Super fun book with great characters you can't help but love and their really interesting families! The scheme behind all the murders was a bit over the top and the police handling of the case ridiculous, but that did not detract from the enjoyment of the book.

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of The Mystery Writer in exchange for an honest review.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill is a gripping, fast-paced, bullet of a novel that will keep you flipping the pages and keep you guessing to the very end.

The book opens with Theo Benton leaving her home in Australia to travel hours upon hours to her brother’s home in Lawrence, Kansas. She has given up on her former dream, or what she believed to be her dream, of becoming a solicitor (a lawyer) to pursue her real dream of becoming a writer. Confused, afraid of what the future might hold, and essentially penniless, she shows up at her brother’s front door expecting him to tell her to go back home, but he welcomes her in instead.

She finds her rhythm in her new temporary home and ends up finding her way into the local writing community. She ends up meeting a fellow writer that she quickly makes friends with. He is encouraging of her work, he shares his own work with her, and they eventually realize they are feeling more than simply friendly fondness towards one another. When she finds him brutally murdered, she quickly becomes suspect number one in an investigation that will keep you flipping pages well into the night.

When reviewing a book, I feel it is unfair to hold all books to the same standard. The Mystery Writer is advertised as a cozy novel, but it also has aspects of a mystery as well, so I am going to review it on a number of criteria.

Characters | ✦✦✦✦✦

I found Theo likeable, though possibly a little naive. I found myself wanting her to do well, wanting her to get out of the situation she has found herself in, and wanting to be able to help her. Her brother was more annoying, in my opinion, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t well written.

Story | ✦✦✦✦✧

I enjoyed the story of The Mystery Writer, even if parts of it didn’t feel necessarily like it would happen in real life, but I guess that’s not always the point of a work of mystery fiction. I will say, I found myself thinking about the story and wanting to get back to reading while I was at work.

Cozy | ✦✦✦✧✧

Cozy mysteries are often defined as mysteries that are solved by an amateur sleuth, often occur in a small community, and where the violence and sexual aspects aren’t out in the open. I find that most cozy mysteries are also solved by women. If you count Lawrence, Kansas as a small community, it might fit the cozy genre, but it doesn’t quite fit the bill for me. It seems to be packed full of tragedy, is incredibly quick paced, and seems higher stakes than most cozy mysteries.

Mystery | ✦✦✦✦✧

The mystery at the heart of The Mystery Writer left me guessing, but I wonder if it was too far fetched of an idea to be convincing as an answer. When I’m reading I try to suspend reality, but the conclusion of the novel seemed a little out there, so I knocked it down to four stars.

Though it had its faults, I liked The Mystery Writer enough that I will read whatever Sulari Gentill comes up with next. I don’t know if it will rank in my favorite books of the year, but I certainly enjoyed it.

Head over to your local independent bookshop to pre-order your copy! Supporting indie bookshops is incredibly important and pre-orders do so much for those early sales for authors which are vitally important. If you don’t know your local indie, check out the Indie Store Finder.

Book: The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill
Rating: ✦✦✦✦✧
Release Date: March 19, 2024
If you end up loving it try: Any of Sulari Gentill’s back catalogue

Review: The first chapter had me excited and then at the start of the second I was confused. I eventually figured out what I wasn’t understand and I didn’t like that part of the book. Perhaps I was just annoyed because I do not like being confused when I read. I want to be able to understand what is happening. There were parts of the story and the mystery that were very well done but too much of this was far-fetched for my liking. I also never felt a connection to the characters, perhaps again because I was so thrown off by the story in the second chapter.
Recommended For: Mystery fans.

I read an advanced readers copy of Sulari Gentill's The Mystery Writer thanks to NetGaley and the publisher Poisoned Pen Press in return for a honest review. I enjoyed this book, which spins an elaborate plot, that causes the reader to try to figure out whodunit, as the story evolves, It starts with a young Australian woman Theo Benton, who has left law school to pursue who dream of writing, and moves from Australia to Lawrence, Kanas to live with her older brother. It seems fairly straight forward at first, as Theo meets a famous author who spends his days at a Lawrence cafe. But that just sets the stage for a murder, and everything begins to spin from there..

The author presents a compelling story, and begins most chapters with text from an online chat program, that suggests a conspiracy of sorts. I'll admit, at first it was a bit confusing, but pay attention to those segments, they might help sort out what happens the the book rockets towards a conclusion.

No spoilers here, but this will be a worthwhile read when it hits bookshelves in spring 2024. The characters are well-developed, and likable. The storyline gets more complex, and at the end the readers gets hit with things that they most likely didn't expect. If I have criticisms, it is that there are times that the story seems to jump forward without much explanation, or enough detail. A major event occurs, and then a page later months have gone by. I would have preferred a longer more complete transition. But go along for the ride. It's worthwhile.

