This was difficult for me to finish. It was difficult to follow and the writing didn't grab my attention. I did not review it on social media so that it wouldn't have a negative review out there - it just might not have been my cup of tea, but I couldn't get through it.

It was a great start that moved quickly and kept moving to the end. It reads as a thriller but is more of a mystery. For cozy fans, this should be a good read. Anyone who likes a good conspiracy book should also pick this up.

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. When her mentor is brutally murdered and her brother blamed for it, she must investigate and save her brother!

This started off great but around halfway just got overly complicated and I had a hard time paying attention. We are doing this for an upcoming book club I am running at work, so I am curious to hear what others in the group think.

The Mystery Writer" by Sulari Gentill follows Theo Benton, who leaves her university due to issues with a lecturer and seeks refuge with her older brother in Kansas, USA, to pursue her passion for writing. Unfortunately, the novel falls short in delivering a believable narrative, with scenarios that seemed implausible and doubtful.

The inclusion of conspiracy theories, Doomsday preppers, and untrustworthy characters led to storylines that didn't quite add up cohesively. As the plot unfolded, I found myself grappling with the lack of believability and struggling to connect with the narrative.

Regrettably, the novel didn't resonate with me, and my concerns persisted until the point I decided to leave the book unfinished. Consequently, I can only assign a rating of 2.0 out of 5.0. I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy, even though the story ultimately did not work for me.

As most books are wont to do, often it’s the blurb that will lead a reader to check out the story. For me, it was the intriguing setup that lured me in as well as the fact that I highly enjoyed The Woman in the Library, and I was ready for another propulsive read to keep me on my toes. No doubt Gentill’s writing continues to be easy to digest. It’s quick, it flows, it pulls the reader along.

So, I was looking forward to the prospect of conspiracies, a ton of chilling secrets, and an explosive mind blowing reveal. For me, this didn’t really crescendo until the last 20% and when it did, it kinda fizzled. I’m not saying the idea wasn’t smart and interesting because it was, but maybe my unrealistic expectations were just too high. Perhaps because it took over 300 pages to really set things up, the ending seemed too rushed where the conspiracy fallout never truly came and was sinisterly (and sadly probably realistically) left open to continue on its twisty nebulous path. I readily admit that I want my fictional entertainment to be solidly in the happily ever after realm where the bad guys get their well deserved comeuppance.

It didn’t help that the heroine Theo was difficult to root for where my jaded self wanted to shake her way too many times to have a bit more self preservation, to not be so naive and gullible. In my opinion, the actual standouts of this were Theo’s brother Gus, and his friend Mac. They’re protective and smart, and both of them work tirelessly (and fruitlessly) to keep Theo from making many mistakes and missteps. I truly enjoyed every scene that they were in. Also, while I love any bit of romance to a story that I can get, I didn’t buy into what was presented and felt that Theo was one very lucky lady to deserve such devotion.

Overall, this had good bones, and I think many will enjoy this on its own merits or that of the author’s. I personally wanted more of everything because what was delivered just wasn’t enough to fully titillate and engage me specifically. Regardless, Gentill is still an author of interest, and I’ll continue to check out her future works!

Thank you to the author and Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review posted to Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6219151750?book_show_action=false

Australian native Theodosia Benton quits law school to write a novel and moves in with her attorney brother, Gus, who has emigrated to Lawrence, Kansas. While working on her project at a local coffee shop, she meets Dan, a famous but reclusive author who becomes more than just a mentor for her. When she discovers his dead body, a nightmare begins in which both Theo and Gus are alternatively accused of killing him and also in which their lives are in danger from unknown forces. Throw in online conspiracy theorists, doomsday preppers, and an ultra exclusive publishing house and the plot thickens.

Books about writers and the writing process are always interesting. Add a thriller to the mix and there are all kinds of possibilities. Although the plot line is a bit wild and after starting out slow the timeline rapidly skips ahead, you are in for an enjoyable, multi layered read.

