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kcp3321's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Story in a story in a story - loved this structure!
This one is going to be hard to both describe and review without giving anything away. But it was definitely worth the read and effort to write about.
What could easily have been just another murder mystery is made into something more by the clever structuring of the story - which is itself the creation of an author writing the book and discussing it chapter by chapter with a fan. Oh and the character in HER book is a writer writing a book too.
Confused? It's actually easy to follow.
The main action starts, wonderfully enough, in a public library, as a writer is observing those around her to use as potential characters in her own work. But true to form, there's a woman's scream, a lockdown, a body. And the writer speaks to the people she's been studying and friendships are formed. Though she tells us - the narrator/author of the murder story through her main character - that one of them is a murderer.
Now as we move through this mystery of working out who the dead woman is, how any of the characters might be connected to her, how the friendships/budding romances between the foursome develop, the writer of THEIR story also shares with us messages from a fan of hers (the author of the mystery is a well-known writer of the genre already). This fan, we learn, comes from the city in which the author is setting the story. Due to COVID lockdowns, she's stuck in Australia so he offers to help with geographical tips, language phrases, and comments about his own struggles to become a published author. His correspondent's words are never shared, only her chapters.
Gradually as the murder mystery itself moves through the usual red herrings, twists, amateur detective work, escalating violence, backstories and character development, its writer and fan/reader also develop their own plot, which sneaks up on the reader (us, in case you are lost in the maze or readers and writers involved in the layers by now!).
Ohh, it was great. I re-read a few pages now and then as some things were quite subtly placed in the pages to seem low-key and trivial. Which turns us (the reader of the writer of the writer - keep up!) into the detectives too.
What could have been a fairly standard murder mystery became something much more exciting and concentrated.
I hope I've kept this broad enough to tantalise without giving anything away. Apart from the fact that it's highly enjoyable, mind-twisting stuff that gives depth and finesse to this piece of fiction.
I'd recommend this for those who enjoy the genre but also those who might be weary of tropes and lazy plotting. This will give you something to get your detective teeth into.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
This one is going to be hard to both describe and review without giving anything away. But it was definitely worth the read and effort to write about.
What could easily have been just another murder mystery is made into something more by the clever structuring of the story - which is itself the creation of an author writing the book and discussing it chapter by chapter with a fan. Oh and the character in HER book is a writer writing a book too.
Confused? It's actually easy to follow.
The main action starts, wonderfully enough, in a public library, as a writer is observing those around her to use as potential characters in her own work. But true to form, there's a woman's scream, a lockdown, a body. And the writer speaks to the people she's been studying and friendships are formed. Though she tells us - the narrator/author of the murder story through her main character - that one of them is a murderer.
Now as we move through this mystery of working out who the dead woman is, how any of the characters might be connected to her, how the friendships/budding romances between the foursome develop, the writer of THEIR story also shares with us messages from a fan of hers (the author of the mystery is a well-known writer of the genre already). This fan, we learn, comes from the city in which the author is setting the story. Due to COVID lockdowns, she's stuck in Australia so he offers to help with geographical tips, language phrases, and comments about his own struggles to become a published author. His correspondent's words are never shared, only her chapters.
Gradually as the murder mystery itself moves through the usual red herrings, twists, amateur detective work, escalating violence, backstories and character development, its writer and fan/reader also develop their own plot, which sneaks up on the reader (us, in case you are lost in the maze or readers and writers involved in the layers by now!).
Ohh, it was great. I re-read a few pages now and then as some things were quite subtly placed in the pages to seem low-key and trivial. Which turns us (the reader of the writer of the writer - keep up!) into the detectives too.
What could have been a fairly standard murder mystery became something much more exciting and concentrated.
I hope I've kept this broad enough to tantalise without giving anything away. Apart from the fact that it's highly enjoyable, mind-twisting stuff that gives depth and finesse to this piece of fiction.
I'd recommend this for those who enjoy the genre but also those who might be weary of tropes and lazy plotting. This will give you something to get your detective teeth into.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
dembury's review against another edition
4.0
A very unique and fun mystery! I’m a big fan of the whole “locked room mystery in reverse” setup, and that coupled with the letters mixed in made such an intriguing dual plot. The final third sort of dragged a bit, and I couldn’t help but wish for a dash more creativity at the ending, but the whole thing had me making guesses and frantically trying to unravel the puzzle and that made for a fun time!
ejmott's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
burgsandbeans's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Not really much of a mystery, it feels like it shows its hand a little too early. Also, having two storylines made it feel like neither was fleshed out enough and the resolution for both was a little lacklustre. Overall a fine read, but not one I'd go back to anytime soon.
princessmeg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
envy4's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t believe I’m giving a five star review, but kept picking this up with enthusiasm. Enjoyed the ride fully and unabashedly. Read this while doing some travel from NC>LA>Bali. Lots of long flights and this kept me on the edge of my seat, hungry for more.
morgob's review against another edition
5.0
Goodness gracious!! I have a feeling this book is for a niche group of people, like other writers. I can definitely see people who are not writers enjoying this, too, don't get me wrong, but I read some reviews of this and it seems that the plot is maybe just geared towards specific readers. This is a book by an author, writing about an author writing a story about an author writing a story. Yeah, it's a bit trippy! The story is basically divided in two: the main plot, about four strangers who meet coincidentally (or is it??) in a library, they hear a scream, a body is found, one of them is the killer; the other half of the story is a series of emails sent from a man named Leo to the supposed author of the murder mystery. Leo is communicating with the author and she is sending him her manuscript chapter by chapter while he gives her advice on it and spews rather another story.
The murder mystery part was excellent. It keeps you guessing the whole time, the big reveal at the end satisfactory. I also felt drawn to Freddie (the main character) from the beginning because of our common interest in writing and also using people she sees around her as inspiration for characters. Probably a lot of people do that, but it's so cool to see it in a story. And then those people discovering that you're using them for material. I honestly had difficulty putting it down, but I had to, on account of I had to work most of the time during the day. I loved the characters, even some of the minor ones.
Some spoilers here...
I picked this book up at the library on Tuesday. The title struck my interest and I had not heard of it before, so I'm really glad I picked it up. The synopsis hooked me, and though the first couple of chapters were rough to get into as far as following the pattern and the story between the book and the emails, I am so glad I took a chance on a book I'd never heard of and knew nothing about, for once.
The murder mystery part was excellent. It keeps you guessing the whole time, the big reveal at the end satisfactory. I also felt drawn to Freddie (the main character) from the beginning because of our common interest in writing and also using people she sees around her as inspiration for characters. Probably a lot of people do that, but it's so cool to see it in a story. And then those people discovering that you're using them for material. I honestly had difficulty putting it down, but I had to, on account of I had to work most of the time during the day. I loved the characters, even some of the minor ones.
Some spoilers here...
Spoiler
Leo, the character in the book and in the emails, creeped me out to no end. I was so glad at the end when the real Leo was apprehended and thrown in prison and the one in the book jumped out right at the end with his creepiness. Seriously, from the very first email I sensed something off about him. I definitely got some red flags. He was also just so presumptuous about her taking his writing advice. At a couple of moments, I was reminded of Misery, the way he was suggesting all of these things for her to write instead of the story she was writing. Anyway, I loved the creepy guy story. It felt very real. (Total side note here, but I wonder if female readers are better at picking up on the creepy Leo moves than male readers. Just a thought that has nothing to do with the story, I just wonder)I picked this book up at the library on Tuesday. The title struck my interest and I had not heard of it before, so I'm really glad I picked it up. The synopsis hooked me, and though the first couple of chapters were rough to get into as far as following the pattern and the story between the book and the emails, I am so glad I took a chance on a book I'd never heard of and knew nothing about, for once.
rebekel89's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25