A fiction story in a fiction story with an additional side story with correspondence between chapters was a bit much. I loved the idea of a murder in a library and one of four people meeting for the first time being guilty of the murder; however the this fell short of my expectations. The characters were flat as they were being created by a fictional author and the correspondence with Leo interrupted the flow of the book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this early copy for an honest review.

2 ⭐

I found the 40% of this super addictive but for some reason the story fell flat for me and I don't think I'll remember this one in a few weeks. I liked the writing and I do think this was a soild read but I just wish there was a bit more added.

Thankyou to Netgalley for allowing me to read this one early.

The woman in the library by Sulari Gentill.
Hannah Tigone, bestselling Australian crime author, is crafting a new novel that begins in the Boston Public Library: four strangers; Winifred, Cain, Marigold and Whit are sitting at the same table when a bloodcurdling scream breaks the silence. A woman has been murdered. They are all suspects, and, as it turns out, each character has their own secrets and motivations – and one of them is a murderer.While crafting this new thriller, Hannah shares each chapter with her biggest fan and aspirational novelist, Leo. But Leo seems to know a lot about violence, motive, and how exactly to kill someone. Perhaps he is not all that he seems…
I really enjoyed this book. Great story. I had my theory and I was partly right. I did like Freddie and Marigold and Cain
Wasn't sure about Witt or Leo. 4*.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

What a wonderful surprise this book is! I tend to read books that have library in the title because I'm quite partial to libraries. I had never heard of this author before but intend to follow her from now on. I gather this is Ms Gentill second stand-alone book and that she has a series also.

This story starts out with four young people, unknown to each other, sitting near one another in the Boston Public Library. A terrifying scream is heard and they start chatting and end up at a coffee shop guessing at what possibly could have happened. A second story runs alongside which tells us that an Australian woman is writing the first story but since she is in Australia she is using an acquaintance to give her specific facts about Boston, Cambridge, etc. Each chapter of the mystery is preceded by an e-mail from the acquaintance, both solicited and unsolicited, in response to the preceding chapter. It is an ingenious approach and in no way throws of either story.

The four friends, two men and two women, have attractions, get close and more information evolves about each one of them as people die, and strange events happen. You could say there are red herrings but not really. There are explanations and the reader bounces around like a ball in a game box trying to make sense of each new piece of information and whether it is pertinent to the mystery of the 'scream in the library.'

I read this book in two days but it would be a disservice to label it a beach-read. I think Ms. Gentill is an evolving writer with a lot of tricks up her sleeve. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on her detective series. and more of these wonderful stand alones.

e-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"so now i'm alone with a murderer. but then it's not the first time."

there's always a risk with stories-within-stories that one -or both- of them will be made worse for it, so i'm very glad to report that that is not the case here. while it seemed totally random at first, i loved seeing how the email correspondence between the author and a diehard fan impacted the story she was writing -the one advertised on the blurb, so double inception- and enhanced my engagement in reading this. in all regards, the subplot (parallel plot?) surprised me, and ended up my favourite part of 'the woman in the library'. i just love very subtle signs that something is terribly wrong.

as for the main plotline about four strangers meeting in a library, unaware that one of them is a murderer, i've got to say i didn't connect with it as much. maybe since this was my first foray into mystery novels and it's just not the genre for me, or i read it at a weird time which impacted my enjoyment. definitely not much of a criticism of the story, i guess i just like the moment where everything slots into place more than the guesses and red twine phase.

in any case, i found myself looking forward to leo's emails at the end of every chapter more than the start of the next one. there was just a bit too much 'x wouldn't do this because i know he wouldn't' or 'oh didn't you hear? y is connected to z because of q' for me to get really invested. the main character felt sort of like a passenger on a bus, watching the plot unravel through the window instead of interacting with it.

wow i sound just like leo huh

this was a very interesting idea, since the fictional story was… actually fictional, which I’ve never seen before in a book. the author of the main story got emails back with feedback which was also so innovative and original, especially since I actually learned some new stuff. so, yeah. definitely enjoyed that aspect of the story and I loved leo (the real one.)

the problem I had with this is the fictional story in the story. none of the characters were as captivating as leo made them out to be in his emails. I literally didn’t like any of the characters and that is a huge deal to me. definitely a dealbreaker, since I’m a character driven reader. if I can still call myself that since I’ve been losing more and more interest in reading recently, unfortunately, which might have also largely impacted my review of this book, for which I apologize.

I didn’t hate this book. did I think it was very forgettable and not that special? sure! but I also know there are going to be people who enjoy it for what it is and I know even now there are people who loved it after reading the arc.

I don’t know. no strong feelings. read it if it sounds like your jam and see for yourself. :) good luck author.

The story within story of the author getting letters from a mysterious extra character was just as exciting to read as the main book. I truly wondered which way the story was going to go with who the murderer was, and loved that about this book. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends!

