The book begins with an email from an aspiring writer, Leo, to the Australian author Hannah Tigone, who is writing a mystery novel set in Boston. Leo is providing an American perspective. In the first chapter Hannah is in Boston on a writing fellowship, sharing a table with four strangers in the Boston Public Library. She is making notes on her companions as potential characters in her book when a scream from the next room jolts the four strangers into conversation, and they introduce themselves.

The beginning of the book, Leo's email and the first chapter, is confusing and rather dull, so I nearly gave up. The second chapter is from Hannah's book, which starts with four people in the Boston Public Library who hear a scream. The writer is now called Freddie Kincaid, and her three companions have the same names as the people in chapter one. So, there are three threads: the emails from Leo, commenting on the chapters Hannah has sent him for review; Hannah Tigone's thread; Freddie Kincaid's thread. It still sounds confusing, but it's easy enough to follow. A bit too meta for me, because I'd rather lose myself in the story than be drawn back into the artificiality of the writing process, but a quick and entertaining read. ( )

A mystery -- someone was killed in the Boston Public Library...

A very unique and fun mystery! I’m a big fan of the whole “locked room mystery in reverse” setup, and that coupled with the letters mixed in made such an intriguing dual plot. The final third sort of dragged a bit, and I couldn’t help but wish for a dash more creativity at the ending, but the whole thing had me making guesses and frantically trying to unravel the puzzle and that made for a fun time! ( )

A very imaginative plot with a lot of misdirection and a complex conclusion is highlighted by some wonderful characters and fast-paced writing. Gentill has created a story within a story through a set f fictitius emails about the story that her secondary main character is writing. Hannah Tigone is writing a mystery novel abut Winifred "Freddie" Kincaid, Cain McLeod, Marigold Anastas, and Whit Metters who form a bond after they hear a scream in the library and subsequently discover that a woman named Caroline Palfrey has been murdered. Though apparently strangers they form a friendship that is challenged by the investigation into the library murder and subsequent violent events. As Hannah writes each chapter, in Australia, it is being read and commented on by Leo Johnson, her correspondent in America. They are separated not only by distance but by the Covid virus. But all is not as it seems, either with the four from the library or with Hannah and Leo. Masterfully plotted out and skillfully written, it misdirects and misleads up to the final reveal. ( )

A strange story within a story. Hard to tell what is real and fiction. An interesting way to write a novel.Kirkus: Feedback can be deadly.Sycophantic fan and aspiring writer Leo charms his way into a friendship with successful author Hannah Tigone through a series of flattering letters. In return, she shares a strange incident that happened in the Boston Public Library, where she?s working on her new novel, an episode that begins with a scream and ends with this provocative sentence: ?And so we go to the Map Room to found a friendship, and I have my first coffee with a killer.? This, it turns out, is actually the beginning of Hannah?s new novel, sent in morsels to Leo, who faithfully offers thoughts and encouragement after every chapter. Gentill mines similar metafictional territory as in After She Wrote Him (2020), teasing readers with the challenge of deducing which of two narrative threads presents the author and which his or her story. As the mystery unfolds, the book expands into psychological thriller territory, with Leo becoming increasingly unhinged and describing the world as a rage-filled dystopia. Winifred ?Freddie? Kincaid, Hannah's mystery-writer protagonist, is as curious and resourceful as Miss Marple, and Hannah?s buoyant whodunit provides a bracing contrast to Leo?s dark world. Based on their appearances and their behavior in the library, Hannah gives her suspects names like Heroic Chin, Handsome Man, and Freud Girl. Lines blur. Freddie is so caught up in the twists and turns of the puzzle that she feels unable to write. Does Hannah have the same problem? Can Leo help her, does he genuinely want to, and where does he fit into the larger picture?A sharply drawn fictional hall of mirrors sure to tantalize and occasionally frustrate.