The Gallery Assistant

by Kate Belli

This twisty and sinister thriller follows a New York art gallery assistant reckoning with her past and now trapped in a web of deceit after an up-and-coming painter is murdered—perfect for fans of Katy Hays and Julia Bartz.

November 2001: Chloe Harlow wakes up late, with hazy memories of the party the night before but no recollection of how she got back to her Brooklyn apartment. Ever since the terrifying and catastrophic terrorist attack, it seems she has been on a collision course with destruction.

When she finally arrives at the exclusive Upper East Side art gallery where she works, she is immediately called into her boss’s office. A pair of NYPD detectives greet her, also very curious to know how her evening ended…because the host of the party, a rising painter and the gallery’s newest artist, is dead.

Navigating both the sophisticated high-stakes art world and her personal life in burgeoning Williamsburg, Chloe struggles to piece together a complete picture of that lost night. As she digs deeper, inconsistencies emerge between what she remembers and what people tell her actually happened, and more questions are raised. Everything begins to feel like a conspiracy and maybe it is. Because Chloe is the only one who glimpses the secrets the murdered artist left behind, and the closer she gets to the truth…the more deadly it becomes.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Adult, Thriller Suspense, Suspense

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 14, 2025

About the author

Kate Belli writes thriller and historical mystery. She has lived all over, from Florence, Italy, to Brooklyn, New York, to the Deep South, to a cottage next to Monet’s gardens in Northern France. Today she lives and works in Central Pennsylvania with her husband and son. When not writing, Kate works as a professor or a yogi, depending on the day.

Reviews

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe Harlow set herself up for the fall: she partied a tad too hearty and drank to excess on a regular basis.



So much so that on "that fateful morning," she was an hour late for work and could not remember how she had gotten home from a work-related party the previous evening.



...And this memory lapse would turn out to be crucial because apparently she was the last person to be seen with the murdered Inga Beck. Chloe worked as the curator's assistant for the art gallery where Inga's work was to be shown - and apparently Inga had focused most of her attention on Chloe that fateful night.



Things were looking bad for Chloe, but she refused to stop searching for clues as to what the cryptic messages in Inga's abstract paintings meant.



That nail-biter of an ending kept me on the edge of my seat. This was my first Kate Belli thriller, but it won't be my last. My only complaint would be that the plot relied too heavily on Chloe's drinking problem, which she somehow managed to tame while she was on the investigatory trail. Chloe had been trapped inside a stairwell in the Twin Towers during the 911 attacks. She and so many New Yorkers were suffering from PTSD, and this was her main excuse for disappearing into a wine bottle almost every night. In her afterword, the author reveals that she too used to work as a gallery assistant and was also in New York when the Twin Towers fell.

There were plenty of red herrings, possible culprits and baffling scenarios to keep anyone turning the pages until that action-packed ending!



I am rating this thriller 3.9 out of 5 stars, rounded up to a 4 since Goodreads and NetGalley do not allow for half stars. My thanks to Kate Belli, her publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review,

[ari [semi ia] · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you Atria publishing for inviting me to read this e-arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

dnf at 25%

i’m desperate for something that i will actually enjoy. 🫠

pre-read

i didn’t know this was a thing guys?! publishers invite you to read books?! dang 🤧

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean LOOK at this cover!! Dream come true for thriller lovers!!! AHHH we have a pink thriller!!! 🩷 I am in love!! 😍 Thank you @atriabooks @atriathrillers #atriapartner for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰

Pub date is 10/14/25!! 🥳🥳🥳

I have wanted to get my hands on this since the second I saw it. What is even better than a pink cover is a thriller set in the art 🖼️ world…. In New York… EEK!! 😍 See what I mean?? Don’t you want it?? 😂 Yes… you definitely do.

So our girl Chloe…well she had one too many drinks.. 🍸🍷🥂… but she still rolled into work the next day… Upper East Side art gallery…is Chloe’s work..😉

Back to the party… there was a murder… and the detectives 🕵️ want to speak to Chloe because she was the last to leave the party… ummm 😬… and Chloe was black out drunk… so there’s that. 😳

What did I love??

