Can a forbidden library be creepy and haunted? Estella sure thinks so when she returns in 1942 to her childhood home in New York, after the death of her father and the sudden disappearance of her mother. Rockfall House is a weathered Victorian mansion that hosts her fathers' rare book library. Upon arriving, she takes a job teaching at Bentham College and begins uncovering dark secrets tied to her family, her father’s library, and a possible murder nearby. Since the police have no clues or ideas as to what happened to her mother, she starts investigating on her own.

The author does a great job evoking an old Hollywood Gothic feel with the mansion and the small quaint college being rather claustrophobic and unnerving. Set during WWII, the town is on edge, rationing is in effect, and Estella cannot do much to affect change as a woman without the assistance of a man.

When multiple suspicious deaths start occuring, and Estella starts exploring the hidden passages in her house more carefully, the plot thickens.
This is a slow burn and starts out at a leisurely pace before things start heating up, so you must be patient.

Everything is tied together nicely at the end of the book, and the many mysteries and unusual events all make sense. A fun, spooky read!

My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance copy of this novel to read and review.

The only thing more intriguing than a book about a library is one about a dark library. This one in no way disappoints.

Mary Anna Evans has produced an atmospheric novel about a mysterious library but also about the mysteries that have shaped a family and its individual members. Estella, enigmatically known as E, is called home from Boston, where she had completed a PhD. Her mother had disappeared suddenly and her father’s equally sudden stroke took him off not long after. Unable to find a job she is qualified for—this is the late 1940s when female professors were scarce—she returns to the house she grew up in largely for pragmatic reasons. Her childhood was affectionless and she has no fond memories of her father. She even suspects that he may have killed her mother.

Getting a research position is more than E had hoped for, and lo it eases both financial concerns and her frustrations about the gender bias that had kept her adrift. Meanwhile, being ‘home’ in the company of Annie, the prototypical lifelong housekeeper who had made her childhood bearable, she slowly starts to piece together her parents’ lives and why things ended the way they did. But her newfound peace doesn’t last long. Soon there are signs that she is being watched. Is there something in the family mystery that implicates her? That makes her a target for retribution?

Evans is an excellent writer and storyteller. Her characters, especially Estella, are beautifully drawn, and despite the ‘darkness,’ the story has almost a cozy mystery feel, while maintaining suspense and plenty of thrills. I very much enjoyed this foray into small town gothic.

I wanted to enjoy this book so much more than I did. I don't think the plot of this novel is very accurate. There isn't a mystery aspect to this novel, it's just a historical fiction novel with a splash of intrigue thrown in. For a novel named The Dark Library, there's very little relating to the library itself. There are so many plot points that I thought I was going to love and they were either solved far too quickly, or didn't have a point to them.

I thought all of the characters, especially E, were forgettable. While I enjoyed her relationships with Annie and her friends, there was so little to endear any of the characters to the reader.

My biggest problem with this novel is that there was so much build up for very little payoff. The ending was extremely rushed with so many plot points that didn't make sense. I also hated the actions of one of the side characters in the ending. It was completely antithetical to how they were described. The resolution was extremely unsatisfying and because the writing wasn't anything special either, I won't be seeking out any of the author's other novels.

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans – ★★★★☆

If you’re into slow-burn Gothic suspense with a smart, determined heroine, The Dark Library is a great pick. Set in a small New York college town during WWII, the story follows Estella (or E), a PhD-holding academic stuck in a low-paid role while dealing with the fallout of her father's death, her mother’s mysterious disappearance, and a growing pile of secrets tied to her family and the college.

The atmosphere is rich—think creepy manor on a cliff, ration-era struggles, and an academic world full of tension. Estella is sharp and independent, but she’s also navigating a time when women couldn’t even access their own bank accounts without a man. That historical layer adds weight to her fight for answers.

The pacing is slow, especially early on, and some plot threads seem random at first. But by the end, everything clicks into place—especially the reveal tied to the “dark library” itself, which totally pays off. The last 15% brings a satisfying rush of revelations that tie the whole thing together.