This book makes abundantly clear how writing a novel is hard work, which is why it pains me to give it a low rating. The plot should have been catnip for me, since it’s a whodunit in a library. The main character is a mystery author, who analyzes the tropes of the genre while living them in her real life. Unfortunately, the story was implausible, the twists felt forced and the characters didn’t seem organic. A subplot where a fan writes to the “author” of the novel within the novel didn’t make much sense and that particular revelation didn’t work for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, which makes it harder to get invested in the story. That said, I may not be the target audience, so younger readers may enjoy it more.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Poisoned Pen Press!

Dear Hannah…

This “story within a story” opens up with a letter from Leo Johnson, a beta reader, to Australian author, Hannah Tigone, a mystery writer, who cannot travel to Boston to research her latest novel, because of Covid restrictions. Although many things can be “googled” there is nothing better than a local who can help with getting the “lingo” right, as well as provide social commentary on current events.

We then move on to Chapter One, (of Hannah’s book) where we will meet Australian author, Winifred “Freddie” Kincaid, living in Boston as the recipient of the Marriott Scholarship, which comes with accommodations in a Victorian brownstone called Carrington Square.

Freddie has decided to spend the day writing at the Boston Public Library (BPL) but she finds herself distracted by the artistic detail of the ceiling and by the three other people who are sharing her table-People she has made notes on, so she could base characters on them later on-giving them the monikers Handsome Man, Heroic Chin, and Freud Girl. (Cain, Whit and Marigold)

But then the quiet of the library is shattered by a terrified SCREAM….one that will bond these four strangers and turn them into fast friends, when they discover that the scream that they heard, was of a woman being murdered, and that they are now each other’s alibis.

But not everything is as clear cut as it might appear.

Each chapter of Hannah’s book, is followed by the latest correspondence from Leo, and as her story progresses, so do the TWO mysteries-one for each narrative, and BOTH were equally as engaging!

This has gotten mixed reviews but I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! ❤️

I couldn’t wait to pick it up every chance that I could, and it will be a favorite of mine this year! It was SMART, CLEVER, and it didn’t have to rely on twists coming out of left field to deliver a satisfying ending!

I gave the author’s last novel, “After She Wrote Him” 4 ⭐️ and I enjoyed this one even more! Five ⭐️ shiny stars from me!

Check it out on June 7, 2022!

Thank You to Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted copy of this ARC, provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

This was a very intriguing read. I’m still a bit on the fence about how I feel about it but in regards to the way it was written, I applaud. A book within a book is what you’re getting. Try and stay with me on this one: Hannah is a writer in Australia working on a novel about four strangers who meet in the Boston Public Library. You never actually get Hannah’s point of view other than the actual novel she is writing which is a good murder mystery. She is corresponding with a man named Leo and it goes back and forth between the book Hannah is writing and Leo’s letters to Hannah as a fan and a sort of soundboard for her new book.

Did I lose you? It’s a much smoother read than explanation.

I liked the story within the story. I liked how it made you see struggles of writing and diversity of characters and how/what needs to be added to make a story full. I didn’t like the end. I knew the killer and it all felt very obvious while trying to make things not obvious. In the end as much as I appreciate the fluidity of the story as well as the creativity, the end left me a bit lackluster.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book took me a little time to get used to but then I loved it! It's told from a couple of perspectives: Hannah is writing a thriller and her "characters" come alive for us as they dominate the pages. There is a murder at the beginning where the four main characters meet and attempt to solve it as they met at the Boston Library where the murder took place. Once I got the hang of it, I raced through as I needed to discover who was behind it all. It's really a genius concept because as the reader you are constantly surprised at the twists and turns and have to remind yourself that they are just characters...or are they? Kept me on the edge of my seat until the end!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I enjoyed this book but thought the book dragged at times. I enjoyed the characters but figured out the killer early but it was a fun, classic mystery!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

First, I have to admit the whole story within a story started off slow for me. The emails from Leo were, at first, a distraction from the main story. Then it got good! Leo had some valid points as an unofficial editor but ultimately, his storyline didn't really play out. I felt cheated out of closure. The main story wrapped up too abruptly while the side story, the correspondence with Leo, left so many unanswered questions.

What a fascinating story. It is a story within a story. I loved that it was based in the Boston Library. You are visiting the library and then you hear a scream! The security has everyone locked down to investigate. This book had me on edge throughout it. I would highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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.

Award-winning author Sulari Gentill delivers a sharply thrilling read with The Woman in the Library, an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated nature of friendship and shows us that words can be the most treacherous weapons of all. (Goodreads synopsis)

I have not read anything by Sulari Gentill prior to this, but I will begin to follow her.

I liked the way the novel started, with Freddie, Cain, Whit, and Marigold becoming fast friends following a woman’s scream in a quiet library. As a librarian, even a pin dropping can be cause for a scare, so the idea of someone letting loose a bloodcurdling scream sent chills down my spine. I was instantly captivated by the dynamics of the characters and the resulting mystery. I will say that I had a suspicion of the culprit, but I also read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, so I wasn’t completely astounded.

