The Mystery Writer by. Sulari Gentill

 

My thoughts

This was a first for me by this author. I was intrigued by it and felt she did a pretty good job of making a thriller/mystery. While it did have just a bit about conspiracy theories in the beginning of some chapters it did by no means take away from the story. They are among us whether we like it or not. They will remain so and we might as well get use to listening to the crazy things they say and believe. Yes there are families in this story who have bunkers and stockpile food and weapons but it's only addressed with one guy's family and not in a way as to take over the story. I kind of feel bad for people who live this way. Scared at every turn. Even though they will never admit to being afraid of anything. It is what it is...

This book is about a brother and sister. Theo and Gus Benton. They are from Australia and were raised in a commune. Their parents were living a free and uninhibited life and raising their two children this way. Until something happened and Gus was sent to live with his grandfather and Theo was sent to a boarding school. 

Gus is a lawyer and part of a law firm that he started. Theo shows up at his home out of the blue after leaving college. She was going to be a lawyer but lost interest and truly wanted to be a writer. Thus her lack of knowledge in the laws.... For anyone interested.

Gus has a friend, Mac, who helps him out at times when he needs to find someone or something. Mac is a huge part of this story also. He's one of the most likable. His family are the ones living on a compound and believing in conspiracy theories. Mac does not believe in all of it and lives in his own place and works hard.

When a man that Theo started liking and who is an author is found murdered the action starts strong. Theo found him and called her brother immediately. They call the police and go through a lot of interrogation. This is where you will start reading a little bit at the start of some chapters from things people are saying and believing about the author's murder and his not yet released book. 

A lot is going on in this book and I can see where many will be confused reading it. It's truly a good one though. I loved how the author took me to the depths of these people's lives. Let us see what they were going through and how they related to the murders and yes there are a few murders. You get to know the three main characters intensely. And you find out what one publication company does to help people publish their books. Thank goodness it is not reality. 

While I didn't love this book I did enjoy it a lot. I found it to be an easy read and filled with a lot of actions and feelings. There is a couple of things about child sexual molestation that need to be tagged. Not explicit but it's there. 

Thank you #NetGalley, #SulariGentill, #PoisonPenPress for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Four stars and I recommend you read it. Enjoy.

About

There's nothing easier to dismiss than a conspiracy theory—until it turns out to be true

When Theodosia Benton abandons her career path as an attorney and shows up on her brother's doorstep with two suitcases and an unfinished novel, she expects to face a few challenges. Will her brother support her ambition or send her back to finish her degree? What will her parents say when they learn of her decision? Does she even have what it takes to be a successful writer?

What Theo never expects is to be drawn into a hidden literary world in which identity is something that can be lost and remade for the sake of an audience. When her mentor, a highly successful author, is brutally murdered, Theo wants the killer to be found and justice to be served. Then the police begin looking at her brother, Gus, as their prime suspect, and Theo does the unthinkable in order to protect him. But the writer has left a trail, a thread out of the labyrinth in the form of a story. Gus finds that thread and follows it, and in his attempt to save his sister he inadvertently threatens the foundations of the labyrinth itself. To protect the carefully constructed narrative, Theo Benton, and everyone looking for her, will have to die. 

USA Today bestselling author Sulari Gentill takes readers on a rollercoaster ride in The Mystery Writer , a literary thriller that turns the world of books and authors upside down and where a writer's voice is a thing to be controlled and weaponized, to the peril of everyone who loves a good story.