Kate Belli

I have no idea why certain books get pushed to the bottom of my TBR pile. The Gallery Assistant just did not move up in my queue until a few days ago and to say that I was surprised by the beginning and much of the book would be an understatement.

I wonder how many young, and maybe not so young, people wonder how they got home on any given night when they stay for one more round and end up having one too many. I especially wonder about those who experience that drink induced amnesia, who try show more to put the pieces together while getting ready for work, dodging the blinding headache and bouts of nausea. And this story really made me wonder about anyone who went though all that and then receives the gut churning news that someone has been murdered. Well that may be a step too far for many, but it is the story that is being investigated in this book.

The Gallery Assistant would have been a home run, five star, mystery if I didn’t dislike the main character so much. Suffering from panic attics and nightmares from 9-11 and resulting PTSD figure heavily throughout, but the lack of support and treatment for these mental health issues - totally lacking. So, is the murder “another one-line tragedy” in a city where these things happen daily or is it going to morph into something more complex and sinister?

The story was fairly well plotted and executed but I just could not get past my dislike and disbelief of the characterization of the protagonist. Thanks to Emily Bestler Books / Atria and NetGalley for a copy. show less

Chloe is a young art gallery assistant who survived the Twin Towers on 9/11 and suffers from PTSD is suddenly thrust into a world of secrets, lies, and murder. While self-medicating with alcohol and struggling as a complete mess, circumstances force her to pay attention when she's swept into the middle of a murder investigation.
Belli includes a harrowing and haunting description of Chloe's September 11th Ground Zero survival story that will take anyone who remembers that day, and especially show more those who survived it themselves, right back to those horrific moments. This section is thoughtfully written and detailed enough to convey the full horror of what she experienced. You'll know when it's coming, so consider this your trigger warning, but it does help explain so much about Chloe's behavior and struggles throughout the story. Her PTSD and self-destructive patterns make complete sense in the context of her trauma.
This turned out to be a surprisingly layered story with elements I didn't expect. The writing is excellent, with sweeping detailed descriptions that give you a clear mental image of events as they unfold. Changing situations and rotating suspects keep you guessing right until the end, and I genuinely never saw the conclusion coming.
If you're looking for a mystery that combines emotional complexity with genuine suspense, this one delivers on both fronts. Just be prepared for the emotional weight of the 9/11 scenes, they're powerful and necessary to the story, but they pack a punch.
*I was invited to read by the publisher, through NetGalley, for an honest review (Atria Books) show less

This is a dark, atmospheric thriller that drew me in from the first page. Set in post-9/11 New York, it follows Chloe Harlow, a traumatized art gallery assistant who wakes up after a blackout to find that a rising artist has been murdered, and she might be the last person to see her alive. I loved the vivid details of the art world and the eerie sense of paranoia that grows as Chloe pieces together her lost memories. Although she’s an unreliable narrator, I found her deeply human and show more relatable. The story combines grief, ambition, and mystery with sharp writing and plenty of twists. It’s an unsettling but compelling read, perfect for fans of psychological suspense. show less

Art, Auctions and Murder
A review of the NetGalley eBook ARC released in advance of the Atria/Emily Bestler Books hardcover / eBook / audiobook (to be published October 14, 2025).

I will confess that the sloppy, blackout drunk is not a favourite lead of mine, so The Gallery Assistant did not initially create much empathy for me when it opens with main character Chloe Harlow awakening on a morning after a lost night before. The world of art galleries, high-end auctions, suspicious art dealers show more and purchasers was still enough to pull me in for this suspense thriller.

Author Kate Belli sets this story in the unsettling time of the aftermath of September 11, 2001 (i.e. 9/11) in New York City. That atmosphere of general paranoia creates the background to disturbing events at the exclusive art gallery where Chloe Harlow works. She arrives that morning only to discover that the artist host of the party from the night before has been found murdered.

The gallery is operating under possible tight financial circumstances and when Chloe's supervisor is laid off, Chloe is suddenly promoted to curate the upcoming show which will feature the work of the newly dead artist. The situation becomes more suspicious when she discovers that her mentor has disappeared. But then Chloe begins to discover possible clues to the artist's murder in the paintings that were left behind. Can she piece those together with any fragments of memory from the lost night in order to solve the murder?

So despite the rocky start, there was a redemptive arc to Chloe's story and the overall atmosphere of the gallery setting and the unsettled world in late 2001 made for an entertaining read nevertheless.

My thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance ARC copy for which I provide this honest review.

Trivia and Links
Author Kate Belli is best known as a writer of historical fiction with her 4-book series of the Gilded Gotham Mysteries (2020-2023) set in late 19th century New York City.

The promo for The Gallery Assistant notes that it will appeal to fans of [author:Katy Hays|21851153] ([book:The Cloisters|61054804] (2022) a.o.) and [author:Julia Bartz|22202576]([book:The Writing Retreat|61273863] (2023) a.o.). show less