This was a slow read for me. It took me a minute to get into it, and once I was it felt a bit chaotic and hard to follow.
However, the story was unique and I was crazy curious through out how this think was going to end.
Theo is a writer working on her first novel. Everyday she sits at a bar and writes. Eventually she makes a new friend, a writer who just so happens to be an already acclaimed author.
I honestly don’t want to spoil what happens so I’m leaving it right there. This was a twisty book and a lot of fun at times. The writing style is very playful but not too cozy. Really enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I had a hard time getting into this book to begin with, but it quickly picked up and sucked me in. Loved the story of Theo and her brother. I think I loved this as much as The Woman in the Library, and Sulari Gentill is quickly becoming a must-buy author for me!

Unfortunately I did end up DNF'ing this book. I was very intrigued by the premise, but as I kept reading, I realized this book wasn't for me. I wasn't a fan of any of the characters in this book, and really felt no compelling reason to finish this book all the way through. I DNF'ed at about 25%, and that was after a few separate attempts to finish this book. I love conspiracy theories and mysteries as much as the next reader, I just didn't vibe with this book like I wanted to.

A really interesting premise, but when I listened to the audiobook, I couldn't get into it. I found myself confused as it switched POVs between characters and what I think was a book within a book. That meta-book was not my taste in fiction at all, so that just sealed it for me, unfortunately.

This story starts when Aussie Theo shows up at her brother's American doorstep after running away from law school, with aspirations of becoming a published author. She begins working on her book daily in a coffeeshop/bar, where she meets an older man who also turns out to be an author working on his latest book. Theo can't help falling for him as they work together day in and day out and he mentors her as she writes. Their budding romance is cut short when he is murdered - and Theo and her brother are under the microscope as potential suspects. Thus begins a wild romp that includes doomsday preppers and conspiracy theories. There was very little that was realistic about this story but I still enjoyed the ride and will continue to read this author.

"The Mystery Writer" delves into the labyrinth of literary intrigue, blending the complexities of storytelling with the chilling realities of conspiracy. Theodosia Benton's decision to abandon her legal career for the uncertain path of a novelist sets the stage for a gripping narrative that challenges perceptions and unravels truths.

As Theo grapples with her newfound ambition, she unwittingly becomes entangled in a sinister literary world where identities are malleable and danger lurks beneath the surface. The murder of her mentor catapults Theo into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, where the line between fiction and reality blurs with each twist and turn.

The author skillfully navigates the intricacies of the plot, weaving together a tapestry of suspense and intrigue that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. From the outset, Theo's quest for justice propels the story forward, while her brother's unwitting involvement adds layers of complexity to the narrative.

What sets "The Mystery Writer" apart is its exploration of the power of storytelling and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their narratives. As Theo and Gus race against time to uncover the truth, they confront the inherent dangers of challenging the status quo, where the consequences of disrupting the established order are dire.

With its masterful blend of mystery, suspense, and literary intrigue, "The Mystery Writer" is a must-read for fans of the genre. Sulari Gentill delivers a tour de force that will leave readers questioning the boundaries between fact and fiction long after they've turned the final page.

I have a habit of automatically requesting books from authors that I have enjoyed before-often without even reading the premise! Next year, I will have to be more discerning, and start reading the synopsis to determine if the particular story is REALLY a fit for me, despite past positive experiences with the author!

Had I done so in this case, (and the synopsis really shares too much!) I wouldn’t have requested this book, as I know that I rarely enjoy a story about conspiracy theories or the people who believe in them. But, that wasn’t the only issue I had with this book…

The premise of the book seemed interesting. However, I did not find the characters very compelling. The mystery did not draw me in. The twists kept confusing things so much that I just felt tired. I felt reluctant to keep picking it back up to try to finish. It just did not appeal to me.

I want to start off by saying I apologize for a late review. But I still read and want to put out my honest thought and review. Just like The Woman in the Library this one didn’t disappoint.I really went listening to this audiobook not wanting to know anything. About this book. Just that I enjoyed the author other book so much. I couldn’t stop or put this audiobook. I enjoyed another mystery and world this author has created. Some tough subjects bought up during listening. But the author does amazing job. I really enjoyed the characters and the setting of this book. Being from Kansas and lived in Prairie Village. I felt like I was home trying to help these characters figure out who is killing people. I will be definitely a big fan of the author and her writing. And will continue to support. This audiobook didnt feel like a long boring book. I highly recommend this audiobook.
Now I have to say that ending kinda left me thinking this isn’t going to be the last of these characters and the publishing company. I f not I was happy that everything kinda was figure out at the end.
About Book:
Theo has come to live with her brother. After leaving law school. To live with her older brother who is a high profile lawyer/ partner in his firm. Theo takes up writing and finding that she wants to become amazing author. And have her books published. When she meets fellow author who she becomes close to. And when he comes up murdered and other end up dead around Theo. Cops are looking at her and her brother and his friend. This book is amazing and takes you on a rollercoaster.
Thank you the author and netgalley again for another opportunity to listening to amazing book.

