Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for my free digital copy for review.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill kicks off with a prologue that's as gripping as a vise, reeling you in from the get-go. Picture a quaint small town, oozing charm with its cozy coffee shops and snug residential areas - the perfect backdrop for all the drama that unfolds. Meet Theo, a gutsy writer who ditched law school to chase her dreams, but there's more to her story than meets the eye.

Things take a twist when Theo stumbles upon the lifeless body of a bestselling author she’d become close to, sending her on a rollercoaster ride as the prime suspect in his murder. And that's just the beginning! A string of interconnected murders ramps up the tension, fueling Theo's determination to crack the case, with a little help from her lawyer brother and his savvy PI pal.

As you dive into the novel, tantalizing hints of conspiracy theories will have you on high alert, scouring for clues alongside Theo. The pace is relentless, with enough red herrings to keep you guessing and your heart racing. The author crafts a pulse-pounding cat-and-mouse chase, peppered with moments of pure adrenaline, all leading to a satisfying finale.

This riveting read delves into conspiracy theories and the pursuit of one's dreams, leaving you breathless and craving more. Get ready to be swept away by a mystery that'll have you glued to the pages!

This was an early DNF for me....it sets two stories side-by-side with hard cuts between them (I think Woman in the Library did this also?) but the jump is so jarring, I found this too difficult to get into. This might be in part because of how wild the first story is. This might have paid off but I didn't have the patience to find out where it went.

Sulari Gentill is a real find, an imaginative plotter with a vibrant voice and a talent for surprising the reader at every turn. This story of a young lawyer turned mystery writer turned amateur sleuth is exceptionally entertaining. Highly recommended.

Finding new authors to read is my favourite thing about Netgalley so when I saw the email about this book and read the blurb, I requested it straight away and despite a slow start, I stuck with it, my only criticism is Theo’s character which at the beginning, I thought was strong and independent but as the story continued, I actually wanted to physically reach in and shake sense into her as she went from crisis to crisis dragging everyone she cared about along with her. I did like the inclusion of the conspiracy theories and despite their craziness, found Mac’s family gave the book some comedic moments. A four star read for me.

After dropping out of law school, Theo Benton shows up on her brother’s doorstep to follow her dream of becoming a writer. Working on her novel in a coffee shop, she befriends Dan Murdoch, a successful author who becomes her mentor. When he is murdered, it is Theo who discovers his body and becomes a suspect. In most mysteries Theo would prove her innocence and unmask the murderer. The Mystery Writer, however, was written by Sulari Gentill, an author who knows how to keep the reader off balance. Theo’s brother is a partner in a law firm. He is protective of his little sister, but her situation is destroying his own career. Another body shows up that can be connected to Theo and the reporter who has been following the case is the next victim. When the police change their focus to her brother and Mac, an investigator who works for him, Theo takes drastic measures to protect them before disappearing.

Theo is somewhat naive. Murdoch warned her that his agent was not right for her. His agent approaches Theo after reading her completed novel and offers her possible representation. Then she lays out the draconian terms that come with the contract. They will create her bio for her, they must vet all of her contacts and they want complete control of her social media. In exchange, they will make all of her problems go away. It is a deal with the devil. There are conspiracy theories spreading through a chat room and on social media that fuel the danger around her and the agent’s offer may be her only way out. There are some jumps in time in the final chapters of the book, but Gentill offers an explanation for the murders and subsequent events that answers all of the reader’s questions. I would like to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for my review.

The Mystery Writer
has an interesting start: with the victim realizing he has been murdered. Next was thoughts of a conspiracy theorist - I wasn’t sure what was going on. Finally we meet Theo and Gus who are brother and sister - very likeable. Theo wants to be a writer and has quit law school and shown up on her brother’s doorstep.
Theo goes to a cafe/bar to write during the day and is befriended by an older man, Dan, and they strike up a friendship. He is a published writer and mentors Theo. She finds him dead at his house a few days after they have a tryst. Of course she is a suspect and it causes turmoil for her and her brother.
This is a strange book but I want to know who murdered Dan Murdoch. And there are so many engaging chatacters!
Definitely worth reading but the story was choppy at times especially towards the end.

Theo is an aspiring writer who has skipped out from her Australian law school studies to go live with her brother in Lawrence, Kansas. While working on her first novel, writing at a local cafe, she meets and falls in love with a an older, well known author.. When that man is murdered, Theo becomes the primary suspect. As more people are murdered, Theo and her brother are not only suspects, but are also in great danger.. Even though I quickly determined who were the guilty parties, i still found myself intrigued by the story. I was anxious to see how everything played out.
I was given an ARC of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley
#themysterywriter
#sularigentill
#mystery

The book started out strong for me… but fizzled mid way through.
I overall feel enjoyed the book, but it was missing something for me.
The suspense was good. Even though it wasn’t my favorite I world try another book by this author.
Thanks

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was not what I was expecting it to be when I started it, I really liked what it ended up being

Theo is the FMC- she drops out of law school to go live with her brother and pursue her dream of becoming a writer. While pursuing her dream she meets another author that through association with him she ends up involved in things that could get her and everyone around her killed.