✅ A twisted thriller
✅ Set in the art world!!
✅ NYC!!
✅ An ending I never saw coming
✅ A fabulous author’s note that brought it all together

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kate Belli, and Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always eager to explore the writing of authors new to me, I reached for this ARC by Kate Belli. A scintillating thriller that had me turning pages well into the night, Belli packs a bunch of action into this piece. Chloe Harlow wakes up after a night of partying, unable to remember what happened. When she arrives at her place of employment, she is tasked with preparing for an art exhibition for an up-and -coming artist. Soon thereafter, the police arrive to ask questions. The artist has been murdered and Chloe’s whereabouts remains a mystery. Chloe learns that there is more to the story and soon wonders if she is to be the messenger, delivering a truth after the fact, which might point towards the killer. Belli keeps the reader hooked with this strong thriller!

Chloe Harlow is late waking up after a night of drinking with friends and colleagues one morning. She has no idea how she got home or what happened, but is sure to catch flack if she does not make it to work on time. She rushes into the gallery where she is an assistant and begins her day. This is soon abruptly halted when the police arrive to ask questions. They share that a local artist being featured at the gallery has been found murdered, a woman who hosted the party the night before. Chloe’s lack of memory about the party proves to be a troubling point for everyone.

As Chloe tries to remember, she discovers only shards of what happened. She has been tasked with leading a memorial exhibition for the artist and discovers some troubling aspects to the artwork that will soon be on display. Is Chloe aware of a secret communication the artist sought to convey? Chloe digs deeper and finds other messages that are not easily discovered, leaving her to wonder if she has tripped onto something important that might explain the murder.

While Chloe tries to share what she knows, people around her begin to question her mental acuity, for a variety of reasons. Chloe must find her footing and share this news before she is ignored by everyone. A killer is out there and Chloe will have to put the pieces together, while wrestling with her own inner demons. Kate Belli delivers a strong story that captivates the reader until the final page turn.

I love discovering new authors, as they bring a sense of excitement to their work. Kate Belli did that for me with this piece, leaving as many questions as answers. Her narrative clips along, layering itself to bait the reader to forge onwards. The storytelling keeps the reader guessing and never quite sure what they might have stumbled upon. Characters are both relatable and full of backstories to differentiate themselves from one another. Plot points keep the reader guessing and provide a pathway for numerous surprises as a killer lurks in the shadows, while also in plain sight. I will likely be back to look at other work by Belli soon!

Kudos, Madam Belli, for a refreshing spin on the thriller novel.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[TheConnieFox · Rating 2 out of 5]

♥ My Overall Thoughts ♥

I really wanted to love this fictional mystery thriller book, but it did not deliver. It is a short read and is a very slow burn. I do love the themes of the story, the short chapters, the synopsis and the diverse cast of characters. This is divided in three parts and is written from the female main character’s point of view. It is fast paced and easy to red. This book did not give me thriller vibes, but it did give me mystery and dark vibes. Just because this book wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it’s not for you!

♥ Synopsis and Rating ♥

“The Gallery” is centered around an art gallery assistant in New York, named Chloe. After an upcoming painter gets murdered, she starts trying to piece together what happened. Chloe starts to feel isolated and has PTSD from the 9/11 events. As the story unfolds, this starts becoming a murder mystery and everyone isn’t to be trusted. Overall, I rate this a 2 out of 5 stars.

♥ Content Warnings ♥

Content warnings include violence, mental illness (primarily PTSD) and murder. I think people that liked watching “Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art” on Netflix would enjoy reading this!

♥ Thank You ♥

Thank you to NetGalley, author Kate Belli and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.

♥ Publication Date ♥

This book is expected to be published on October 14, 2025!

♥ Quick Review ♥

🩷 Mystery / Thriller
✔️ Main Character’s POV
🩷 Dark and Mysterious
✔️ Main Character has PTSD
🩷 Murder of a Painter
✔️ Slow Burn
🩷 “Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art” vibes

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Alan (The Lone Librarian) Teder · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 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 Katy Hays (The Cloisters (2022) a.o.) and Julia Bartz(The Writing Retreat (2023) a.o.).

[ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - This was a good slow burn suspense novel. I love anything centered around art and the art world. This book is set about a month after 9/11, and there is a lot of tension and focus on it. I was pretty young when it happened, and also not living in the US, so while I definitely understand the tragedy and relevance, it also does not hit me in the same way it might for others. There are quite a few characters and I had a hard time keeping them straight. I loved the city setting and the writing style made it easy to follow. This was a solid mystery/thriller.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

[ReneeReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to get this book and based off the synopsis I thought I would love it. Unfortunately I did not gel with this book. This one is marketed as a thriller but I didn’t find much thrill in it. I am sure this book will be great for many readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Gina Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli
Chloe Harlow wakes up with few memories of how she got home after a glamorous art party—only to find out that the party’s hostess, a rising new artist, has been murdered. From there, Chloe’s journey unfolds, filled with twists, secrets, and the lingering trauma she carries from surviving 9/11.
I loved the glimpse into the amazing world of art. The suspense was palpable throughout the story. I didn’t know where the story would take me, and that unpredictability kept me hooked.
This was my first book by Kate Belli and it was such an easy, engaging read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful,mystery thriller.
Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. PUB DATE October 14, 2025
#TheGalleryAssistant #KateBelli #ArtWorldMystery #SuspenseReads #NetGalley #ARCReview #Bookstagram #MysteryReader #ReadersOfInstagram

[Abbie Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this thriller. The mystery kept me guessing, and the depiction of 9/11 added some emotional weight.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I'm a Kate Belli fan. I like the way she tells a story and her writing style. I've read and reread her previous books many times. She's a "must read" author for me.

This was my first mystery thriller and I understand why "thriller" gets tacked on there. I love mysteries, but have never felt the discomfort of knowing the heroine is in danger, but not knowing exactly why or who is after her. There were points when I couldn't put this down until there was a lull in that feeling because I was so nervous for Chloe!

Chloe works at a gallery whose newly-signed, up-and-coming artist, Inga, was murdered. While the investigation in the murder goes on, Chloe is charged with organizing the planned exhibition of Inga's work. Something unusual is happening at the gallery, though. There are murmurs of the owners having financial trouble, but they bid on one of Monet's Waterlilies at an auction. Chloe's boss resigns and disappears. Chloe thinks she sees messages in Inga's work. The owners of the gallery don't want her to talk to the detectives investigating the murder, but Chloe can't even remember the party because she blacked out.

Chloe is dealing with PTSD from 9/11 through drinking and partying. People are starting to believe the conspiracy theories about the attack. Who funded the attacks? Is funding for terrorism moving through the art world?

Coming from just outside NYC (yes, a bridge and tunnel type), the 9/11 storyline hit close to home and I found the treatment of that period made me emotional at points. It came as no surprise that Belli reveals that she was in Manhattan that morning. The flashback portion of this story was hard to read, but it was really well done. Chloe (and some of her friends) are messy, but it's understandable. I liked her and rooted for her, even though she made poor decisions at times.

Am I a thriller convert? Probably not, but I'll keep reading when Kate Belli is telling the story.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im not sure if authors are deciding now is a good time to introduce themes referencing the 9/11 attacks in their books but this is the second arc I’ve read this yes that features the events.. and I don’t know how I feel about that, maybe it is a good thing to give readers a safe space to process some old emotions but im personally just not a fan and it kind of leaves me with an uncomfortable sensation that distracts from the rest of the plot.

If I remove this aspect from the rest of the plot, the plot itself was pretty enjoyable. We have a confused main character and pieces of a mystery we are trying to puzzle together, strange messages. Memory loss, people acting weirdly makes for lots of questions to get answers for.

I’d say this was mid for me, without the Terroism plot thrown in it would have been 4⭐️

[Meghan Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy of this one. I've never read Kate Belli before, but this book leads me to believe we'll be meeting again. The Gallery Assistant is a well-paced mystery thriller that follows the protagonist Chloe Harlow, an art gallery assistant, as she navigates strange situations in her professional and personal life after one of her gallery's artists is found murdered. Suffering from PTSD after surviving the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11, Chloe is not sure if she can even trust her own memories in trying to unravel the truth of what's happened in her gallery. I thought it was smart to have this book take place in an era before the prevalence of cell phones, to keep Chloe's discoveries true to practical and real-time findings. Overall, I thought this story moved smoothly and was a page-turning read... who doesn't love a murder mystery set among the fine art world! But, there were perhaps one too many characters, who at points, I couldn't remember who they were - various gallery coworkers, Chloe's bar friends, and neighborhood friends. This was a surprisingly pleasant read and I would recommend to anyone looking for a Manhattan-based mystery.

