In a twist on the traditional older writer mentors younger writer and steals her story/takes advantage of her vein, Gentill takes on publishing and flips it around to where an author isn't actually in control, they area. while people might think, well to an extent they are, with the advent of self- publishing today, they don't have the control they used. Or do they? In this book nothing is what it seems, and when you think you know where the story is going, it flips a 180 degree turn! if you're looking for something different, this is the book for you.

I listened to The Woman in the Library on audiobook a while back and absolutely loved it, so when I saw The Mystery Writer available as an ARC I jumped at the opportunity to be among the first to read Gentill's new novel. It did not disappoint! It was as winding and full of surprises as the first story of hers that I encountered, and kept me interested and guessing the whole time.

As someone who reads a lot of books in the mystery/whodunit genre, I typically can figure out pretty quickly where the twists will pop up, and what they will be. Not so with Gentill's work and I for that I give her a lot of credit. I will say however, that this book, a little more than The Woman in the Library (being my only other reference point for her work) was a little bit more convoluted, and in the beginning I had a little bit of trouble fully understanding where the breakdown was between the main plot and the side plot with how it jumped around. I think some of this is due to the actual layout of the arc, and may be physically presented differently/better in the published version. My only other critique is that this is a book that would benefit from a Part I & Part II breakdown mechanism. The story shifts quite dramatically in the second half of the book both jumping in time and in perspective, and I think that simply adding a title page with Part II would alleviate some of the "Uhhhh? What just happened?" moments of getting re-acclimated to the plot from then on out.

Overall I enjoyed the plot, cared about the characters, felt engaged with the story, and thought it was a unique and interesting take on the publishing industry! I'd recommend to others interested in this genre and will continue to look forward to her future novels!

The Mystery Writer is the third stand-alone novel by award-winning, best-selling Australian author, Sulari Gentill. When Theodosia Benton arrives at her older brother, Gus’s home in Lawrence, Kansas, having abandoned her law course in Canberra, she’s not sure of the reception she’ll get. But Gus doesn’t let her down: he’s thoroughly understanding and happy for her to stay.

They will, together, decide what and when to tell their feral parents but, meanwhile, Theo finds Benders Bar/Café, an accommodating and friendly spot where she can pursue her dream: to write a novel. She’s not the only writer taking advantage of the indulgent staff, and eventually she and Dan begin chatting about writing, with the older man offering much appreciated feedback and advice.

Only after some months does she learn that Dan Murdoch is an internationally acclaimed bestselling author, and the attractive, expensively-tailored woman who occasionally joins him is his agent with the coveted Day, Delos and Associates. Just as her manuscript is nearing completion, their mentor/mentee relationship takes a turn, one Theo cautiously welcomes, but which is unfortunately short-lived.

That Gus Benton is a junior partner in a respected law firm when Theo finds Dan is his kitchen with his throat slashed is fortunate for her, but less so for him. His partners are none too pleased with the publicity that results when Theo seems to be the only suspect on whom the police are focussing. When Gus’s house is besieged by press and Dan Murdoch fans, they are lucky to have a bolt hole with a friend.

An unexpected development after Dan’s death is the approach by his agent, who tells her that Day, Delos & Associates is interested in Theo’s novel. Veronica Cole explains their exclusivity requirements, should Theo sign with them, and Theo is a little taken aback by the level of control they insist on having. Is a writer not entitled to a private life?

Theo later observes: “The public’s interest in the lives of writers had increased with the accessibly afforded by social media and the web in general, but that very accessibility was dangerous. Online friendship was a fickle thing. Loose comments, failed jokes, or simple flares of temper could unleash a contagion of outrage and condemnation. It was no longer enough to write a good book; authors had to be photogenic, witty saints as well.”

While she remains under suspicion, and the whereabouts of Dan’s last manuscript are a mystery, and the killer remains at large, a flash of inspiration has Theo planning out a new novel, the concept of which she shares with a select few, something that might later turn out to be very important.

Several chapters are prefaced by the observations of a doomsday prepper, or comments on a forum that seem to come from conspiracy theorists, and Theo’s later close encounters with some of them are rather alarming. Before matters are finally, and very satisfactorily, resolved, Theo is stalked, there are two more murders, Theo, Gus and his friend are interrogated multiple times, evidence is planted, and there’s a police shooting that ends quite badly for one of them.

