"The Mystery Writer" by Sulari Gentill is a captivating addition to the world of mystery fiction, seamlessly blending the lines between reality and imagination. Known for her skillful storytelling, Gentill takes readers on a journey into the intricate mind of her protagonist, creating a narrative that is as mysterious as it is intellectually stimulating.

The novel introduces us to a seasoned mystery writer grappling with the complexities of their own life while navigating the creation of a new fictional masterpiece. As the author delves into the creation of a gripping mystery within the novel, they find themselves entangled in a real-life enigma that mirrors the intricacies of their own storytelling. This clever interplay between the fictional and the actual is a hallmark of Gentill's writing, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

Gentill's characters are a strength of the novel, with the protagonist standing out as a multifaceted individual with a compelling blend of wit, intelligence, and vulnerability. The supporting cast adds depth to the storyline, each character contributing to the overall richness of the narrative. The author skillfully explores the psychological dimensions of her characters, making them relatable and engaging.

The pacing of "The Mystery Writer" is well-executed, with suspenseful moments expertly interspersed with reflective interludes. The plot unfolds gradually, maintaining a sense of tension throughout. Gentill's prose is eloquent, creating a vivid and immersive atmosphere that enhances the reading experience. Whether describing the writer's creative process or the settings within the fictional world, the language employed is both evocative and accessible.

Beyond being a gripping mystery, the novel also delves into profound themes such as the nature of creativity and the impact of one's own creations on personal identity. Gentill prompts readers to reflect on the blurred lines between fiction and reality, adding a layer of intellectual depth to the narrative.

"The Mystery Writer" by Sulari Gentill is a masterfully crafted mystery novel that captivates from beginning to end. With its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes, Gentill has delivered a work that stands out in the genre. Fans of mystery and those who appreciate a narrative that challenges the boundaries of storytelling will find this novel a delightful and compelling read.

Sometimes an author makes a swing for a the rafters with a stylistic choice or plotline and I'm like "okay, go off" and other times I'm like "go off less. pull it back there buddy" and this is one of the latter times. This kept me turning the pages just because I for the most part had no idea what was going to happen next, but not necessarily in a yay excited way, more in a baffled way. While I liked the main character pretty well, and the relationship between the siblings, I didn't love some of the narrative choices - I'm down for some chapter to chapter POV switching, but sometimes the writing decided to randomly be omniscient, which was disorienting. And when we mostly lose the MC's POV the secondary characters were not really interesting enough to make up for it.

Along with an iffy understanding of money (how exactly was Mac so rich?) and jobs (shouldn't Gus have been able to sue?), there were some uncomfortable overtones with regard to the initial romantic relationship that I'll go into more on Goodreads since we can't spoiler tag here. I admire Gentill for trying to do something out of the box that tackled contemporary issues of cancel culture and conspiracy theories, but this was ultimately too muddled for me.

My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

🦋The mystery writer

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.

I’ve never read from this author but I’ll be sure to read again from her because her writing is amazing.

The book starts with a romance then it becomes a murder mystery while it develops another romance.

I loved that the book didn’t focus on the romance but on who did it? Who killed Dan Murdoch? And the peculiar of it was that it was made to keep you hook so it doesn’t let you rest so you have to find out.

It all comes down to unmarking someone who had put on a mask on everyone who readers are not waiting for. Then it comes the conspiracy theories.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read it in exchange for an honest review.

This is a whodunit mystery. It follows Theodosia, who arrives at her brothers house because she's decided to abandon her law career and pursue her dream into becoming a writer instead. The connection between brother and sister was beautiful. Theo soon finds herself entangled in a dangerous situation. This was very well written and thought out. It was a fast-paced thriller and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by Sulari.

This book is coming out soon., The Mystery Writer.... it is not as amazing as her two previous stand alone mystery novels, but I will not complain. I love the work of Sulari Gentill... I have written about all her other books here, the Rowland Sinclair mystery series that takes place in Australia before World War II.

Then there are the stand alone mysteries where Gentill defies the accepted rules of mystery writing. This newest novel follows the rules of mystery novels but creates a very far fetched scenerio that is complicated to follow, but sounds feasible in 2023 and our current political climate.

This story is about a young woman who leaves law school in Australia and goes to live with her brother , a lawyer in Kansas. When Theo quits law school, she wants to become a novelist. Gus her brother suggests she get out of the house and write in the local coffee house. There Theo meets another well known author who mentors her and they become fast friends. When he turns up dead, Theo is under suspicion for his death and Gus is also being targeted. Thus begins the race to find the real killer and get their lives back in order. Easier said than done. Bringing in conspiracy theorists and dooms day survivalists makes the story more surreal.

