I was excited to read this book after I enjoyed The Woman in the Library so much. Unfortunately, I didn't like this one quite as much. The summary indicated that Theo, the FMC, disappears after her brother is accused of murder. This happens at about 70-75% through the story. The build up was just too slow and slogged in certain parts. There were also some alternating POV chapters meant to shed light on an underground website spouting conspiracy theories.

Overall I was invested enough into Theo as a character to see the story through, but it was a bit disjointed and the flow was not as smooth as I would have preferred.

The audio narrator was really good though and I love the Australian background of Theo and her brother.

Law student Theodosia moves from Australia to Texas to live with her brother, where she finds herself with a mentor in fellow writer Dan Murdoch. When Theo stumbles across a murdered Dan, she soon becomes the number one suspect. But could the answer lie in the conspiracy theories Dan was researching? Or does Theo know even less about Dan than she had realized?

Right off the bat, I found myself incredibly intrigued with the story and where it was headed. I thought the author did a good job of hooking the reader in and establishing the main characters. The character development itself seemed solid, and the plot easy to follow. And then, things began to go off the rails. The storyline became hard to follow, characters were added left and right, conspiracy theories abound, and the pacing of the story overall felt a bit…wonky.

Sulari Gentill’s follow up to The Woman in the Library, started off with a bang, but ended with more of a fizzle. Is this book bad? Not at all. Does it have a few issues that prevented me from really liking it? Yes. Would I recommend it? If you are someone who loves to get embroiled in conspiracy theories, I’d say yes! Give it a go. If not, this might not be the book for you.

I went back and forth between the physical book and audiobook. Katherine Littrell did an excellent job narrating, and I think it’s why I enjoyed this story more than others. If you are wanting to read this one, and you enjoy audiobooks, my recommendation would be to read this one with your ears.

Read if you like:
•more mystery than thriller
•conspiracy theories
•books about writers
•movie like plot lines

Thank you Poisoned Pen and Dreamscape Media for the gifted copies.

This book was a roller coaster! The narrator did a great job at keeping my attention. However, I did find myself a bit bored at times. It was a good listen.

I’ll be honest, I requested this title from NetGalley and either completely forgot the premise of the book or requested it without reading the synopsis.🤦‍♀️ I’m not sure how I missed that this was more on the thriller side versus mystery. This was not at all what I was expecting when I started reading but I really enjoyed it.

Throughout the book, I had different theories as to who was guilty but ultimately I didn’t see the ending coming. Halfway through two murders were committed and I didn’t have a clue who was responsible.

The book is mostly told from Theodosia’s POV but with the point of view from an Internet forum of conspiracy theorists.

At one point I found myself getting frustrated with Theo. While she was thrown into a mess of a situation, I wished she would have had more of a backbone and stood up to the gaslighting that seemed to be coming at her from every other character.

The plot really picks up as the story approaches its conclusion. This was my first novel by Sulari Gentill and I’ll have to dive more into other books by her. I enjoy thrillers if I can’t see myself being in a similar situation. Seeing that I'm not an expat from Australia trying to publish a book after dropping out of law school I felt fairly certain I wouldn't get too creeped out. This storyline was very intriguing and it wasn’t gory. As far as thrillers, this one is probably more on the docile side with more emphasis on the mystery elements.

Thank you, NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Media for the ALC and ARC.

Scandal and chaos, chaos and scandal. Murder, murder and more murder. This book was wild! Conspiracies, doomsday prep families, a horse-sized dog, homicidal monopoly publisher.... I might have to write a full spoiler review on this one.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the free audiobook.

Blurb:
There’s nothing easier to dismiss than a conspiracy theory- until it turns out to be true. When Theo abandons her career path as an attorney and shows up at her brother’s doorstep with two suitcases and an unfinished novel, she expects to face a few challenges.

✨My thoughts:
I didn’t love this one as much as I hoped. It started strong and held my attention.. mostly* but somewhere along the way I lost interest. I thought the narrator was fine but it felt long. Our main character, Theo wasn’t lovable either. Maybe it was just my mood but overall this story fell slat. I still have The Woman in the library in my TBR and hopefully I have a better time with that one. The mystery writer is out now!

