Happy to receive an ARC digital copy of this book. My first time reading something written by this author. I go back and forth on how I feel with this one. The book is an easy read. It kept me entertained and I wanted to keep reading.
The concept with what the author attempted to create for the storyline was unique. I love new and out of the box ideas. I found the four main characters easy to like . I was constantly rooting for their friendship.
I wasn’t able to figure out the “who done it” in this one, which was fun.
However, the downfall was that the ending needed answers and some pop. There is so much buildup and mystery throughout the story, the ending lacked the “home run out of the park” closure that it deserved. It felt quick ending with questions left unanswered. I would give this author another go.

A wild ride through a story within a story within a story.
Edge of your seat, stay up way too late - kinda book.

You'll try to guess who "done it" and then you'll change and change again.

I found a few inconsistencies, or things I would like explained.
There were also some grammatical errors - or more likely mis-typings.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing an early copy of this wonderful book.

What a fascinating idea for a book! And it was well executed and sucked me right in. The concept is the following: Hannah, a famous author, is an Australian writing a fiction thriller set in Boston in modern day (it touches on the COVID-19 pandemic). She is corresponding with Leo, who lives in Boston and helps her get the details right--helps her with setting, sends photos of relevant locations, and helps her Americanize her dialogue. We read the chapters as she sends them to Leo, and they are interspersed with his commentary in epistolary form.
Meanwhile, the novel is about an Australian living temporarily in Boston on a writing fellowship who gets mixed up in a murder soon after her arrival. She draws deeply on the lives of her new friends to inspire the characters in her novel. It doesn't take long to see how life inspires fiction and how fiction starts to reflect back onto life.
I felt that the writing was a bit abrupt and action-oriented. Things didn't just happen--they happened abruptly without much transition between them. I quickly found the lines blurring between the different lines of reality and fiction. The tension in the novel quickly made me feel tension about the epistolary correspondence as well. It was fun to see Boston through the eyes of an Australian who is overtly recognizing the cultural differences by having them pointed out by an American. I also found that having the thriller novel being broken up by the letters gave me breaks from the suspense...until they didn't (no spoilers here!). The plot was enjoyable as well.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and the publisher

The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book even though I was not sure it was going to grab me from the blurb, sometimes it is best to go with your gut feeling so I took a chance and am glad I did. There are a great bunch of characters here who all come together to produce a wonderful story and a different take where a mystery writer documents a story about a mystery writer writing a novel, sounds confusing but is not, it is imaginative, very clever and well done.

If you are looking for something a little different then I really do suggest you give this book a try. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased honest review.





I did enjoy this book and liked the characters who are all quite an interesting bunch. It was a bit slow for me at times, but overall, an enjoyable read

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The premise of this book was very promising, a reverse locked room mystery. This was a mashup of One of Us is Lying meets Only Murders in the Building. From the start, I am not sure if I bought into the idea that these four strangers could become friends because someone screamed in the library. I was hooked on the mystery from the start, but I was confused by the subplot of the book. I read this in a day mainly because I was so confused and needed to keep reading for clarity and also to find out what happened.

The books is very meta, its a story within a story within a story. I felt like I needed my own murder board to keep track of all of the moving parts. There is a lot of information to keep up with, and I felt like I questioned everything a character did or said. I felt like I was in the middle of the book also trying to figure out what was happening which was a fun experience but was also frustrating at times. I loved the idea of this book but not sure it was executed 100%. I was confused the entire time I read, I equally wanted to walk away from the book as a I did wanting to race through the book to figure out what happened.