[Braden Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE GALLERY ASSISTANT is a murder mystery set in the art world, and while I thought it was a quick and easy read with a fabulous NYC setting...it ended up being a bit underwhelming. Belli's protagonist is an unreliable narrator trying to fill in the gaps, and while I was intrigued to put those pieces together, I found my own theories to be more interesting than the resolutions we got. Belli sets the story shortly after 9/11, but because of this - it became less of a thriller, and more of an account of someone with severe PTSD from such a tragedy. I think that's interesting unto itself, but I found there to be such a schism between that and the mystery that it felt like two books in one, and the mystery portion was underbaked and boring to me. I wish I liked this more, but I have to be honest with my reviews, and this one was not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

On its surface, this book has many qualities of something I'd typically love, but I experienced some reading challenges along the way.

Chloe is the titular gallery assistant, and she's busy trying to figure out her personal and professional life at a difficult time: New York shortly after 9/11. When I first realized when this was taking place, I felt unsettled, and as I continued reading, I began to realize that I'm deeply uninterested in revisiting this time and place. I'm old enough to remember 9/11 very clearly, and I'm not far enough removed from it to want to travel back, especially for a fictional text. I got so distracted by the setting that I had a hard time getting into other elements of the novel. My feelings and memories may have been powerful enough to completely hamper my connection to the text. I'm including way more reader response here than I typically would on purpose. Prospective readers who learn about the setting and think they may not be into it should know that it can pose a real problem. It did for me.

The other main challenge I had? In terms of the characters and events, there was nothing intriguing enough to pull me out of the 9/11 spiral. This is a slow burn, but for me it was TOO slow. I couldn't find much to hold onto with Chloe, despite the fact that we have some obvious things in common even!

I was really hoping for a gripping, thrilling mystery, and I got some good moments but mostly tough memories. I'd definitely give this writer another try, but I'll hope for another time and place, at least, on the next one.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and SS Atria Marketing for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one kept me hooked, and it’s got a great pace to keep you entertained. The chapters move along quickly and aren’t too long. Single POV here! I enjoyed the art world setting and the variety of characters we got to know. I would’ve liked a little more background for our MC, I felt like we got a whole backstory for her roommate but her own past was more glossed over. Regardless, a fast & enjoyable mystery.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, lord! Finally, a thriller that was well written, great characters, twists, and turns. I felt like I was in NYC post 9-11 the way Kate Belli wrote. Also learned a ton about the art world, galleries, and auctions, which was super interesting. It's definitely a slow burn, but that doesn't scare me.

It was refreshing to find such a different take on the genre, and I highly recommend this little novel.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc!!

Date of publication: October 14, 2025.

[Tini · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly over the top exhibit of a murder in the shadow of 9/11.

Set in November 2001, the "The Gallery Assistant" blends a murder mystery with a psychological study of trauma in post-9/11 New York. Chloe Harlow is a young art gallery assistant struggling to hold her life together in the aftermath of personal and national tragedy. After waking from a hazy night of drinking, Chloe learns that a promising young artist - also the host of the party she attended the night before - is dead. She has no memory of how the night ended, and soon finds herself entangled in a murder investigation that threatens to unravel what little stability she has left. As Chloe tries to retrace her steps, she begins uncovering secrets buried within the New York art scene, realizing that the truth might be more complex and dangerous than she ever imagined.

"The Gallery Assistant" is author Kate Belli's first non-historical thriller, and probably her most personal. Not surprisingly, it shines brightest when it leans into what she knows best from her own personal experience. As a former gallery assistant herself, Belli brings the insular, high-stakes world of New York’s art scene to life with confidence and detail that adds richness and authenticity, from galleries and auction houses to exhibition prep and provenance research. Likewise, having lived in the city at the time, her depiction of post-9/11 New York, especially the rawness of PTSD and the paranoia that shadowed the city in the months after the attacks, is both powerful and emotionally grounded. With echoes of trauma, conspiracy, and a crumbling sense of self, "The Gallery Assistant" expertly explores the line between perception and reality in a city still reeling from collective grief.

However, the novel sometimes struggles to balance its dual identities of psychological trauma narrative and murder mystery. Chloe’s PTSD in particular, while central to the book and compelling in its own right, often feels at odds with the thriller elements, and rather than blending seamlessly, the two threads occasionally pull in different directions, giving the book a fragmented tone. Chloe is an intentionally unreliable narrator, which fits the genre, but she’s also frustratingly passive and self-destructive. Her frequent blackouts, binge-drinking, unprofessional work attitude, and impulsive amateur sleuthing make her difficult to root for, and though her flaws may be understandable given her trauma, they’re not always compelling to read about.

My main issue, however, was with the murder plot itself. While engaging at first, it slowly unravels into something overly convoluted, with cliché elements like bumbling cops and over the top conspiracy elements, convenient clues, and a resolution that lacks the impact its setup promised.

While "The Gallery Assistant" has a vivid setting and moments of emotional power, the overall execution feels uneven. Readers interested in art world intrigue and psychological trauma may find plenty to appreciate, but those seeking a tight, twisty mystery might come away underwhelmed. That said, this is a quick and atmospheric read, especially for those who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a strong sense of place. The 2001 NYC setting adds a unique layer of tension and historical resonance, even if it sometimes feels like it belongs in a different book entirely.

A novel with promise, but one that left me wishing the two halves of the story were more cohesively integrated and its resolution was a bit less over the top.

Many thanks to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Gallery Assistant" is slated to be released on October 14, 2025.

[Jen Ross Plude · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Kate Belli book and I don't think it will be my last! I was intrigued by the premise - a young woman, Chloe, living in New York and working at an art gallery while still suffering from extreme post 9/11 PTSD and survivors guilt after narrowly escaping the towers alive. About four weeks after 9/11, Chloe is invited to a party for Inga, one of the artists working for the gallery. Chloe overdoes it with alcohol (self medicating) and wakes up in her bed with no memory of leaving the party, only to discover at work the next day that Inga was murdered and Chloe was (allegedly) last person to see Inga alive. Chloe struggles to figure out what happened and fill in the holes in her memory, while nearly everyone around her is gaslighting her (SO MUCH GASLIGHTING). As Chloe discovers clues from the night of the party, clues within the artwork, and clues within the gallery - she questions herself and whether or not she can trust her closest friends.

The overall vibe of the book is pretty bleak because it takes place weeks after 9/11 and Chloe is very clearly unwell so that is something to keep in mind. It's hard not to feel for Chloe and I think the book can definitely warrant a trigger warning - she's clearly suffering, has no support system, drinks to self-medicate, and feels she can't trust herself. It was hard to read at times, probably because it was also somewhat relatable. I appreciated the vulnerability and self-awareness that the author provided in writing Chloe. That said, there were a few drawbacks to the book that I found off putting. For example - when things were starting to get dangerous for Chloe, I felt those situations were one of two extremes: either realistic plausible perceived threats, or straight up chaotic over-the-top chase scenes that didn't seem... likely. Then, after literally jumping in the East River to escape thugs, the next day she would go back to walking alone (albiet hesitantly) and basically proceed with her life as normally as possible, so that stood out to me as a strange deviation from the slow burn mystery of the story. Another one, (possible Gio spoiler ahead...) Another was her friendship with Gio - we know the basics: he's a nice guy, he's Italian and is close with his family, food is important, his NYFD brother was on vacation during 9/11, but that's pretty much all we know about him, yet he also seems to know the answers to fix all Chloe's problems without a second guess, accepts everything at face value, asks no questions, and this causes no issues or any inconvenience or risk to his life. It felt a little.. too easy. While it was great for Chloe to admit she needs help, finally open up to someone, and have someone on her side, I just wish his character was less of a swoop-in-and-save-the-day-guy.

That being said, it had a VERY satisfying ending! Would recommend for those who like mysteries and I'd definitely read more of Kate Belli's work in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC and for the email invite to read!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was specifically invited to read this particular ARC by the publisher's marketing team. While I don't always accept these requests because of time constraints, I decided to give this debut author a chance because I was intrigued by the description.

