What a great mystery; I never saw the ending! A woman returns to her home town after her father's death and her mother's disappearance. A job at the local college provides her with little income to keep her and her family"s cook to keep them going. Preparing to sell her father's massive book collection, she stumbles upon hidden secrets that could expose people in the small university town. Set in the Hudson valley (where I now live), I loved every minute of this book. Looking forward to more from this author.

This book was ambitious and tried to accomplish a lot. From gender inequality, forced mental asylum visits, murder, blackmail, rape, war, Germans, race inequality and romance. It was fractured and hard to follow along with. I would have liked a couple of relevant topics of the WWII time and not all of them at once.

Estella, or E, has returned to the home where she grew up as a professor's daughter. Her father, now dead, was a well-respected man in literary circles. Presently working at the college herself, E. is witness to the shocking suicide of the dean. As she tries to come to terms with what she saw, she continues to search for her mother who has been missing for almost a year. Many believe her to be deceased, but E. believes she's still alive and is determined to find her.
The setting of the early 1940s adds to the atmosphere of this mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in E.'s grand old family home and stood in cerebral solidarity as she discovered more than one family secret. The addition of strong female characters pushed it up to 4.5 stars for me.

What a great book! I absolutely loved how twisty and clever this one was! I was totally engrossed from beginning to end and would definitely read from this author again, So, so, so good!

I am sorry but this one was not for me.
The pace was too slow for me.
I could not finish it.

Hence i wont be posting it.
Thanks.

Dark academia vibes.
A thriller that had me guessing a lot.
Engaging characters and plot.
Higky recommend.

The Dark Library

by Mary Anna Evans
Pub Date: Jun 24, 2025


This book has a slow burn-beginning and picks up speed after chapter 10. It is one of those books where the details that are shared with the reader all play a part later in the story and they are important to bringing the entire novel together! No matter how enticing it seems to skip over the boring details do not do so or you will find yourself having to re-read these important items.
I found this book very difficult to get into at the beginning, but it does pick up speed if you stick with the entire thing. Once you get hooked you are in for the duration as the plot continually takes you in different directions. Just when you think you have gotten it down another loophole throws everything you thought you believed out the window. Another suggestion is to not try to guess the villain. It is never who you think they are as you will see in this book.
I was really surprised at how well I liked this book after the rocky beginning that I felt took me forever to get into. These tend to be the best books if the author does the job and combines everything in a likable, believable, and enticing story. This author has done this in spades with this book. It takes time to get into the storyline but once you do you will be hooked. It will be well worth the read and I am sure it will be a book to not forget. Ever. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable book with surprises, mystery and heroines to die for. Literally.

Give me a dark academia book any day. Anything that has a library in it, I will devour. This was a nice pace of thriller, it wasn’t too stressful or intense, which was a nice change.

Mary Anna Evans' archeological mysteries have always been a favorite of mine. I was thrilled to see a new title by her. THE DARK LIBRARY has a seriously gothic vibe that the author uses to an advantage to create mood and suspense. There were a number of threads to connect by the end and she did a great job of connecting them all. The ultimate solution wasn't exactly a surprise, but the book needed a little more emphasis on the possibilities that turned out to be the solution. The characters were beautifully drawn and I enjoyed the read, just felt a little disappointment at the ending.

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans was a delightful departure from my usual reads—and I couldn’t put it down! The plot pulled me in, leaving me constantly wondering where the story would twist next. From the moment E's father’s secrets began to unravel, I was captivated, knowing that her journey would be one of discovery and determination.

E’s resilience as a female academic navigating a society stacked against women is both inspiring and deeply moving. Evans weaves this theme seamlessly into the narrative, making it a story as much about personal triumph as it is about mystery and history.

Bentham-on-Hudson, though fictional, felt entirely real to me. The vivid descriptions of the town, the striking beauty of E’s family home, and the evocative emotions tied to her circumstances—the loss of her parents and the financial burden she inherits—made it all leap off the page. I never once questioned the authenticity of the world Evans created.

Mary Anna Evans is a true master of her craft, delivering not only an engaging mystery but a poignant exploration of grief, ambition, and courage. I can’t recommend The Dark Library enough—especially for readers who, like me, find themselves entranced by characters who triumph against the odds. This one will stick with me for a long time!

