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There are currently 28 member reviews
for The Mystery Writer
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Lynn D. (Kingston, NY)
A fun mystery
This is a very fun mystery. It is fast paced, with lots of plot twists, some of which are quite improbable, but it all adds up to a good story. The main characters' personalities are well written and likeable, even though they are not described in much physical detail.
There is a subplot involving conspiracy theorists, which is confusing at times. In the end, the author is exploring the lives of writers, lawyers, publishers, and asking, 'who can we trust?' Good for readers of mysteries.
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Brenda D. (Lincoln, CA)
The Mystery Writer
Conspiracy theories and an unscrupulous literary agency make for a fast-paced mystery thriller. The plot involves a murdered writer, a young woman aspiring writer and her brother as it takes them down a long, twisting path to clear their names. Thematically it points out that conspiracy theories are dangerous and can be used to manipulate and direct action toward a specific goal. Overall I would recommend this book to a mystery lover and I thought it was an entertaining and interesting read.
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Lisa S. (Stamford, CT)
The Mystery Writer
I thought this mystery book had a lot of interesting plot twists, and really made me think about how real this book could be, even though it seemed so hard to imagine some of the things that happened to the characters. In the beginning of the book it seemed that Theo had made some poor decisions when sharing information, and trusting people. However, as she evolved in the book, it seemed that she was making much more dramatic decisions and trusting only herself. It was especially scary that Theo had to take care of herself while on the run, having her life dictated by a corrupt organization and trying to figure out a safe way home, protecting her brother at the same time. This was marvelously done!! Theo's commitment to her brother (and Gus to her), was such a great plot point, and felt it helped move the story. There was so much mystery within this book, and with clever descriptions, it was engaging and a bit stressful knowing that the families were safe. I liked also the plot points that Gus and Theo came from a very unusual backgrounds, and that their parents did not trust society (until they felt they needed to leave their compound), and that Mac also came from an unusual family background. There were similarities for sure, but also that these characters lived different kinds of lives and had a very strong sense of taking care of each other. Mac was my favorite character...I loved his attitude, his attention to detail and the people he cared about, how he was able to manage his family, and was really devoted to his work. I carried the book around with me so whenever I could capture a few minutes I would continue the book!
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Vicky S. (Salinas, CA)
Some surprises
The book kept me reading from the start. I appreciated the conspiracy theories though they were a bit crazy, but they usually are, aren't they? I did start to wonder if one of the main characters were not who they seemed to be. Conspiracy is contagious. There was some uneven pacing though and some choices I felt were farfetched. I enjoyed that the story was different from others that I have read, references to Australia which I know little about, the variety of characters, and use of writing and the printing industry.
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Gail G. (Hernando, FL)
An interesting read!
I found this book a little slow and confusing in the beginning but after about 75 pages I was hooked on the story. It's an unusual story with lots of twists and turns. I got a little lost a couple times with the conspiracies but I'm glad I stuck with it. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read about books and authors and enjoys plot twists!
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Elizabeth W. (Chesterfield, VA)
Intricate and intriguing plot
I typically read books with more descriptive language and character development, but this was still an entertaining mystery with a complex plot. It kept me guessing until the end. I'm planning to check out the author's other mysteries involving writers.
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Louise H. (KINGWOOD, TX)
MURDER AND DISAPPERAING AUTHORS, YIKES!
This plot is very unique. The book is fast paced and I never put it down for long. While the main plot theme--in the visible world--is farfetched, I could still see it happening.
Theo, attending college in Australia, needed a career shift and moved to Kansas (seriously?) where her brother lived. She used a local diner as her office, and, there, met another author. They strike up a friendship which ends tragically for him and life changing for her.
The sub plots also serve to keep the story moving--including a love interest for Theo; a web-based blog of conspiracy theorists who think people are disappearing and being experimented on; and a family of survivalists.
Years before, one of Theo's favorite authors died. The unique situation behind his death is explained and Theo is caught up in it.