DNFing at 10%. I tried getting into this book but I felt the writing was too tiresome to read and the author explained a lot which I got bored of reading. The mystery seemed interesting at the start but the writing style is what made me re-think my decision of reading this book.
Thanks to Netgallery and The Poisoned Press for an arc.

The Mystery Writer is the first book I have read by the author Sulari Gentill. I really want to like this book I ultimately just couldn't. The book was very slow paced in the beginning and the characters i felt needed to be. more developed with details. I did like the mystery and setting plot of the book though.

I went into this book with high hopes after reading the synopsis but unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. I felt like there were some good ideas but most of them either were never fleshed out completely or were too jumbled and fragmented to truly enjoy. I just felt confused and left wanting for more at the same time.

A very promising premises for a great story but I swear I tried my best but I was unable to finish it.
It might be more of a writing style than a story itself.I was unable to connect with characters.I love me a good brother and sister bond stories But this was not my cup of tea.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill combines writing with modern-day conspiracy theories in a thoughtful scenario that exposes the saddening possibility of media’s control over the masses. Theodosia Benton, or Theo, grew up in a commune alongside her brother Gus (short for Augustus). Theo leaves her university track to become a lawyer and decides to pursue writing, which means she must live with her brother in the small town of Lawrenceville, Kansas. Cormac “Mac” Etheridge also comes from a strange background; his entire family is part of a doomsday cult, heavily attracted to conspiracy theories. After Theo grows close to a writer named, Dan Murdoch, his sudden and untimely death sparks a terrifying chain of murders and attacks. Dan and Mac attempt to protect Theo, but they are beset by police blunderings, red herrings, and missing manuscripts until the truth is revealed. While Theo, Gus, Mac and their family backgrounds are unique and provide a multi-faceted glimpse into dysfunctionality, much of the plot revolves around Theo’s uncanny knack for attracting predatorial older men—beginning with a childhood incident, following into the university, and culminating in her growing attraction to Murdoch. As a mystery novel filled with multiple murders and attacks, one might expect it to feel fast-paced, but much of the novel relies heavily on the background of the characters, descriptions of houses, conversations about law, and futile attempts to find out why the attacks are taking place. The narrative contains snippets of online conversation—enough to establish that there are people out there in the metaverse willing to believe in conspiracy theories, but these snippets do not really add much to the suspense of the novel, provide any answers, or move the narrative forward more quickly. The big reveal at the end already has enough foreshadowing early on in the novel for the savvy mystery reader to put the pieces together in advance, and leaves a few gaps behind. For example, can Theo, Mac and Gus ever really live in peace, considering the wide-spreading nature of the real culprit? Does the main premise, albeit rife with creativity, hold water? Readers of this book may appreciate the writing component, a glimpse into the lives of those who believe in conspiracy theories or alternative lifestyles, and who enjoy mystery that ties into social issues. But prepare for a slow burn.

Sulari Gentill has done it again. I loved her earlier novel, The Woman in the Library, for its classic storytelling and complex structure. And with The Mystery Writer, she has kicked up the complexity a notch, while deepening the sense of mystery about what is actually going on.

Theodosia Benton, aka Theo, and her brother Gus come from what can safely be termed an unusual family background - "feral" hippy parents and grandparents who leave behind a trust insisting their grandchildren train as lawyers!

But, leaving her law school studies behind, Theo has now escaped to join Gus in America with a pretty wild plan - writing her first novel. The siblings have a complicated history based on an incident in Theo's past, and Gus's role therein. To make matters worse, shortly after Theo arrives there, a number of murders take place where the only link seems to be Theo herself...

With an excellent supporting cast including a cult, internet conspiracy theorists, doomsday preppers and more lawyers than you can shake a stick at, the entertainment just keeps coming. My personal favourite was probably Mac and his bizarre family - and, of course, Horse! - but there is plenty more to enjoy here.

This is a writer with a quirky sense of humour, and when you examine how layered her plotline is, and how the story within a story is created, you begin to suspect that some of the laughs may actually be at the reader's expense. But the fun is being poked at you in the most gentle way possible - and whilst providing you with a fascinating novel to read - so why complain? Just suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride!

Wow... that took a turn!

But not in a bad way!

As with her previous novel, The Mystery Writer takes a premise... a young engeneau who falls for a famous author helping her career... and turns it on its head by discovering the famous writer dead.

But then, with a riot of protestors, a wacky conspiracy theory, and a parade of dead bodies, no one seems to be sure of what happened, but all fingers point to the Mystery Writer.

A terrific read, both for its thrilling action and wild storyline, I was entertained the whole time!

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading this author. I enjoyed the mystery, as well as the setting -- as a Kansas native, I've visited Lawrence several times, and I enjoyed the name-dropping of various businesses and neighborhoods. I got two different vibes while reading: the innocence of Theo made her part of the plot feel almost cozy-mystery level, while the publishing company conspiracy felt political-thriller. It worked, but Theo came across as seeming younger than she was, or almost like she was from a different time through her dialogue. Overall, it was an enjoyable way to pass the time and I'd try another by this author.