Chloe is a 26 year old gallery assistant to the curator of a prestigious art gallery. it's just a couple of months after 9/11. Chloe has been helping her boss Lou prepare for a new artist's showings, Inga, on one of her series. I appreciate art a lot, even if I'm not an expert or anything. Chloe lives with her best friend, Vik, who is a Masters of Arts student in Williamsburg. She has been clearly traumatized by the events of 911 but has pushed it down with alcohol. She drinks to the point of blackouts at times, and her friends are worried. Then Inga ends up dead at a party she hosted that Chloe attended.

There is so much atmospheric tension and fear that works well with the flashbacks Chloe experiences from 911. She has a group of friends, but as time goes by, after the police start questioning her and she suspects her bosses at the gallery as well as shadowy figures, she is somewhat isolated. Her life is at risk again. and her friend Gio rescues her.

The author wrote with much sensitivity and accuracy about the feelings after 911, and I could relate to Chloe, having been 25 and living alone in a different city when 911 happened. When we finally learn what happened to Chloe on 911, we can understand better why she acted the way she did. Her life being at risk over art fraud/forgery, the general tensions and fears, conspiracy theories, and racism aimed at Brown people was very accurate. I raced through this book as the pacing was impeccable.

Trigger warning for anyone who survived 911 or has loved ones affected by that day of terror. available 10/14/25. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone and look for this author's future books.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli was an extremely slow burn for me. Rather than building tension through non stop action, Belli built tension through the character dynamics. Belli had a moody, atmospheric writing style here and she layered her narrative with sensory details, lingering tension, and a measured pace.

Regrettably, this wasn’t a narrative that engaged me enough to ‘wow’ me. I found the writing style flat and overly descriptive which therefore made for a slow pace and voided tension from what could have been a gripping mystery thriller. On the contrary, Belli expertly generated a strong female protagonist. Juliet was a thoughtful, guarded, and introspective woman in her early thirties. She was trying to piece her life back together after a deeply traumatic experience. While she appeared unassuming and quiet, beneath her reserved surface was a sharp woman with a strong sense of self preservation. Watching Juliet’s transformation from the start as an emotionally guarded woman then learning to trust herself and others to allowing her trauma to no longer define her by confronting darkness rather than running from it, was intriguing.

Although I wasn’t captivated by Kate Belli’s “The Gallery Assistant”, I am interested in trying other books by her. All things considered, I think this book would be most suited for readers who are art world enthusiasts and those who love character driven and slow burn mysteries.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a hard night of partying, Chloe awakes in the morning with little recollection of the events at the party, including how she got home. And when she arrives at the upscale art gallery where she works , there’s two detectives waiting to speak to her, because the host of the party, a client of the gallery, was found dead. The Gallery Assistant starts off with a bang in this engrossing thriller set in NYC’s art world. I was hesitant to read this one, since that subject matter is fairly foreign to me, but happily it’s not the real focus here, as the police zero in on Chloe, who is suffering from PTSD from the 9/11 attacks two months earlier when she narrowly escaped the falling towers. This is a tension-filled mystery that takes you from the high stakes art game to the streets of Brooklyn where Chloe lives, and her support team of friends, some of whom she now distrusts. The first two parts had me furiously ripping through the pages, and there’s a bit of a decompress after that, but this is still an outstanding read that’ll keep you guessing. A pleasant surprise here, and highly recommended. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Drew]

Pub date: 13 October 2025

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I approached it with some hesitation—reading fiction about your own field can be tricky. As someone who works in and studies art at the graduate level, I’m often wary: if the technical details are too dense, it can be a slog, and if the historical accuracy is off, it can be distracting. Fortunately, this novel struck all the right notes.

At first, I wasn’t sure about the inclusion of the 9/11 storyline. I loved the early 2000s New York City setting, but I didn’t initially understand why the post-9/11 context was necessary—until everything clicked into place later on.

The pacing was strong, and the payoff was deeply satisfying. Our protagonist, while flawed, largely avoids the typical missteps you see in thrillers, which I appreciated.

That said, there were a few moments where the timeline within a scene felt off. For instance, in Chapter 29, it seems to go from midday to night in what the narration implies is only a few minutes. These small inconsistencies pulled me out of the story briefly, but overall, they didn’t detract from my enjoyment.

