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booknerd7820 's review for:
The Mystery Writer
by Sulari Gentill
The Mystery Writer is the second book by Sulari Gentill that I have had the privilege of reading. The premise of this one is a budding novelist from Australia moving in with her brother to a small town in Kansas in order to pursue her dreams of becoming a published author. Soon, she is caught up in a murder mystery of her own when her new love interest, also an author, ends up dead and she becomes the prime suspect. Full of suspects with conspiracy theory addled minds, a shadowy writers' agency, and a family of survivalists all of which are the perfect ingredients for an intriguing mystery. The first 75% of the book is well written and builds anticipation as the plot unfolds and more untimely deaths occur around Theo, seemingly tightening the noose around her as a suspect as she rushes to find the real killer. However, the last 25% of the book simply jumped the shark for me. Although the ending technically fit the storyline, it was so outlandish and unbelievable that I felt like it could have gone in a less crazy direction and still had been true to the groundwork laid in the first three/fourths of the novel.
I did enjoy Gentill's writing and her character development was extremely well executed, but the ending seemed like it was almost written by someone else completely with POVs changing mid paragraph at one point and some reveals that came completely out of left field but could have easily been referred to early on without giving too much away.
Recommended for fans of mysteries that are not at all predictable, but still highly enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sulari Gentill, and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy Gentill's writing and her character development was extremely well executed, but the ending seemed like it was almost written by someone else completely with POVs changing mid paragraph at one point and some reveals that came completely out of left field but could have easily been referred to early on without giving too much away.
Recommended for fans of mysteries that are not at all predictable, but still highly enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sulari Gentill, and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.