A review by mg_in_md_
The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

4.0

This is my third novel by this author, who is quickly becoming an auto-read for me. The latest stand-alone mystery had me hooked from the beginning. With elements of a fish out of water, a global conspiracy theory, Doomsday preppers, a murder mystery, and a shadowy publishing industry set against the seemingly quiet backdrop of Lawrence, Kansas, I could not help but wonder where the story would end. There were twists and turns galore, with red herrings sprinkled in along the way. The many moving pieces could have taken the story in a number of directions, so I enjoyed seeing how they all fit together as events unfolded and ultimately came to an end.

Later in the story, I felt like some of the transitions in the action were a bit abrupt. The story sometimes jumped forward in the timeline and picked up from a different character's perspective, so I found myself trying to reorient myself before proceeding with a new chapter. While it did not detract from my reading enjoyment, I can see where it might make it harder to follow the story. This is a slow-burn of a thriller that requires some attention. I felt that the pacing was excellent for the moody, murky, and off-kilter atmosphere of the story.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the NetGalley copy and a chance to read this novel prior to publication!