We also get the POVs of Theo's older and very protective brother, as well as the POV of Mac the friendly "private eye" who helps them along the way.

Things I like about thus book:
1. I couldn't call the ending.
2. The characters had a lot of dept and though out backgrounds
3. clues to what was happening everywhere
4. Romance plot was side plot to the mystery/thriller plot.

Reading the cover synopsis could easily confuse the unadventurist reader. BUT.....taking a chance, the story line is a twisted look at the murder mystery world. Before, during and after the fact. It's a treat to find a new to me author that can hold my attention for the entire book. There are several hhhmmmm chapters where your ability to solve the crime will be seriously tested, but the end is worth it.

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press for this ebook in exchange for a free review. This had such an interesting plot and characters, once I got started I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend checking this one out!

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC which I was approved for only 5 days before the book was hitting shelves. Writers as main characters have become very popular. As an aspiring author, I tend to root for the writers. I have felt very strongly about books about writers such as A LIKELY STORY. I Am also critical of them and have been disappointed with several including THE WRITERS RETREAT. Theo seems very innocent and naive, especially since she's well-traveled. How convenient that her brother Gus is an attorney. I liked Dan's character and was enjoying the book until he died. I wasn't a fan of the Caleb/Primus sections without giving any spoilers. I DNFed it halfway through when it became too coincidental.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill is about Theodosia Benton who decides not to continue law school in Australia and unexpectedly arrives on the doorstep of her brother in Lawrence, Kansas. Once there she decides to start working as a writer. In doing so, she befriends a well-known author who is suspiciously murdered. Unfortunately, Theo and her brother are prime suspects. What ensues is a fast paced, wild ride to discover the truth.

This is the first Sulari Gentill book I’ve read and I enjoyed it. It was fast paced and kept me guessing until the end. Definitely an author I will continue to read

Theodosia Benton abandons law school in Australia to move to Lawrence, Kansas with her older brother and work towards her goal of becoming a writer. She starts going to a cafe to write and ends up meeting an older, highly successful writer, Dan, who quickly becomes her friend, mentor, and eventually, more. Things seem to be going great for Theo until the day she walks into Dan's house to find him brutally murdered and she instantly becomes the police's main and only suspect. It sets off a string of events that will forever change the Benton sibling's lives and uncover a dangerous literary world no one could have imagined.
I am in awe of the creativity and wickedness on display in this book. Gentill has always been an author that can keep you guessing, but this book is perfection. Even though there are breadcrumbs that make you guess at the ultimate ending, there is nothing that can prepare you for what actually happens. It's full of surprises and unexpected turns that ramp up the excitement from one chapter to the next. And the fact that it all comes with a nice serving of positive connections and feelings to keep it from getting as dark as it could have been, is the cherry on top.
I will say it's a little depressing that one of the main points of the plot is extra scary because it's incredibly believable that people could be manipulated like that. It sounds like something that is actually happening and that little bit of extra realism makes the plot hit even harder. It's excellently executed.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the pulse-pounding read!

A writer pens a novel to solve a crime. Her lover has been murdered, and her brother is a suspect. Introduce a conspiracy theorist, a fancy agent, and this novelist finds herself in the throws of a giant game of who "whodunit." Don't expect gasp outloud twisty moments, instead you find a slow-burn mystery.

Its multi-plot story was a bit confusing, especially the jump in times.

Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press.

The Mystery Writer drew me in quickly. Theo's character challenged the possibility and the idea of abandoning the expectations imposed on society to pursue a bigger dream of being a published author. The potential of partnering with a well-known and very powerful publishing company to be published with her transcript, while also questioning if it was the "right" thing to do as suspicious as it sounded.

Very quick into the story Theo gets involved in a writing group and jumps in heart first with a writer who is older than her. Dan Murdoch a best selling author, who has taken an interest in Theo and her writing. Shortly after their infatuation and exchange with each other Dan is murdered. Forced to mourn and put the pieces together of his death, Theo, Mac, and Gus are in it trying to unravel the pieces. Throw in more and more conspiracy theorists, a large online social-media presence that have a force and add a chaotic reality of how vulnerable we can be. Theo continues to stumble upon body and murder after murder, fearing that she is next. Forced to think about her actions of what her "publishing dream" was she commits herself to find the source and still stay safe.

The timeline and plot unfolding made me guess who was the person/people behind the murders, what their reasoning was, and what thread was woven throughout as a bigger message. All in all, the influence of fictional narratives over people can cause serious control. Selling people with ideas of distrust of the education system, media, food, or people has an influence and actually relevant in our day to day lives.

