I have mixed feelings about this book. While I liked the premise - an aspiring mystery writer tries to solve a murder mystery - there were too many sub plots, some of which strained plausibility, that didn’t enhance the storyline. The pacing was off, too. There was a lot of action in the first half of the book, then the story jumped ahead three months, then six months, then a trip to Australia, then another year passed, and then mystery was wrapped up rather quickly but confusingly. I liked the characters, especially Mac, and the relationship between Theo and Gus. I wish the plot had been better constructed. There’s a really good story in there somewhere. All of that said, I’m glad I read it., and it’s a solid three stars for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I enjoyed The Woman in the Library and was really looking forward to reading this. The premise was promising: Theo, who has decided to become a writer instead of completing her quest to become an attorney, shows up unannounced at her brother Gus’ place needing somewhere to live. Dan Murdoch, who becomes her writing mentor (and more) is murdered, Gus becomes the no. 1 suspect, and Theo gets involved in a plot filled with disappearances, subterfuge, and lies.

But, I was disappointed overall in this novel. It seemed pretty slow going until the end, which was way too rushed and did a poor job of tying loose ends together (in fact, most of these “ends” just sort of disappeared and were replaced by things/events that had never been introduced in the least). Also, the time jumps drove me crazy. All in all, however, I would consider this a decent read, and I still look forward to Sulari Gentill’s next work.

An interesting mystery about a mystery writer whose best seller author mentor is murdered. When her brother becomes the lead suspect, she’s determined to help until she goes missing. Will definitely keep you guessing until the very end.

I really loved the author's previous book, Woman in the Library, and I was thrilled to check out her latest work, so I requested it without even reading the description. However, I couldn't get into this story quite as much. The writing is still fun and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. For me, I was less into a story which revolved so much around conspiracy theorists. That is my fault for not reading the synopsis!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, all thoughts are my own,

Some spoilers ahead!

Although at times it bordered on absurd (am I to believe you have to be an absolute scum to be a good author? since apparently they only publish the best of the best and they're all criminals and pretty much are all men) I still found this to be a super tense and enjoyable mystery thriller. I liked the protagonist (although sometimes she seemed really dumb, she was young and honestly we probably would all act like that in real life) and the two supporting characters of Gus and Mac. The mystery was interesting and it did feel like being pulled down into a rabbit hole of a conspiracy theory. I was genuinely creeped out and the book delivered on tense, action-packed moments. The relationship was really well executed - I got why and how much they cared but it didn't overtake the story. Something I found weird was the absolute refusal to describe the main character, I only figured out her actual age at the very end of the book and the fact she was brown came off as some hush-hush secret / dirty word no one discusses, which was really bizarre.

Will definitely pick up more from the author as she seems to have written other books on writing & mystery.

Aspiring author Theo Benton leaves law school, and her come country of Australia, to move in with her lawyer brother in small town Kansas. She think it will be the change she needs to get her writing career off the ground. Theo finds herself a cozy pub and settles in to write her novel.

One day another author comes over to sit with her. They strike up a conversation, a friendship, and the beginnings of a love affair. Theo is happy and comfortable in life, until the murders start happening.

Suddenly Theo finds herself surrounded by lawyers, publishers, authors, conspiracy theorists, and die-hard fans. Theo must sort out who is there to help, who has more nefarious intentions, and how can she protect the ones she loves.

This is an action-packed mystery with twists and turns all the way through. It will keep you guessing, and keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the egalley copy. All opinions are my own.

Quite often things are not what they seem. Sometimes it’s because we want them to be a certain way, so we ignore that little niggling feeling creeping around in our brain. Theodosia is a writer. I should say once an aspiring lawyer and now an aspiring writer. When she meets a quite reclusive but famous writer, she can hardly believe he talks about writing with her. When she finds out he is dead, she has no idea the depth of the problems she will face nor the trouble she will bring to those around her.

This is a quick read, one filled with lots of suspense. Actually, I rarely put it down. It’s well-written and flows well, and its characters are painted well enough that you become them a little or at least feel their frustration and concern.

I really enjoyed this book and its plot. However, there was one item that felt incongruent from the beginning, a key point of the whole story. There was little interaction at the start of the book with Dan the writer. In fact, there was so little mention of him that I couldn’t understand how they could possibly have been so in love. The book dwelt on the restaurant many writers worked at, and the amount of time Theo and Dan talked across a booth table. I was even confused about why she was walking outside his house when she found him. The beginning of the book made it sound like a deep infatuation or a fling to me and yet Theo cried and mourned over him throughout the book. This did not ruin the story for me. I just kept thinking “ok, give me a break” every time she thought over how much she loved Dan and teared up again:)

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

Theo Benton drops out of law school in Australia and moves to America where she joins her brother who is already a successful attorney. Theo's goal is to become a writer and she spends her days working on her novel at a local bar/cafe where she meets another writer. Before long, Theo finds herself caught up in a murder mystery, even becoming a suspect herself. There will be times when you will yell at Theo through the pages of your book to stop making such big mistakes (such as don't touch the evidence). Her background as part of the "ferals" in Australia is quite interesting, although not explored in depth. The first two thirds of the book are an interesting mystery that will pull you in. Theo's brother Gus is the kind of supportive big brother everyone would want. His friend Mac is the star of the book with the most interesting job and backstory. I would be happy to read a series of books just about him. For me, the last third of the book didn't match up. The resolution was a bit unbelievable and there were other elements thrown into the story that just didn't fit. I do hope the author figures out a way to include Mac in the future.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy. My opinion is my own.

