Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

ISBN: 9781464215872

Four people who meet under strange circumstances form a tight bond due to a mysterious tragedy. Circumstances around the tragedy bring them closer to one another, even as the friends start to suspect that one of them has told the biggest lie of all. Author Sulari Gentill returns with a nuanced, layered mystery by giving the “locked room” concept a fun twist in the fantastic new book The Woman in the Library.

Winifred “Freddie” Kincaid is sitting in the Boston Public Library when she hears a scream. An Australian writer visiting on a scholarship, Freddie thought she’d spend some time in the library working on the manuscript that earned her the money to be a writer in residence. She keeps getting distracted by the three people sitting closest to her, however. Her mind wanders about who they might be, their lives, and why they came to the library.

When the scream happens, it gives Freddie a chance to strike up a conversation at the table with the others. Cain McLeod is a writer like her, although he’s so modest that Freddie doesn’t even learn about his bestselling novel until after she googles him. Marigold Anastas is studying psychology at Harvard, offering intuitive insight and witty observations. Whit Metters comes from a family of lawyers, so it makes sense that he’s studying law too. He doesn’t mind admitting that what he’s really doing is failing in an attempt to delay joining the family firm.

Before they know it, Freddie, Cain, Marigold, and Whit become close friends. The four begin spending time with one another, and they go from strangers to nearly inseparable in a drastically short time. Even though it’s a weird way to meet, they credit the screaming woman with kicking off their friendship.

Soon enough, though, the friends learn from the news that the scream came from a woman who was murdered. What’s worse, Freddie starts to suspect that someone in her new group of friends might be connected to the murder or at least have information about it. She waffles between going to the authorities, confiding in different members of the group, and her growing affection for one of them in particular. 

Mixed in the middle of all this is her challenge in parsing out the differences between American and Australian cultures and how to balance everything along with the book she’s supposed to be writing. When she came to Boston, she did so with full intention of finishing her manuscript. Now she worries she might have to save her life, and that of her new friends, as well.

Author Sulari Gentill takes a daring approach to the story of Freddie and Company by framing it with a larger story at hand: that of fictional author Hannah Tigone working on her newest novel about a group of friends in Boston embroiled in a murder mystery. In the hands of a less skilled writer, the frame approach might come across as contrived or drawing out unnecessary drama. Gentill, though, executes it with precision.

Hannah’s story is relayed through a series of letters with a pen pal that appear before each chapter, allowing readers limited information about who she is. As the novel progresses, however, and Hannah continues writing, it’s clear that she’s dealing with a mystery of her own. The book she’s writing about Freddie serves as a means for Hannah to solve that mystery.

Gentill balances both stories and keeps readers deeply engaged; in essence, she’s asking readers to offer their loyalties to two protagonists in two separate books. It’s a tall order, but Gentill’s careful plotting and treatment of all of the characters shines. As Freddie starts to poke into the mystery of the woman who died in the library, Hannah uses Freddie’s story to extract information about her pen pal. Both stories rely on one another to reach a climax that is unexpected, thrilling, and yet inevitable all at the same time. 

Gentill manages to surprise readers even while indicating where the story might end up, a complicated accomplishment worthy of the highest praise. Anyone who enjoys a good mystery that challenges them to think on their feet will definitely want to check this one out. I recommend readers Binge The Woman in the Library.