Happy reading 📖

DnF at 20% this is awfully dramatic response to a brief fling/one night stand dying. Theo was a wet blanket of a main character, sorry for the brutally honest response 🥴

This book started strongly, and I was invested in the story, but after a pretty long and involved setup, things really fell apart about 70% in. It felt like I missed something, then it felt like the author ran out of steam. The narrative devolved into mostly telling to reveal how everything played out. All in all, the pacing was very uneven.

We start with a long setup of Theo(dosia) who has moved from Australia to Texas to live with her brother Gus after deciding to stop her studies to become a lawyer to try her hand at becoming a writer. She writes every day at a cafe and befriends Dan Murdoch, who she discovers is also a writer. The two bounce ideas off of each other and Theo finishes her book. She asks Dan to pass it on to his agent and he refuses. When she goes to his house later to talk about it, she finds Dan murdered. This starts a long (long) string of events which includes conspiracy theories, deaths, disappearances, wrongful accusations, and other sinister things.

I found the plot to be way too detailed about some things, and then at one point years go by and we just get a couple of paragraphs to recap what happened. I also thought the romance plots were a little too insta-love for me, but maybe lots of time had passed and I just didn't realize it? Who knows with the way this book is written.

There is nothing realistic about the way things play out, unless you are the kind of person who believes conspiracy theories and then you might find it plausible. I'm sure some will. With the pacing issues I found this to generally be just an okay read. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job with the various accents and that kept me much more interested in the book than I might have been otherwise.

Overall, an interesting mystery. Theo Benton gets herself wrapped up in something much larger than I originally thought and the ending was unexpected. The characters were OK but I didn’t really like Theo or Dan, and I felt that, despite the length of the novel, I didn’t really get to know her that well. Also, the ending seemed rushed to me after what seemed like hours of set up to get to it, making a lot of slow-moving portions throughout the middle of the book and then a quick, unsatisfying ending.

I had the pleasure of receiving "The Mystery Writer" from the publisher, and the moment I laid eyes on the cover, I was hooked. The allure of the artwork promised a story worth embarking on. From the beginning, I found myself engrossed in the author's exploration of American stereotypes, delivered with a curious blend of satire and unsettling accuracy. This quirky narrative choice added depth to the story, making me question the boundaries between fiction and reality—a theme that resonated throughout the book.

One of the highlights for me was the rich atmosphere woven into the narrative, creating a vivid backdrop for the intriguing characters. The mentor-mentee dynamic between the writers was a particularly enjoyable aspect, adding layers of complexity to their relationships. I appreciated the intimate glimpse into the daily life and inner thoughts of the female lead, Theo. It brought a sense of authenticity to her character and allowed me to connect with her on a deeper level. As the story unfolded and tensions escalated, I found the pacing to be perfectly suited to the narrative, maintaining suspense while staying true to the characters' motivations and development.

The synopsis hints at a labyrinthine journey into a hidden literary world, and "The Mystery Writer" certainly delivers on that promise. The murder mystery intertwined with themes of identity and the power of storytelling kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Overall, "The Mystery Writer" is a gripping literary thriller that challenges perceptions and delves into the darker corners of the writing world. Sulari Gentill has crafted a tale that is both thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining, leaving readers hungry for more.

*3.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"Becoming a writer is one thing, staying one is entirely another beast."

"Poets are apparently excellent assassins."

In the often make your head spin The Mystery Writer, by truly intriguing mystery author Sulari Gentill, it often felt like two different mysteries that converge at the end.

I really enjoyed the set up of this murder mystery. Theodosia (Theo) Benton is a 22 year old law school drop out who, rather than go home to her parents in Tasmania, heads to Lawrence, Kansas to hide out with her older brother, and successful lawyer, Gus and his faithful dog, Horse. She decides to pursue her dream of being a writer.

Writing at a local cafe she meets a known older author who becomes her mentor then lover. She finds him brutally murdered in his home and is a suspect. Gus and his firm's P.I., Mac, are trying to help her but when two more murders connected to the author occur, not only is Theo arrested, so are Gus and Mac.

Somewhere in the middle of all this killing, conspiracy theorists believe the dead author was killed because of the "truths" he knew and Theo becomes public enemy number one. I have to give credit to voice actress Katherine Littrell for balancing Theo's anxiety and naivety as her world implodes and she believes the only way to save Gus and Mac is to "die."

