The Mystery Writer kept me on my toes from start to finish. This was a twisty, delightful read. I really enjoyed Theo and her friends and family and the well crafted plot elements used to pull the story together. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book! I loved the "Woman in the Library" but this just fell flat for me. I was so excited to read this one, but was disappointed. I just did not connect with any of the characters and the plot didn't pull me in. There are patrons that would enjoy this, it just wasn't for me.

Theo is an Australian lawyer to be, who drops out of school to travel to Kansas to stay at her brother’s, who also is an attorney. She decides instead of being a lawyer, that she will write the next great novel. She meets an author who becomes her mentor (and more). She finishes her novel and the mentor is murdered. His publisher decides to represent her and her first book. Then everything falls apart and goes off the rails. People around her are killed, her brother and his friend try to keep her safe. Then the book get a little over the top.
The first three-quarters of the book is really good. But along the way, there are allusions to conspiracy theories, compounds and preppers. The last quarter of the book becomes a jumble and becomes more of an action packed book. We are suddenly seven years in the future and Theo has been missing the entire time after confessing to one of the murders. People end up not being who we thought they were and others in the publishing agency have ulterior motives.
I really liked the first part of the book, but was disappointed in the ending and how the mysteries were resolved.

Theodosia Benton, aspiring writer and law school dropout, shows up on her brother's doorstep with two suitcase. an unfinished novel, and finds way more than she bargained for.

This is a keeps-you-guessing mystery thriller that I really enjoyed. I found Theo and her brother Gus to be pretty well fleshed out protagonists, and the underlayer of conspiracy theories in the vein of forum posts at the beginning of chapters helped set an enjoyably tense mood. My only critique is that the last third of so of the book drags, only to then ramp up in action very suddenly and a little chaotically.

Thank you to Sulari Gentill, Poisoned Pen Press, Sourcebooks Inc, and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

Theo shows up on her brother Gus's door out of the blue one day. She's abruptly dropped out of law school in Australia and dreams of being a writer. He's supportive, she stays in Lawrence, and begins working on her novel every day in a local bar where she eventually meets and befriends a famous writer. After Theo's novel is finished and her friendship with Dan works its way out of the friend zone, everything goes off the rails. I can't say much without spoilers, but crazy conspiracy theories and murders turn Theo and Gus's lives upside down. Is the way it plays out believable? My inclination is to say "no", until you think about the actual wing nut conspiracies that real people actually buy into right now. Overall, the story covers a lot of time with a sizeable year jump at the end that felt a little lengthy to me. It tends to drag in places, but the idea behind the conspiracy was unique and kept me reading.

Wow! What an amazing book!!
Would love to read more from the author.
Thankyou netgalley for the Arc!

Thrillers are filmable. This labyrinth of characters takes the reader deep. In this novel, a seemingly secondary character becomes the main one. An intricate story written by a skillful pen that I recommend reading. the plot is dynamic, interesting..characters are strong, dominant. congratulations to the author and publisher

This was a different type of thriller/mystery that held my attention. It was definitely unpredictable. I’ve never read a book focusing on conspiracy theorists so I did enjoy that part of the plot. Toward the end, so much is thrown at you that I had to reread a few pages just to see what was happening. It was a rollercoaster and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something different.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill is a captivating thriller and mystery. Theodosia (Theo) arrives at her brother’s doorstep in New York without any advance warning. Gus is understandably perplexed by his younger sister’s appearance. He thought she was still in law school in Australia, but welcomes her into his home. Theo wants to be a writer, not a lawyer. While working in a coffee shop, she is befriended by an established author who provides insights into her writing. But when he is murdered, the story picks up the pace as both Theo and Gus try to determine who killed her mentor. After reading this book, you will think differently about publishing houses and writers’ contracts. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy both suspense and a good mystery. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital advance copy of this book.

The Mystery Writer review
Theo had been attending law school in her native Australia. Then she suddenly arrived at her brother’s apartment in Lawrence, Kansas with 2 suitcases full of clothing. She announced that she had dropped out of school and wanted to be a writer instead of a lawyer.
Her brother Gus was a partner in a small law firm who reluctantly supported her choice but welcomed her into his home nonetheless.
Theo started writing her manuscript at a local coffee shop where met Dan , a best selling author. The two became friendly and he was soon giving her writing tips.
Then one day Dan did not show up at the coffee shop. Theo went to his house where she saw a man leaving quickly. When she entered the house, she found Dan dead in a pool of blood. She spent the rest of the book trying to prove her innocence and find the killer.
This book deals with conspiracy theories and those who espouse them. Also the dark side of the publishing business. There are many surprises and coincidences.
I enjoyed the book as it kept my attend till the very end.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Mystery Writer was a great novel - it was a wonderful break from all of the similar themed thrillers that are coming out these days with a fresh new take on mystery.

Wow, this is the second book by Sulari Gentill I’ve read and the second I’ve loved. This book is so complex with so many things going on. The main character is very likable, as re her brother and their friend. You can’t really trust anyone though, it’s hard to tell who’s telling the truth and who is evil. Their is also a conspiracy theorist storyline, hat is scary in itself, because people actually think this way. The book keeps you guessing till the very end. A very good read.