All of this can be scary in and of itself, but do not fear, Gentill has written a truly entertaining and original idea that will keep the reader engaged and trying to figure out who could possibly have committed the crimes until the very end. Her ideas are all fresh and outside the box.

Was not a moving enough book for me. Stalled out and could not find my way into the story. Tried multiple times to pick it back up and try again but no such luck. Just not what I was expecting based on the book description. DNR.

This is the second book I’ve read by Sulari Gentill. The first being “Woman in the Library “. This book is also about books and authors. Theo Benton arrives at her brother’s doorstep after leaving school to write a novel. She meets an author in the coffee shop she frequents and they develop a friendship. The book has conspiracy theories and murder. Theo decides she wants to investigate this murder and brings problems to all those around her. It was an entertaining but highly unlikely series of events. Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Publishing date is March 19, 2024

This is the first Sulari Gentill work that I've read, but it definitely won't be the last. Skillfully plotted and well characterized, twists and dead ends provide the interest, and while a bit long, held my interest throughout.

An engaging mystery with intricate plot twists and rich character development. Gentill’s writing style is elegant and captivating, immersing readers in the world of the protagonist. However, I found that pacing occasionally falters, slowing the momentum of the story. Personally, I prefer a bingeable book that I can’t put down. Would definitely recommend it for mystery enthusiasts seeking depth in character development and well-crafted storyline.

The Mystery Writer" by Sulari Gentill is well written and the storyline is excellent. The Mystery Writer is easy read and I feel in love the characters. The characters were likable. I give this book 5 stars and recommend it everyone who likes a good read.

I received this complimentary copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

I first discovered Sulari Gentill on NetGalley with The Woman in the Library, so I was excited to read her next novel! Once again, I loved the plot and the setting. Gentill did an excellent job of fully developing the characters -- it truly hooked me until the very end. A great way to cap out my 2023 ARCs!

Thriller about writers and books, what could be better? This is my first book by Sulari Gentill and the Mystery Writer gave me similar vibes to Ruth Ware’s work.

Theo Benton just turned her life upside down. She quits her job as a lawyer, moves in with her older brother, in hopes of finishing her first novel and becoming a successful author. While writing in a bar, she meets her favorite author, who slowly turns into a mentor and possible love interest. That is until he is brutally murdered, and Theo is in the center of the investigation.

This was definitely a slow burnnn. I enjoyed the beginning but got lost towards the end. 3 out of 5 stars ✨

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Publishing for an early copy of The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

Theodosia (Theo) Benton arrives at her attorney brother Gus's home in Lawrence, Kansas after leaving law school in Australia. Theo has plans to be a mystery writer.

When she befriends fellow writer Dan Murdoch at a local coffee shop, their relationship takes on a new meaning when he reads her manuscript, they become lovers and he is found dead. From that point, Theo's life is forever changed.

Additional murders, an inept police force and a wealthy private investigator with apparently no other cases enter Theo's precarious situation. Add to this a publishing house bent on controlling every aspect of Theo's life, and a confusing, out-of-control set of actions point to a conclusion which will likely lead to more crimes.

The plot is uneven, particularly in the second half of the story where the time lines are fragmented. Is this the following day or months later?

I had high expectations for this book, but unluckily it was just not my piece of cake.

The plot seems interesting but nothing made me connect to the characters in any way, they seem kinda flat. Sometimes I felt a lack of details for the characters' development, but at the same time, I felt there were too many unnecessary details for the story. Maybe it was the opposite way I would ended up liking this book more.

But I’m sure many people will enjoy “The Mystery Writer”! The twists are good, and the story is interesting. Just - again - not my type.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well it's definitely a mystery novel and so well written. So many twists and turns with a well developed female lead. Refreshing, original storyline.

Book did hold my attention and was not run of the mill. Would recommend and would read other books by this author when written

Theodosia Benton is a young woman who is flaying in life, she doesn’t want to become an attorney, so she heads off to visit her brother and begin again as a writer. Writing from a local coffee shop, she begins to meet people, but when she meets a famous author, little does she know what lies ahead of her. When she finds him dead, she becomes the prime suspect and to save herself, her brother and friends, Theo must die.