Once again, Gentill gives the reader a cleverly plotted tale with some excellent twists before the final reveal. Her characters have depth and appeal, and several aspects of her protagonist give this novel somewhat of an autobiographical feel. Another page-turner!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press.

Theo(dosia) Benton, a 22 year old University dropout from Canberra travels to Lawrence, Kansas, to be with her big brother Gus and his Dog Horse, and to actually change everything in her life as well as maybe even finish the Book she started. She wants to be a writer, an author who spins their own stories for people to enjoy since she devoured the Books of Jack Chase when she was a kid.

After a short time, she meets the renowned writer Dan Murdoch at the coffee shop called ‘Benders’, her daily writing refuge (Schreibrefugium). Dan, significantly older and seemingly alone in the world, becomes her support. He evolves into her Mentor, Confidant, and eventually her Lover.

For Theo, everything seems to be going great for the first time in ages and she completes the first draft of her debut novel. But when she wants to invite Dan to a dinner with her brother, she finds him murdered in a most horrific way.
Theo’s world collapses and her life changes abruptly. But also for her brother Gus and his two work colleagues (and best friends), Mac and Jacqui, life turns into a nightmare.

Why was Dan murdered? Why won't the Police listen to Theo?
And what’s the deal with this online forum full of Conspiracy Theories? Will Theo be able to avenge Dan’s death? Who can she still trust?”

¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦

The book was overall very fluidly written and pleasant to read. Although I had downloaded it a fews weeks ago, I had to put it aside initially due to urgent tasks and my Job. HOWEVER, when I finally picked it up last weekend, I couldn't put it down. I read until the early hours of the morning and had finished it by Sunday morning.
It's one of those books that you want to keep reading, even though at the same time you don't want it to end, to prolong the reading experience. I was a bit disappointed when I finished it so quickly.

-Theodosia was not an easy to read protagonist for me. At first, I felt sorry for her because of her naivety, but then I wanted to give her a slap to force her to think logically. BUT then I was reminded that she was supposed to be only 22 years old.

-Dan somehow made me feel sorry for him. How exactly had he gotten into this situation? Was there something to read between the lines or was it all just wishful thinking?
Sometimes you just like a side character in a book, regardless of theirs ossible flaws or how little they 'actively' contributes to the story.

-Gus I found a bit irritating, but at the same time awesome in his own way. Typically the way much older, big brothers are (I know what I'm talking about, I have 2 of that kind walking around in this world)
I loved his dog 'Horse', such a so sweet big boy. I imagined him as a gentle giant all the time. A bloodhound? A Great Dane? Something like that.

-Mac was phenomenal, in his rather reserved way and despite his 'funny' prepper family background. Sometimes, in my opinion, he was the only one who really thought logically and detached about all Elements of the Case at hand.

-Jacqui? I liked her from the start. I would have liked to read more about her and am glad that she becomes more than just a friend of the siblings at the end.

I found Gentill's cheeky, humorous undertone in this book very well done. The way she wove a touch of cynicism into the whole essence of the processes about book writing and publishing was superb. As a Grafik/Digital media designer, I've met and have known a few people in book publishing, and THAT made me enjoy the whole Book in a special way.

Even though I knew early on some parts of how the plot would work out, the Book still kept me entertained AND made me ask myself if I was mistaken with what I thought was the reason for why things happened (trying to not spoiler this, so it's hard to describe what I am not trying to refer to...).

The story was actually very well thought out, but there were a few tiny moments here and there where I thought... no, that was not so good! (At least for me)
Not because of how it all panned out or because of this 'Conspiracy Theory' trope woven in… on the contrary, I liked that bit!

For example the writing style became somewhat irrational towards the end. Too large and/or incomprehensible time jumps. Also, towards the end, I would have liked better spacing, such as blank lines in between POV shifts, in the last 'more hectic' chapters to keep a better overview while reading… not sure if I am making myself clear hear. But maybe that was due to my copy, who knows!?

Although I usually dislike multi-part/series in Books and Movies most of the time, yet I firmly believe that this book would have been even better if it had been a two-parter or had had more pages.
Of course, this is not always at the discretion of the author. Publishing deadlines and editor's suggestions for changes must be taken into account. Therefore, all in all, I am quite satisfied with this story.

𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌! 𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚'𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉. 𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉. 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒏, 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒓-𝒅𝒆-𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔! 🧿

Very unique concept with a multi layered narrative. Loved the twists and turns. I did figure out pretty quickly some of the plot points but that did not pull me away from the mystery and intrigue. Will definitely check out anything Gentill brings out next.
Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced readers copy.

The writing is very well executed. There are even parts which are almost lyrical.

I simply could not get close to Theo. She felt distant and I found it hard to develop a relationship with her. I felt like there was more depth in descriptions of places than there was of Theo.

I felt like the survivalist aspect would draw me in more. The time hopping made me lose a sense of rhythm.

The pace seemed slow to me. Then things became rushed toward the end.

I am sure it is just me, but for me the mystery and story were too slow paced. I can deal with slower, but this seemed too bogged down for me.

I realize that reviews are all about hypothetical ideas. I know that there are readers who will find this a great read.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

Considering how much I enjoyed Gentill's The Woman in the Library, I have to say that The Mystery Writer just wasn't for me. Stories about books and their writers, and mysteries, are usually right up my alley, but Gentill missed the mark with this Mystery Writer.

Theo Benton has left University and finds herself on her brother's doorstep in Kansas with her belongings and a half-written novel. She decides to finish her book with the help of Dan Murdoch, the local writer-in-residence and her quick mentor; when Murdoch is brutally murdered, Theo is determined to find his killer.

I could not find myself connecting with Theo, despite her good intentions. She often comes across as weepy and naive; in most cases, her brother Gus and his friend Mac - both doomsday preppers - must come to her "rescue." The doomsday prepping and conspiracy theories felt very American, which, while I suppose it fit the setting, just did not resonate with me as a reader.

In most cases, I find that novels drag their denouements; in this case, there are a few abrupt time jumps and a rushed ending that covers about the last third of the novel. As previously stated, I very much enjoyed The Woman in the Library, and am still looking forward to what Gentill comes up with next.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Throughout this story we get to follow Theo -- former lawyer now writer as she transitions career paths and navigates both professional and personal relationships. When someone close to her is found brutally killed, Theo knows justice must be found. From there the story picks up quickly as we unravel the mystery of his death and all it entails.

This story started slowly for me, but picked up after about 15% and was intriguing from that point on! The ending left a bit to be desired, but didn't decrease my overall enjoyment of the novel.

Layers of mystery and conspiracy theories come to a gripping conclusion that will make readers question the line between fiction and reality.

We are following Theo Benton in her new adventure of being a writer.
She left law school and decided to move with his brother to start her career as a writer. In the meantime, she got in the middle of a murder investigation, conspiracy theories, assassins and fighting for her and his brother lives.

An intriguing mystery/thriller that delves into the world behind book publishing. Theo Benton is an aspiring author, who meets one of her childhood author idols, Dan Murdoch. As the two grow closer, Theo finishes her book, falls hard for Dan, and then discovers Dan's dead body. What follows is a quickly deteriorating series of events, where Theo, and eventually her brother Gus and family friend Mac, become embroiled in scandal and become suspects in the crime. Theo must use every resource at her disposal to outrun those that mean her harm and to solve Dan's murder - before she or someone she loves is next.
Full to the brim with conspiracy theorists, preppers, multiple murders, and an ending that no one will see coming, this novel has a million twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the last page.

When Theodosia decides to become a writer, her big brother Gus lets her crash at his place while she's working on her novel. As is traditional, Theo spends her days typing in a local coffee shop. There she meets Dan, an established author who takes her under his wing. Just as they are finishing their manuscripts, she stumbles upon his corpse. She thought Dan was just researching conspiracy theories for his book, but soon her own life is tangled up in a terrifying web of cultish fans, suspicious authorities, and a growing pile of bodies. Taut and suspenseful until the time jump, when things veer a bit out of control.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed a good thriller, so I was excited for this one. The start was a bit slow, but after the first 10% of the book, I was hooked. There are a lot of interesting concepts intertwined: the search for purpose, the conspiracy theories, isolated communities, the communities preparing for the end of the world and the process of writing a novel.

I was entertained throughout the entire book and the plot was easy to follow and intriguing at the same time, which is actually hard to accomplish.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book and that impacted the experience for me was the delivery of the resolution of the mystery and the timelines. I actually liked the way everything explained, but for the pacing and the way it was delivered left me with mixed feelings. The plot is good and it kept me in the hedge of my seat. While I was there, three years suddenly passed and all that was building up was somehow handled (but not completely) and we just hear about it in two pages. After all the buildup, it fell flat. I understand that a time jump was necessary for the plot, but the way it was done made me feel detached from the history and characters.

