Theo Benton drops out of law school and moves in with her brother to pursue a career in writing. Her brother encourages her to find a bar to write at, which is where Theo meets fellow writer, Dan. They form a quick relationship and Dan helps Theo with her novel, but discourages her from signing with his agency.
When Theo finds Dan dead in his home, she, her brother and his friend, Mac, find themselves caught up in a string of murders. Theo must do whatever she can to protect her brother, solve Dan’s murder and not get dragged into the conspiracy theory world she believes led to his murder.
I really enjoyed the doomsday preppers and conspiracy theories, which I thought gave the book some unique twists. I was drawn in from the very beginning.
This was my first time reading a Sulari Gentill book and it certainly did not disappoint! Thank you to NetGallery and Poisoned Penned Press for the ARC!

Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Mystery Writer introduces us to Theo as she flees law school in Australia to land on her brother’s doorstep in America, with aspirations of becoming a writer. Encouraged to get out from under his feet and meet new people, Theo is ushered out of the house and takes up residence in a local coffee shop where she meets Dan. The book has lots of twists and deals with conspiracies and cancel culture within this mystery. Really enjoyed

Theo leaves law school in Australia and arrives on her brother's doorstep in America. Theo longs to write her first novel, and her lawyer brother encourages her to go for it. Soon, Theo writes daily at a local bar where other authors gather. She finds a mentor at her writing place and a friendship follows. When her mentor is murdered, Theo finds herself in a whirlwind of trouble. There are conspiracy followers who believe her mentor was their leader. Soon, Theo is drawn into a fight for her life and that of her brother's. As the story builds, the reader finds hidden conspirators who will stop at little to keep control of their wealth and business. A good read--quite a few characters to track. Thanks to Net Galley for the arc.

"From 2023 Edgar Award nominee and bestselling author Sulari Gentill comes a literary thriller about an aspiring writer who meets and falls in love with her literary idol - only to find him murdered the day after she gave him her manuscript to read.

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."

The dark world of the literati!

Theodosia Benton, an aspiring author, abandons her legal career to pursue her passion for writing. Little does she know, this decision will plunge her into a hidden literary world where identities are remade for the sake of an audience. When her mentor, a successful author, is murdered, Theo becomes entangled in a complex web of mystery and intrigue. As the police target her brother as the prime suspect, Theo takes drastic measures to protect him, unwittingly threatening the foundations of the literary labyrinth. In this literary thriller, the boundaries between reality and fiction blur, and a writer's voice becomes a weapon with dangerous consequences.

"The Mystery Writer" by Sulari Gentill is a stunningly original and captivating literary thriller that challenges the conventions of mystery novels and the art of storytelling. Theodosia Benton's journey from abandoning her legal career to navigating the labyrinth of a hidden literary world adds a mischievous twist to the narrative. The author weaves a complex tale where conspiracy theories turn out to be true, and identity becomes a malleable construct in the pursuit of a good story.

Gentill masterfully explores the impact of a writer's voice, depicting it not just as a tool for storytelling but as something that can be controlled and weaponized. The murder of Theo's mentor sets the stage for a rollercoaster ride where the boundaries between reality and fiction are blurred. The labyrinthine plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with Theo's quest for justice turning into a perilous journey where the very foundations of the literary world are at stake.

The narrative skillfully navigates the complexities of family bonds, the consequences of choices, and the power dynamics within the literary landscape. As Theo and her brother Gus become entangled in a narrative that threatens their lives, the novel poses thought-provoking questions about the nature of storytelling and the lengths one might go to protect the carefully constructed narrative.

"The Mystery Writer" is not just a thriller; it's a thought-provoking exploration of the impact of words and narratives on our lives. Sulari Gentill's mastery of storytelling shines through, making this novel a must-read for those who appreciate literary fiction with a thrilling edge.

Thank you NetGalley and Poinsoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book!

