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A review by psellars11
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book’s premise intrigued me and drew me into it, however, upon reading it, I found it difficult to maintain interest until the halfway mark. Basically, these four random people begin to develop friendships because they are stuck in a library when a murder occurs. The book unfolds and they try to live their lives and tackle the mystery while also becoming suspicious of one another. It’s clear it was written in 2020-2022 with mentions of current events, which I thought were interesting but also dated the novel.
**Don’t keep reading if you haven’t finished***
I kind of expected the author to be building up one or two characters to make you suspicious of them the whole time, which is what happens essentially with Cain. He seems like the bad guy from all his bizarre secrets. But marigold has her own weird stalker ish tendencies which makes her suspect as well. I wasn’t expecting Whit to be honest, but I figured it couldn’t be Cain when nothing was revealed til the last few chapters.
Freddie was fine as a narrator, I didn’t like her but I didn’t hate her either. I DID appreciate that she was a writer and that premise kept her take on events interesting… but she was so susceptible to questioning everyone else but Cain, her undying loyalty to him just seemed unrealistic, to the point that she would aid and abet a potential fugitive. Marigold was also a psychology student at Harvard and that detail , her original name being “Freud Girl” but then hardly any psychological analysis or her discussions of psychology were such a miss. With that fact being so essential to her early identity it definitely could’ve had a better use. The characters had depth but I didn’t specifically find myself rooting for or vying for anyone’s success or detriment. They all had their own annoying quirks that could in theory make any one guilty of the murder or at risk.
Also the second story line was a bit confusing as there wasn’t any concrete discussion as to what happened or resolution to that, in the same way there was no resolution in the actual story of the four friends either. How did Leo go to jail? What were his intentions? The writer also doesn’t say much. I thought it was rather haunting ending with character Leo showing up saying he was ready to help when he gave me creepy neighbor vibes too.
I just think there was a lot more the author could’ve pushed in terms of resolution and information that would have been helpful to our understandings as readers. And lastly- what of Cain? Does he survive? Also it’s bizarre considering his backstory that all these people are in the waiting room of the hospital for him? When it seemed like no one loved him or supported him in his tortured childhood..? What happens to Whit is he imprisoned? I finished the book with so many more questions than answers.
**Don’t keep reading if you haven’t finished***
I kind of expected the author to be building up one or two characters to make you suspicious of them the whole time, which is what happens essentially with Cain. He seems like the bad guy from all his bizarre secrets. But marigold has her own weird stalker ish tendencies which makes her suspect as well. I wasn’t expecting Whit to be honest, but I figured it couldn’t be Cain when nothing was revealed til the last few chapters.
Freddie was fine as a narrator, I didn’t like her but I didn’t hate her either. I DID appreciate that she was a writer and that premise kept her take on events interesting… but she was so susceptible to questioning everyone else but Cain, her undying loyalty to him just seemed unrealistic, to the point that she would aid and abet a potential fugitive. Marigold was also a psychology student at Harvard and that detail , her original name being “Freud Girl” but then hardly any psychological analysis or her discussions of psychology were such a miss. With that fact being so essential to her early identity it definitely could’ve had a better use. The characters had depth but I didn’t specifically find myself rooting for or vying for anyone’s success or detriment. They all had their own annoying quirks that could in theory make any one guilty of the murder or at risk.
Also the second story line was a bit confusing as there wasn’t any concrete discussion as to what happened or resolution to that, in the same way there was no resolution in the actual story of the four friends either. How did Leo go to jail? What were his intentions? The writer also doesn’t say much. I thought it was rather haunting ending with character Leo showing up saying he was ready to help when he gave me creepy neighbor vibes too.
I just think there was a lot more the author could’ve pushed in terms of resolution and information that would have been helpful to our understandings as readers. And lastly- what of Cain? Does he survive? Also it’s bizarre considering his backstory that all these people are in the waiting room of the hospital for him? When it seemed like no one loved him or supported him in his tortured childhood..? What happens to Whit is he imprisoned? I finished the book with so many more questions than answers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder