Wonderful book. I really enjoyed reading this book. Definitely will read again when I get a chance. Highly recommend
10/10

A real page turner! Just as I thought I could solve the mystery, a new development threw me off course! Cleverly constructed. My first book by this author, but I will look for more.

So far this book is intriguing and mysterious! I am currently 40% done and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds!

Because I'm hopeful that a lot of the issues I had with it will be fixed (or at least improved) before final publication, AND I was a fan of The Woman in the Library, I'm hesitantly giving this book a 3-star rating (instead of a 2).

If I didn't already know better, I'd have guessed this was an author's self-published debut. The ARC I read seemed like it was released at least one draft too soon. And while there are some interesting ideas and themes in The Mystery Writer, the overall execution was poor. Many of the problems can be fixed with some pretty basic proofreading, but some issues will require severe editing.

Very much enjoyed this new take on the mystery novel with the meta fictional dynamic. Easy to read, very engaging. negatives would be that there are too many "moments" where the protaganist is in flight or in a tricky situation and this plot device becomes a tad repetitive. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this read and would happily recommend it.

Theo Benton shakes up her life by abruptly moving to her brothers and decides she is going to write a novel. Soon after she meets an author who she really admires. They start writing together and soon start a relationship. Unfortunately, he is then brutally murdered and she needs to figure out what has happened.
I picked up this book not long after reading Sulari Gentill's The Woman in the Library. That book was based at my local library so I was so excited to read it. Unlike The Woman in the Library though, I did not know who the killer was! I absolutely love when I cannot figure out the mystery. This book is so good and I was definitely thrown by some red herrings. It is an easy read but gripping. My one critique is I loved her mentor and really wish he didn't have to die! Their relationship was so sweet and that was such a bummer. Other than that, I loved it!

Theo runs to America from Australia to live with her brother and write the novel that she knows is in her. She meets other authors working on their books, and then one of them is killed. Theo and Gus carry on with their lives, but unfortunately are drawn into the investigation when another person is murdered. This is a captivating read of the times.

2.0 stars.

The synopsis provides a generous (maybe too generous) description of the book, so I will get right into my thoughts (which I have many).

I'm pretty sure Gentrill was going for a classic "whodunnit" murder mystery, but it didn't land for me. The biggest issue here is that it's BLATANTLY obvious who is responsible for the killings. The only person too dumb to realize is the main character, Theodosia ("Theo"), which is super ironic considering Gentrill is painting her to be a mystery writer (lol). Here's an example of what I mean:

Theo gives a copy of her manuscript to her friend, Dan, a famous writer who later winds up dead (no this isn't a spoiler--it's in the synopsis). He was also working on a book before he died. After his "mysterious" death, she receives a 1-page letter in a *large* envelope with excess postage. The last lines of the letter say,
<i>"I am so deeply honored that you have trusted your manuscript to me. I know how hard it is to allow your thoughts, your dreams, and secrets, to be viewed by strangers. I want to return that trust."</i>
Theo realizes something else must have been included in the very large envelope, but for the life of her can't piece it together. C'mon, Theo. I'm confident that my smart (but hilariously unobservant) husband would be able to figure out what was missing from this envelope without any context (and that's saying a lot because he didn't notice when I dyed my hair bright purple lol).

All my frustration with her writing style made a lot more sense when Gentill, in "A Conversation with the Author" at the end of the book, said, <i>"For me, the story unfolds as I write it. I don't really know what will be on the next page, let alone at the end of the book . . . ."</i>

I am not a writer, but I have to assume that mysteries are the one genre where you should know how the story will unfold before you write it. Doing so allows the author to know how and where to divert the reader's attention and know when to drop certain hints to keep us guessing until the very last page. Because Gentrill didn't know where the story was going, she couldn't do any of that. Instead, she had to create a story where the characters--not the readers--were the last to figure out whodunnit. The only mystery here was how long it would take for these infuriatingly daft characters to figure it out.

Mystery Writer frustrated me. The intro segments (to the book and most chapters) were Qanon-esque snippets of online chats. It takes a very long time to figure out why these are part of the story. The book's first half moved slowly for me - and I couldn't grasp where the author was going. Then the author resorts to some ginormous time jumps, and in the last 10 or so chapters, the novel turns into a sort-of but not quite thriller. And the entire premise, when it is finally revealed, is pretty ridiculous. So, nope, this book wasn't for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.

Sulari Gentill knows how to write page turners, and I appreciate her use of writers as main characters; it gives one a look at the writing life. So I liked The Mystery Writer a lot. I was surprised at the setting -- Australian lawyers in a Midwest city -- and I found the final plot quite contrived. I didn't guess until nearing the end at what was happening, however, and I enjoyed the ride along the way.

I truly enjoyed following Theos adventure. In the begging I thought I was reading the rough draft of Theos because the conspiracy theory's were so extreme. As the story progressed I enjoyed seeing how everything tied together. This a book you will not want to put down!

