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becandbooks's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Gentill has written a lot of her author journey into the book, with a main character that is exploring a style of writing completely beyond her popular multi-novel mystery series, drawing parallels with her own Rowland Sinclair. And it pays off. The nature of writer exploration within this book is genuine and interesting. But that is clearly not the highlight of this book.
Following the stunning and unique iteration of The Woman in the Library, Gentill wraps readers up in another unreliable, mind-spinning and unforgettable mystery tale. Meta elements, while they may confuse some, drag readers beyond the standard writer-creates-story format, instead warping the traditional author experience. This is a prime example of brilliant meta-fiction as book characters and authors blend, becoming irrevocably intertwined. The duet of "main characters" are wildly different, with literary and mystery genres contrasting brilliantly within a single book cover. This is a perfect book for readers who just want something completely different to their typical crime or mystery story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Miscarriage, Blood, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Detailed trigger warnings: adultery, miscarriage, grief and loss, murder, blood depiction, physical assault, home invasion, nonconsensual hospitalisation