I found the concept of this book fascinating, I won’t give away any spoilers but let’s just say this is certainly your typical murder mystery concept. I love a good mystery so having this play out like it did made for a engaging read. If you enjoy feels like a secret agency spy novel but it’s not, has a bit of romance but it’s not, a bit of coming of age but it’s not, then this is the book for you. Utterly confused, no worries, read the book and it will all be revealed.

I like this book. Hell, I wanted to LOVE this book. Sulari Gentill has created an engaging story, well-crafted and original if a bit confusing at times. It starts out pretty simple: Theo Benton has decided that she’d rather be a writer than an attorney and leaves her native Australia to travel to America to board with her brother while she polishes off her first novel. Whilst doing some writing in a bar—c’mon, we’ve all done it—she happens to meet Dan, a really successful author, who offers to read her current work in progress. But Dan is more than what he seems…

…anyway, sparks fly betwixt the two wordsmiths, and then..death enters the picture. It’s a MYSTERY story, remember? Someone has to die. It’s the LAW. And in this case it’s Dan…and Dan apparently has quite a cadre of fanatical followers, who are prepared to exact revenge on whomever they believe to have been the culprit. Which is, of course, Our Fair Theo.

Theo's attorney brother tries to help, with disastrous results, and his firm’s ‘fixer’ Cormac (named after the novelist McCarthy, surely?) turns out to be WAY more than he seems as well. And then there’s the publisher and the agent…of whom we won't speak in this missive, as it would take too long and give away too much. Suffice to say that as a prospective author, I sincerely hope that they're not real-life examples of what the publishing industry has become...

It’s all intriguing, sure, if by ‘interesting’ you actually mean ‘convoluted’. But that’s okay, because it’s also entertaining as hell...if occasionally it’s pretty hard to follow, with Theo effectively dropping out of sight about two-thirds of the way in only to reappear mysteriously under a different name, nationality, and gender. Hokey smokes! Plot twist fu! And then there’s Mac’s wacky prepper family…

I have to give Gentill high marks for a story that is hugely original. Yes, it IS hard to follow at times, sure, but she's good at what she does, and I genuinely cared about what happened to Theo…I wish I’d been in Dan’s shoes, at least so far as meeting her while writing is concerned. Based upon what I’ve experienced here, Sulari Gentill has some truly wild story ideas, and we’d probably get along famously.

Recommended!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Mar. 19, 2024
“The Mystery Writer” by Sulari Gentill is a clever and suspenseful look into what happens when the publishing world goes creepy and dark. Replete with conspiracy theorists, authors with dark pasts and a very corrupt publication company, Gentill provides a unique and addicting read.
Theo Benton abandons her burgeoning career as an attorney to pursue her dream of becoming an author. She shows up on her brother’s doorstep with suitcases and an unfinished manuscript, in the town of Lawrence, Kansas, but even she can’t write the drama that unfolds soon after her arrival. After befriending a secretive local author, Theo is just beginning to see what her manuscript could be when the author is murdered, and because Theo found the body, she is suspect number one. Theo is desperate to find out what happened to her mentor, not least because she is a suspect, but after hiring her brother’s friend, Mac, a private investigator, to look into the murder Theo begins to realize that there is far more at stake then just reclaiming her innocence.
I love books ABOUT books- whether the setting is bookstores or libraries, whether about authors or librarians, it is almost a must-read if it features something of the literary world. Gentill’s previous novel, “The Woman in the Library”, caught my attention for this reason (and I loved it!) and I could not resist the chance to read “The Mystery Writer”.
The novel starts off with messages communicated between unidentified people on a message board, and then the story shifts and Theo takes over narration. Initially, I was confused, with no idea how the two seemingly opposite plotlines could have any connection at all. Gentill not only connected the dots almost immediately, she made it seamless.
“Writer” is action-packed, which is not what you would expect from a novel about an upcoming writer, but there is constant tension and excitement right off the bat, and I was pulled in instantly. The relationship between Theo and her brother, Gus, is heartfelt and charming, and even though it was predictable, Mac and Theo were perfect for each other.
“Writer” started off strong and continued to entertain. Gentill tied all the pieces together and made sure that her ending was complete and resolved. I was thrilled by this creative plot and sharp characters. After reading “Library”, I was not sure what else Gentill could deliver, but I am so glad that she brought “The Mystery Writer” into the world and I can’t wait to read her next one.

The pace is a bit slow for the genre, and some parts were a bit confusing due to seemingly unnecessary conspiracy plot points. I struggled to stay engaged. The political angle was more than I'd expected, and it did turn me off.