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: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

288 pages, Hardcover

First published 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 [violet’s vrsn 🩵] [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

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Belli's upcoming thriller, THE GALLERY ASSISTANT, has been getting some buzz as of lately, so I knew that when I got a copy that I'd have to dive in. Thank you @atriabooks @atriathrillers for my gifted copy! I chose to venture the audiobook route and I can't say enough good things about the narration, thank you @librofm for this gifted ALC! If this is what I come to expect from Kate Belli's thrillers, then I want more!

I dove into THE GALLERY ASSISTANT not quite knowing what to expect and it turned out to be a popcorn thriller that hooked me right away. Chloe Harlow wakes up after a night of drinking with no memory of how she made it home. Before I hear the peanut gallery clapback about the drinking trope, SORRY BUT I STILL ENJOY IT AND IT'S FUN IN THIS ONE. Chloe drags herself to the art gallery where she works, only to be met by detectives delivering chilling news—the rising artist at her gallery is dead. With her memories fractured and her alibi being sus AF, Chloe is pulled into a dangerous game, uncovering cryptic messages hidden in the artist’s work that may point straight to the truth or the killer.

This book is juicy and fun, but also weaves the tension through sharp writing and a traumatic backdrop of New York’s post-9/11 world, giving the story both atmosphere and grit that I personally related to as someone who had dealt with the chaos of New York during 9/11. Chloe’s blurred perception makes the mystery feel all the more unsettling, as every revelation raises new questions. THE GALLERY ASSISTANT is the kind of book that keeps you suspicious of everyone. Sleek, unnerving, and full of secrets, THE GALLERY ASSISTANT makes me want to see what else Belli has up her sleeve.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli. There was a complex mystery involving murder, financial manipulation of artworks, and fraud, all relating to Chloe's work as the new Gallery Assistant. Artist Inga Beck threw a party in November 2001 to celebrate that her abstract paintings were to be featured and exhibited in the NYC gallery. Chloe cannot remember much about the party or how she got home to Brooklyn.
Chloe is a heavy drinker who has blackouts, is passive, and is self-destructive with casual sexual affairs. There is a detailed description of the time she was trapped in a Twin Tower during the WTC terrorist attack. She made her way out from a 70+ floor, but still suffers from the terror and survivor's guilt. This traumatic experience is supposed to account for her personality flaws, but it may also be blamed on her excessive drinking.

She is questioned at work by two police officers, as Inga was murdered shortly after the party ended, and Chloe is believed to be the last partygoer to see her. She is determined to find out what happened at the party. There is a difference between her scattered memories and what friends tell her. Chloe finds cryptic clues passed on to her by Inga, as well as hidden in the artist's paintings. Her attempt to find Inga's killer leads her deep into the complex world of financial art manipulation and fraud.

Combining the 9/11 terrorist attacks with the mystery in the NYC art world did not work for me. The two stories were different in tone, and the description of Chloe escaping during the building collapse could be disturbing to many readers. I think just a mention that she was there and her resulting PTSD would be sufficient. The slow pace caused me to lose focus on the complex art mystery and the reasons behind people dying and disappearing.

The premise of the story was strong, and I wanted more of the fascinating details regarding the NYC art scene. The collective trauma of 9/11 should be diminished or avoided. The book's publication is scheduled for October 14/2025.

[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/

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gallery Assistant is, as in so many light (psychological) thrillers nowadays, a young woman who doesn’t know who she is and what she wants to become. Chloe (it’s always a Chloe or a Sarah) is in her mid-twenties, suffering from PTSD and a full-blown alcoholic. She narrowly escaped from dying during the 9/11 attacks and when she finally tells us the whole story, I can fully understand why she’s still suffering. It’s only two months since the attacks but she stubbornly denies that she needs help with her trauma. Instead of seeking help, she drinks and she parties.

One day Chloe wakes up having no memory of the night before, when she was partying with friends on occasion of the gallery she works for signing up a young but very talented painter. What happened that night is the story that takes up the most part of the book. Added to that we see how Chloe suddenly gets promoted but there is something very fishy about that, and how she and some of her friends are trying to come to terms with the fact that said talented painter was murdered on that fateful night.