The premise of the book (as well as its gorgeous cover) drew me in immediately. But, as is sometimes the case, the writing itself wasn't a fit. I felt really disconnected from the narrative, maybe because it was so slow to build. I was hoping for a stronger hook and more suspense early on.

I love a book about books! This one will have you questioning who the authors you read really are.

Aspiring author, Theodosia Benton, leaves Law School in Australia and moves in with her brother in the states to follow her dream, becoming a published author. While working on her manuscript at a local coffee bar, she meets an author who becomes her mentor, connecting on all things writing-related and a budding romance forms. The love affair is short lived when she finds her mentor brutally murdered in his home. This discovery leads you through the twists and turns of a dark publishing company who owns more than their author's manuscripts.

Great story overall, but there were times when the plot became confusing and hard to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to review.

Theodosia (Theo) Benton is at a crossroads in her life. As she is now certain she would rather be a writer than a lawyer, Theo flees school and finds herself on the doorstep of her older brother Gus (and his loyal dog Horse). With his support, she begins life anew, working on her novel at a local coffee shop/bar.

While toiling away, Theo meets elusive writer Dan Murdoch and they begin a mentor/mentee relationship that slowly becomes something more. However, all dreams of a power-writer couple are swept away when Theo discovers Dan’s body; it is clear he has been brutally murdered. As Theo finds herself caught up in whatever led to his death, it becomes evident she never really knew him at all. Will she be able to solve who he really was and what happened to him before she falls victim to the same fate?

The beginning of the book takes its time setting the stage; we learn a fair amount about Theo and her relationship with her brother Gus, but it is not until Dan’s murder that the plot gains momentum. From here, we are introduced to more interesting characters, like the charismatic Mac and his Doomsday Prepper family members. The first 2/3 of the book is intriguing and the author does a great job pulling the reader into the story.

It is near the end of the book where things begin to fall apart. Much like the conspiracy theories implied throughout the novel, holes start to get poked in the storyline and everything goes haywire, leading to an over-the-top and cluttered last section of the book. The subtleties of the first sections give way to action movie insanity and it almost feels like a different book entirely.

Overall, this is a fun read with an original plot and likable characters (even if Theo occasionally does idiotic and groan-inducing things), but the chaotic energy at the end of the novel lets it down.

When Australian Theodosia Benton decided to abandon law school and become a writer, she moved in with her brother Gus. To finish her book, she started hanging out at a local bar to write. Here, she met experienced author Dan Murdoch who took her under his wing. But when Dan was murdered, Theo, her brother and their private investigator friend Mac became the main suspects. Can they clear their names before someone else - or one of them - is murdered? And will Theo ever achieve her dream?
This book starts with a conspiracy theory that threads throughout the novel. It's actually one of two conspiracies in the book.
I appreciated the literary focus of this novel. But the writing feels more like telling than showing, and I wasn't emotionally invested in the story.
At the end of the book, the author uses a unique way of moving time forward. While it's effective, it's also a little confusing.
I like the book club questions at the end, which helps readers analyze and appreciate the book.

This is my first ever ARC and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The story had a bit of a slow beginning, but it ramped up quickly. I wish the character development for the MFC was more in-depth, but on the whole the story was very nicely tied together. I appreciated there weren’t many (if any) plot holes that distracted me, although it was a bit far-fetched to think that Gus & Mac didn’t immediately question who Theo left with from the police station, which is my one pet peeve with the storyline. Overall a solid 5/5 read.

There's definitely an audience for this, but it just didn't pull me in. It read too cozy for me, rather than a true murder mystery. It was still a good read, just a little confusing at parts and I wasn't able to connect to the characters and plot. Passed the time fine, but not a true winner.

Theo has left college in Australia, where she is studying to be a lawyer, and moved to her brother's house in America. She has decided to become a writer. With her brother's encouragement she finds a small local business to go to every day to write. She becomes involved with Dan who is into conspiracy theories. When Dan is found murdered is she the likely suspect?

This book is confusing in the beginning. It has chat room sessions in between the story and as a reader they lack context. You are wondering what it all means. Once you start to figure out what is going on, you cannot wait to see what is going to happen next. Could a conspiracy be in play? This book is a different kind of mystery with enough twists to make it really interesting. If you are looking for a mystery with something different then this is the book for you. I enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #SulariGentill, and #PoisonedPenPress for a copy of this book.
#mysterywriter

This book got off to a very slow start for me. The author employed an interesting use of a chat room conspiracy as part of the plot, but I found the overall plot a bit confusing. This is a murder mystery full of twists and well developed interesting characters. The relationship between brother and sister was fun. The pace of the book was a bit to slow for me, but overall an interesting story.