Member Reviews
Wow what a story within a Story! The twist have turns and twist again. A little hard to follow but Werth it in the end! Will watch for more reads!
I really enjoyed reading this book, I loved it and I need it with all the things going around I had the opportunity to immersed in unconventional mystery and forget about day life problems. I loved the subtle humor and the surprising twists in the story. This is a second novel I read by Sulari Gentill and she surprised me again.
I want to thank Poisoned Pen and NetGalley for the advanced copy in change of my honest review.
2.5 Rounded Up. This book didn't really work for me. At first I had vibes from "The Plot" as it is a story within a story. However I quickly derailed from the similarities as this one completely confused me and left me scratching my head multiple times. I never felt it completely come together on various fronts. I had high hopes as reading about a murder mystery in the Boston Public Library sounded fantastic but ultimately it fell flat for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The Woman in the Library will be available on 6/7/2022.
Rating: 2.1 / 5
Received ARC for honest review
Cards on the table, where they may as well be--and as they always are in all my reviews.
*deep breath* I didn't like the writing of this.
Yup, that's it. I did not like the writing of this.
In terms of metafictional fiction, I can take it or leave it, personally. Sometimes, it's done really well and writers can get away with it, indeed being "clever" and getting the reader "thinking" about the layers of complexity hidden beneath the plot, etc. I'm not saying that it doesn't take a lot of planning and thinking--it does.
But in the case of a murder mystery novel, which I expect to be fast-paced, instantly interesting, and pretty much something that I don't want to put down...
Eh...this kind of fell flat for me, to be honest.
What we've got is the story of Winifred, which is being written by the fictional author, Hannah. Honestly, for this, I would have preferred the author to just name her fictional author Sulari, since at least then we'd get a sense that this talks about her writing process, not the writing process of a fictional writing.
*sighs* But, anyway...
Winifred meets up with three other people in the library one morning, whom I'd much rather refer to by their initial nicknames rather than their real names--Freud Girl, Heroic Chin, and Handsome Man. Together these four strike up a spontaneous friendship after they hear a scream in the library, and the pitch for this entire story that gets it moving is that Hannah (the fictional author of this foursome), has decided to make one of them a murderer.
Okay, so, that's well and good, but where's the Sherlock Holmes exploring for Winifred? Where's the atmosphere of that "off" feeling, something that we can't define but that we know is there beneath the surface and that we want to find out at all costs?
If I cared about what happened, maybe I would have felt all these things, but as it is...I just didn't.
I don't know, maybe it's the meta-metafictional nature of this read, or maybe I just don't like the writing of the author. Certainly, I didn't get far enough into the book to judge the plot fully, but...oh well.
Just my two bits, take it as it is.
This was a decent read for me but I did have some hang ups that prevented me from enjoying it more. Firstly, kudos to the author for thinking up the unique idea of a book within a book idea. This made the plot layered and dynamic. However, much like I am not one for instant romance, instant friendship also does not work for me. Call me rude but I will never meet three strangers and instantly have them over everyday. For this reason the I found it hard to engage with characters from the beginning.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to review this arc.
Like other readers mentioned this is a story within a story. I actually enjoyed that and thought it was a great read! Lots of twists and turns and set in a library. Great story for an afternoon of reading! I got through it in one sitting!
The Woman in the Library is a clever and engaging thriller set in Boston during the pandemic. One engaging aspect of the plot is author Sulari Gentill's technique to draw attention to the fact that the pandemic is not included in the main plot about the scream heard by four strangers as they sit across from each other in the reading room of the Boston Public Library. Gentill uses a letter exchange between two writers to discuss the pandemic and its place in contemporary fiction. Overall, The Woman in the Library is a wonderful, refreshing murder mystery with engaging characters and solid plot.
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. This is 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.
I was not familiar with the author, but thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is an interesting premise about a woman writing a book about 4 people, one of which is also writing a book. There are twists and turns along the way in the story which kept me reading late one night to finally figure out the ending. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read this book.
Fun and interesting premise, but nothing extraordinary.
Which isn't bad. This book understood the assignment and delivers. Unfortunately, that assignment was a Girl/Woman thriller that's about seven to ten years too late.
It's a perfect beach/airplane book. You can sit down and read the whole thing in a day and have fun doing so. But you'll probably forget you read it once you're home from your vacation.
I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This author really took a unique approach with this book. Like a story within a story and the twist and turns make it a very interesting read. The characters are likable and compelling and you honestly don’t want any of them to be the murderer. A must read for those folks that like to be kept on the edge of their seats.
The Woman in the Library, by author Sulari Gentill, is like no other book I’ve ever read. The risks Gentill takes in turning the traditional structure of a murder mystery on its ear are at once intriguing and frustrating; the source of not only the book’s strengths but also it’s weaknesses.
The chapters in the book are the work of fictional author Hannah Tigone. She is an Australian writer using a beta reader in the US, Leo Johnson, to help her stay true to the setting she has chosen in the US. The book initially alternates between the story Hannah Tigone is writing (a piece set in Boston, the premise of which is a writer developing a murder mystery) and the letters she then receives from her beta reader as she shares with him each chapter upon its completion. In Leo’s letters to Tigone, he corrects some of her Australian word choices to more appropriate American phrasing and suggests adjustments of details based on the area of Boston where the story is set. Leo is himself a writer, though he has not enjoyed the successes of Tigone, and he doesn’t hesitate to boldly assert himself in proposing tweaks and changes, some minor and some which could potentially alter the entire plot of Tigone’s work. His letters become increasingly aggressive in their suggestions as the story progresses; his recommendations more violent and graphic. The reader is not, however, given any insight into Tigone’s reactions beyond what Leo responds to and a few other communications directed to Tigone that are included (to elaborate on this point would mean spoilers, which I am loathe to include). If it sounds confusing, that’s because it is. While the “story within a story” has certainly been done before, the structure of The Woman in the Library takes it one step further, testing both the loyalty and patience of the reader. If the reader doesn’t immediately catch on to what Gentill is trying to do, the result is seemingly unrelated chapters that refuse to connect. The upshot is that this is a novel that contains chapters of another novel, written by a fictional author, the content of which is the story of a mystery writer awarded a grant that allows her to travel to the US from Australia in order to write her book. Those chapters alternate with letters from the fictional author’s beta reader. Yeah. It’s quite a monumental task for both author and reader.
I appreciate the risks Gentill takes in her storytelling. They keep the reader focused, if only to stay on top of the ever-changing perspective and media being shared. The transitions between Leo’s letters and suggestions and the mystery being written by the fictional author are sometimes awkward and abrupt. While this may have been intentional, for me it removed me from the story in an effort to “keep up”. Further more, Gentill’s approach to character development (there was none for Tigone) made the entire book feel distant, as if I as the reader was being held at an arm’s length instead of being invited in to meet the cast. This feeling of being an outsider colored my ability to invest in either Leo’s spiraling mental state or the story Tigone is writing. Even the characters within the mystery are under developed and almost ethereal—shallow and transparent to the point of appearing as rough outlines of who they could have become under the direction of a more experienced writer.
I appear to be in the minority with my rating, as others have placed this squarely in the 5 star category. For me, however, I could offer only three stars for the novel approach. Beyond that, there is definitely a lack of substance from the beginning that never does materialize.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me access to this ARC. Expected publication is slated for June 7, 2022.
This book hooked me from the beginning and didn’t let go. What a wild ride! I was impressed by the story within a story. I generally have a hard time suspending belief when it comes to mysteries but this one felt believable. I loved the characters and the setting. I know Boston well and I think the author did a great job of describing the city. And the ending!!! This book will be perfect for book clubs.
I enjoyed the main story of the book. I found the Leo emails a bit distracting. I found myself just skimming over them
This is a story within a story. That can be quite interesting. For me, that was not true here. I felt as though I had gotten bogged down in some sort of trap. It just seemed to go so very slowly for me.
I am a reader who loves character driven stories. To be honest, I did not identify with anyone in the story. No matter which story I was reading (yes that is the way I felt) I did not feel invested in anyone in either story.
For me it was simply not appealing.
I stopped reading after about 1/3 of the book.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in the hope that I would write an honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Full Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley.
I'll admit I wanted to read this book based on the title alone. Could have been in any genre and would have read it. That it is a locked room mystery of sorts was a real bonus. I thought this book was insanely clever. It is essentially two stories in one. It alternates between one story told in correspondence and the other story in the chapters of a new mystery novel as it is written by one of the correspondents. You get caught up in wanting to know what will happen in both. It's the kind of book that is hard to put down. If you like mysteries, thrillers, rabbit holes, and/or epistolary novels, you'll want to read this.
"Wow! That's a bit random!" -From The Woman in the Library, but also my thoughts constantly while reading
1.5 stars
I had to read this book because of the cover, and the fact it takes places in the PBL, one of my favorite places. Listen, I know that's not a perfect reason for reading a book--but it doesn't usually result in such a crash and burn offense. This is a book inside a book, that reads quite dryly with little payoff for both things, because they don't come together in any way that you're expecting or wanting. The e-mails just really summarize what has happened in the last chapter, with additional nit-picky commentary. There is enough wrong in each chapter, I didn't need Leo explaining she should have had a hat on. Some of the problems will hopefully be edited (RIGHT? RIGHT? How do you get what T stop the PBL is at wrong though??) The fact that these people become "friends" anyways, from just being at the same table at a library (which are huge btw), so much so they are having a random SLEEPOVER together at 12% for no reason at all, makes zero sense. Adult friendships just don't work that way, especially in a huge city like Boston. The romance was odd and didn't work, it ended up making you care about the mystery even less somehow; something I didn't feel was possible. The end was so lack luster, and not worth slogging through the odd nonsensical conversations and e-mails.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest onion.
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill has a lot of pluses - thriller, the mystery of who did it, romance, and it's set in a library.
I'm a sucker for books about books or books about libraries and the magic within them. I loved the interwoven story and the setting. A little too deep and interwoven for me to keep up with but still an enjoyable read!
This is a fun, creepy story in a story almost in another story. I didn't know to be confused until it was no longer necessary to be confused.
Most of the characters were constructed in such a way that you couldn't help but root for or against them.
Well done! Big thanks to the author & Net Galley!
A classic whodunnit murder mystery set in a library?? Of course I wanted to read!! This had everything you could want from a classic style murder mystery and I really enjoyed it! It was easy to read and well written!
I will be looking out for more from this author!