Handsome Man). As thrilling as the narrative was, with each new clue and the ever-rising tensions between the four main characters, there are a few aspects to this novel that made it a less than satisfying read for me.

At the end of each chapter, the reader experiences an extra layer of metafiction with a letter from Leo (beta reader/pen pal) to Hannah (the “author” of Freddie’s storyline). The reader learns quickly that Leo is responding to Hannah’s most recent additions to an ongoing manuscript. To recap: Gentill is writing about Hannah as she writes about Freddie. While the correspondence intrigued me at first, it soon grew tiresome. The red flags and creepy intimacy of Leo did give me goosebumps, but then I just found myself annoyed by Leo. For instance his insistence on including COVID into the novel, and his obviously wrong assumptions about the culprit(s) and the characters’ relationships had me yelling at him aloud in frustration. The psycho pen pal is a fun idea, for sure, but I felt it was forced into this novel, and I would have preferred to simply read The Woman in the Library without the epistolary commentary.

I was most disappointed with the ending. I correctly identified the person(s) responsible for the crimes committed, but the actual motive was surprisingly less complicated and sinister than I imagined it would be. In fact, this is a rare moment in which I believe my imagination came up with a better motive to match the narrative’s tone. My only additional critique focuses on Gentill’s tendency to rush things. The relationship between Freddie and Cain is measured in weeks, yet they have fallen in love with each other already. Furthermore, the story ends a bit abruptly, and at a strange moment. I assume the final scene shines a light on Gentill’s dark humor which I would not have minded, but I wish it was grounded in more substantial past clues/scenes that support such an ending.

I do not regret reading this novel in the least. The blend of thriller and mystery ingredients kept me on edge for most of the novel. I enjoyed the “frame-up job” angle, as it added to the tension and feelings of distrust among the characters. I believe this book could be a good match for those who enjoy metafiction, multiple storylines, and mysteries that are thriller-leaning.

Thanks # netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. Loved this book. Enjoyed the story within the story.

Thank you for this copy of The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill. I went into this book pretty much blind. I think I knew it was a mystery that took place in the library (and really what else do you really even need to know?)

So, reading a little into the book, I was surprised to find out that this is kind of a book inside a book. I enjoyed that little surprise! I liked getting the little letters from Leo interspersed in between the chapters . I liked reading his input on the plot and the corrections Hannah could make along the way. I was shocked about 50% in to learn Leo's true intentions. I will say I never saw that coming! I was highly invested in that little subplot (and honestly, I wish we could have gotten more on what was actually happening esp at the end!)

I also liked the light nature of the mystery. The different characters were interesting to read about and I thought at any given point each one would be the murder. I liked that not only was it focused on the 4 main characters, but we got reappearing characters along the way such as the doorman and Leo (the neighbor, not the letter writer). I thought the bit with the nurse in the building was hilarious!

Overall, I would totally recommend this lighthearted mystery! I would pick up more from this author in the future!

Oh. My. Word. I LOVED ”The Woman in the Library”! I have read every one of Sulari Gentill’s Rowly Sinclair series and immediately picked this one up but was a little put off by the back cover copy. I’m glad I decided to read it anyway. A few things to note, this is not a one room mystery…we are not actually in the library long. It is a story within a story within a story, like a Russian doll, each layer is interesting in it’s own way but but if this kind of literary device isn’t your thing, it may not be the book for you. I, however, loved it! And would love to read the book the author in the story’s characters are writing!

I so enjoyed the character’s within the author’s book and the way they developed whilst still being cast in doubt by the murder! I read the books straight through and, yes, I worked it out and was so chuffed with myself for it! A thrilling read indeed!

If you love fantastic writing, a modern mystery and a book with a twist, this is for you! I highly recommend it, it’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale!

This is a story within a story that’s within another story. Sounds like a book lovers dream, doesn’t it? Alas, I never felt fully invested in any of them. Each had its moments, but none of them wowed me.
Four strangers are working in the Boston Public Library when they hear a scream. They are all writers who happen to be there at the same time. Was it really a coincidence or was the scream intentionally planned in order to set things in motion? All four become entangled in each other’s lives as well as the case of finding out who screamed and why.
This story is the basis for Hannah’s novel that she is writing. As she is working and living in Australia and Covid has hit, she can’t travel to do research so she exchanges emails with a fellow author in the USA who gives her advice about her characters and plot lines. Over time, however, they take on a more menacing tone.
There’s not a lot more I can say without spoilers, so I’m going to leave it at that. It is a fairly quick read and the characters are interesting.
Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

The premise was cool and I enjoyed the first half or so, but then it got very slow and repetitive and I lost interest in what happened to any of the characters. There were a few red herrings that kept the mystery going, but the book within a book within a book business was distracting and confusing. A lot of people loved this book, and I can understand why -- it just wasn't a great one for me.

First ever Sulari Gentill reader here and definitely not a last. Gentill writes a super clever who-done-it tale. It's a book within a book and for a book lover like me its absolutely wonderful!

Imagine writing a novel the Boston Library and meeting the 3 people at your table when someone screams inside the library and you then find that person is dead. Next, imagine unknown to you one of the 4 is the killer. This is the premise of "The Woman in the Library." Freddie is on scholarship and writing her novel when the above happens. She quickly becomes friends with the 3 others sitting at the table, Marigold, Whit and Cain. But not truly knowing each other, are any of them truly safe?

Ah, but this is not the whole tale. In between chapers are notes, Hannah (the real author) sends to her beta reader (Leo). And this is the truly golden part of the book. As Hannah send chapters for review to Leo, he in turn, returns his suggestions for changes. Some she incorporates and others she ignores. Leo's responses change throughout the exchange, leading the reader to question who is he?

We are kept tied to the mystery (or mysteries) as each story unfolds. Who done it? Red herrings abound. When the group suspects one of them, is that person the murderer, falsely accused or a pawn for the real murderer. And dont forget, we need to know whats going on with Leo.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Sulari Gentill and Poison Pen Press for a cleverly written and immensely enjoyable mystery set in a magical location. From the format to the actual mysteries, layer after layer, this books is a fun trip!

This is one of the most smartly written books I have read in a while. I am definitely someone who looks for a certain sort of "vibe" in a book, and this one had it. I loved the characters, the whodunnit subplot, and the clever social commentary provided by an author who knows what they are talking about. I will recommend this to many people this summer, definitely!