I was excited to read another book by Sulari Gentill because i really liked The Woman in tbe Library. but i just couldn't get going with this one. sadly i stopped reading. Maybe others will enjoy iy more.

I have such mixed feelings about this one. While I did like the story in general (enough that I definitely wanted to finish it), I felt the pacing was a bit off sometimes. There were parts of the plot that I felt dragged for too long. And I’m not sure I ever felt deeply connected with the main character. Without giving away any spoilers, there is a development about 75% of the way through that kind of threw me and pulled me out of the story. I didn’t really find the direction that the story went to be all that believable or thrilling, which kind of left me feeling like the payoff wasn’t worth it in the end. I think my favorite parts of the story happened in the first half, with the themes of writing and publishing. Again, no spoilers, but some of the… tropes, I guess I’d call them… in the story just came off a bit weird and strange to me. I’m a little confused to be honest, not about what happened, but about how I feel about it all. I waited to write this review to digest this story more, but I’m still unsure how I feel about it. It was a good three-star, quirky, murder-mystery. I’m also not sure who exactly I’d recommend this to, it is definitely a niche one. I also listened to the audio version for some of it, and I thought the narrator did a great job with the tone and voice of the book.

Get ready to go on a thrilling journey into the heart of the literary world. The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill is a rollercoaster ride through literary intrigue, where every twist and turn keeps you guessing. If you love books about books, this one is a must-read.

Meet Theodosia Benton. She is an aspiring writer who abandons her legal career and arrives at her brother's doorstep with an unfinished novel. She’s entirely unaware that her decision will plunge her into a hidden literary realm. One where identity can be lost, and remade, for an audience.

Her mentor is a successful author who is brutally murdered and Theo becomes determined to find the killer and seek justice. This becomes her solitary mission when the police suspect her brother of the murder. As the labyrinth of secrets unravels, Gus follows a thread left by the deceased writer. This thread just so happens to threaten the very foundation of storytelling itself.

Gentill's writing is both gripping and thought-provoking. She turns the world of books and authors upside down, making the writer's voice a weaponized tool. Conspiracy theories, corrupt publishing companies, and dark pasts converge in this unique and addicting read. The tension builds, and the stakes are high. Sometimes, the truth is more dangerous than fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press (the mystery thriller imprint of Sourcebooks) for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you netgalley for this arc, this book was very very slow until the end. It was hard for me to relate to the MCs and the conspiracies. With the murder mystery, her brother being a suspect and the jump in time it was hard for me to connect everything together. The story overall was intriguing but it lost me a bit.

At the beginning of this book, I was afraid I would not like it but as I continued I found myself enjoying it more and more. The author weaves a great story with characters you really root for. She is turning into a must read author for me.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. Last year I read The Woman in the Library and enjoyed it so was excited that I was able to receive an arc through NetGalley.
Summary:
This book is about Theodosia Benton, a young woman from Australia who had been raised within a cult. She is close to her brother, Gus, who moved to America several years earlier.
Theo shows up on his doorstep with her suitcase and announces that she has dropped out of law school. She has a partial novel that she wants to finish. Her brother is supportive.
Theo spends her days at a local bar and becomes friends with another writer, Dan. He is a little older than her and she is surprised to find out that he is a successful author. The two develop a relationship. Theo decides to surprise Dan one day but when she arrives at his house, she notices a man leaving. When Theo walks through the open door, her world is turned upside down.
Theo becomes a suspect in a crime and she and Gus are targeted by a murderer.
Review:
It didn’t take me long to finish this book. It wasn’t because I couldn’t put it down but more because I felt the need to read it for NetGalley. The writing is not bad, but I found some of the storyline difficult to swallow. Some of the characters were unbelievable. I read a lot, and I can suspend belief if the story is good but toward the end of the book, it fell apart for me.
What I liked:
I liked Gus and Mac, the private investigator and how the three meshed together as friends. I liked the budding romance.
I liked the idea of conspiracy theories as part of the story.
I liked the setting. Lawrence, KS feels like a safe place but is it really? I liked the fact that she took a safe place in the middle of the country and brought a little danger there. The contrast helped make it more suspenseful.
I liked the twists and turns. It did keep me guessing.
I liked Mac’s crazy family.
What I didn’t like.
My biggest dislike was when I discovered who the bad guys were. To me it didn’t make sense. Something was missing from the explanation. Why would an organization resort to that? I guess it didn’t explain it well enough for me. I feel like there was something missing in the explanation.
Would I read more from this author? Yes, because I did enjoy – The Woman in the Library and now that I know there was a book – After She Wrote Him, I do plan to read it someday. I gave – The Woman in the Library four stars when I reviewed it, but I can’t honestly give this book four stars. I will give it three stars because I do feel it is well written, but it didn’t work for me.
Year Published: March 19, 2024
Category: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 352 pages Kindle
Rating: Goodreads 3.59
I do want to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc and give an honest review for other readers. Though I didn’t enjoy this one as much as – The Woman in the Library, I do feel that anyone who enjoys thrillers with a book theme should give this book a try. I wish I could give all my reads five stars but feel that wouldn’t be honest with other readers. I also understand that this is my opinion only. There will be readers out there who will love this book.