It’s not action-packed, but the eerie vibes, layered mystery, and thoughtful writing make this a perfect rainy day read. I’ll definitely be picking up more from Mary Anna Evans.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this initially because the cover art was so gorgeous and immediately pulled me in. I did end up really enjoying the story. While it was not a 5 star read, it was still engaging, and is a perfect read for fall. The writing was a little off with me and I didn't really feel the character development was deep enough for my liking. 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for the complimentary copy.

Estella escaped her overbearing father to attend college in Boston. Years later, she is forced to return due to her father's passing and her mother going missing. She takes a job at the university her father dominated and lives in Rockfall House, the house where he hosted many parties for artists. Rockfall House is the last place Estella wants to be, but considering her parents' predicament, she now owns the house and everything in it - including the elusive, dark library belonging to her father that she was never allowed to go into as a child. As rumors begin to spread, Estella desires to learn more about who her parents really were; and she believes the answer to that riddle resides in her father's library.

This is a story of generational trauma and rewriting family histories. This is a story of overcoming a previous generation's sins. I really liked the way this was written. It was beautiful, set in the 1940s during WWII. In this story, we have multiple people amongst a generation dealing with the previous generation's sins and having to rewrite their own narrative. There are a lot of motifs in this story that I found really encouraging.

I would definitely recommend this book to all readers.

The Dark Library felt like a historical fiction/family mystery/drama novel, one where there are so many more questions than answers until every answer starts to come to light. I was very engaged throughout the book, and enjoyed the "unknown" sense until the end. I was definitely surprised with a few of the twists throughout the story, and overall enjoyed the book as a whole.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy of The Dark Library.

Estella is forced to return to her home the place she escaped from to get away from her overbearing father. She has now taken over his life in a way. There are always whispers and rumors but can she find the truth.

I was really intrigued by the premise but the execution fell flat for me. I could not connect to the story or the characters. The writing was very dragged out.

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans

Thank You NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a complimentary copy of this novel! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This novel takes place around the time of World War II in New York. Estella Ecker is called by Annie, their longtime housekeeper to return home to Rockfall House. Her mother is missing and her father has suffered a possible stroke. A few days after Estella arrives home, her father dies and her mother is presumed to have committed suicide, but Estella is doubtful. Estella, with a PhD in Literature, finds work at a local college doing low level work. But when the head of her division jumps off the balcony of the school and dies of an apparent suicide not long after talking with Estella, things begin to take a dive. Estella’s father once held a top position at the college, and he was known to have a heavy hand at home. Then Estella notices a man watching her house as he’s sitting on a boat in the water near their house. She begins to discover secrets her father kept, along with a button belonging to a woman dead 15 years ago. She finds $500 in a secret drawer and photos of unfamiliar people throughout her father’s library books. What could all this mean? This is a historical fiction novel with a Gothic vibe to it. It is full of secrets, mystery and suspense! Don’t miss it when it comes out June 24, 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is a historical fiction that takes place during WWII. These are usually a dime a dozen but this one was different and more centered around the life of one woman whose father just passed away and her mother has gone missing. The war is just a backdrop and not really the point of the story. It’s not even mentioned very much. I found the story interesting and it was a good read.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Dark Library releases June 24, 2025

A young woman with a doctorate in English literature returns home, determined to find her missing mother after her father’s death just eight months prior takes her whereabouts with him to the grave.

What I loved most about this historical mystery aside from the setting and the endurance of women navigating male-dominated spaces, was seeing the characters make the most of their dwindling provisions by getting creative with meals and altering their clothes.
By the time the library of E’s father became a prominent plot point, my enjoyment waned.

Please note that this story is centered around Nazi and KKK members, blackmail, suicide/murder, and implied SA.

This historical fiction/mystery thriller kept my attention and kept my mind working trying to see what was coming next. This book takes place in an era of Pearl Harbor where women were looked down on and couldn't do a "man's job". Dr Ecker is forced to return to her small town that she grew up in when her father falls ill and her mother goes missing. She has to take on a job as basically a professor's assistant, even though she has gone to Yale and has her doctrine (because god forbid a woman be a professor). With huge debt left to her and a house to manage, she's struggling to make it in a man's world on top of everything else. Unsettling is a very good way to describe this story but I could not put it down. I do wish the ending was a little more, as it fell a little flat for me but overall, I enjoyed it.

