Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill Published by Poisoned Pen Press on June 7, 2022
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 288
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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The beautifully ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is completely silent one weekday morning, until a woman's terrified scream echoes through the room. Security guards immediately appear and instruct everyone inside to stay put until they determine there is no threat. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers who had been sitting in the reading room get to chatting and quickly become friendly. Harriet, Marigold, Whit, and Cain each have their own reasons for being in the reading room that morning--and it just happens that one of them may turn out to be a murderer.
The Woman in the Library did not have a lot to do with libraries, other than an initial murder taking place there. It did have a lot to do with books and writers though. It is also a story within a story. Each chapter is a piece of a famous author’s manuscript following a letter from her American friend who lives in Boston. Boston is the setting of her book. The friend comments on various aspects of the manuscript as to location, American typical phrases, and his thoughts about plot.
The story takes place during Covid and that is not part of the book she is writing; it is set in 2019. The friend thinks it should be incorporated, and also thinks the character’s races should be revealed. The question of race does not come up and I’m uncertain as to the race of any of the characters really. The main point of view, is the author, Hannah, and in her book, the main character, Winifred, called Freddie. Freddie is an author, as are two of her male friends in the story.
The letters from the friend become increasingly bizarre. He is more demanding about her changing things according to his thoughts. I wonder how she became friends with him in the first place. Apparently they have never met, but she wrote him to make some inquiries about the Boston setting.
In Hannah’s book, the story begins as four people sitting at a table in the library hear a scream. They get to talking and become fast friends. Over the following weeks, they come to know each other further. As writers, they have some interests in trying to solve the murder and aspects of it which don’t quite make sense. There are continued attacks and there seems to be a connection between them, which put Freddie and her new friends in the watchful eye of the police.
I wondered about various characters as the killer but never really put it together. There were some creepy aspects like a lost or stolen phone calling Freddie with weird screaming or texting her pictures of people’s doors including her own. There are romantic elements between the characters to add another layer of emotion. I enjoyed the unique way this story was told.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
I got this on audio and can’t wait to listen to it! Glad you enjoyed, Anne💜
I’ll look forward to hearing how the audio is. This was a unique storytelling.
Ooh you’re tempting me with this. I think I’d love it! I do like “book within a book” stories😁
I hope you get a chance to read it Tammy.
A book within a book sounds fun. It is an unusual premise. I’m curious about Hannah and this person she’s corresponding to. I was offered the audio but I’m still on the fence about grabbing it. Wonderful review, Anne!
Well it is unusual storytelling. I like different.
It sounds like this book gets the reader the good sort of confused until it all makes sense. 🙂
Actually both stories seem straightforward until they aren’t.
This does sound like a unique one. I’ve got it on my TBR list and can’t wait to give it a try. 🙂
It is. I hope you enjoy it.
Your review has me intrigued. Adding it to my wish list.
It’s not like other books and I like things that are a bit different.
Wow… what a unique way to tell a story. It seems like it would be tough to know what was going on sometimes. Very interesting.
It’s pretty straightforward until it isn’t. It’s easy to tell the “real world” because it is always a letter from Leo to Hannah.
“creepy aspects like a lost or stolen phone calling Freddie with weird screaming or texting her pictures of people’s doors including her own.”
Creepy!!!!
Yes if I am in a security building I wouldn’t like seeing pictures of my front door!
Hmm, sad that it isn’t set more in a library, but the books and writer part makes up for that. I’ll have to look into this one. Great review!
The writer part is really interesting, and the characters in the book are also writers. Writers writing writers.
I ended up setting this aside. I am glad you enjoyed this. I may try again.
I can understand that. It is unusual.
This sounds so unique!
Yes there are a bunch of aspects which make it different and I like different.
I read a lot of mysteries but this one looks really different and interesting. My library just this one in audio so I think I need to give it a try. Great review!
Thanks Katherine I hope you enjoy it.