This was an interesting book. I found myself intrigued by it and the characters, but felt that I got a little lost sometimes.
I can see this being a good book club book as there is a lot left up for discussion.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Quick read, a little bizarre in the beginning but it smoothes out. Interesting brother and sister relationship.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Very interesting and unique concept and story line. The characters are well developed and likable as well. I knocked my rating from 4 stars down to 3 stars because the writing style and way the story was told was a bit confusing at times. I "think" it all makes sense in the end, but I was often left with questions during transitions in the story lines.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy of this book. My review is my own and unbiased.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for this book.

Wow! This was an exciting book. Murder mystery books have caught my interest lately and the title and cover drew me in. I really enjoyed this book.

The author was unknown to me, but I see she has a long list of successful and highly recommended novels.

The book was a little confusing to me at the beginng, but was able to figure it out and became invested in Theo and her brother, Gus.

This was a light, cozy fas read. Perfect for a rainy day or snowed in relaxing read.

Recommend.

This cozy, intricately plotted mystery built around conspiracy theories will appeal to fans of the traditional mysteries.

People will kill to be a published author. In this book, authors are managed, to their deaths at times, by an elite, secretive publisher.

Theo doesn't know this. She's dropped out of law school in Australia and moves to the US to live with her brother and take up a nascent interest in writing.

What Gentill shows next is a stunning satire of the US's proclivity for guns and conspiracy theories as Theo finds herself enmeshed in a wild ride after her very new boyfriend, an author, is killed.

The story is very compelling but the last quarter book fast forwards to quickly as if the ending had to be fit into a few last pages. Know it's not perfect but otherwise quite interesting. Would be a 4/5 if not for that.

The Mystery Writer by Solaris Gentill was truly an original mystery. The plot was exciting and the twists were thrilling. This book read like a thriller with slow burn buildup of the message forum who seek to follow Primus and quick action sequences with the main characters. The relationship between brother and sister was genuine and reminded me of my sister and all that I would do for her. Check triggers prior to reading.

Loved this book! I was hooked right from the first chapter. The book combined my fetishes in books, writing, and mystery. It also boggled my mind in weaving the mystery component of the storyline. Superb!

Conspiracy theories and writers unite with compelling results in this thriller that feels very current and sophisticated.

When Theo quits college to write a book, she never imagines she'll stumble into the same cafe/bar where a reclusive famous author writes. When Dan starts joining her table, Theo counts her lucky stars as he becomes her muse and inspiration. But shortly after reading her novel, Dan is brutally murdered, and Theo finds the body on the way to invite him to dinner. Soon, she has to question: how well did she know the man she was falling for?

For her, Dan was the first supporter of her writing, but to the conspiracy theory forum, he was Primus, the one who was supposed to find his way out of the labyrinth to publish the manuscript that would reveal all. He reached mythic proportions with his followers, who recognized each other by the catchphrase We Know What We Know. When Primus's postings stop, they are determined to mobilize to find out what happened to him.

As Theo, her lawyer brother and his private eye friend Mac start to investigate to give the police any other suspects to focus on besides Theo, the world of dangerous conspiracy theories threatens to pull them down, especially as attention focuses on a missing manuscript.

Theo's sympathetic as the girl struggling to find her place in the world who gives up a sure future to try writing. Mac's a fascinating character as the survivor of a cult-like survivalist upbringing. His brothers are both absolute hoots and a cautionary tale in the illogical decisions following the rabbit hole can bring.

The book jumps a few years at the end, necessary for the plot, but it disrupts the otherwise impeccable pacing a little bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 This was such a weird and wonderful book. I've read so many mystery/thrillers and can predict the ending so often that I love when an author can really keep me guessing. That said, I can also see how if you are not totally on board that the plot can come across as pretty confusing. There are huge time jumps that happen in the middle of a chapter and motivations that are never fully clear. I loved the randomness of it all though and would definitely read another book by this author.

I loved this book! It was such a unique and creative mystery, just like the author’s previous book (which I also loved). It’s so refreshing to read something that’s a mystery/thriller but totally different from the plethora out there. I loved the characters and the setting, and I couldn’t put it down as I tried to figure out what was going on. There were even funny parts and dialogue - also rare and very much welcome! I’m such a fan of this author and can’t wait to read anything she writes next!

Wow all the twist and turns in this. I had a hard time getting into the beginning, I picked up the book and put it down a few times for other books in the first few pages before finally pushing through the first few chapter. But than it had me and I wanted to know where it go and the ending. Well written and I would definitely suggest to friends. Would be a perfect bookclub recommendation for discussion after.

If you enjoyed Sulari Gentill's The Woman in the Library, be sure to pick up her new mystery/thriller The Mystery Writer! When Theo abandons her career as an attorney in Australia to show up on her brother's doorstep in America, her only intention is to get her life together and write a book, but a murder and more twisty plot turns upends her every belief in the purpose of writing!

Theodosia Benton has quit law school and has decided to become a full-time writer. She leaves Australia and then shows up at her brother's door In Lawrence Kansas. Gus welcomes her but insists she not use his bachelor pad for her writing. Theo then finds a writers cafe and Asventually a mentor. Dan is a wildly successful author so she feels like she is on her way. However, Dan is found murdered and her brother Gus is the main suspect. She is determined to clear her brother, find the killer and solve the mystery. It is also a look how words can manipulate and darken the story.

As usual with Sulari Gentill, there are numerous twists, red herrings and shocking reveals. This is a page-turner of a thriller. You won't want to stop until you reach the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read prior to publication.

It was a twisty path to follow. It’s an interesting premise. It was slow in some spots and then picked up again. I liked Gus although I felt sorry for him. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Law school dropout and aspiring author Theo Benton leads Australia for her brother’s home in the States, where she settles on Benders cafe and bar as the perfect place to write her novel. There she meets Dan, who, although he finds ideas on conspiracy websites, is a successful author. Soon he becomes her mentor - and more. When she finds Dan murdered, Theo, and then her brother Gus, become prime suspects and the target of Dan’s angry fans. As things quickly spiral out of control what will Theo do to protect those she loves?

This mystery with a bit of romance is at heart a book about stories; those we tell, those we believe, and the power we give them. The characters and their relationships - enigmatic Dan, brother and sister Gus and Theo, Mac’s prepper family - are well-drawn and memorable. It doesn’t matter if you guess some plot elements, there will be others you miss. Gentill kept me alternately intrigued, laughing and appalled. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Mystery Writer is a suspenseful, quirky addition to the mystery genre. When Theodosia Benton abandons her legal studies to pursue writing, she turns to her older brother Gus for help. But, when she is drawn into a mystery regarding the murder of her favorite author, it is her older brother Gus who is implicated as a killer! A plethora of literary twists and turns follows as the characters try to save each other without collapsing the labyrinth of story.

This was a fun and mysterious read that will keep mystery fans on the edge of their seat! It is also great for fans of meta-fiction and those who enjoy unraveling a complicated story.

I’ll be completely honest, I almost DNFed this. I was a little bored in the beginning. Somewhere along the way things picked up a little and I kept going. I think it was enjoyable from that point on and rank it at three stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy. I am sad to say that I didn't finish this book. After 30 percent, I decided that it wasn't for me. I liked the story just fine, but I didn't gel with the writing style. I couldn't get into it. This is my first dnf for a book that I have received from NetGalley and I feel a little bad that I couldn't finish it.

Loved this original mystery by Gentill that delves into the literary world where an author is befriended by another author who dies mysteriously. Will be recommending to others.