This sounded like a book I should have loved, but it was too ridiculous. Theo quits law school to be a writer, which is already weird because a lot of lawyers write, but she was just planning on not earning a living and hoping to be successful. Theo makes one terrible misjudgedment after another, and it's baffling that she can be so naive.
Conspiracy nonsense can be fun but this was silly. Even after watching the endless cycle of nonsense in the last several years, these conspiracies were pretty pointless. The underlying premise behind the main plot of the book didn't make sense at all.
I think the only thing I really enjoyed was that Theo's brother was so loving and supportive.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I received The Mystery Writer from Netgalley several months ago and I really wanted to like it. I started and stopped a few times, with finishing multiple other books in between these start and stops. I don't like giving bad reviews, but in all honesty I never wanted to pick this book up and always found myself zoning out. I just couldn't connect with the story or the characters, and I ended up skimming certain parts and ultimately DNFing. Not every book is for every person and I know there are others who will enjoy it but it’s just not for me and I have to many books on my TBR to continue to read something that doesn’t bring me joy.

Rating 4/5

Summary: Theo quits law school in Australia and reunites with her big brother in the U.S. to pursue writing. She meets and gets romantically involved with a writer when trouble arises. People are turning up dead and Theo seems to be the common denominator. This puts her brother and her brother’s career at risk. Theo must do everything she can to protect the people she loves even if that means sacrificing herself.

What I liked: The book begins with excerpts from a conspiracy theory online chat forum. I loved that it pointed directly to what would play out in the book so you knew what to look out for and everything made more sense. I also liked the romantic relationships that developed for Gus and for Theo throughout all the chaos.

This book was well crafted with engaging believable characters and an intricate plot.
It starts out when Theo, drops out of the university where she was taking course to enter law school, and moves from Australia to Lawrence Kansas to live with her brother Gus, a partner in a law firm. Theo decided that law was just not the field for her and she would rather be a mystery writer. In fact, she has an idea for her first mystery novel in mind. She spends her days at a cafe in town, where she meets other regulars, and Dan, who is a published author with a well know publisher. They have the beginning of a romantic relationship, when Theo finds Dan's murdered body in his kitchen the next day.
This brings into play her brother Gus and his attempts to protect his sister, and the work of Mac, an investigator for the law firm. Both men are protective of Theo and do their best to help her through this trauma and ensuing events which disrupt her (and their lives.
This book brought into play so many different characters, and if anyone would have told me that I would love a book with conspiracy theorists,(with potential plots at the beginning of many chapters), end of the world preppers, and even a little bit of Jan 6 involvement (not in a political way), I would have scoffed as a ridiculous idea. However, I must say that this book had me hooked from the beginning! Yes, there were plot twists, red herrings, and all the other essentials to make a great mystery. The elements were perfectly balanced and expertly woven into a believable/unbelievably good story.
I received a complementary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and am writing this review to express my own opinions.
Do not hesitate to get this book NOW! I highly recommend it.

EXCERPT: He awoke early on the day he died, lying unmoving for a time under the weight of frustration, the inertia of despair.
The grief was crushing. The realisation that he'd lost it all. Over something that should have been nothing. . .
He sat up. The bookcase was blurred, and though he tried to pull himself together, it remained so. Slowly, stiffly, he rose from the couch on which he'd spent the night and grabbed a book from the middle shelf. His first novel, once everything - the culmination of dreams, an admission ticket to it all. Until she'd torn it down.
He ran his fingertips over the glossy jacket - the letters of his name were slightly raised. He'd never see that again, never feel it. 'Hit the road, Jack, don't you come back . . .' The tune was harsh on his lips, self-mocking and bitter. 'No more . . . no more . . . no more . . .'
A suit had been laid out for him = shirt, shoes, even boxers. Every last thing had been considered, every outcome anticipated, every decision already made.
There was nothing left to do but die.

ABOUT 'THE MYSTERY WRITER': There's nothing easier to dismiss than a conspiracy theory—until it turns out to be true

When Theodosia Benton abandons her career path as an attorney and shows up on her brother's doorstep with two suitcases and an unfinished novel, she expects to face a few challenges. Will her brother support her ambition or send her back to finish her degree? What will her parents say when they learn of her decision? Does she even have what it takes to be a successful writer?