I liked the parts where we get a glimpse of how the art industry works and the descriptions of the various paintings. I could almost see the paintings in my minds’ eye. Sadly Chloe keeps making mistakes in her quest to find out who the murderer was – she drinks even more and completely ignores the people around her who want to help, including one very kind neighbour. In the end it all comes down to rich people wanting to get even more rich and the illegal ways they use to do that.
Five stars for this title because, despite the small flaws I noticed in the way the three (yes, three) stories) come together, I enjoyed reading it very much. The story of how Chloe escaped on 9/11 made me hold my breath…

Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Edelweiss for this review copy.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book!! Great mystery that keeps you guessing, and suspicious of pretty much everyone. The storyline is very well written, and it makes me very happy when all the loose ends are tied up in the end. This is worth the read!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[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

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: Oct. 14, 2025

“Deception by Gaslight” series author Kate Belli has written a new standalone novel, “The Gallery Assistant”, the story of a young woman, living in New York City a few months after 9/11, who, while trying to deal with her ongoing trauma, discovers the dark side of the art world after an up-and-coming artist is killed.

“Assistant” takes place in 2001, partly to help readers understand the protagonist, Chloe’s, trauma that resulted from her experience in the first tower during the attack. Also, when the dead body is discovered, it adds more intrigue to the investigation as, although cell phones are more readily available, not everyone has one (including Chloe) and they are not as advanced as they are today, making everyone work that much harder to uncover secret clues.

Chloe should be relatable to most readers, as a young woman who failed in both college and as a New York actress, she falls into the art world when a friend offers her a coveted position. However, she manages to find her place by the end of the novel, feeling comfortable in her own skin and in a new relationship, which is worth cheering for.

“Assistant”, obviously, takes place in the art world, but it isn’t heavy in artistic language or theories. Most of the behind-the-scenes art world depictions are recognizable and understandable to those of us (like me) who are completely clueless in this area. There are a lot of moving parts involved in the production and distribution of art, and “Assistant” merely helps readers understand that aspect a little more, without confusing readers or overpowering the suspenseful plot.

The mystery itself is suspenseful but Belli does conclude it in a satisfying way, bringing all of the plot points together.

Although the “blacked out from drinking and don’t remember what happened” murder mystery trope has saturated the market as of late, “The Gallery Assistant” is still well-written and worth the read!

[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.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story but long-winded if you're not really into art. I was here for the 9/11 angle and I got too much art talk. I didn't know what was real and what was fictional when it came to art talk and it kept its 9/11 secrets too long.

I will say that it was well-written and atmospheric in a genuine way, not just leaning on 00's stereotypes for inauthentic nostalgia.

I read a book with a somewhat similar theme to this a few months ago, ie art world and 9/11. Perhaps that's why I wasn't as into it. It felt like a world I'd already slightly dipped into but never fully submerged.

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging debut thriller set in the aftermath of 9/11 in the New York art world.

The plot was interesting, the main character was very likeable, there were some great suspenseful scenes, red herrings, twists and turns, and a tense and action-packed ending.

But this was also a story about trauma (specifically from 9/11), racism, and classism, and these issues were well integrated and sensitively handled. I also liked the author’s writing style and thought the descriptions of famous pieces of art were vividly done - it’s not surprising given the author worked in an art gallery. The main character’s flashback scenes to 9/11 scenes in the Twin Towers seemed so real.

I really enjoyed this one and will be looking for more from this author.

Thanks to the publisher for this digital copy. All opinions are my own.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mid-week party for an art gallery has Chloe waking up not quite sure how she got home (and what time). But when she gets into work late and still hung over, her second stop - instead of coffee - is with the police.

What follows was an interesting mystery. It felt a little over-the-top but it did involved art and artists so it wasn't too much of a surprise. At first Chloe was a tough main character. She's unreliable, drinking to black out often, and it's hard to be with her as she moves from party to party. But once the plot got g0ing and it was important for her to stay sober and level headed, it was nice when we could depend on her.

I also think this story did an amazing job of really painting the PTSD that New Yorkers might have experienced after the event. It was well done, highlighting little parts of life in New York that I didn't even realize might have had triggers and be upsetting for many there. Most disheartening were the terrible conspiracy theories they had to listen to. I didn't blame them for being mad (but I did blame them for their racism!).

An interesting mystery set back in 2001 just after the 9/11 attack involving the art world and all the money and power that that environment holds.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[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.

[Janie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a moody, atmospheric mystery set in New York City just two months after 9/11, and it intertwines the grim legacy of trauma with art-world glamour and death.

Chloe Harlow is flawed and vulnerable- she carries PTSD from being in the North Tower, drinks to dull the memories, and is often unsure whom she can trust. This lends her a fragility that makes her compelling.

The art world setting is richly drawn. There are effective twists, red herrings, and the sense that memory itself is an unreliable guide, which heightens the tension. As Chloe pieces together fragments from the night of the party, the mystery deepens.

Emotional, Thoughtful, and Mysterious! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 10/14/25.

[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.

[Hannah | Reading Under Covers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for my early copy for review - out October 14!

THE GALLERY ASSISTANT by Kate Belli follows Chloe in the months after 9/11 as she navigates her city and job as a gallery assistant while in the throes of PTSD and conspiracy theories. When someone associated with the gallery is found murdered, Chloe takes it upon herself to solve the case when she begins to find secret messages.

There were parts of this book that worked really well - despite being a slower paced story, I was engaged for most of it and had a difficult time putting it down. The author's knowledge surrounding the art world and New York were apparent and the research she did do shone through.

However, 9/11 is a major part of this story - our main girl Chloe was in one of the towers - and, while the acknowledgements offered me some clarity from the author, it felt like just a way to give Chloe some major PTSD, a drinking problem, and lent itself to the conspiratorial nature of the story.

I'm not sure I would have picked this one up if I knew how forward-facing that event would be, especially mixed into a fictionalized world with a murder mystery that lacked in its payoff.

I won't write Belli off because I do thing there were some strong elements within her writing, but this one was not for me!

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

RTC

[Krissy (books_and_biceps9155) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @atriabooks and Emily Bestler books for my copy! I was super excited for this! What a fun and bingey popcorn thriller! Set in the Art Gallery industry, around 2001, Chloe is a late 20s woman with a slight alcohol problem (done very realistically might I add) who suffers from PTSD after being in the Twin Towers during 9/11.

I had no idea where this one was going at all. I thought I knew, and Belli proved me wrong. I loved the drama, the juicy tension and the backdrop of NYC (thank god for armchair travel) so it made for some great escape. The PTSD and 9/11 trauma were handled with care, and I really appreciated the ending. This is my first Belli, and it will not be my last!

[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.

[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.

[Tanya Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe has been drinking a lot to numb the pain from being at the 9/11 site when it all happened.

She would be hangover the next day but would always remember the previous night.

But not this time. She wakes up in her bed naked, no recollection of how she got home from the work-related event, and why she was naked. That morning, she gets ready to go to work as usual but no matter how hard she tries to remember, she can’t.

This memory lapse turn out to be more important than she thought. Shortly after getting to work at the Gallery, she’s being called into the owner’s office and detectives are waiting for her and Lou. He was her boss, a curator, and was in charge of Inga’s new collection.

She was apparently one of the last person to see Inga alive.

As she tried to piece in the night together, lots of strange things are happening. She was the assistant of a curator, Lou, and he suddenly disappears, she has fragments of memories, and people are acting weird around her.

But why!l? What is she missing? What clues does she need to follow to help her find the missing pieces?

All the while, Chloe was suffering from PTSD from being inside the stairwell of the Twin Tower during 9/11. People thought she was just too drunk, or having episodes.

This was a gripping, fast pace thriller. As an artist, I really enjoy the how I could relate to some artists or the work behind a gallery front.

I recommend it!

Thank you to Kate Belli, NetGalley and her publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a knockout of atmosphere and heart! It’s rare to pick up a book that feels this fully formed in every aspect, from pacing to character to atmosphere. This story never dragged, even when everything seemed like it might slow. Instead, this author pivoted just in time, pulling me into new mystery after new mystery.

Chloe was deeply flawed and darkly haunted. She carries trauma in such a raw, honest way that I had moments where I didn’t like her. However, every new detail about her past, every crack of vulnerability, softened me and made me begin to fiercely root for her. She was more than just the sum of her scars.

The mystery element was definitely my favorite part. I never quite knew what was happening, and that uncertainty fueled my imagination. My theories were all over the place, many wrong, which only added to my investment. The darker mood, the unreliable memories, shadows of 9/11 trauma, all of it intertwined beautifully. The way the 9/11 element was used was subtle but powerful. I felt the weight of what was being referenced, the loss, the trauma, and yes, that scene pulled tears.

Overall, this was not just a thriller. It’s a character driven, atmospheric, almost haunting dive into memory, trust, and what we try to forget.

Single POV
Safe - not a romance although there is a touch of it
Triggers alcohol use bordering on abuse; flashback to events during a window of time on 9/11 in detail; trauma; PTSD