Though I knew from the start who was responsible for the murders, I enjoyed the journey. I appreciate the themes of how misuse of social media, false narratives, and outrageous conspiracies can lead to destroyed lives. That theme just became a bit overwhelming and rushed near the end. Money and power can corrupt but it may be the (mystery) writers with a conscience that saves us from ourselves.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was eager to dive into this book; the first few chapters were captivating. The buildup was excellent, but then it veered off track. Too many elements were introduced and towards the end, it felt like a completely different story.

The protagonist, Theo Benton, is an aspiring writer whose life is turned upside down when her mentor and lover is murdered. With the help of her brother Gus and his private investigator friend Mac, they embark on a quest to unravel the case.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audio copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Sulari Gentill, with the audiobook narrated by Katherine Littrell - 4 stars!

Theo has dropped out of college, determined to be a writer instead of an attorney as was the planned path for her. She shows up on the doorstep of her brother, Gus, hoping that he will support her. She begins writing in a cafe and meets a famous author. They slowly begin a relationship but then she finds him brutally murdered right after signing on with a prestigious agency. And now she is considered a suspect - until they start looking at Gus. Enter Mac, Gus' friend and a private investigator, who comes from a family of conspiracy theorists.

There's a lot to unpack in this book! There is mixed media in the form of message boards between the theorists, which I always enjoy, but had me confused in the beginning. The author has once again created an intriguing storyline, even though there were times I was yelling at Theo to open her eyes! Kept me on my toes until the end.

This was an early DNF for me....it sets two stories side-by-side with hard cuts between them (I think Woman in the Library did this also?) but the jump is so jarring, I found this too difficult to get into. This might be in part because of how wild the first story is. This might have paid off but I didn't have the patience to find out where it went.

Theo is an aspiring writer who has skipped out from her Australian law school studies to go live with her brother in Lawrence, Kansas. While working on her first novel, writing at a local cafe, she meets and falls in love with a an older, well known author.. When that man is murdered, Theo becomes the primary suspect. As more people are murdered, Theo and her brother are not only suspects, but are also in great danger.. Even though I quickly determined who were the guilty parties, i still found myself intrigued by the story. I was anxious to see how everything played out.
I was given an ARC of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley
#themysterywriter
#sularigentill
#mystery

The Mystery Writer is the latest release from Sulari Gentill, author of The Woman in the Library. I have heard so many great things about The Woman in the Library, so when I was offered the chance to read The Mystery Writer a little early, I jumped on it.

This story follows Theodosia Benton, an aspiring author, who has just left her native Australia and moved to the United States, to Lawrence, Kansas, to live with her older brother, Gus, a successful attorney. The two had an unconventional upbringing and you can tell that there is a lot of history there, yet they have a loving and supportive relationship. Gus is happy that his sister is pursuing her dreams, instead of going along with the path her parents and grandparents had in mind for her.

As part of her writing process, Theo begins to visit the same local cafe everyday. It's there she meets and befriends, Dan Murdoch, who turns out to be a best-selling author. Their relationship develops at a hasty clip and then one day, Theo finds Dan has been murdered. The stuff hits the proverbial fan from there.

Gus has a friend, Mac, who happens to be a private investigator, and he sort of takes on a role as Theo's protector, as they work together to try to figure out what happened to Dan.

This was a difficult book for me to rate. It started out strong for me. I was deeply intrigued for like the first 40%, or so, then it just went absolutely off the rails. I got to the point where I wanted it away from me. I was over it. It was such a sharp turn, I looked up like, what the actual heck am I reading?!

There was a mixed media element to this that I did not enjoy. Usually I am totally down for mixed media use, but in this case, I found it to be more distracting than anything. I understand what it was supposed to represent in context to the overall plot, but yeah, just because I understand it, doesn't mean I enjoyed it.

Then there's Theo herself, who was way too naive for my tastes. Her naivety kept being explained away by the fact that she had moved from Australia, but that doesn't track. It's Australia, not the moon. She felt more like a time traveler straight out of the 1920s, or something; absurd. This is the type of story, where I really have to be able to get behind the MC and I found her to be truly annoying. I did like Gus, Mac and the dog, Horse. Theo though, not so much.

Also, I didn't enjoy where the plot went. The baddies seemed mere caricatures of baddies, versus something that would make sense to this story. I just couldn't get behind it all. With this being said, I understand that this is 100% due to personal taste and that a lot of Readers may end up really enjoying this one. After all, just because it wasn't for me, doesn't mean it won't be for you.

