The Woman in the Library

Bookseller recommendation

“I'd never thought of the term metafiction before, but in The Woman in the Library, Australian writer Sulari Gentill dives right into a recursive story of a writer, Hannah, writing a book about a writer, Winifred, who is writing a book and during a research trip to the Boston Public Library, becomes enmeshed in a murder investigation, using the people she encounters in her book. And then there's Leo, who Hannah is emailing chapters of the book to for comments. When Leo’s feedback becomes creepier and weirder, his story and the fictional mystery start to parallel each other, including a character also named Leo in Winifred’s story. Murders in two realities in one book; so intelligent and well constructed!”

— Genevieve • A Great Good Place for Books

Bookseller recommendation

“The book in a book offers some twists and turns that keep you guessing. It draws you into both stories and keeps you wanting to the last page.”

— Rae • Hidden Nook Booksellers

Bookseller recommendation

“A gently-paced, engrossing mystery. The author weaves in a unique secondary plot that adds to the "whodunit" intrigue. Kept me guessing until the end. ”

— Christy • Vintage Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Wow! The Woman in the Library delivers all the suspense and twistiness that you could want in a mystery thriller. I was looking for reasons to open the audiobook and listen every day. This cleverly constructed novel opens with a scream—literally—and doesn’t stop until you reach the finale. Winifred, an Australian mystery writer, finds herself sitting with three strangers at the Boston Public Library on an afternoon when the hallowed halls are shaken by the aforementioned scream. The four become friends, bonding over their shared bizarre experience and the mystery of the woman eventually found murdered in the building. What Winifred doesn’t know then is that one of them is the murderer... In a master stroke of plotting there is also a parallel meta narrative going on with emails to an Australian mystery writer who is 'writing' the mystery you are at this moment reading. I just loved this book, and I’m really intrigued by whether Gentill intends to expand the characters in another book. Buy and download this audio book immediately! Katherine Littrell’s narration is superb. You won’t be disappointed.”

— Sarah • Raven Book Store

Bookseller recommendation

“This was a fantastically eerie book that comes at you from multiple angles. The author has a unique way of telling a story within a story that has you constantly feeling like you’re being watched while you’re watching the drama unfold. It will have you on edge and constantly questioning who you can really trust.”

— Alisha • Reverie Books