What Theo never expects is to be drawn into a hidden literary world in which identity is something that can be lost and remade for the sake of an audience. When her mentor, a highly successful author, is brutally murdered, Theo wants the killer to be found and justice to be served. Then the police begin looking at her brother, Gus, as their prime suspect, and Theo does the unthinkable in order to protect him. But the writer has left a trail, a thread out of the labyrinth in the form of a story. Gus finds that thread and follows it, and in his attempt to save his sister he inadvertently threatens the foundations of the labyrinth itself. To protect the carefully constructed narrative, Theo Benton, and everyone looking for her, will have to die.

MY THOUGHTS: While I didn't read this in one sitting . . . I did read it in less than twenty-four hours. Gentill kept me on the edge of my seat, unsure of what was coming next. The plot is diabolically clever, the characters an interesting mix of police, lawyers, preppers, hippies and the writing and cafe communities.

In A Conversation with the Author at the end of the book, the author speaks about the similarities between the character of Theo Benton and herself; Theo abandoning her law degree at the risk of losing her trust fund to write, while Sulari was a lawyer for fifteen years before giving up the profession to write full time.

Interspersed with the narrative of the novel are snippets from conspiracy theory chat rooms. These are important to the essence of The Mystery Writer, so please don't skip them. The final message at the end of the novel is chilling.

This is a thrilling story of manipulation, deceit and conspiracy. I loved it, conspiracy theorists and all.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#mysterywriter #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Sulari lives with her husband and sons on a small farm in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains of Australia, where she grows truffles, keeps donkeys, and writes about murder and mayhem.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill for review. All opinions expressed in this revie are entirely my own personal opinions.

The premise of this book was stronger than the execution. It felt like the writing was rushed. The time jumps at the end weren’t providing the context you needed, and the twists weren’t my favorite. The plot got too complex, although the doomsday preppers were funny.

The Mystery Writer is set in Laurence, Kansas, but it could have been set in a small suburb of any town in the USA. Overall, I thought the story had good tension and resolution but did drag in some parts. There were definitely twists I did not see coming, which is rare.

I didn’t like or dislike the characters. A few of them felt too flat and one-dimensional, while others felt too over the top and unbelievable. I thought Theo came across as very naive for someone who was in law school, and Gus fell into the stereotypical “big brother” trope.
I thought using Theo’s point of view was good; we only know what she knows. In the beginning, I was thrown by the conspiracist forum chats. I didn’t quite get what they were there for, and there wasn’t any differentiation between the chats and the start of the chapter. It was a bit jarring the first few chapters until you got the flow. I would have liked to have seen these as a page between the chapters.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It hits a lot of genre tropes. I could see some filmmaker trying to make this into a movie (and it could be either really good or really bad, lol).

Bestselling author and 2023 Edgar Award nominee Sulari Gentill took me on a can’t-put-it-down, rainy-day-read ride that had me finishing The Mystery Writer in less than 10 hours even with a packed day of innkeeping duties for a full house of B&B guests.

The title drew me in. The prologue intrigued me. Chapter One’s first paragraph had me wondering what I was getting myself into and whether or not I should just close the book. Luckily, just paragraphs later I met Theo and was hooked.

Theodosia Benton left law school and showed up on her attorney big brother’s Kansas doorstep, having not seen Gus since he left Australia when she was just 10 years old.

Inspired by events from her life back in Tanzania, Theo was determined instead to become a writer, a goal Gus supported, encouraging his little sister to follow her dream never expecting what came next. The dream turned into a nightmare when her brother became the prime suspect in the murder of the man, who had become Theo’s mentor.

I highly recommend The Mystery Writer. With engaging characters, as well as a couple of conspiracies, expected and not, you’ve got a gripping mystery in store.

I enjoyed Gentill's novel The Woman in the Library, so I was excited to get my hands on this one. Although I wouldn't say I liked it as much, I still enjoyed it. I liked The brother-sister dynamic between Theo and Gus, Horse (no spoilers), and plot elements (who doesn't love conspiracy theories, the crazy lives of authors, and murder?).

I didn't love the pace (too slow for me) and Theo's stupid choices. I mean, I know she's only 22, but COME ON!
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It's a suitable quick read with a somewhat intriguing mystery. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the copy.

The Woman In The Library was a solid read but this newest book from the same author didnt quite live up. This one is hard to rate because the first part of the book was great but it fell flat around halfway through. And while I finished it for the sake of a rating I didnt find the latter half great at all

The premise was a bit confusing at first, and kinda bored me. But as the story progressed, damn the twists and turns! Didn't expect that I will enjoy it, but kinda disappointed with the ending. Seems abrupt, if you're gonna ask me.