I don't even know where to begin with this book. WOW! This book immediately had me hooked and genuinely took me on an adventure. I thought that there were several twists and turns, and I really enjoyed where it landed.

Thank You NetGalley and Poinsoned Pen Press for a complimentary copy of this novel!

WOW!!! Where to even begin with this novel?!? Theodosia (Theo) Benton is studying to be a lawyer in Australia, but her true passion is writing. Her brother Gus is already a successful, well-established lawyer in Kansas. So, Theo ditches law school and arrives on her brother’s doorstep. She begins to work on her novel at a local bar where she meets a fellow author, Dan Murdoch. Over a few months time, they form a deep bond that eventually becomes intimate. When Theo asks Dan to reach out to his publishing agency, Day Delos and Associates, he is hesitant to do so, saying they would not be a good fit for her. Not long after, to show Dan no hard feelings, Theo goes to his house to invite him to dinner to meet her brother. She had been waiting for him at the bar all that day, but never showed up. When she gets to his house, there is a man running out of Dan’s house and Dan is lying dead in a huge puddle of blood.

Other bodies start to drop dead; and Theo, Gus, and a friend of theirs’, Mac, end up getting blamed for the murders. On top of all this, Dan’s manuscript for his new novel has gone missing and it may have a connection to some kind of conspiracy theory. With everything going on, Gus getting shot and blamed for the murders, Theo vanishes. A letter arrives in the mail from Theo eventually stating she is to blame for everything, but no one knows where Theo is. The question still remains why was Dan murdered? And what happened to his manuscript? Where is Theo? Who is behind all the other murders and conspiracy theories?

What a brilliant novel!!! I loved every minute of it!!! This is the second novel by Sulari Gentill I have read. The first one was The Woman in the Library!!! I am definitely looking forward to more of her books!!! I love her style of writing!

There's always those books that grab you and get you interested but then take you on a ridiculous roller coaster. That was this book. Theo leaves law school, shows up on her brother's door, and says she wants to be a writer. Okay, so far odd but cool. Then she meets an author she admires while sitting at a coffee shop/bar. This is where the story took a turn for me. All the pieces began going every direction. There were several fishy things that did not click for Theo and left me as the reader saying DUH!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

I enjoyed the author's previous book, The Woman in the Library, very much and was excited for this one. However, this book seemed overly complicated and the pacing was very inconsistent. The beginning was very slow and then ending felt very rushed. Thank you, NetGalley.

Having really enjoyed the author's previous book The Woman in the Library, I was super-excited to be approved for this new story.

Unfortunately, for me, this book just missed the mark. One of my main issues was the female lead Theo, who was way too damsel-in-distress for my tastes. Some of her choices are so poorly thought out that it's hard to believe she could have ever been studying law.

Inexplicably, all other characters love her and tirelessly rush to her rescue. I think the author was going for innocently naive, but Theo just comes off as an emotional child who can't take care of herself. Thank the stars her brother Gus and his friend Mac are smart and resourceful and were actually interesting to read about.

The pacing felt more like a series of unfortunate events rather than a thrilling buildup, especially towards the middle when we took a break from any action and spent way too much time with a family reunion. I almost DNF'd at that point.

The big reveal at the end was a very interesting concept, but felt so convoluted and rushed that I still don't feel like I fully understand all of the whys. And since I wasn't emotionally invested in the story, I don't really care.

Although this particular book was a miss for me, I will definitely continue reading this author.

This book was incredible! I didn't see any of it coming and it kept me hooked throughout!

Easily 5 stars!

This was the first book by Sulari Gentill that I've read.
No point in rehashing the plot as it's available in the blurb and other reviews.
For me, the middle of the story dragged a bit, but overall I enjoyed the read.
Gentill writes well, and the character development was first rate. Thought I saw the ending coming, but nope! (which is a good thing).

Appreciate the ARC copy from NetGalley. I read ARCs mainly to explore new (to me) authors, and and glad to have discovered Sulari Gentill, I'll be reading more of her work.