If this synopsis sounds intriguing to you, or if you enjoyed this author's previous work, you should absolutely give it a go. Perhaps I'm just in a mood. It wouldn't be the first time that's happened. Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I do appreciate it and should say that the audiobook was very well narrated. I may not have gotten through this one, if it wasn't for the audio format!

Theo has just run away from college, well, is it really running away when you're an adult? When she shows up at her brothers door in Kansas all the way from Australia, the only thing she wants to do is write. Gus welcomes her with open arms and tells her to "write away". She never expected her life to turn into one of those thriller novels she likes to read, but it does when her closest friend in town is murdered. Theo finds the body as well as accusations that she could be the killer. When they finger pointing swings toward her brother, without anywhere to turn, Theo confesses to a crime Gus is sure she didn't commit. Now the welcoming brother must work hard to clear his sisters name and end the murder spree that rocked the little town in Kansas.

Huge thanks goes out to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Sulari Gentill for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

The Woman in the Library (you can check out my review for that here) was such a fantastic read, I couldn't go without reading Sulari Gentill's newest book, so when it became available on netgalley, I swooped it up as an audiobook. I can not get enough of thrillers and mysteries lately. Maybe this is the year for them, or it's just the year that I am in the mood to reach them. Out of the 36 books I have read so far this year, 10 of them have been in this genre and the majority of them have been over 4 stars.

My two favorite types of audiobooks are non-fiction and mystery. I feel like the narrators really bring you into the story and get your pulse racing when they read the action sequences in mysteries and thrillers. Katherine Littrell does an amazing job not only making you feel like you are a part of the story but in voicing each of the characters. It's like there is an entire cast, except it's really only one woman.

"Perhaps the dead are afraid to live, as much as we are afraid to die." - Pierce Altamirano

I think the best part about this book are the little clues that Gentill littered throughout. They send you in search of answers, hoping that you will unravel the truth, but they could also just be a wild goose chase. This was such an incredibly entertaining read. The whole way through I was engaged with the plot and the pacing was perfect. I started to get a little freaked out when the book hit 90% and there was still so much to unfold but Sulari Gentill did an exceptional job wrapping everything up.

This book delves into the deceptive world of conspiracy theories. You need to be able to accept the outrageous to really sink into the story. If you know a conspiracy theorist, or have found yourself enticed by a really well explained theory, this is the book for you. It will have you questioning everyone and everything you thought you knew. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars from me for this delightfully devious read.

I read The Woman in the Library and did not particularly like it that much so when I saw this I thought why not give the author a second chance? Maybe it’s just me but I don’t think I like the way she writes or just her stories in general. From the start I suspected I might not line it and I was right. Just didn’t work for me and all the conspiracy stuff put me off rather quickly. Don’t think this author is for me.

The Mystery Writer
by Sulari Gentill
2/5 ⭐

I went into this book blindly. The cover and title caught my eye, and I recognized the author. If I had read the synopsis, I probably would not have requested this book. This book is very chaotically written. It jumps timelines and events with its fast-paced plot. At the beginning of the book, the different points of view are drastically distant. I had no idea where this book was going.

The rapid storyline made me want to keep listening but also it went in circles. The conspiracy theory parts had me shaking my head. This author had a hidden political agenda. Lastly, I did not enjoy the ending. Although it answered most of my questions it was written in a recap style instead of real time.

Thank you to @Dreamscape_Media and @netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. All my opinions are my own.
Publication Date: March 19, 2024

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill follows Thea, an Australian who ends up in Kansas after dropping out of law school. She moves in with her brother Gus and his dog Horse. Thea wants to be a writer but doesn’t know if she will be any good at it. Benders is her favorite coffee shop where she writes and meets Dan, a published author. Dan has been giving Thea advice on writing and soon they become more than friends. When Thea goes by his house she stumbles upon his body. From there Thea’s life seems to downhill fast. Now being harassed by the media and the cops. Gus and his PI Mac will do anything to help Thea out of this mess. This is the first book that I have read by this author and truly loved it. I am definitely going to her other books. If you are a fan of Ruth Ware, Claire Douglas, Lisa Scottoline. Megan Maranda, or Lisa Jewell you will love Suraei Gentill.