"The Dark Library" didn't really work for me on any level: the characters weren't well developed, the plot didn't make any sense, and the writing just wasn't for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley , Mary Anna Evans and the publishers for offering me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel.

This one was not at all what I expected based on the blurb but I was pleasantly surprised. A mystery with many layers unfolds in this novel. When E is summoned home unexpectedly under the alarming circumstances that her mother is missing and her father is seriously ill , it is up to her to solve the mysteries around her parents, face her own past, balance a household & life all while a war takes place .


The layers of mystery are slowly revealed throughout the book in a way that keeps you hungry for more information . Mary Anna Evans did a stupendous job balancing the plot line & connecting you to the characters while building the realistic world of 1940s New York . The imagery was so captivating. The characters were so real you were ready to cheer them on like a dear friend and in some instances ready to fight those with ill intentions. While I thought it was going to be more focused on the books in the library throughout , it was a wonderful storyline and tied all together wonderfully in the end.

If you like a touch of historical fiction with layers of mystery and dark academia vibes this would be a great fit !

The Dark Library is a 1940s era story about a woman who discovers her family secrets in a very unexpected place.

The FMC Estella, who goes by E, has returned to the town that she grew up in after her mother’s mysterious disappearance and her father’s unexpected death. The police have searched everywhere for her mother’s body, but nobody has been able to find it, so E is convinced her mother is alive somewhere. E gets a job at the local college when she moves back to town, where a mysterious death occurs.

The story takes place in the 1940s, so the characters are going through all of the things that people experienced during WWII, like food rations, a lot of the younger men being gone, as well as mysterious people that may be spying, but you can’t ever really tell. You also get a glimpse into how hard it was for a single woman in the 40s’ to live on her own, E wasn’t able to just walk into a bank and take out money, or pay her own bills without the help of a man. Not only was E forced to move from where she lived comfortably, but she has been snooping around her parents house, that she now lives in, and starts to find some potentially very dark secrets about how her father made his money.

I enjoyed this story, it was somewhat slow-paced, and there are things that are mentioned or that occur, that you aren’t sure what their purpose is, but it all makes sense by the end of the story. The story kept my interest because the title is The Dark Library, so the entire story I was just waiting to learn what the title truly meant. Once you get there, it is like WOW. It is considered a suspense novel, and while it was suspenseful, it was a slow paced suspense, until that last maybe 10-15% of the book, than all of the secrets and mysteries sort of come out all at once. There are tidbits sprinkled throughout the story that make you wonder why is this or that happening, which does keep up the suspense, so it kept me reading because I really wanted to know what all these mysteries were. But as I mentioned I feel like the story is slow, and then the suspense and pace slowly builds on itself as you read through.

I really enjoyed this book, and would definitely read more like it!

Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for a review copy of this book!

Mary Anna’s The Dark Library is an enthralling tapestry of mystery, historical intrigue, and the pursuit of knowledge, woven seamlessly into a narrative that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. The author masterfully creates an atmospheric world, drawing readers into the shadowy corridors of the titular library, where every book holds secrets, and every secret promises adventure.
The story revolves around Estella, a determined and resilient protagonist, whose journey to uncover the mysteries lurking in the library is both thrilling and inspiring. Mary Anna’s vivid descriptions breathe life into every scene, making you feel the musty scent of old pages and hear the creaks of ancient wooden floors. The pacing is just right, offering a perfect balance of suspense and revelation.
What sets this book apart is how effortlessly the author manages to merge the historical elements with an imaginative storyline. The complexity of the characters, paired with the library’s dark secrets, creates a compelling narrative that is both immersive and thought-provoking. Mary Anna’s prose is elegant yet accessible, making it easy to lose yourself in the story.
While the cast of characters is extensive, their roles are well-defined, adding depth to the narrative. Estella’s journey is a testament to courage, curiosity, and the power of knowledge. The twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end, ensuring that the book remains engaging throughout.
Overall, The Dark Library is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction and mysteries. Mary Anna’s storytelling brilliance shines through, making this a captivating and unforgettable read.

Once I got into this book, I loved it. I am a big fan of World War fiction with women as the main characters. I really like Rhys Bowens work, and you would love this book if you also like Rhys Bowen.

I found the writing style captivating. The sunspense held my attention, I loved the mystery surrounding her mother and I couldn't put this book down. I loved how this is a mix of gothic, mystery, historical fiction, and womens fiction.