I did cringe at some of the naive choices Theo made, but, after all, she was raised by “feral” (hippie) parents in
Tasmania, so what does she know of the cruel world? And especially of a world that seems to be more and more overtaken by conspiracy theories and misinformation and the control they can excerpt over people?

BTW - Lawrence, Kansas really is the home of Stull Cemetery which has a role in this plot and is purported to be one of the 7 “gateways to Hell.”

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I just couldn't get into the story and I'm not really sure why. The author's style and writing was solid and the characters felt real. Perhaps it was just a little too meta for me. I usually love novels that involve writers but I had to take a pass on this one.

This is my third novel by this author, who is quickly becoming an auto-read for me. The latest stand-alone mystery had me hooked from the beginning. With elements of a fish out of water, a global conspiracy theory, Doomsday preppers, a murder mystery, and a shadowy publishing industry set against the seemingly quiet backdrop of Lawrence, Kansas, I could not help but wonder where the story would end. There were twists and turn galore, with red herrings sprinkled in along the way. The many moving pieces could have taken the story in a number of directions, so I enjoyed seeing how they all fit together as events unfolded and ultimately came to an end.

Later in the story, I felt like some of the transitions in the action were a bit abrupt. The story sometimes jumped forward in the timeline and picked up from a different character's perspective, so I found myself trying to reorient myself before proceeding with a new chapter. While it did not detract from my reading enjoyment, I can see where it might make it harder to follow the story. This is a slow-burn of a thriller that requires some attention. I felt that the pacing was excellent for the moody, murky, and off-kilter atmosphere of the story.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the NetGalley copy and a chance to read this novel prior to publication.

I wanted to enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed The Woman in the Library. While I did enjoy this book, it did fall short for me personally. Messages from the conspiracy theory message board and Caleb at the start of the chapters were confusing at first. I did have to go back and read them over again. (Personally, this is one part of Sulari Gentill's books that I am not fond and could do without.) Parts of the book are fast pace with multiple plots, but there is a point where the story was a little too slow and I started to lose interest. The time jumps made me feel like the story was dragging out and could have ended sooner. Overall, it was an interesting view of when the publishing community goes dark and to extremes. What would you be willing to give up to become a best selling author?

This book surprised me. It was much more than a mystery about one writer investigating the death of another. It was a twisty conspiracy thriller about writers, publishing and social media. It was fun and clever. I especially enjoyed the Kansas setting and the doomsday prepper family.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eGalley of this title.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Mystery Writer is a metafictional thriller that explores the dark side of the publishing industry and the power of storytelling. The protagonist, Theodosia Benton, is an aspiring writer who abandons her law career to pursue her passion. She meets her literary idol, a bestselling author who agrees to mentor her and read her manuscript. However, the next day, he is found dead, and Theodosia's brother, Gus, becomes the prime suspect. Theodosia goes on the run, leaving behind a trail of clues in the form of a story that only Gus can decipher. But as he follows the thread, he uncovers a sinister conspiracy that threatens to destroy the lives of many writers and readers.

Sulari Gentill, an Edgar Award nominee and a USA Today bestselling author, delivers a gripping and clever novel that blends fiction and reality, mystery and suspense, humor and irony. The Mystery Writer is a tribute to the power of imagination and the love of books, as well as a warning about the dangers of manipulation and deception.

Gentill's writing is witty and engaging, and her characters are well-developed and relatable. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, you won't be able to put it down. The Mystery Writer is a must-read for fans of literary thrillers and of metafiction.

The book got really interesting at the 3rd quarter mark. The plot everything was I enjoyed it a lot and I hope to read more books from this author.

A satisfying mystery that becomes especially interesting at the three-quarter mark, when the POV shifts and larger drama deepens. It's interesting to see what an Australian author brings to a heart-of-America (Lawrence, Kansas) set mystery in terms of some notions about the local culture, often exaggerated but also satirically effective.

