catching a killer across the world

The mystery starts in the Reading Room of the Boston Public Library, where four individuals are quietly working, until they hear a scream in the next room. Security doesn’t find anything amiss, so they are all allowed to leave the library, but the four agree to meet again. Marigold is a psychology student. Whit is studying law. Cain is a writer with a book already in The New York Times. And Winifred, Freddie, is a visiting writer from Australia, in the country for a prestigious writing fellowship. And Freddie can’t help but be inspired by what they experienced in the library.

Especially after she sees the news later and finds out that the body of a woman had been found in the library. Had she been sitting in the Reading Room with a killer? If so, having three witnesses during the woman’s scream was a fantastic alibi, Freddie can’t help but notice, as her pen goes flying across the pages.

Freddie doesn’t know anyone in Boston, so she’s happy to meet these other three and learn more about Boston’s restaurants and attractions. She also makes the acquaintance of Leo Johnson, another writer with the same fellowship she has, who can help her adjust to America as well.

As Freddie and her new friends start to investigate the woman’s murder, she keeps up with her writing and finds herself drawn to Cain. But when his phone is used to call her, and all that’s heard is a scream, exactly like the scream they all heard in the library, Freddie doesn’t know what to think. Cain said that his phone had been missing, but who would know that she’s looking into the murder, other than the three other people who were in the library with her when it happened?

As Freddie keeps writing her story, the killer comes closer, sending photos of her door and then coming after those she cares about. And when she finds out that Cain had spent time in prison, Freddie doesn’t know what to believe. But she’ll need to figure it out quickly, as her novel takes shape, because she doesn’t have much time before the killer comes for her.

Meanwhile, as readers get caught up in the story of Freddie and her Boston mates, the real writer of this story, bestselling author Hannah Trigone, is writing this story from her home in Australia, and she sends each chapter to Leo in Boston, who fact checks for her and offers her the American equivalents of the words or phrases she uses. It’s like pulling back the curtain and seeing the magic of the writing. And where these stories go will surprise and thrill.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill is a funhouse of thriller stories, with the details of one story bleeding into the other and sometimes making you forget where you are. It’s layers of questions, compounded by secrets and lies and danger and intrigue. And it’s an amazing story that sucks you in and won’t let go, or at least, that was my experience.

I got to listen to this book on audio, narrated by Katherine Littrell, and I thought she was masterful. She had the Australian accent I thought was perfect for Freddie (most of the story is told by her), and she hit every beat with intelligence and strength, bringing the character to life.

The Woman in the Library is a suspenseful story on more than one level, and I’m not sure any description would do it justice. But if you love a good thriller and haven’t yet visited Boston with Freddie and her library friends, then this is a trip you’ll want to take. But make sure you’re seatbelt is on nice and tight and keep your hands inside the car at all times. Things get a little wild.

Egalleys for The Woman in the Library were provided by Poisoned Pen Press, with many thanks, but I bought the audio book through Chirp Books myself.