I'm not sure why I expected a supernatural bent to this story, but what I got was WWII espionage. While disappointed in the genre the book was interesting.

Moody and atmospheric, The Dark Library offers a gothic mystery steeped in family secrets, academic tension, and a brooding sense of place. Estella’s return to her childhood home creates a compelling setup, and the questions surrounding her parents and the eerie library are enough to keep the pages turning. That said, the pacing can drag, and some threads feel underdeveloped or unresolved. While the ending delivers a satisfying emotional arc, getting there requires patience. A good fit for fans of slow-burn mysteries with a literary edge.

Estella has come back to her ancestral home, a grand and much talked about house. Her father dead, her mother has disappeared and everyone wants to know what is going to happen. Her mother’s disappearance seems suspicious, but Estella wants physical proof of her mother’s death and so far there is none. The police feel that Estella is hiding family secrets (as she is). Her father’s library uncovers several clues as to what actually transpired in her parents life.

On top of it all Estella was treated badly in her professional life and one she is finding hard to deal with. Ignored by her boss for even small requests, and more importantly put on a lower pay grade than her male counterparts. Her boss himself commits suicide minutes after talking to her which adds to the pressure Estella has to face.

With only two friends to turn to, the entire town apparently hated her father and are quite happy he dead. Her mother with her condescending, patronizing ways is equally unpopular with the women so Estella is not give a warm welcome. The seemingly popularity has been just a facade hiding a history of fear of her father’s hold over people. Uncovering all this adds to the mystery surrounding her parents life and discovering her mother’s whereabouts which was unbelievable.

A Gothic mystery set in fairly modern times. Very interesting family saga.

This review is directly pasted from my blog.

Title: The Dark Library*

Author: Mary Anna Evans

Rating: 3.25 stars / 5 stars

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make purchases after using these links, I will earn a percentage of your purchase without any further cost to you.

Favorite Quote: “It had never occurred to me how universal the men in my life had been in their belief that I was, at rock bottom, not a capable person.” Evans, Mary Anna. The Dark Library. Poisoned Pen Press, e-book ed., 2025.

Review: Thank you to the Netgalley platform and the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for the free e-ARC I received in exchange for this honest review.

The Dark Library follows E, a struggling associate professor in WWII New York, trying to manage her family’s crumbling estate while also trying to solve the mysteries of the dean’s untimely suicide, her mother’s disappearance, and the strange happenings the hills and late surrounding her house.

Let’s start off with what’s working - this book masterfully addresses the gender disparities faced back in the WWII era that are hauntingly relevant even today. E has an Ivy League education and is still relegated to a barely-office where her job seems to hinge on most men currently off at war, rather than on the merit of her work. She also (almost) falls prey to a man who has held a position of power over her family who seeks to marry her. Women having to work twice as hard for half the credit? Men trying to take advantage of women at their most vulnerable? Unfortunately not the historic portion of this work of historical fiction.

The book also captures the many complexities of adult children reckoning with behaviors of their parents - the parents’ own flaws and shortcomings that shaped the adult child’s life.

In other words, Evans is a master at character development.

Plot development and pacing, however, are a bit of a shortcoming in this novel. The dean’s suicide occurs within the first few pages. And then the book detours into a hunt to find E’s mother at an asylum. And then there are hints that someone is stalking the house and maybe breaking in, but E can’t figure out who. And then there are chapters dedicated to an upcoming party, where the party itself takes up little time, but during it, a bunch of seemingly unrelated secrets are revealed. And somehow during that time E (somehow) determines her father may have stolen military secrets during the first World War, a visiting professor is actually an enemy trying to get those secrets, the dean committed suicide because he may have killed a young woman he was having sex with (perhaps against her will - certainly based on an unbalanced power dynamic), half the town are Nazi’s or Klansmembers (or both), and also E’s potential lover is also working for the military, albeit for the US instead of the enemy. Oh, and also she determines that the lawyer trying to marry her is actually after her family’s wealth that he’s used other people to convince her doesn’t exist.

Almost all of these revelations happen within the last 10% or so of the book, and occur with very little explanation as to how E gets from point A to point C. Point B just doesn’t seem to exist.

The characters were great. The plot…could have used some work.

About that Quote: Many quotes about the gender disparities hit home even decades after the setting of this book. This is just one of many.

Incomplete list of TWs: Nazis, KKK, SA, Murder, DV

This is a beautifully written historical fiction novel set in the time period surrounding World War II, and I am really a fan of these sorts of books. The writing was rich, the characters were so real you felt like you know them

Our setting is in the University town of Bentham on Hudson, right in the middle of the Second World War. Our initiating incident is the apparent suicide of Dean Jamison, who jumps from a tower at the university. Coincidentally, it is immediately after he meets with Estella (or E as she prefers to be called). Obviously, his death appears suspicious, I mean, to those who worked closely with him, he didn't seem depressed or desperate, condescending and patriarchal, sure, but if anything, overly controlling. Our protagonist, E, is naturally stunned by the dean's sudden death. Still, it's not like she'll miss him, even though he was a colleague and 'friend' of her late father (himself a professor) he was never supportive of E's position as professor of literature, for example, not giving her the title of professor,(because she was only holding the position until the 'rightful' instructors returned from war), and relegating her to the smallest, most obscure office on campus. Luckily, E's closest friends also work at the university, Margorie and Leontine.
So Dean Jamison's death immediately creates suspense, because if it, secrets are revealed and we soon learn that E's father is entwined in treacherous political dealings. Which is somewhat surprising to E It's not like she adored her father. E lives a rather solitary life with only the family's housekeeper Annie as "family". Before her post as professor, Estella had led a somewhat everyday life as a High School teacher until she was summoned home by Annie because her mother had disappeared and her father had taken ill.
The Dark Library is quite a little mystery. It is deftly written in that one of the central mysteries is solved about halfway through the novel (a rather central mystery in that it serves in developing E's character and furthering the secondary plot). The second mystery that serves to answer all of our unanswered questions.
A mystery, a romance, with tinges of historical content, this novel is a wonderful addition to your summer TBR list. It also makes for an engaging addition to any High School library. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the copy.

A interesting read about a woman trying to navigate a world where the war is in full swing and women are not seen as capable of doing anything but “woman’s” work. Estelle was university educated but is denied a good paying job due to being a woman. When her father dies suddenly, she is left to fend for herself. There are so many unsavory people waiting to take advantage of her misfortune. When she finds her legacy is worth nothing, she tries to find money. Instead she finds her missing mother. now she has to explain to her mother that they are penniless. As the days pass, even more strange things begin to happen as her father’s secrets begin to surface. Unknowingly, Estelle uncovers what nefarious people are searching for. It is up to Estelle and her friends who must put forth the courage to right the wrongs done by her father. I feel for the women of earlier history. They were looked over, treated badly and expected to follow what the ‘men’ in their life told them to do. I enjoyed how Estelle did not follow the rules of society and found her happiness her way.

I really enjoyed this Gothic historical fiction/mystery. This was my first time reading Mary Anna Evans, and I would definitely seek out her other titles in the future. Set in the Hudson River Valley during WWII and told in first-person narrative, the story focuses on a woman who returns home after her father has a stroke and passes away, and her mother mysteriously disappears. Her father was a larger than life figure in the community, serving as Dean of the Englsh department at a local college, while her mother was the center of the wealthy social circles in the small town. Estella (or "E" as she prefers to be called) is struggling to make ends meet while keeping up the dark and foreboding mansion that her parents owned. Despite the lack of men in the community--with the majority off fighting in the war--her efforts to be hired as a full-time professor at the college where her father worked have been met with resistance by the old boys club still in charge. Then one day, after a seemingly innocuous conversation with the current dean, the man commits suicide minutes after their meeting ends. E is drawn into the deepening mystery in the community, where she discovers someone watching her house and mysterious footprints in the mud outside. Her paranoia is further tested by the handsome young new professor who shows an interest in her--is he genuinely interested or is he the one stalking her?

I won't spoil the twists and revelations throughout, but this kept me on the edge of my seat. While keeping with the Gothic traditions--and even poking fun at it a bit, with E's manuscript she hopes to publish called Unhappy People in Big Houses--the story is well rooted in the time period and the social tensions of the time.

Highly recommended for WWII historical fiction fans looking for an American-based story during the period, or historical mystery fans generally!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

I went into this book without having read the synopsis and am so glad that I did. Enjoyed it much more than I expected. It is a bit slow going in the beginning, I felt, but it’s a historical mystery, not a thriller. Evans writes a highly nuanced social commentary about women, and in many ways, it’s disheartening to see that almost 100 years later, women are still facing many of the same challenges. I love the resilient nature of E and her mother - both are admirable in very different ways. Many of the actions of the secondary characters are reminiscent of what’s going on in the world today - it begs the question does history really repeat itself?