United States Publication: March 19, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Theodosia Benton has left, fled really, her Uni studies in law and her native Australia, and has appeared on her brother's doorstep in Lawrence, Kansas, of all places. Bucking the family edict that she and her brother both become lawyers to "earn" her share of a trust fund, Theo has a different dream. She wants to write books. She wants to exercise creativity not conducive to practicing law. So, Theo becomes a writer-in-residence, allowing her brother to support her dream for a season. While finding a place to work on her book each day, Theo makes the acquaintance of a prolific author who is living a low-profile life in Lawrence, Kansas. He becomes a writing mentor to her as well as more over time. But when he is found with his throat slit open, Theo is thrust into a vortex of mysterious people and situations. When her brother, Gus, and his friend, Max, also get sucked into the circumstances the stakes are raised for Theo to figure out who would want to kill her mentor. But people and forces are working around Theo that she isn't yet aware of.

This didn't work for me. At all. So many parts of the story were improbable or unnecessary that I felt frustrated reading it. Gentill tried to incorporate a conspiracy theory element to drive the story but it fell very flat for me, incredibly so. It really didn't drive the story so much as detract from it and make it confusing because it didn't fit with the overall plot. The whole book felt like a bunch of loose ideas Gentill attempted to weave together to make a story and for this reader, it didn't work. I came away annoyed rather than happy I had picked up this latest offering from Sulari Gentill.

I have no idea how she does it, but Sulari Gentill manages to subvert genre, turn it on its head, and spin it around into something fresh and original every time. As she did with Woman in the Library, she takes a mystery and turns it into a character-driven tour de force, although I think The Mystery Writer leans more toward thriller. The story is still about writers, but this time we have assassins and conspiracy theories and zealots and hippies and even a smattering of romance and family relationships. And she does it all brilliantly, although if I try to describe it, it would be a spoiler. Know you’re in capable hands and next time you want a gripping page-turner, pick this one up

Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!

This was so captivating that it made me question how can I equally love something this much but also hate it cause it is so good.

As a fan of The Woman in the Library, I was curious to see what Sulari Gentill would write next. Initially, I felt off kilter and was wondering if this was the book for me. But then I remembered I felt the same way with TWITL, so I stuck with it. The plot is convoluted. Theo gives up on college and shows up on her brother’s front porch in Lawrence, Kansas. She’s decided she wants to be a writer. Hanging out in a local cafe/bar, she befriends an established writer. But no sooner have they become romantically involved, that she finds his dead body in his house. Interspersed with this storyline, the reader is privy to a group of conspiracy theory nutjobs and their messaging. It would be easy to say this group was too crazy to be believable. But our family has a QAnon idiot in our midst, and some of her theories are so unreal as to beggar belief.
I struggled to relate to Theo. I had to keep reminding myself that she was still very young and maybe not wise enough to know what she was signing up for. But would someone smart enough to get into law school really be so dumb? There were numerous times that she just seemed oblivious. <spoiler> it was so obvious that something was fishy with Day Delos & Associates from her very first meeting with them.</spoiler> Flip side, I really enjoyed Gus and Mac and appreciated what a great big brother Gus was. And Mac’s doomsday prepper family did help provide comic relief. I would have actually liked it if they had played a bigger role in the story.
Despite my issues with Theo, I did get drawn in and was curious to see how it was going to play out. I found myself reaching for the book whenever I had a spare minute. It moved at a nice brisk pace with lots of moving parts. But the last section of the book just went totally off the rails for me. It was all I could do to stay with it. The book went from being a four star to a two star. I’ll think twice before picking up her next book.
My thanks to Netgalley and Poison Pen Press for an advance copy of this book.

What the fuck even was this book? It was SOOOOO slow until the end, when it felt like a literal bomb went off. And the main plot twist was almost too bananas, even for me. I feel like there were too many people dying too quickly for me to care, and not enough investigation led by Theo.

Now looking back. I see the foreshadowing immediately and it's hilarious. I just feel like this book could've been SO good with a bit more editing.

*Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

What a big, convoluted mess with the preppers, conspiracies and the craziest literary agency ever. Others may like it, but it wasn't for me. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.