I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn’t work for me.

I was not a fan of the conspiracy theory plot or the time jumps toward the end and overall the pacing was too slow for me and I found myself not connecting with Theo or any characters and not really caring what happened.

Bonus point for the sibling relationship, because I did like that a lot. I just do not think I’m the right audience for this book.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy!

What happens when conspiracy theories come true? I really enjoyed this twist on a thriller about the power of words- A really enjoyable read!

Thank you Net Galley for this book! If you like conspiracy theories, and a gentle mystery that goes along with them, then this story is for you.
This story unfolds as Theo leaves university because she wants to become an author. She lands on her brothers doorstep hoping he will let her stay. She meets another writer and then things go a little “unplanned”.
Murder? Mystery? Suspects? Conspiracy?
As I turned the pages the story was not exactly what I expected, and for me not the depth in character and plot development that I appreciate from an author, however, if you are looking for a mystery without the blood and gore and a different style this is your book.
3.5-4. Happy reading!

Gentill crafts uniquely written stories, with prose that stands out and slow-burn plotting that leaves plenty of room for character development. This multi-layered story took a few chapters to really get into the mystery, but once I was in, I enjoyed the literary stylings and Theo's quest for the truth of who murdered Dan Murdoch.

I'd best categorize this as a high-brow literary mystery, brimming with suspects, including conspiracy theorists, a compromised PI, threatening journalists, and lots of buried secrets.

I finished The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill with a held breath and rapidly beating heart. Wow! What an incredibly, creative read!

Publication date: March 19, 2024

I have to be careful not to give spoilers with this review. I don’t want to giveaway the surprises throughout the story.

Theodosia (Theo) Benton leaves her safe law career and travels to Kansas and her brother, Gus. She jump full time into her dream career…writing her first novel. Her days are spent plotting and writing and making friends with locals, especially Dan Murdoch. When Dan is brutally murdered Theo and Gus find themselves trapped in a world of lies, deaths, controlling executives, good and bad cops and attorneys, and bizarrely, humorous characters.

Character development is a true talent for Sulari Gentill. Each character introduced plays a vital role in the twists and turns as the story unfolds. I loved Mac and his gun-toting family and Gus’ dog, Horse. They are all unlikely heroes.

My advice after reading The Mystery Writer-Be careful what you wish for and be mindful of conspiracy theories even when they seem outrageous.

Happy Reading-remember to breathe!

I was given the opportunity to read this book in advance through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Finished this 12/22 but with Christmas chaos just got to the review
This title and description had me excited to read it but at first I was questioning if I had the right book. In all honestly the start /opening had me so confused and I was about to put it down because I didn’t get it and I don’t do the Q-anon type stuff but I persisted and it was worth it. I promise as you read it the pieces will come together and it all makes sense and it is so well done!!! It def includes some sadly all to real conspiracies and types of people (still can’t believe that could even be reality) but mainly and most importantly speaks to the power story tellers and writers have also speaks to what I think is the most valid which is how our news is controlled and manipulated ! We will never really know the truth only what they want us to know or want us to think I always challenge people to watch, listen, read from various sources and if they can go view / experience it themselves
This was a great ride of murder , conspiracy, mystery and a bit of love and romance sprinkled in ! Also a wonderful character named horse lol
Honestly a great cast of characters that are weep developed and draws you in! Highly recommend you give this and her others a read !

Theodosia Benton abandons her lawyer career, shows up at her brother's doorstep with two suitcases and an unfinished novel. You'd think it's a typical career switch, right? Well, not until Theo is plunged into a hidden literary world where identity is a plaything, and murder becomes a real plot twist. When her mentor, a successful author, is murdered, Theo dives into the mystery, unwittingly putting her brother Gus at the center of the investigation. This book is a rollercoaster of a literary thriller that messes with your mind. The twisted ending? Let's just say, it “killed” me – in a good way. The quirky mysteries, odd characters, and a brilliantly crafted plot make it an easy five stars. If you're up for an unusual mystery with a touch of romance, threats, and chills, this is the book for you. Trust me, it's not your cookie-cutter mystery; Sulari Gentill knows how to keep you hooked from start to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed the premise and the mix of conspiracy theory forums with different third person perspectives throughout the book. The main characters were all likable and I liked that the background of the characters wasn’t homogenous (even if some of them were a little outlandish, it didn’t feel unbelievable).

My only qualms are that it felt like it resolved too quickly and neatly vs how slow it was in the beginning (I.e. pacing issues) and some of the details felt a bit unnecessary to the overall story. If some of these details were moved it could have improved the pacing if the climax wasn’t squeezed right at the end.

Overall, the reading experience had me on the edge of my seat so it’s a 4/5 for the minor issues mentioned above.

Definitely not as engaging as her previous novel. I don't think that our general adult thriller readers will be interested in the subject either. It's gonna be a harder sell.