I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.
Award-winning author Sulari Gentill delivers a sharply thrilling read with The Woman in the Library, an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated nature of friendship and shows us that words can be the most treacherous weapons of all. (Goodreads synopsis)
I have not read anything by Sulari Gentill prior to this, but I will begin to follow her.
I liked the way the novel started, with Freddie, Cain, Whit, and Marigold becoming fast friends following a woman’s scream in a quiet library. As a librarian, even a pin dropping can be cause for a scare, so the idea of someone letting loose a bloodcurdling scream sent chills down my spine. I was instantly captivated by the dynamics of the characters and the resulting mystery. I will say that I had a suspicion of the culprit, but I also read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, so I wasn’t completely astounded.
I didn’t like the additional story within the story concerning the “author” Hannah and her pen pal Leo. I just really didn’t see the point of the “letters”, and their significance to the ultimate story overall. I actually found it a bit distracting, because I was more invested in Freddie and company, that I only wanted to follow that story and not this seemingly random one.
The edition that I read had an author discussion with Sulari as a bonus. I did appreciate her take on what authors are currently facing concerning chronology in their projects as well as how the pandemic and social economic tensions might affect everything.
Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
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