The Mystery Writer - Sulari Gentill - Top Book Pick!

Mystery

Rating: 8.5/10

When Theo shows up on her big brother’s doorstep with an abandoned life plan and an unfinished novel in hand, she never expects to be drawn into a hidden literary world. One in which identity is something that can be obscured and remade for the sake of a reader. Or stolen might be a better way to put it.

Deciding to dive headlong into her dream of becoming a novelist, Theo befriends Dan, a published author who she turns to for advice and friendship. Even sharing her unpublished novel with him. When he calls her over to his place to chat about it, she finds him dead and her whole world is thrown off its axis.

A few weeks later, when Dan’s publisher reaches out with an offer for her book, she is excited to discover he must have liked it enough to share it with them. That is until she discovers that the agency has certain…rules. The most imperative one being no relationships of any kind without preapproval. After all, it wouldn’t look good for a client to have an imprudent assignation.

I loved the portrayal of writing and publishing as something murky and even murderous in its path to success. I always thought of this circle as a quiet bunch with great restraint, but maybe they are relentless in their ambition to get to the top. Never hesitant to crush the competition by whatever means necessary.

What blood thirsty fun!

Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the Author for the advance readers copy.

Book Pairing(s): The Woman In The Library by Sulari Gentill, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz