Available now as an e-book, and in Hardcover, at these retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books (digital only), and BookShop.org
Reviews
The Strand Magazine ranks Must Read Well one of the TOP 25 MYSTERY NOVELS OF 2022: “Pall left nothing on the table with this novel. If you’re into a writer who writes with the style of John Cheever, but adds a touch of menace, then this novel is for you. Must Read Well is one of those novels filled with subtle notes, hidden secrets, and after the final page, you’ll call a friend and insist they read the book, because great literature should not only be read, it should be discussed.” - Link to top list
Starred review from Kirkus: Pall’s novel takes a deep dive into the personal lives of New York writers and musicians, and it has a premise that many readers are sure to find irresistible.The novel’s unpretentious sophistication and smart, savvy characters make it an enjoyable read—one that’s heightened by the unexpected and satisfying conclusion. - Link to Starred review
Five Star Review from The Book Commentary: “A work of rare beauty, deftly written… An immersive, gripping, page-turning psychological thriller.” - Link to full review
From Mystery and Suspense Magazine: "Intriguing, intelligent, absorbing and thoughtful, and best of all, well told." - Link to full review
From The Gloss: From the beginning, Must Read Well, with its escalating game of discovery and deception, is difficult to put down. Pall explores themes of ambition, love, literature, betrayal, and feminism as she creates a psychological thriller that ends with a unexpected twist. - Link to full review
From Shelf-Awareness: "Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby and John Lutz’s SWF Seeks Same had better scooch over to make room for Ellen Pall’s Must Read Well." - Link to full review
From Reedsy: A unique and engaging read which must be read well. A fascinating story of a young scholar and a feminist writer. - Link to full review
From Publishers Weekly: A “subtle psychological thriller . . . this story of ambition, love, generational differences, and the power of words will resonate with many.” - Link to full review
From Midwest Book Review: “Must Read Well is a novel steeped in interpersonal relationships, suspense, and revelation . . . gripping on many levels and highly recommended.” - Link to full review
From BookPleasures: “One excellently rendered scene follows another in Pall’s profoundly moving narrative, a penetrating and provocative exploration of the lingering impact of secrecy and guilt involving forbidden love.” - Link to full review
From Foreword Reviews: “Must Read Well builds toward a late twist and a resonant conclusion that indicates that people are more than the sum of their experiences. It is an incisive novel about reckoning with the past.” - Link to full review
From We Magazine for Women’s Worth Reading List: - Link to full review
From Mystery Scene Magazine: “A slow burn that pays off as the ambitions of two clever, cunning women come to a finale that’s both fitting and fiendish.”