I really wanted to like this book. The writing itself is good, and the pacing keeps you interested. The storyline is entertaining, and there are enough different facets (the mysterious publisher, the secrets Dan was keeping, the QAnon-type forum, etc) to keep your mind turning.

However...Theo's character was so completely dumb. At first, I could give her some grace since shocking events are happening. But then she just kept making dumb decisions after dumb decisions. She was supposedly in law school and dropped out, and decided to come to see her brother in Kansas and become a writer. Her first manuscript is so good that her dream publisher thinks it's good. But she cannot see the facts in front of her throughout the entire story. This woman was in law school, has been in numerous situations in her life, and has traveled across the world, but is clueless to suspicious activity happening to and around her the whole time. There are just so many red flags that any reasonable person would think twice about, and it made it hard to want to continue.

This book felt a bit like inception. It took me a while to get into it but the story is quite entertaining once you get past the 60% point.

As has happened with several other books, I was so interested in reading this that I purchased a copy not remembering I had received an advanced reader’s copy by NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and to author Sulari Gentill for the honor of being given an unedited version, but I chose to read the published version in case I wanted to quote anything from the book.

Although there is nothing from the book I want to quote, I enjoyed this fabulous, twisted, roller coaster ride of a novel. Its plot is so convoluted it’s nearly impossible to imagine what will happen at almost every turn of the page. It’s extremely inventive and exceedingly well done. Rarely have I been so entertained for such an extended period and unable to guess what comes next in a plot. This is a rare feat of a novel, and I highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more by this brilliant author, Sulari Gentill, and I do not regret having purchased a copy of this novel as well as having been given a free copy in advance of its publication.

DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I can not get over the twists and turns of everything! Very well done!!

I recently had the pleasure of reading this, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. From the very first page, I was hooked by the engaging style and the intriguing characters. The author does an excellent job of building a world that feels both immersive and believable, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would surprise me with something unexpected. I highly recommend this and all their work.

A college runaway from Australia arrives in America and crashes with her brother to write the great... Australian? American? novel. She meets her hero, falls in love with him and then the mystery begins.

While there is a bit of "conspiracy theory" feel to the book, the story unfolds well. Gentill backs up the clues and twists with the story line supporting it well. The end feels a bit rushed and, at least in my case, feeling a bit off kilter. But it was a good read. I would not class it as one of Ms. Gentill's best, but still enjoyable.

This was such a weird book. I had a difficult time getting into it then felt I had to finish but only for the review. Conspiracy theories just are not my thing and this one was a doozy.

This book felt made for me. A mystery with a writer protagonist who is writing a book. It felt like inception but for books. Loved the meta approach to writing. Can’t wait to read more by Gentill

I enjoyed The Woman in the Library. So, I was excited to see another book available by this author. This one felt more like a mystery to me than the Woman in the Libraryl. The story has likable characters and seems to have been setup for a sequel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Clever Concept, Slow Pace

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill offers an intriguing premise, blending literary mystery with suspense as it follows a writer entangled in a real-life crime. Gentill’s sharp prose and meta approach to storytelling create a layered narrative that plays with the boundaries between fiction and reality.

While the concept is unique and the central mystery holds promise, the pacing feels uneven, with slower sections that dampen the suspense. Some characters lack depth, making it harder to fully connect with the stakes of the plot.

3 stars — a smart, twisty mystery with an original angle, though its slower pace and underdeveloped characters may leave some readers wanting more.

Unfortunately, i just couldn't stay interested in this one. It kept stalling out and I found it very unending

An entertaining read for the most part. It definitely held my interest, And the plot twist was one I didn't see coming. However, the big time jump in the middle of the story kind of knocked things off kilter for me and kind of ruined by my suspension of disbelief. I think the story would have flowed better if the time jump wasn't so big and the story more condensed.

This was such a unique and masterful executed story that I’m still mind blowing by everything!

Although this was quite a slow pace narrative, it’s worth every second . I loved how it made me questions every characters and I honestly feel that’s the best part of a thriller book, when the author can play with your mind and makes you wonder everything.

This has to be the most unedited ARC I’ve ever read. I truly hope a lot of editing was done before publication because this was a mess. The pace was slow and at times stalled into absolute nothingness and then everything happened at once. The plot is so delusional it’s hard to follow, and the characters were obnoxious. I had to keep reminding myself that the author was Australian because it sure reads like an American trying to act like one. The only reason this is two stars and not one is because there was just enough there to keep me reading to find out how crazy it would get. And oh boy did it get crazy. Sadly, just not in a good way.

A fun read - would recommend. Thriller at nature but the character development was enjoyable and well done.

3.5 stars. I’m going to say something blasphemous for a book lover: this would be better as a movie. I think the pacing and time jumps were weird and a shorter time limit to tell the story would make it more suspenseful. Some of the things that felt out of the blue might be better twists for a movie where you can drop visual clues.

Sulari Gentill’s The Mystery Writer is a sharp, inventive literary thriller that blurs the line between fiction and reality in unexpected, delightful ways. Packed with intrigue, dark humor, and sly commentary on the literary world, this novel is a standout for mystery enthusiasts and fans of stories that explore the power of storytelling itself.

Theodosia “Theo” Benton is a compelling protagonist, navigating her personal reinvention with a mix of determination, wit, and vulnerability. Abandoning her career as an attorney to pursue her dream of becoming a novelist, Theo stumbles into a shadowy world where the act of storytelling is far more sinister than she ever imagined. Gentill masterfully weaves layers of conspiracy into this narrative, keeping readers guessing as Theo’s journey shifts from an exploration of identity and ambition to a high-stakes battle for survival.

The book’s brilliance lies in its clever deconstruction of the writing world. Gentill pokes fun at the pressures authors face—identity, audience expectations, and the commodification of creativity—while crafting a page-turner packed with suspense. The story within a story, led by Theo’s murdered mentor and Gus’s unraveling of the labyrinthine threads, mirrors the larger themes of control and reinvention, adding richness to the plot.

Gentill’s prose is razor-sharp, laced with wit and an undercurrent of tension that grips the reader from the opening chapters. Her ability to balance humor with genuine peril sets The Mystery Writer apart. The twists are well-executed, and the finale delivers an unexpected punch that’s both satisfying and thought-provoking.

While the novel offers plenty of thrills, its heart lies in its exploration of identity and the sacrifices people make in the pursuit of passion and purpose. Theo’s relationship with her brother Gus adds emotional depth to the narrative, grounding the wild twists in a core of familial loyalty.

The Mystery Writer is an intelligent, wildly entertaining ride that will delight readers who love mysteries, meta-commentary, and stories that challenge conventional expectations. Gentill’s clever, genre-bending tale ensures her place as a master of literary suspense. Highly recommended for fans of Benjamin Stevenson or anyone looking for a fresh take on the mystery genre.

A solid three star novel- entertaining enough, with a plot that has some different or uncommon elements, but contains some editorial choices that the reader might not have made. A workhorse of a mystery novel that will get the job done. Not one that I expect patrons to be raving about, but will keep avid readers satiated.

I had no idea where this book was going from the very first page and it turned out to be a good thing. The novel is normally not my preferred genre but I liked the conspiracy theory vibes. The mystery is complicated and multi-layered, so it's not a book you'll want to breeze through. It was a touch too long, but the end delivered a solid payoff.