Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

55 reviews

joyfromhope's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This story provides an interesting twist on the mystery genre - a novel within a novel within a novel but at the same time, not so convoluted that you can't keep track. The twists and turns kept me up reading way too late!

I am not sure what to make of the ending, I can't wait to discuss it with my bookclub to see what everyone's theories are!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder and Death

siobhanward's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

 This book has pretty mixed reviews and I can see why- the idea of the book is great (the murder in a library, the book within a book), but the execution is flawed. I don't know what was up with Leo constantly making incorrect corrections - if Freddie, an Australian, is describing something, why would she use American terms? I was waiting for there to be a reveal that he wasn't actually American or something, but that never came.

I also found the mystery hard to follow - I think Leo's constant interruptions didn't help, but overall it was just hard to follow what as happening. I didn't feel like any of the characters were super well-developed, which meant that the end came and I really didn't care a whole lot. I wish that this had been better, because the premise was great. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Death

lauren_e_d's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was an ok book. I enjoyed the mystery and how the 4 were brought together, and I actually did enjoy the subplot with the emails. However I think the email thing could have been more interesting and drawn out because it felt resolved quite quickly. In terms of the mystery, I liked it although I had a suspicion of who it might be. It wasn’t the best mystery ever but an easy read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder

copiani's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Murder, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Racism

amberinpieces's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content, Death, Cursing, Murder, and Stalking

Minor: Body horror, Classism, Racism, Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Gun violence

rmgiannino's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Rape, and Medical content

schausjk's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This took me a little while to get into, mostly because I find books about authors/writing irritating. However, as the story went on and the purpose of the little editorial bits became apparent I enjoyed it a lot more.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Drug abuse, Murder, Death, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Stalking and Death of parent

readingwithcoffee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Moderate: Sexism, Racism, and Alcoholism

trippyotter's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely love all the layers to this story! Once you have an idea of what's happening, a new detail is added, and you're left wondering what will happen next. This was my first book written by Sulari Gentill, and I can't wait to read her other books.

The story begins in the reading room of the Boston Public Library, where our strangers hear a scream, a scream that will terrify and unite them in their curiosity to unravel the mystery. A mystery that has no simple answer and will test their newly developed friendship. 

As the secrets unravel and their bonds are tested, ties will strengthen between the couples that will begin to divide their loyalties to each other. 

Over the course of several weeks, as details are discovered, you'll begin to question the agenda of several of the strangers. Was the chance encounter between them, on that fateful day, just happenstance or was it orchestrated? 

As the mystery starts to unravel, will their friendship survive the truth of what happened? 

Will they survive the truth?

I'd also like to mention that besides loving the story, the foodie in me couldn't get enough of the food tour of Boston, real or fake!

But, I think my only complaint, if any, would be how little time is actually spent in the library. After the murder, there's very little time spent in the library, majority of the time will be spent in Freddy's apartment, local eateries, or walking about the city. It all meshes wonderfully with the story, but I do wish more time was spent in the library.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Racism, Medical content, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Stalking, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder

tamara_joy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gun violence, Murder, Stalking, Racism, and Death