About the author:
Once upon a time, Sulari Gentill was a corporate lawyer serving as a director on public boards, with only a vague disquiet that there was something else she was meant to do. That feeling did not go away until she began to write. And so Sulari became the author of the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries: thus far, ten historical crime novels chronicling the life and adventures of her 1930s Australian gentleman artist, the Hero Trilogy, based on the myths and epics of the ancient world, and the Ned Kelly Award winning Crossing the Lines (published in the US as After She Wrote Hime). In 2014 she collaborated with National Gallery of Victoria to write a short story which was produced in audio to feature in the Fashion Detective Exhibition, and thereafter published by the NGV. IN 2019 Sulari was part of a 4-member delegation of Australian crime writers sponsored by the Australia Council to tour the US as ambassadors of Australian Crime Writing.

Sulari lives with her husband, Michael, and their boys, Edmund and Atticus, on a small farm in Batlow where she grows French Black Truffles and refers to her writing as “work” so that no one will suggest she get a real job. (Goodreads Bio)

I have been reading quite a bit recently. I am currently reading – The Deep End by Julie Mulhern and Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz. Both books are from my bookshelf. One was on my list of 24 in 2024 and the other is one that I was in the mood to read. I will update you on my numbers for the 24 in 2024. I hope to have both reviews out next week.
What are you reading? Anything I should know about. Have you read something that you have really enjoyed? Can’t wait to tell you more about these two books.
Until next time,
Virginia

Sulari Gentill’s latest novel, The Mystery Writer is a cleverly concocted and very original mystery, which gently plays with the conventions of the crime novel, while providing a good dose of mystery and suspense. I think that it is Sulari’s best novel to date.

Theo Benton has one dream: to become a bestselling author. Determined to make her mark in the literary world, she leaves Sydney and heads to the United States on a whim to stay with her brother Gus and focus on her writing. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she befriends a famous author, Dan Murdoch, at a local bar. He is encouraging of her writing, but when he turns up dead after she gives him her draft manuscript, Theo finds herself as the prime suspect in his murder.

As Theo grapples with the shocking turn of events, she realizes that Dan may not have been the person he seemed to be, and that there is something sinister going on in the world of publishing. Desperate to clear her name and uncover the truth, Theo sets out on a quest to find out who killed Dan and why.

The Mystery Writer starts out quickly and Sulari keeps the pace ticking over at a steady rate as the book moves through some very unexpected developments. The plotting is clever, and is well supported by an eclectic cast of characters, especially the family of one of Gus’s friends. All the characters are nicely fleshed out, and Theo makes for a good lead character, with a mixture of flaws, secrets and hidden strengths.

Seamlessly woven into the story are marvellous revelations on the publishing industry and writing in general. Some of Sulari’s reflections on authors and publishers are brutal, but also amusing, and she frequently highlights the importance and influence of books.

The ending may stretch credibility, but recent events in America will make you stop and think that perhaps Sulari’s central conceit is right! In any event, it does not stop The Mystery Writer from being a very enjoyable read that I could not put down.

See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/a...

4.5 rounded up

I would like to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on March 19, 2024.

Totally enjoyed this fast-paced mystery and its great characters. There are lots of interesting side stories like conspiracy theorists, doomsday-ers, and cultists, besides the main storyline of writers and their agents! It was nice to have a novel set in an unexpected place like Lawrence, Kansas, too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC to read and review.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill kept me on my toes! The main character, Theo, is quite likeable. She gives up a high profile career to chase her dream of becoming an author. She is close with her brother, Gus. And the story that follows will keep you guessing as the mystery, and of course murder, unfolds. This was my first book from Sulari Gentill and I did enjoy it! Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Netgalley and Sulari Gentill for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Sulari Gentill for an ARC of the Mystery Writer! Overall, I found this book very fascinating. The plot was honestly amazing - I loved the concept and at least for me, it hasn’t been done yet which was what made it so intriguing. There were a few parts that felt a bit off and that may just be due to it being an ARC and not the final copy, but this is something you should grab and give it a try! Theo has packed her bags, left law school, and is on the doorstep of her brother’s house in Kansas to become an author. She befriends another author and he becomes her mentor, he is brutally murdered. Theo wants to uncover what happened to him and let’s say everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. Her brother is the accused murderer and Theo knows that is not the case and will do everything possible to ensure his safety.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and each book has been really good. The author knows how to create layer upon layer of intrigue and red herrings.

The books have been so good that even after finishing it, you have to go back and see how you missed that ending. The clues are there, but are you following the right ones? I’ve added this author to my must be read list and cannot wait for more.