Sulari Gentill is a new author for me and will absolutely be added to my list of authors to keep my eye out for. This book reignited my love for mystery novels and made me lose sleep trying to finish it, which I don't do lightly. Absolutely will recommend this book!

The Mystery Writer was an interesting concept but didn't quite get there for me. I didn't really connect with the main chararcter or understand her sudden career shift at the beginning of the story, and it didn't seem realistic that someone without any background in creative writing would so suddenly come up with a blockbuster novel. I didn't love the May/December mentor/mentee romance, and then quite honestly, the ending got way out of hand in terms of the scope of the "conspiracy." I also got so fed up with the two sibling characters and how they seemed to constantly be in competition over who could be the most selfless and self-sacrificing. This book also didn't really have that who-dun-it murder-mystery feel that I was hoping for based on the cover. It was interesting to see aspects of US culture through the eyes of an Australian writer, such as the prevalance of gun culture, preppers, extreme religiosity, and things like that that we might often take for granted. Overall, however, this book didn't seem to quite know what genre it was and I just couldn't get into it.

Unfortunately, I wasn't compelled to finish this book - it felt odd and like characters were making huge, unsubstantiated leaps in the plot. I liked the premise but didn't feel like this made good on it.

Theo leaves law school to move in with her brother and try out writing novels. But then her new writer-mentor is murdered and basically everything crumbles from there while she races to figure out wtf is going on.

I was so not expecting to like this as much as I did. Hasn’t heard of it, cover looked good- requested it on netgalley and here we are.

Was super hooked to figure out what was going on right from the get-go. And the hint of romance?? Just how I like my thrillers. 😏

Thanks netgalley! Publishes March 19!

Theodosia Benton (Theo) leaves her Australian university and appears unannounced at her brother Gus’ home in Kansas. She no longer wants to be a lawyer (the family tradition) and instead wants to write a novel. While working on writing a novel at Benders, a local café, Theo meets Dan, a famous writer. Dan follows online conspiracy theories for inspiration for his latest novel. Dan and Theo’s friendship starts to develop into more and then one day he doesn’t show up at the café. Theo goes to his house and finds that Dan has been murdered. Once the police begin to question her, Theo realizes that she really didn’t know much about Dan or what he was writing. Who killed Dan and why? Theo is determined to find out.

This was my first book by Sulari Gentill. I really enjoyed the characters of Theo and Gus and their sibling relationship throughout the story. However, this read more like a cozy mystery to me than a thriller. Yes, there were twists but they weren’t too shocking for me. The biggest issue I struggled with was the time jump at the end of the story. I know it was necessary for the plot, but it was rather rushed. Overall, it was a decent read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy mystery vibe with some twists. I rate it 3/5 stars.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill was a wild ride. Very Yellowface-esque minus the commentary on the publishing industry. I adored the first third, thought the second third dragged and was slightly baffled by/slightly enthralled by the final third. In spite of it seeming very predictable, it actually wasn’t and that was fun. I’m not sure what to rate this one but I know I enjoyed if.

Thank you for the opportunity to read such an intracate story. A book within a book. and a mystery that once the events begin, I could noot put this down.

But the best thing I can say was the characters had me vesting in thwm and their choices. I stopped reading a book and instead was witnessing a story that had pulled me in it's pages.

The premise is a good one, Theo, 22 years old, has decided to drop out of her Australian University where she was studying a Law Degree and go to stay with her brother Gus, a lawyer, in Lawrence Kansas. An aspiring writer, Gus encourages Theo, to finish her novel in a cafe or bar rather than at his home. There she meets Dan an established writer. I’ll leave it there so that there are no spoilers.

I found this story initially difficult to get immersed into and picked it and put it away numerous times. I think this was mainly due to not connecting, nor liking Theo as a character. Putting that aside, that once I got into the next few chapters, I got absorbed into the story, in part due to the other characters, the other purely to find out what happens. Glad I stuck with it to the end!

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this complementary ARC.