I thought the characters were really well written, and I really liked the main character - Estella. I found the mystery of the story was well woven throughout the novel and the ending was great too - it was a big surprise! This read was heaps of fun and thought provoking.

Personally this was slow starter but once it got going I couldn't book the book down lol
The story is set during World War II, plot follows Estella; who returns to her family home Rockfall House; after the death of her father and disappearance of her mother, she takes a teaching position at the college her father once governed.
Her father has a library of rare books that were off limits to her during his time, as Estella uncovers secrets she also confronts family mysteries.

This read took me a minute to get into but as the story started to unfold I found myself hooked wanting to know what happened to her mother,
If you enjoy gothic academia or historical fiction with suspense and mystery then this book is for you

Synopsis: Dr. Estella Ecker returns home from Boston to her rickety mansion after her mother suddenly disappears and her father suffers a stroke. After her father dies, Estella, or E, remains living in the house with the longtime housekeeper and family friend, Annie. Unable to obtain a professor position despite her qualifications, E takes a research assistant position at the local college to pay the bills. Her extravagant parents had left them in a precarious financial position, especially during the restrictions of wartime. Given her newfound freedom, E begins to uncover the mystery of who her father really was and tries to piece together what really happened to her mother on the last day she was seen. Meanwhile, Estella is worried that someone is watching her and the house. There are footprints on the grounds, strange lights and boats just offshore from Rockfall Bluff, and windows found open. Is Estella in danger?

Commentary: I found The Dark Library to be a wonderful escape. The reader will find themselves immersed in a gothic mystery set in the WWII era in small-town New York state. Estella is intelligent, adventurous and courageous – a likeable protagonist. She has overcome the systemic oppression of women to achieve a doctorate in literature, and is frustrated by the limitations that society and powerful men place on her. Her mother disappeared under very suspicious circumstances nearly a year ago, and immediately afterward, her father collapsed and died two weeks later. Estella has been working on the assumption that her mother is dead, murdered by her father, who was cruel and had a vicious temper. She has never stopped looking for her mother or trying to determine what might have happened to her. In the meantime, she has assumed the reins of the household, sorting through the contents of her father’s home and discovering startling information.

I could not put this book down once events started hurtling towards the explosive conclusion. My only critique would be that in the final pages of the novel, critical pieces of information and history are explained to the reader, and they came as a surprise. These events should have been mentioned, or at least hinted at, earlier in the novel. It is very much a case of “show me, don’t tell me”. For me that is what made this book a 4-star read instead of a 5-star. It is still a cracking good gothic mystery and I am glad I read it. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press.

3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for the Arc. All thoughts are my own

I actually had a lot of fun reading this. It was a historical fiction set in New York during World World 2, following E, our English Ph.D holding protagonist. I really liked E and her friends as characters, although I wish her friends and the other supporting characters were fleshed out some more. The opening scene was absolutely incredible and I loved how E was shown as struggling to process her grief. I honestly wasn't sure which direction the plot was going to head, and I thought at first it was a simple murder mystery but it turned into so much more.

There are several small issues I did have with the story though. The book was paced very slowly with me wondering several times what was going to happen next because it felt like nothing was happening at the moment. The language that all of the characters used felt a bit older than the 1940's and honestly felt like belonged in the 1800's instead. I also wish more of E's upbringing was dived into, especially her history with her dad.

All in all, this was an extremely interesting historical fiction and I was very satisfied with the ending and how all of the pieces fell into place throughout.

Dark gothic academia.

This is right up my alley. Oooo I loooooved the vibes this book gave out.

Estella took me on quite a journey.
I really did enjoy this story.

The book opens with quite a shocker. I don’t wanna say too much and spoil anything but I was HOOKED.

Dealing with events surrounding her parents, the town etc was sooo much fun.

Tq for this opportunity.

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans is a curiously interesting novel about E, Estella Emily Ecker, who is called back from her teaching job in Boston, to her family's fledgling estate in the Hudson Valley because her father had a stroke and her mother is missing. E is hired at a local university as a research assistant and English instructor as she unravels her father's finances and searches for her mother. Set in and around WWII, E and her family's loyal housekeeper, Annie, work to keep the estate afloat. The novel unravels family secrets and ties to Nazi loyalists and the KKK. Recommended for book discussion groups that enjoy historical fiction.