Scan barcode
thewintersings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual assault
micasreads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Sexual assault
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Story A is the main one, the one from the book summary, and I was expecting more of a locked-room mystery, but the library part is only at the beginning and then they quickly move on. There are a lot of red flags that distracted me from the obvious culprit, so I stayed on my toes the whole time, never really sure who the big bad was. I liked the characters, though the plot is definitely the main focus.
But what really set this book apart was story B, where we discover that story A is actually a book being written, and the author is corresponding with a beta reader about her work. Through these letters, we learn about the Australian author and the beta reader, who lives in Boston where story A takes place. These letters were mostly at the end of each chapter, with the beta reader giving commentary on the previous chapter. Like I said, they just cracked me up and the twists and turns that story B takes really made this murder mystery unique.
Give this one a listen if you like libraries or a story-within-a-story plot or books about writers or a classic whodunnit mystery.
Thanks to Libro.fm, Dreamscape Media, and the author for my ALC!
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence and Stalking
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Story 1: There is a mystery writer and a beta reader. The beta reader seems to have his own idea of how one should write a murder mystery and gets overly attached.
Story 2: (The story the Beta Reader is reading) A writer meets two other writers and a psychology student when they all hear a woman scream at the Boston Public Library. They bond over this experience and become friends, but do they really know anything about each other.
Personally, I would have preferred not having the beta reader story. I think that it caused both stories to feel underdeveloped. I think the woman murdered in the library story with it's twists would have been interesting enough on its own and the beta reader story seems like an updated Misery and would have made a good short story.
The writing was strong though, the author kept me guessing, and I will definitely be reading more by Sulari Gentill.
Also, the narrator of the audiobook did a fantastic job.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, and Sexual assault
leandrathetbrzero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
- Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan
- The Playground by Jane Shemilt
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Minor: Stalking, Torture, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
starklinqs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I’m not going to spoil this book’s format, as it’s not in the description, but it’s truly a unique one that I haven’t read in a thriller before, and it immediately drew me into the story. I found myself caring immensely about both stories (and if anything, that’s why this gets 4.75 and not a perfect 5/5, because I was so invested in BOTH and wanted to know more about one of the stories than what we got). I’ve never read this author before but I definitely want to check out more of her stuff from now on - this book had me so invested, and I was dying trying to figure out what was going to happen. I honestly should have slept a while ago but I couldn’t, because I just had to keep reading to find out what happened next.
Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Addiction, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
the_rainydayreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content and Rape