Given that this book is set in the months following 9/11, it includes depictions of the racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia that were widespread. I hope in the final version, the acknowledgments (or an added author’s note) offer a thoughtful note addressing these elements. Along with this, I hope sensitivity readers are reviewing these passages.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art world x New York City x mystery/thriller - with some of my favorite elements, I knew this story would have me hooked! Belli’s writing is incredibly atmospheric - I constantly felt like I was in a haze or a fever dream. Not sure who to trust, danger lurking around every corner, and more secrets to uncover with every page.

Belli perfectly captures the fear and trauma prevalent in the City post-9/11, but also conveys its immense strength. I loved her descriptions of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood and its tight-knit community of artisans and small-business owners. Belli’s personal background in the art world adds depth to both her story and her characters, and showcases the incomprehensible wealth that can easily lead to sinister acts.

This was a fast-paced, thrilling story. Chloe is such an empathetic character and I felt like I was racing alongside her to uncover the truth. I look forward to more novels in this genre from Belli!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Paige Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Atria Books for the invite to read this title in exchange for an honest review!

So, this was not my jam..
Issues for me:
-there was SUCH saturation of 9/11 within this book that it was tough for me to get into.. the toeing of the fiction / nonfiction line always leaves me feeling weird (this has happened a lot with COVID insertion too in other reads..)... it really didn't play much into the plot itself, so the sheer quantity of the book it took up didn't make sense to me
-I didn't get an edge-of-my-seat thrill / mystery ride.. more so an 'eh let's see who's behind all this'..
-No pull / attachment to the main character

Just because this wasn't it for me, doesn't mean it won't be for you! But yeahhh it's a no from me dawg on this one, unfortunately 😕

[Alex Morra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad I picked this up. It was a little different from my normal reading choices, but it was a fantastic art-world mystery.

Set just a few months after 9/11, the story follows Chloe as she gets plunged into a sinister art world plot, while struggling with the grief and trauma from 9/11.

I really enjoyed all of the characters and the development of the plot. It was certainly a "thriller" of sorts, but it was heavily character driven which I loved.

Pick this one up if you want a more lit-fic thriller!

4 stars!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC! This title will be out October 14, 2025.

[Kary H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book. I very much wanted to like this book more than I did. The setting and the premise were appealing. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to expectations. There were redeeming aspects to it: Chloe’s PTSD after having survived the terrorist attacks of 9/11 seemed well-researched and tied into the mystery well (her memory losses and drinking helped obscure what had happened on the night of the murder). Ultimately, I feel like the book tried to do too much.

SPOILER: One very minor note: I’m not sure how it was in 2001, but currently the NYU art conservation graduate program is fully funded, so Vik wouldn’t have had to turn to crime to pay for his graduate degree.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is honestly heartbreaking for reasons you really wouldn't expect. This is set 2 months after 9/11, with our FMC being in the North Tower when it got hit. This is sad and brutal; and in many ways showcased the repercussions felt by the locals after the attack. While the story itself has more to do with art and a murder, the underlying tone of sadness and grief is carried throughout; and because of this I wouldn't call this fast paced. It was slower than most thrillers I enjoy, but I was totally enraptured by how everything took place and all the connections.

[Deandra Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, you’re excited because the book is setup for you to think it’s a “whodunnit”? However, the pace was a bit slow for me and didn’t move quick enough to keep my heart rate up as I normally would expect with a thriller/mystery. The main character is relatable as a broke NYC girl trying to get by. Quite unpredictable which is always appreciated because the more you read this genre, the more you can anticipate some endings, but this was def a surprise. Enjoyable, quick read if this is your genre :)

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and author for my review copy. I've never read Kate Belli before, but I'd definitely be interested in reading more from her because this was quite entertaining. My rating is probably more like 3.5 stars. I thought it was well thought out and the pacing was pretty good. It was set in NYC shortly after 9/11 so the main character was dealing with some ptsd. I did enjoy diving into the art world because it's not something I know a lot about. It was relatively fast paced. The ending was mildly predictable and while I didn't have it figured out exactly, I was pretty close. That's really my only complaint...I just wished for a bigger twist. But if you're looking for a good thriller/mystery, check this one out!