The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

When Theodosia Benton abandons her career path as an attorney and shows up on her brother's doorstep with two suitcases and an unfinished novel, she expects to face a few challenges. Will her brother support her ambition or send her back to finish her degree? What will her parents say when they learn of her decision? Does she even have what it takes to be a successful writer?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

March 2024; Poisoned Pen Press; 978-1728290362
audio, ebook, print (400 pages); thriller

The Mystery Writer is the second book by Sulari Gentill that I've read. Back in 2022, I read the story within a story thriller The Woman in the Library. As the story within a story isn't a trope I encounter often, I thoroughly enjoyed that novel. So I had high expectations for this new novel.

From the beginning, the novel felt a little too formulaic. I get it, Gentill had a winning formula and wanted to exploit it again. But I don't like reading novels where I feel like "I've been there, done that". So I was skeptical that I could lose myself in the story as much as I did for the previous book.

Another problem I had with the book was the characters. They felt like caricatures rather than real people. They were a little too stereotypical and their actions didn't always ring true. 

Despite these issues, I did enjoy the book. It's a nice piece of escapist reading. I didn't have to keep track of a lot of characters or details. It was kind of like being on a rollercoaster that you've ridden several times. You might anticipate the twist and turn, but your stomach still plummets along with the free fall. 

If you are planning on a trip to the beach or just a lazy weekend at home, you can't go wrong with this book.

Buy The Mystery Writer at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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