Overall an enjoyable read.

Thank you very much Poisoned Pen Press and NetGallery for providing me this ARC.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher of this book for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’ll be forthcoming in that I read this book rather quickly as life got in the way. Because of that I didn’t give it the time needed to give a justified review in full. However, I did enjoy the book very much enough that I ordered it from my library so I could re-read it and enjoy it fully. When o finish it I will amend my review.

I did enjoy the “voice” of taking a writing and flipping things around from the typical as the thriller unfolded. It kept me turning the pages and wanting to finish it in the time allotment given.

I will return to write more thoughtful comments but in the mean time, I recommend picking this book up and giving it a read!

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read!!!! I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Theodosia Benton took a gamble when she withdrew from law school to pursue her dreams of becoming a writer. When her famous mentor was brutally murdered, Theo found herself and her loved ones at the centre of the investigation and took drastic measures to protect them.

The Mystery Writer was such a good book! It was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I was captivated from beginning until end. There were so many shocking twists and turns and I truly could not have predicted the directions this book went in.
The entire cast of characters were superb, however, my personal favorite was Theo’s brother, Gus. He was supportive and protective of Theo, and seemed like the kind of big brother that I would have wanted. My only real criticism was that there were some elements that felt super far-fetched, which detracted from my immersion in the book at times. All in all, I highly recommend getting yourself a copy of this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

In "The Mystery Writer," the author skillfully weaves character backgrounds into the plot, avoiding distractions. Theo, a law school dropout from Australia, reunites with her brother and forms an unexpected bond with Dan Murdoch, an older author with secrets. As Theo gets entangled in dangerous events orchestrated by Dan's publisher, she seeks help from Mac, her brother's friend. A potential romance blossoms as they unravel a murder mystery. The story takes unexpected turns. A compelling read.

I dithered about giving this title three stars or four stars, but realized that if I was dithering, I might as well make it four.

The Mystery Writer, a "writer's life" sort of novel pulls together all kinds of threads. The writer in this case is young-ish, has just left law school in Australia, and shown up on the doorstep of her brother who now lives in Lawrence, Kansas. There's the writers' cafe scene; a well-known, yes mysterious publisher; a murderer on the loose attacking writers and those in related fields; off-the-grid living in Australia; and U.S. survivalists and gun culture.

The pacing here was uneven—some stretches of time are set out in detail, but the are also sudden jumps or weeks or months, or, yes, years. I found this put a sort of distance between the reader and the characters. We don't have the continuum of getting to know people across time, but the novel needs that structure to do what it does.

If you enjoy quirky conspiracy theory mysteries, you're in for a treat with The Mystery Writer.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Conspiracy theories, doomsday preppers, a famous writer in Lawrence, Kansas, all combine to make a fabulous mystery in The Mystery Writer, by Sulari Gentill. Theodosia drops out of law school in Australia and shows up at her brother, Gus's house in Kansas, and a chain of events starts that leads to three murders. They all seem to be connected to Theo. What follows is a "Who done It?" that is well worth the read.

it's not all murder and mayhem. There's family love and loyalty and a little bit of romance thrown in. If you enjoy a good mystery, you've found one here. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

I was looking forward to reading this book and it was burning on my NetGalley Shelf. I enjoyed the other books by this author, so this one seemed promising, but unfortunately, it wasn't as good as the others and this book wasn't for me.

The story started out great and I was flipping the pages and then there was an absolute wall I ran into. The conspiracy theories became too much and unbelievable. I also didn't like the time jumps as they just came out of nowhere and left you with a WTH?! The other thing is that I can not stand is head-hopping. It's confusing and not necessary. I can understand that there are some editing issues that need to be resolved, but for me, it felt like this book was still in the developmental editing phase. There were parts in the story that could have been removed and probably made it a lot better. The ending was so predictable, but I already was at a point where I didn't care.

Theo was a real ‘Damsel In Distress’ although I did like the sibling bond between her and Gus. The development of the characters wasn't there, which made it hard for me to connect or relate.

I loved the story idea, but it wasn't executed very well.
I do like Sulari her writing style and will read another book by her, but this book wasn't for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and poisoned pen press for this ARC.
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up