Grabbed me right away and kept me reading. Couldn't figure it out. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Gentill has written a mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. Theodosia Benton, a law school drop out (who wants to be a writer) ends up on her brother's (who did graduate from law school) doorstep hoping he'll understand and support her decision. The trust money which has been paying her school bills was only to put her through law school. What ensues are several murders, pointing to either her or her brother, Gus, or his private investigator Mac.
While the plot continues to twist and turn Gentill manages to weave in a little light romance. It is nothing to detract from the overall storyline, just keeps it hopeful and helps to provide some normalcy in their lives.
It is a refreshing read and one to enjoy between heavier topics.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley.

Theo Benton, leaving her legal career behind to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, embarks on a journey filled with unexpected challenges. She faces questions about her family's support, her own abilities, and the potential backlash from her parents. Little does she know, her life is about to take a startling twist when she becomes entangled in a secretive literary realm where identities are fluid, shaped to captivate an audience.

Tragedy strikes as her mentor, a renowned author, is brutally murdered, leaving Theo determined to find the killer and ensure justice is served. The situation takes a darker turn when her brother, Gus, is wrongly accused, prompting Theo to take extreme measures to protect him.

Intriguingly, the deceased author has left a trail, a story that becomes a lifeline out of the intricate maze. Gus, following this narrative thread, inadvertently threatens the very foundations of this enigmatic labyrinth. To safeguard the intricately woven tale, Theo and those searching for her must confront deadly consequences, making survival an uncertain proposition.

At first, I was genuinely excited by the intriguing premise of this book. It had all the makings of a captivating story with a well-defined plot and character development that promised to be engrossing. The narrative immediately drew me in, and the relationship between Theo and her older brother Gus was a highlight, portraying a touching and relatable connection.

But as I ventured further into the story, my initial enthusiasm dwindled. The last three-quarters of the book took a perplexing turn, descending into chaotic and nonsensical territory. What began as a promising mystery involving a writer's death and the suspicion falling on another writer eventually morphed into a bizarre, almost farcical narrative. It introduced a dizzying array of elements like conspiracy theorists, preppers, and malevolent corporations, which, rather than enhancing the story, left it convoluted and hard to follow.

The characters, although well-crafted, couldn't salvage the plot's descent into this bizarre realm. Sadly, Theo, the central character, didn't live up to the expectations of a strong female lead. In the end, the potential for a normal, engaging mystery lost out to the peculiar and unconvincing turn of events, ultimately leaving me somewhat unsatisfied with the book.

After dropping out of law school, Theo heads to her brother's house in Lawrence, KS to write a novel. Theo and her brother Gus are originally from Australia. While looking through the town for a good place to write, she finds a combination bar/coffee house called Benders. While writing there, she meets Dan Murdoch, a fellow author who has already been published, and they become friends. When she finishes her novel, she begs Dan to introduce her to his agent and to submit her novel. He originally says "no." Not finding Dan at Benders one day, she heads to his house to look for him. When she enters, she finds Dan dead. Of course she touches him and gets blood on her so when the police come and she's washing her hands she looks suspicious. Enter Gus who is a lawyer and his friend Mac, an investigator (who has a bunch of end-of-the-world preppers as family). What happens next is a combination spy/assassin/conspiracy theory story including a cult like following of Dan Murdoch who blames Theo for his death. Each chapter begins with a conversation between conspiracy theorists that is very 1/6.

This is a totally different type of story than The Woman in the Library but still about books. I really had to take time to think about this before I gave it any type of rating on either Goodreads or in Net Galley. There were many clever ideas in this story (which I can't talk about or you would be spoiled). Some might say these were too cute. In the US where January 6 will be talked about for years, the conspiracy theories will ring true. While I know "preppers" exist, it is interesting to think of people who are so crazy about an author that they would become violent upon hearing of their death (even in the case of murder). While I enjoyed this story, I would say there may have been too many weird things piled up on each other for me to love it as much as The Woman in the Library. 3.5 stars rounding up to 4 for creativity.

Another five star read from Sulari Gentill.

I love love love Gentill's books!!!

This is a great follow up to The Woman in the Library.

Gentill has securely placed herself in the literary mystery world.

Get the book on your TBR list! It's a must!!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for my ARC! Unfortunately, I had to DNF this novel, just like Ms. Gentill's previous novel "The Woman in the Library". I just couldn't get into it, and it felt like it was going to be very slow. I love libraries, and while you shouldn't run in them, I prefer my books to be fast & get right to the point. Life is just too short to read books you don't want to. 3/5 stars since I DNF.

this premise sounded sooooooo good, but unfortunately, neither the plot, the writing, not the characters warmed themselves to me, so i have given up in finishing it. Such a shame as I was very excited to read it. I love A Christie so I hoped it would be a bit like that!

The idea.of a mystery about a mystery writer involved in another mystery or two is ingenious. I liked the book a great deal. The structure, the plot, the characters. Well worth a read.