What started off like a fun mystery with a scream somewhere in the library, it slowly turned into a drag. There were too many characters, too many timelines and the plot was left for wanting. I continually had to force myself to focus and even flip back to check what I had read previously. This was too much work for what should be an enjoyable thrill.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-copy of this book.

Love a who-done-it!! Friendship and murder what better way to solve a mystery! Great twisty literary adventure in every page.

This is a fun read (I listened). The murder is at the Boston Public Library and the characters all hear "the scream". Freddy is and Australian scholarship studendt who has not only decided to solve this crime but is incorporating her new friends who were all sitting at the same table into her own book.

Yes, it is a book within a book and yes it did get a bit confusing at moments (I chalk it up to not focussing on the listening and trying to do too many things at once).

Smart, interestng characters and lots of twists and turns - which I loved. I will look for this author in the future!

Much thanks to Dreamscape and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is fantastic! A story within a story, a mystery with twists and turns, it’s fabulous. Honestly this is one of the best books I have ever read. The concept was unique and the writing was engaging. Excellent read!!!

I finished this one, but didn't enjoy it at all and could barely finish it. I didn't quite understand the point and would not recommend it even though the word "library" is in the title!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

Unfortunately for me, the writing style of The Woman in the Library just did not work for me. I gave up a few chapters in.

When I first picked this up, I didn't realize it was structured as a book within a book. Austrailian author Hannah Tigone is writing a mystery about an Austrailian author in Boston. She shares chapters as she writes with superfan Leo. It begins with letter from Leo, and honestly, he comes off as pretty creepy. The story of author Freddie, Whit, Marigold and Cain begins in the Boston Public Library. They are unknown to one another and sharing a large square table. A scream and eventual discovery of a dead body leads to friendship between them, even as we wonder if one of them could be responsible. A lot of layers are revealed as the story moves forward. I was continually surprised at some of the direction things went and the ending was well done.

The "Woman in the Library" by Jennifer Kelland Perry is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of identity, family secrets, and the power of memories. The protagonist, a young woman named Maya, is on a journey to uncover the truth about her past and solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance. The book takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster as Maya navigates through the maze of her own memories and the dark secrets that her family has been keeping.

The writing style is excellent, with vivid descriptions of the characters and their surroundings. The pacing of the story is steady and keeps the reader engaged throughout. The plot twists and turns are surprising, yet believable, and the resolution of the mystery is both satisfying and heartbreaking.

One of the strengths of this book is the character development. The author does a fantastic job of portraying Maya's growth and transformation as she learns about her past and comes to terms with the truth. The supporting characters are also well-written and add depth to the story.

In conclusion, "Woman in the Library" is a well-written, compelling and emotionally charged novel that will keep you engaged from start to finish. If you're a fan of mystery and family drama, this book is a must-read.

This one was a little underwhelming, honestly. I liked the format of the book. I thought it was original and could’ve gone in a very cool direction, but unfortunately, I didn’t like the direction it took.

While this book did serve relatively well as a thriller, I felt as though it could have been executed better in regard to characters and their motivations. Quite a few of the twists underdelivered in my opinion, and I was more confused than engaged.

Overall, this wasn't a favourite but it was fairly enjoyable and I’d recommend it to readers who want a suspenseful book. Check the trigger warnings, I gave this book 2.5/5 stars.

When I read that this book was about a murder in the Boston Public Library (one of my favorite places on earth) I was so excited.

When I saw how odd this book ended up being, I was...not as excited. It's something of a book-within-a-book, which is hard to execute at the best of times, and at the worst of times is just confusing (like it was in this book).

Honestly, it was kind of boring for a murder mystery.

No one is who they seem to be in this mesmerizing book! I gulped it down in one sitting. Fantastic twists! Great job!

I honestly couldn’t finish this. I just couldn’t get invested in the characters and the writing felt very clumsy. I feel like there was a potential story here, it just had too hard of a time getting off the ground for me.

This just wasn’t my cup of tea. While the plot sounded so promising, I’m sorry to say that none of the characters interested me much, and the storyline simply couldn’t engage me.

This was such a hit book last year! I enjoyed it. Thank you to the author and publisher for my copy in exchange for a review.

4,5 ⭐

I really enjoyed this book. It's different from other books I've read, I really liked the idea of a story within another story, it was a new concept for me.

At first I was kind of ignoring the emails because I didn't think they would be so important and I was focusing on the manuscript, but it was really interesting having two stories at the same time with both "real life" and fiction stories. I do think that the emails should be given more focus at the beginning, though. I feel like I was only neglecting it because the book was attracting our attention more on the manuscript, in my opinion (or maybe it was just my attention).

I'm not sure yet if I liked the reveal of the killer but overall I really really liked it. Definitely worth reading and I would recommend it.

Well, this is a different book. What begins as a "normal" mystery has some very unusual bits and pieces. A woman author is working on her latest book in the reading room of the Boston Public Library when a woman's scream pierces the peace and quiet. This event brings together four strangers who happen to be sitting at the same table in the BPL. Two authors, a young "genius", and a young man determined not to follow in his family's law business. Then there's the fan (?) who is corresponding with the woman author -- his letters (part fan mail, part plot suggestions/critique) are included between chapters.

This is an intriguing mystery with ever changing suspects, a romance (or two), and so many twists and turns a reader could get whiplash. Here's the deal, though -- is this a mystery? is this an analysis of how a writer progresses through writing a mystery novel? is any of this really happening? It's a book within a book with periodic critiques and suggestions. While this could certainly make a great "book club" book, since there's plenty of room for discussion and analysis, I'm not sure the "ordinary" reader will find this worthwhile. I'm still not sure what was going on in some places, and the ending doesn't really tie everything up. Maybe that was the point -- life leaves you with questions. I'm glad I read it, and I'm sure I will think about this book for a while. I'm just not sure it's something I would recommend widely.

This unfortunately wasn't for me - had to stop reading because of the ridiculous "American" advice and pandemic commentary. Hopefully others enjoy it more!

[2.5 Stars]

OOOF

I really thought I was gonna give this book 4.5 stars, but then the last 10% happened. I was loving the book within a book (within a book) thing that was going on so so much. And the concept of a novel that's basically critiquing and defending itself as it goes on is so cool. The discussions that this book contained were so important and really thrived in the slow-paced, character-focused atmosphere that Gentill built.

But then the way that both storylines wrapped up was way too abrupt and unsatisfying. If the time and attention we saw put towards the build-up had continued into the resolution, this really could have wowed. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

I wouldn't necessarily tell people to not pick this up, but I do think other books should be prioritized over this one

Hmmm, I really liked the premise of the story but felt the ending left me with a few questions and a storyline unresolved. Since I listened to the audiobook, the book with in a book was, at times, confusing; perhaps it was easier to understand in written form.

I enjoyed the pace of the novel and the narrator. Ms. Littrel did a great job with all the characters and distinguishing them.

I loved this book so much. It was a quiet and compact thriller where you were constantly guessing what each character's motivations and raison d'etres were. I was on my toes the whole time and finished this within a sitting! I was that gripped! I also loved the creativity in creating a novel within a novel and the creepiness of the exchanges between the 'author' and her admirer. I could totally see that coming, but it was a fun ride nonetheless!