As a fan of Gentill’s Rowland Sinclair series, I was quick to request an ARC of her newest book from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. Perhaps I just prefer my mysteries to be set in bygone eras, like the 1930s Australia setting of the Rowland Sinclair series, but this modern-day stand-alone just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Our main character Freddie is an Australian writer on a fellowship in Boston. One day as she is struggling to write at the Boston Public Library, surrounded by strangers, the silence is interrupted by a woman’s terrified scream. This strange occurrence leads her to befriend the three people sitting closest to her: Cain, also a novelist, Whit, a failing law student, and Marigold, a psychology graduate student. Later, they learn that a woman was killed in the library that day. Soon, Freddie is receiving strange calls and messages, suggesting that her new friends are in danger…and one of them might be a killer.
Thrillers are not my preferred genres and the more I read, the more I find that I prefer mysteries to have historical settings. In her Rowland Sinclair series, Gentill masterfully wove in political events of the day with each mystery. She also created a group of characters that were charming, witty, and fun to be with, characters that I was happy to visit with again and again. In the Woman in the Library, the characters never felt real, and none of them seemed like people I’d be particularly drawn to spending time with. They became strangely close and loyal to one another in a very short span of time which was necessary for the story but felt forced. There was also another story in the form of letters to the “author” of Freddie’s story, Hannah, and a reader named Leo. Leo praises Hannah’s work which feels strange as its basically Gentill praising her own writing, and offers suggestions, including that Hannah should include mentions of the pandemic and address the races of her characters. It was a strange and, in my opinion, unnecessary addition to the book to include these side letters.
This is a quick, short read tied up in an implausible explanation lacking a good motive- but maybe that’s the way with most thrillers. I will continue to read any historical mysteries Gentill writes in future, but I’ll stay away from modern-day thrillers. I might just be done with thrillers in general.

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

PUBLICATION DAY: June 7, 2022

Four strangers are seated together in a library (Freddie, Cain, Whit and Marigold) when suddenly they hear a woman’s nearby scream. A connection is instantly formed as they react to the interruption - should they investigate? Ignore? Their confusion leads to introductions, a conversation and a newly formed friendship…one in which apparently one of them is a killer. But whom???

PROS and CONS:
Clever, clever, clever! I loved this story within a story, such an incredibly unique storytelling device. The exchange of emails between the “real” author Hannah and Leo, intermixed with the mystery evolving between the “fictional” author Freddie and her newly found group of friends - well it was downright genius. Neither plot was particularly earth shattering, but when placed together…what can I say…I’m a fan!

READ IT?
A unique mystery when you’re in the mood for something completely different (which I clearly was!)

5 Stars

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this story is great, especially for a reader. A woman murdered inside a library and a group of friends in the library set out to find out what happened to her. It was definitely an interesting premise and it kept me engaged and wanting to know how this was all going to turn out. However, there were several problematic parts. The fact with how fast our 4 main characters become friends and are staying over each others house is completely unbelievable. Several technology things with cell phones made the plot highly unlikely and in the end the killers motives were really off to me. In this story not only do we get the murder to solve but we get a duel story with the writer of the story and a would be fan reading parts of her story and making commentary on the plot and characters. That part was also intriguing and you could not really tell how it was going to go. I will say that I did want to read to the end, I did care what the outcome of both stories were but when I got to the end of both I was just a little let down. If you love a good murder mystery or stories set in Boston then this book may be for you.

A gripping book within a book within a book!
We start in the Boston Public Library where Winnifred (Freddie) is trying to write at a table with three strangers, when they are interrupted by a woman screaming…
What follows is a whodunnit interspersed with Leo’s feedback emails to Hannah, our Aussie author after each chapter.
The sub-plot was interesting (although Leo’s mansplaining drove me mad, if I where Hannah I’d never have replied in the first place!), although I found myself wishing I knew a bit more about Hannah!
Overall 4 stars, I really enjoyed this.

I'd rate this like 4.5 stars! I loved the story within a story, within a story element! This was a super fun, middle-paced crime novel, less about the twists and more about the story and character arcs and I was here for all of it! The four plus one main characters all had endearing qualities and you were rooting for ALL of them to NOT be a killer. I was so hooked.

I have read other books by Sulari Gentil and just LOVED them.

As a result, I was looking forward to reading The Woman in the Library. Somehow though, it just wasn't what I expected. Perhaps the many stories running in parallel, particularly the ongoing dialogue with a 'pen pal' were distracting from the main thread? I also didn't find it hard to work out who the murderer was. The motive, however, had quite escaped me.

Sulari writes beautifully so I am sure there are others that will thoroughly enjoy this murder mystery.

Perhaps a different introduction to this book, by the publisher, would have given me a better idea of the storyline, this one seems just doesn't capture the essence of the story for me.

With thanks to @Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill is a unique book (for me) that unfortunately didn't work for me. I was really looking forward to this one. The premise was interesting but the execution was disappointing. It begins at Boston Public Library with a woman's scream, four strangers and the beginning of friendships. There is a murder mystery, a correspondence between two authors, hidden past, friendship, relationships, pandemic and a lot more.
The most interesting part was that in this one there is a book in a book in a book (I think). But that was a major let down. The correspondence didn't add to the story. In fact, it took me away from the story. I think I would have enjoyed it much more if it was a book on it's own or if it wasn't there at the end of every chapter. The discussion about cultural differences and use of language was really interesting. The parts where we get to see how writers work were good. The mystery part was alright. Nothing out of the box. The characters weren't very interesting. I might try something else by this author but this one just wasn't for me.

I enjoyed the ebook , good story inside of another story. However, the audiobook was extremely hard to follow. Definitely recommend reading over listening. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

A fast-paced suspense novel set in and around the Boston Public Library. Four strangers are in the library researching and writing when a scream is heard. The usually silent reading room buzzes with conversation about the scream, and these four quickly form a friendship. The story-within-a-story in epistolary format gives an additional, unique perspective. This is quite a page-turner and I finished the book in about 36-hours, anxious to find out who-dunit! It had everything I look for in a book - mystery, books, libraries, writers, readers, red herrings. Highly recommended!

I don’t usually read mysteries or thrillers, but this one spiked my interest. Much to my surprise, this not only exceeded my expectations but it’s also a story within a story! I got to admit that at first it was a little bit confusing to understand these were to separate storylines, but once I got it, it was a smooth, high tension, addictive, unputdownable read. I don’t want to get into details, because I believe the best way to pick up this book is to know absolutely nothing about it; but the fact that there are two plots at the same time, it keeps us a little confuse (in the best way) and makes us constantly question about the motives of each character. The surprising ending was also remarkable.

I’d like to thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me the e-arc. This book comes out June 7th and if you like mysteries, you can’t go wrong with this one!

The Woman in the Library is an exquisitely elegant and utterly unique book that combines so many elements that it is sure to leave a lasting impression long after the reader has turned the last page.
At the core of the book, Sulari Gentill crafts a riveting mystery following the four main characters who were sitting in the Boston Public Library when a woman's scream echoes through the building, bringing them together when they would otherwise have gone their separate ways. The mystery is well crafted, the characters are complex and compelling, and the solution to the mystery keeps the reader vacillating back and forth throughout the book.
Another element that is just as fascinating as the mystery itself, is the process the writer follows, as shown in letters inserted at the end of each chapter from her Beta reader. In those letters, the Beta reader points out instances where the wording of the Australian writer needs to change to American vernacular, pointers on locations in Boston, where the reader is located, and other items the reader deems necessary to point out.
Finally, as the book progresses, the Beta reader's letters become increasingly alarming and obsessive, giving another tension to an already fascinating novel.
#TheWomanintheLibrary is a multi-faceted, fascinating novel that is sure to be a hit. Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with an early copy.

Sulari Gentill’s The Woman in the Library hooked me immediately. It opens with a letter from an American writer to an Australian one, a chatty note about writing and an offer to review chapters as the Australian author, a successful mystery writer, works on a new book.

Then comes the new book. From the opening sentences it’s clear the Australian author is incorporating things the American correspondent suggests, and even names a character after him. The action of the actual novel takes place pre-pandemic, but the correspondent writes about contemporary affairs, from the wildfires in Australia in 2019 to COVID to race. The ultimate fate of the correspondent becomes a second narrative.