The Mystery Writer causes us to question what to believe and who to believe in society as a whole. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Sulari Gentill, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this thrilling and quick paced ARC.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I enjoyed the author’s writing style, she’s a very talented writer. The story had some twists that left me unsure of what would come next. The main characters were well developed and had clear personality traits. But I disliked the main character, Theo. I found her difficult to connect with and she came off as naive, unintelligent, whiny, and annoying. I similarly didn’t care for the rest of the characters, who felt like caricatures of real people who had been rendered down to their worst traits. The story itself was, for lack of a better word, absolutely ludicrous and strained even a generous imagination. The setting felt like the author was writing about somewhere she had heard of but never been, leaving a disjointed and lacking quality to the descriptions. At the end of the day, I imagine this story captures well what those outside of the US think of Americans, so as someone who is here, the story simply didn’t land with me.

Stars: 3.5

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

What if those conspiracy theories floating around the internet were actually real? And what if you found yourself caught up in one? Would you be able to find your way out or would you end up joining in? In Gentill’s latest novel, one young writer finds herself embroiled in something quite sinister and she isn’t sure where to turn.

Theo Benton is a young Australian woman who has left law school and finds herself on the doorstep of her older brother’s house in Lawrence, Kansas. She doesn’t want to be a lawyer, instead she wants to write. Gus Benton loves his sister and tells her to stay, write her novel and they will figure it all out. So Theo writes and as she does, she becomes friends with a fellow novelist who acts as her mentor. And then one day he is found dead. And when other people also start dying around Theo, the police begin to suspect she might be the killer. It is up to her, her brother, and their friends to clear her name.

That is about all I can say for the plot without spoiling it, since this is a thriller and you know, I don’t want to completely uncover all the conspiracy bits.

There is some spoiler-y stuff below so if you don’t want too much, quit reading now!

It took me a little bit to get into this book, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Theo, especially because I felt like her stated age in the book (22) didn’t translate well for the story. Or her brother’s either - I felt like they all needed to be a bit older. But once I got over that and got into the heart of it, it didn’t really matter. The pacing in the beginning and middle were good and the story moved along at a good clip but then we had a huge jump and it felt pretty jarring. Gentill spent a lot of time setting up the premise, establishing the relationship between Theo and Gus and going into a fair bit of detail about Theo’s writing process and her novel, all good things and a way to draw the reader in. And then somehow we manage to condense two or three years into a really short section but without really signaling to the reader that is what happened. I think there could have been a way to do this, say divide the book into Part I and Part II, so that you knew that significant time had passed. And I think I wanted that time-lapse discussed in a different way, Gentill peeled back some layers as the last third of the book went on, but I think it would have been ok for the plot to have revealed them soon.

All in all, I would certainly recommend this book. I enjoyed this one as much as I did The Woman In the Library, which I read a few years ago and was set in Boston. And I have to say one thing that I find truly amazing is that, according to the readers' guides in both books, Gentill has not been to Boston or Lawrence. Instead she relies on research and locals to help her create a sense of place. I am not a conspiracy person myself, but I am not sure how she manages to do this so well without being from these places! I mean, her understanding of Boston was amazing. And maybe it was the research, but the the little bon mots she throws out to Kansas and Missouri are great (Thomas Hart Benton, Melissa Etheridge, Bleeding Kansas).

Gentil’s latest novel follows the story of Theo, a young Australian woman who comes to her brother in Kansas, hoping to become a writer. Everything seems to be going smoothly, as she nears completion of her manuscript and befriends a fellow writer, until someone dies and Theo becomes a suspect. The story was propelling, but some of it was a bit underdeveloped and hard to believe.

Theodosia Benton went to school in Australia to become a lawyer. Halfway through she drops out of school and runs to her brother in America. What she really wants to do is become a published author. She has a burning desire to create wonderful stories and get a traditional publishing contract. Her brother, already a prominent attorney and a partner in a Kansas law firm, wants her to have her dreams and agrees to allow her to live with him while she writes her first book. She devotes the next six months to doing just that. She hangs at at the local coffee/bar down the street from their house, meets published author who takes her under his wing. He doesn't talk about his personal life only about the writing and helps her develop her story. When she figures out he is a 'famous' author she asked him to help her get an agent.

Theo is so excited about her writing coming togeher, her budding relationship with a published author and the friends she has made while living with her brother. However, all of that is about the change because in the background there is a web of lies surrounding them and their friends. The spark happens when Theo finds her author friend murdered. The actiion, suspense, and intrigue just keeps going from there.

I thought the action and intrique, twists and turns within the story were excellent. I read the entire book in one night and hope you will purchase a copy and read it as well.