Title: The Woman in the Library
Author: Sulari Gentill
Publication: June 7, 2022
Publisher: Poisoned Pen press
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 292
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
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.
REVIEW
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill sounded like a ‘who-dun-it’ right up my alley with murder, mystery and mayhem. Four strangers sitting with each other at the public library in Boston and a screen rips out. Later a body is found. One is a murderer, but which?
These characters were an interesting bunch. Freddy was probably the smartest and my favorite. I found her personality interesting, but I found some of her behavior regarding Cain a little annoying and frustrating. She was blindly following without ruling out possibilities of his suspiciousness. I was not a big fan of Marigold or Wes. Cain was actually one of my favorites. While he was meant to be the dangerous bad guy suspect, his rough around the edges personality and the fact that he was so obviously the suspect that I never thought it could be him. Author Gentill definitely knew how to keep me guessing because when the outcome came to light, I was surprised.
My only issue with this book was that it seemed to move along slowly. The story was interesting, the characters were catchy and likable… and suspicious, but the rest was just a slow, slow build. I only feel this would have been great if it moved a little bit faster. Otherwise this was a good story I would recommend to lovers of mystery. A definite read for your fall schedule.