I didn’t like the additional story within the story concerning the “author” Hannah and her pen pal Leo. I just really didn’t see the point of the “letters”, and their significance to the ultimate story overall. I actually found it a bit distracting, because I was more invested in Freddie and company, that I only wanted to follow that story and not this seemingly random one.

The edition that I read had an author discussion with Sulari as a bonus. I did appreciate her take on what authors are currently facing concerning chronology in their projects as well as how the pandemic and social economic tensions might affect everything.

Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

This is a most unusual plot. Hannah, a mystery author living in Australia, is writing a novel about people involved with a series of murders in Boston. Her four leads are two men and a woman her protagonist, also a mystery writer, meets at the Boston Public Library at the time a woman is found murdered there. They bind as friends over the murder. As they begin to divulge more of themselves the reader learns one is a murderer. Additionally, Hannah has an acquaintance who lives in Boston who is editing an proofing her book. He is Leo. Freddie, the novel’s other protagonist, also has a friend in her building named Leo. Each chapter is written in either Hannah’s words or Freddie’s followed by something from Leo. There are many twists and turns in both novels and I found myself waiting for the next. Thanks to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC for an honest review.

The Woman in the Library is a story in a story making it difficult to describe but I’ll give it a go.

Hannah is an Australia writer. She is writing a mystery story based in Boston. We learn very little about Hannah herself.

We read the story as Hannah writes it.

The main character in Hannah’s story is an Australian writer Winifred Kincaid (Freddie). She is in Boston after receiving a Marriott Scholarship. While visiting the library for inspiration three people share her table. She begins to write a story about them in her mind. They are:

Marigold, a psychology student with tattoos who Freddie nicknames Freud Girl.

Cain McLeod who is also an author with a secretive past. She refers to him as Handsome Man

Whit Metters a law student and handsome sone of a powerful lawyer who she calls Heroic Chin.

A scream pierces the silence in the room. The security people quickly lock down the library pending an investigation. While unable to leave the four of them begin to chat to each other and discuss what has just happened. When no body is found they move onto a coffee shop and begin to get to know each other, forming a friendship that leads into their own investigation.

Each has their own story gradually revealed as the story progresses. Freddie falls in love with the mysterious Cain. As their stories are revealed another murder occurs. There is another murder, a mysterious disappearance and strange phone messages. It becomes apparent one of the four is a stalker and one is a murderer.

As the main story unfolds Hannah sends each chapter to a fan, Leo, in Boston. This is the second story within the main story. We get to read Leo’s emails with his comments on the storyline and correction of Australian idioms not used in the US. Gradually his emails become stranger as he suggests major changes to the manuscript including sending photos of actual crimes. The author becomes concerned and contacts the authorities.

It is complicated but very clever, well plotted, and easily followed.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks, Poisoned Pen Press, and Sulari Gentill for the opportunity to read this book.

Readers are gifted two suspenseful whodunnits for the price of one in "The Woman in the Library," and it makes for a charged and acute page-turning rush. I was adrenalized from the outset, I was absorbed. I could hardly put it down until I finished.

The "main" story involves four strangers who are sitting at the same table in the Boston Public Library when a woman screams. That event triggers introductions, then a conversation. Shortly after that camaraderie and friendship blooms between the foursome. With the mystery of the woman's death still looming, however, and dark secrets pooling between Freddie, Cain, Whit, and Marigold respectively as they search for the culprit, the question soon becomes: did one of them commit the murder? And if so, who?

The second story, or the "frame," involves emails that are sent between an Australian author, Hannah, and an avid fan/aspiring writer, Leo. He gives her constructive feedback on each chapter in addition to providing her with specific details about Boston, Americanisms, and the like. Their correspondence grows more taut, more nefarious, the longer the plot progresses, adding tension to both the main plot and subplot.

It's been a long time since I've read come across such a clever and addictive embedded narrative, especially one that's framed around writing. Framing a book around characters writing or talking about writing can be tricky if it's not executed with consideration and delicacy, but I'm happy to say this was well-developed as well as riveting.

I will say it doesn't take too big of a leap to figure out "whodunnit" in either of the storylines. However, there are still a lot of surprising connections and moments of unease to keep readers turning the pages. I'm looking forward to more from the author in the future!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I love reading mysteries I truly do, however I am the worst at figuring out who done it so I spend more time convinced that the red herring is the murderer and I get swept along with the story. I loved this book because it definitely kept me guessing. Our main character is Winifred Kincaid an Australian transplant living in Boston, a writer she meets the other characters in the Reading Room of the Boston Public Library while she is trying to get inspiration on the novel that she's working on. A terrified scream brings them together but did one of them commit the murder? This is a twisty, atmospheric and engaging mystery.

This was just……disappointing. This has everything that I usually love in a book and thought it would be a hit, but it just wasn’t. Ugh!!