This was kind of a slow moving book, maybe a little too slow for my liking. I’m not sure if I agree with others on it having a gothic feel to it. It does have some surprises.
If you enjoy slow evolving mysteries, check this one out.

The Dark Library will slowly lure you to its enclosure but you won't want others to find out why! 💫💫💫💫💫

Estella Emily Ecker aka E has returned to Rockfall House even though she never wanted to return. Annie, her dear housekeeper, nanny and confidente has informed her that her father suffered a stroke and  her mother is missing. While taking care of her father and his passing and looking for her mother,  she has a teaching job which always overlooks her. After having a conversation about her future with the dean, moments later he commits suicide.

This event unravels another missing/murdered woman's case, findinf her mother in a mental institution against her will and the revealing of the dark secrets that her evil fathwr kept hidden in his magnificent and deadly Library.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this delightful ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Set during the shadowed days of World War II, The Dark Library is a haunting and heartfelt mystery that blends historical fiction with literary intrigue. Mary Anna Evans crafts a richly atmospheric tale, where danger lurks in forgotten books and secrets echo through the shelves. The story explores the power of words, resilience in the face of war, and the courage to confront buried truths. With vivid characters and emotional depth, this novel is both gripping and beautifully told. A must-read for fans of historical thrillers!

Readers who like mysteries will probably enjoy this novel. Set in the early 1940’s, E returns home when she finds out that her father has died from a stroke and her mother is missing. This slow moving story has many secrets to reveal as she searches for her mother. E has had many issues with her parents but readers will definitely be surprised by the reasons behind father’s despicable behavior. A little too slow for me.

n The Dark Library, Mary Anna Evans crafts a layered historical mystery anchored by powerful, complex women who navigate a world not built for them—then go ahead and build their own anyway.

At the heart of the story is Estella “E” Ecker, a Yale-educated scholar who returns to her crumbling family estate in wartime New York. Far from a damsel in distress, E is a quietly tenacious force. She balances academia, grief, and the weight of family secrets while refusing to let anyone, be it a suspicious faculty member or the legacy of her domineering father, define her boundaries. Her resilience, intellect, and refusal to be underestimated make her a standout protagonist.

E isn't alone in her strength. The women surrounding her, from the sharp-tongued locals to fellow academics, each carry their own kind of fire. Together, they reflect the untold stories of women in the 1940s who defied convention not with dramatic flair, but with consistent courage and competence. Evans shines in showing how female empowerment isn’t always loud—sometimes it’s a whisper behind a locked door, a keen observation, a decision to stay and fight.

While the pacing may feel slow at first, it mirrors E’s process of peeling back layers of both mystery and herself. The payoff is deeply satisfying, especially for readers who appreciate character-driven narratives and subtle rebellion woven through historical fiction.

Ultimately, The Dark Library is a beautifully haunting testament to the strength of women. Those women who endure, question, and quietly reshape the world around them.

I thought this was a really good story. It focuses on the academic world set during WWII and women's struggles during this time. This book centers on Estella Ecker as she tries to unravel the mystery of her mother's disappearance and the sudden death of her father. I enjoyed following the characters as the story progressed and how each had some small but meaningful role in the events that transpired. The mystery of the Dark Library was so ingenious and original and I just loved how it unfolded. Definitely worth the read!!

A phenomenal historical fiction thriller! The WWII setting in a small college town was an interesting wartime perspective to read about. While it hit on a lot of what life would be like for the civilians at home during the war, it also highlighted the struggles women had to be respected, with some mystery tied in as well! Highly recommend! 4.5 rounded down

I wanted so badly to like this one and while it was good, it definitely could have been better. The title and description drew me to it, as a former librarian who loves mysteries/thrillers. The pace was a little slow for me, but once I got into it, it did get better. I won't say it kept me guessing, but I was intrigued enough to finish it.