📚THE DARK LIBRARY📚

Something a little bit different for me from Netgalley last month! The 40s isn't an era of dark historical fiction I typically explore, but I LOVE books about books and libraries so this one caught my eye.

While it ended up not being quite what I expected it to be, it definitely kept me on my toes! This book layers mystery upon mystery upon mystery. You've got missing persons, unsolved murders, shady academics, military spies, the lot!

I found it crawled a little at the start, but once it picked up I couldn't put it down! There are also a lot of stubborn, fierce female characters in this story, which I really appreciated, given that this was an era rife with sexism in the academic world. Definitely an element of 'good for her' going on here.

Towards the end, I gave up trying to figure out who the bad guys were, because almost everyone in this book has more than a few skeletons in their closet. I found it a teeny bit difficult to keep up with who was guilty of what towards the end! Great fun though!

3.5 Stars (which I'll probably round up to 4 for Goodreads)

This one checked all the boxes for me. A historical mystery, a protagonist who happens to have her PhD in Gothic Studies (more on that), a foreboding manor on top of a cliff, and lots of books. All in all, I enjoyed this quite a bit.

One of my favorite parts was the depiction of a woman in the aftermath of WWII who had the gumption (and family support) to earn a PhD in Literature and then to have to find a way to be allowed entry into the academic world as a professor. It was both infuriating and important to see how--not even 80 years ago--women could be sidelined despite their accomplishments.

My one criticism, though, was related to this topic. (And yep--I acknowledge that this is 100% a "me" issue.) A pull for me was that whole "gothic" trope. I really wanted to see better use of this trope throughout the story. I also wanted to know more about E's work: there are regular references to her doctoral work with "gothic novels," but in truth there was no real field of Gothic Studies in this time period. Many of the books E loves and mentions are books that we NOW understand utilized gothic tropes but were considered to be something a bit different in the 1940s. Even a discernment between American and British Gothic would have been helpful. There was one real attempt to bridge this (the mention of E's response to a 1921 article about what makes a novel gothic) so I think the author was almost there. But I guess I really wanted that significant part of E's story to play a bigger role in the unfurling tale in this book. Maybe an editor asked Evans to pare this part of the story down since most people wouldn't care?

Anyway, this is an engaging cast of characters that includes a compelling (and dark!) mystery to be solved. I'd love to see a sequel with these characters!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into picking up this book. Reading the summary and seeing the cover I had images of a thriller but maybe with fantastical elements? What I did not expect was a historical fiction set solidly in the middle of WWII. Historical fiction in this time period is not normally my thing and I wouldn’t have picked this up had I known, but I’m really pleased I went in blind. The characters were rich and detailed, the plot was thick and had nice twists but never got so overly detailed or complicated I got frustrated with it. In general it was a good read and I’m really pleased my lack of knowledge led me to read a book out of my normal genre preference that I really enjoyed.

4.5⭐
The Dark Library is a smart, gothic, Christie-esque mystery set in the early days of WWII. I really enjoyed this book, though the description did leave me expecting something a little different. I anticipated a faster-paced, somewhat darker, almost supernatural, mystery but instead found a slower, more layered story focused on family, identity, and the secrets people try to bury.

Estella (E) returns home to her small college town in New York after the death of her father and the mysterious disappearance of her mother. As she navigates the conflicting feelings of returning home, and her new role running the household, she searches for answer about her mother's disappearance and unravels a web of family and town secrets. The story is slow, but intentional, building tension until the last quarter where things really pick up and take a darker turn. The setting is gothic and moody and mysterious, adding to the tension and leaving you wondering what could come next. The war is not the main focus of the story, but instead hangs like a shadow over the lives of the characters, whom Evans brings to life with authenticity and complexity. E's story deftly explores the gender and racial dynamics of the time too, building up to the exposure of town secrets its residents would rather keep buried. While different than I expected, this was an excellent, interesting read, compellingly blending history with an atmospheric mystery.

CW: suicide

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance review copy.

Definitely filled with DARK family secretes.

We follow E (Estella- she doesn't like being called that) Ecker, who has come back home to the Rockfall House. As a child, the house was always mysterious but being back home gives her the opportunity to learn many secretes. The reason she is back home is the same reason she left in the first place, her father. Her father has had a stroke and to make matters worse her mother is missing. So E is back, in the home she left, teaching at the collage her father did, but of course with less privilege. Now her father has a reputation to say the least, and one of the many things he is known for is having a rare book library, however there may be rarer and darker things hidden in the library.

The Dark Library is very well written, it is dark, eerie and gothic which makes for a fun read. I did like that it felt like there was never a dull moment and I love Mary Anna Evans ability to write a brilliant story. You need to pick this book up!

Thank You to Mary Anna Evans, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I had trouble getting started, but once begun, I was hooked. Our heroine faced challenges of the time in which she lived. The author related the challenges through a modern lens.

I found the story engaging, and the author's ability to weave a tale entrancing. The conversation between characters was interesting, although there were a couple of times where the dialogue was more contemporary than I expected for the 1940's. Perhaps there was less concern about cursing and modesty than I thought.

There were several unexpected plot elements that kept me involved in the story, and a spectacular finale. I enjoyed Mary Anna Evans skill as a story teller. I thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read The Dark Library in exchange for an honest review.

Estelle (otherwise known as E) has returned home after years away upon the passing of her father and disappearance of her mother. While everyone assumes her mother fell from a cliff, E is convinced she's alive somewhere. If she could just find her. In the meantime, she works as a research assistant in the local college, despite having her Ph.D in English. Did I mention this is set in the early 1940's, when women weren't seen as equals, given professional opportunities, much less paid a fair wage? Not only does E struggle with the frustration of her career and the low wage it brings, but with being a single woman supporting herself and her family home.

I found this commentary on living during WW2 in America, the social conventions of the day, political opinions, and being a woman during that time interesting. I liked the characters and plot progression. One star was taken away, because it was somewhat predictable.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A compelling, literary love letter to the tangible magic of books. With humor, heart, and a haunting message about what libraries mean in our increasingly digital age, The Dark Library is ideal for lovers of absurdist fiction and anyone who mourns the slow fade of reading rituals. Scored a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars—immersive, memorable, and quietly powerful.

Book Review: The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I recently finished The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans, and it’s a gripping story wrapped in a gothic atmosphere that really drew me in, even if it took its time to build momentum.

The novel centers on Estella Ecker, who returns to Rockfall House—a place filled with heavy family history and secrets she’d rather avoid. She left years ago, escaping her domineering father, but now she’s back, teaching at the same college he once ruled and living in the grand home where he hosted artists and scholars. Things get even more complicated when her mother mysteriously disappears, and Estella might be the rightful owner of the estate. At the heart of it all is her father’s rare book library, a forbidden trove she was never allowed to explore while he was alive.

The town’s whispers about her father hang over Estella like a shadow, and no one seems to care about her mother’s absence. As Estella digs deeper into her family’s past, she uncovers dark secrets hidden within Rockfall House—and within herself. The story explores whether the sins of the past can repeat themselves or if Estella can break free from them.

What really stood out to me was the setting—perfectly gothic, atmospheric, and hauntingly beautiful. The characters felt authentic, especially Estella, whose journey toward uncovering the truth felt both suspenseful and unsettling. The mystery was well constructed and kept me guessing, though I will say the story took a bit longer than I expected to reach its climax.

Overall, The Dark Library is a solid read with strong elements of mystery and family drama. If you enjoy dark secrets wrapped in an eerie setting, this book is worth picking up. Just be patient as it slowly unfolds—there’s a lot beneath the surface waiting to be discovered.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evan’s
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. While I was immediately drawn in by the title and the description of The Dark Library it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

I felt that the plot moved very slowly and not a whole lot happened until about 50% into the book. There were only a few clues as to what the mystery was even about. Majority of the action and the plot took place in the last 25% of the book. The ending felt rushed and like the mystery wrapped up with little explanation of how we got there.

I did enjoy some of the character, mostly Leontine, and I appreciated some of the history about life on the home front that was thrown into the story.

I had high hopes for this book, love a good thriller, mystery in my hands. This one I struggled with as I had a really hard time getting into it. While I felt bad for E (the main character) for all that life had thrown at her, I couldn’t really connect with her. The story started off real slow and I found myself putting the book down more often than not. That being said, things did pick up about 75% through and I was intrigued, wanted to know what was going to happen next. Sadly the ending was slightly disappointing and felt rushed.
While it’s not my favorite book and I probably wouldn’t recommend it, I didn’t hate it and I wouldn’t talk someone out of giving it a read.