Infinite Books

I love good mysteries – as a genre and as a palate cleanser – so I’m always looking forward to reading more thrillers in the summertime when “the livin’ is easy.”  After discovering that “The Woman in the Library” by Surali Gentill was recommended in the New York Times (May 27, 2022, “Murder, Blackmail and an Epic Battle to the Death in Australia”), I decided to plunge into this new thriller, written by an unknown yet for me author.

 The novel starts true to its title and, a bit predictably, inside the beautiful reading room at the Boston Public Library. An aspiring mystery writer, Freddie closely watches the three guests sitting with her at the table – she’s planning to use them as the characters in her new opus. Suddenly, the silence is interrupted by a woman’s scream. The body is discovered, and of course, all present become suspects. Outraged, the four people at the table start to talk about what happened and decide to meet again. The intent is to investigate the murder, and the accidental encounter becomes a casual friendship. These four reminded me of another four, although a much older group from “The Thursday Murder Club” series by Richard Osman. And it is a positive association.

The novel unfolds as “a story within a story” – one is the story of a newly formed group of friends: Freddie, the writer; Cain, formerly named Abel (Nomen est Omen?), another writer, the handsome one with a shady past; Marigold, a tattooed psychology student; and Whit, a reluctant Harvard law student. Among these four, a murderer is hiding who will not stop at one murder.

The second layer consists of the emails that the actual writer of the story, Hannah , based in Sidney, receives from Leo, a fan dabbling in literature. He provides research for the book, small local details, and comments. Initially sympathetic and kind, the emails turn from innocent suggestions to harsh instructions on how the novel should be written and are accompanied by photos of actual murder victims, often recent and unexplained.

I did not think that I would like this book so much. And, it turned out, I couldn’t stop reading! The language is mainly the characters’ dialogues, so it’s pretty simple. The action is also relatively straightforward, even with the layers:  aside from Freddie’s escape, Cain’s hiding, and some assaults, it consists primarily of going to restaurants, cafes, and many discussions about what the others are doing at a given moment. This book is intelligent and captivating. I’m glad that I discovered a new mystery writer, and I’m planning on reading more of Surali Gentill’s thrillers. And, I hope that in my local library, the eventual blood-curdling scream may be only a reaction to the devastating news that the book someone wanted was just borrowed yesterday…

THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY by Sulari Gentill, published by Poisoned Pen, 2022