In the main narrative, set in Boston, a writer has gone to the public library to work on her book, taking inspiration from the three strangers at the same table. Then, they hear a woman’s blood-curdling scream. Having met under such circumstances, the four soon become fast friends. Each character is hiding something and acting suspiciously even as they pair off. The writer – an Australian on a fellowship – keeps courting the muse and also practicing subterfuge to support her new lover until the final reveal.

The unusual construction of The Woman in the Library adds a great deal of interest and complexity to what would have been a fine, straight-forward mystery. I appreciated that the secondary narrative allowed for discussion of the craft of writing and real-life events. Sulari Gentill does a fine job throwing doubt on each of the writer’s new friends from the library, and I felt like I was working extra hard to figure out which leads were false, as the correspondent shared his own theories.

I found the main character easy to root for and enjoyed delightful touches such as one of the friends from the library being covered in tattoos and swearing most charmingly. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a locked-room mystery and can tolerate two interwoven narratives.

I think most of the bookish community mirrors my sentiment when I write that the title and description of this book had me buzzing with frenzied anticipation to read it.. Who wouldn't love a book that begins in a library with a murder and gives the reader a group of strangers becoming friends and trying to solve the case?
Almost every review of this book references the "story within a story"; however, as I've struggled to read through this book I've suspected that most of the good reviews were written by people who didn't get past the first few chapters. Had they read the book and not just blurbed it, they would have recognized that this book is not just a story within a story but is instead a story within a story within a story. We are not just reading about the author and her beta and "Freddie" and her new friends,
but we are also reading along with Freddie as she writes her book. So,
when I read the good reviews and found myself struggling to read page after page, I at first felt discouraged to be in the minority... until I realized the rave reviews were likely written prematurity.

This book is unfortunately and, much to my disappointment, too much for the reader. The protagonist in each story references writing as being on a bus and letting the bus as her muse guide her story. The book overall is a bus gone rogue with too many passengers too many drivers, too many destinations. and too many turns. I couldn't keep track of all of the names. We had the absolutely ridiculous names in the 1st story in progress, AND the names Freddie assigns them the 2nd work in progress. Then, we have the author and her Beta, whose name is duplicated in the 1st writing. Also, it is inconceivable that the Beta reader would not point out to the author that Americans, especially those in their 20s, don't have names like Marigold and Cain and Whit. They need more millennial names. It is also unbelievable that the Beta reader would have to point out to an established author that Americans don't use certain words that are used commonly in Australia. It does make sense that he has to explain certain Boston locations and popular businesses. The Beta reader aspect of this book was fun.

The characters are ridiculous and do ridiculous things. Example: Who loses their phone and does absolutely nothing about it? Who doesn't use a find-my-phone feature? Who are these people?

I couldn't get past 50 percent, though. Too much. I kept begging the bus to stop pickup up passengers. I got carsick reading this one.

The overall story was entertaining as well as it was confusing.
You have two writers, one in Boston and the other in Australia.
They are correspondents who communicate with each other and
critique each other's stories.

One of these has two different authors who are the main characters
of the mystery part of the story.
When one section closes one of the "real" authors comments and offer
advice of what may have happened and where to location may have been.

To make things even more confusing? The one "real" author also includes
the other one as a character into the "mystery" part of thier story.

When a woman is murdered at the Boston Public Library, four strangers who sit at the same table and all happen to be there when the murder occurs strike up a friendship, despite the fact that it looks like one of them might be a murderer.

I... wanted to like this more than I ended up liking it. At first glance, I thought this would hit all the spots, the murder, the library, the protagonist being an author. Unfortunately, I was less than satisfied with how the mystery carried out. I found myself more interested in the letters that Hannah was receiving from Leo which interspersed the actual action. That being said, I did find the author's capacity for prose and dialogue very well done, and the structure and style definitely executed the whodunit but just not to the level I was hoping for.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.