I read this very engaging, atmospheric book in a single day. While not an action packed page-turner, it kept me completely absorbed, doling out clues about the family secrets in a satisfying sequence.

I've never read anything by this author before, but I will definitely look for more of her books.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to get a sneak preview ARC of this book. #NetGalley #TheDarkLibrary

The Dark Library

This one was really engaging and I took to the authors writing style quickly. I had read some books lately that didn’t connect so I was happy to get an ARC of the Dark Library.

E has just moved home after the death of her father and her mother’s disappearance. Even though E is overqualified to teach, due to prevalent sexism, is hired as an assistant at the school.

Her father was by no means a hero, but uncovering what he did with his life, and what happened to her mother, takes the reader on quite a journey!

Something I really liked about this book was I had zero idea where the book was going. The ending was not predictable, but when I look back I enjoyed the “breadcrumbs” dropped by the author throughout. Also the characters of E, Leontine and Annie were exceptional and I genuinely liked them all.

Definitely a read I recommend!

I enjoyed this historical fiction novel. Slow paced but enjoyed the twist and turns. Emotional and atmospheric! Would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

A slow paced family mystery that kept my attention from start to finish! I really enjoyed this one and the gothic undertones. I would consider this more of a cozy mystery, but nonetheless it was a very nice read.

I seriously expected a run of the mill dark academia story here, but I was blown away by the twists and turns of the story.

Whilst some of the character twists won't come as a surprise, the plot rattles through at a rate of knots and we are left with a thrilling mystery akin to Jane Eyre or Rebecca (gothic literature runs deep through this book.)

I did find E a little bit of an odd character to sympathise with at the start. Yes, she is downtrodden at work and overlooked, but she's so independent elsewhere I couldn't imagine that not coming through at work!

A great gothic read, filled with atmosphere and foreboding.

I picked up The Dark Library expecting an intriguing mystery, and that’s exactly what I got—plus a little more! From the start, I was drawn into the academic world of Faye Longchamp, whose intelligence and tenacity make her such a compelling narrator.

What I loved most was how grounded the mystery felt. It wasn’t just about solving a crime; it was about uncovering secrets that ripple through history and people’s lives. The setting was the perfect backdrop - I could practically smell the old paper and feel the tension lurking between the stacks! That said, a few plot points felt a bit predictable, which is why it’s a four-star read for me instead of five.

Still, this book delivered exactly what I was hoping for: an atmospheric mystery with depth. Thank you, NetGalley!

This is definitely a slow read, not one that you'll fly thru. The time period was intriguing and the characters were interesting. I enjoyed this one and look forward to more from this author.

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans is a complex tale of life in the USA following its belated entry into World War II, and the disparities between rich and poor, educated and layman, and male and female, that were laid bare because of the war. The story is seen from the point of view of women, and in particular that of Dr. Estella Ecker, who returns home to her family's manor upon the illness of her father and the disappearance of her mother.
The book hints at various family mysteries, entertains a budding romance, examines the nature of female friendships and familial relationships, as it ambles forward. The story really only takes off at the approximately 70% mark, at which point it careens forward with increasingly darker revelations and developments that will leave your head spinning. While the book is relatively easy to set aside for the first part, the final quarter will keep you turning the pages to the end.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheDarkLibrary.

Can a family's dark history repeat itself?

Estella Ecker has returned to Rockfall House, the last place on earth she wants to be. Years after she ran away from her overbearing father, she has been forced back home to walk in his footsteps, teaching at the college he dominated and living in the fabulous home where he entertained artists and scholars for decades―and perhaps she owns it now, because her mercurial mother has disappeared. At the center of everything―the whispers, the rumors, the secrets―is her father's library of rare books, which she had been forbidden to touch while he was alive to stop her.

Everyone in town is watching Estella, with her dead father's name on their lips, and no one seems to care about her missing mother. Who were her parents, really, and is the answer hidden somewhere in the depths of Rockfall House? And who will Estella be, if she gathers enough courage to find that answer? What she will discover is that no one can escape the secrets hidden in this dark library.

Suspenseful and unsettling but ultimately triumphant, The Dark Library by acclaimed author Mary Anna Evans is a compelling tale of mystery, family secrets, and the quest for truth.

This was such an incredible read!! The synopsis left me with so many questions, and the book ended up being so amazing. Loved the vibes as well!

Rave Review: The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans (Expected June 2025)

Mary Anna Evans has done it again—The Dark Library is a masterfully crafted literary mystery that ensnares you from the first haunting line and doesn’t let go until the very last page. This upcoming release is a rich, layered novel that blends history, academia, and suspense with the atmospheric tension of a gothic thriller.

Set in the shadowy corners of an old university library rumored to be cursed, Evans transports readers into a world where forgotten archives conceal more than just dusty manuscripts—they hold dangerous secrets. With her signature blend of vivid prose and meticulous research, Evans draws on her background as both a writer and academic to create a plot that is as intellectually satisfying as it is gripping.

The protagonist—a sharp, determined archivist with a past she’d rather forget—uncovers a chilling mystery that intertwines with her own history in ways she could never have imagined. What follows is a twisting narrative of lost books, secret societies, and a truth buried beneath decades of silence. The character development is stellar, particularly the lead’s journey through trauma, self-discovery, and ultimately, redemption.

Evans balances psychological depth with a fast-paced plot that will keep readers turning pages well into the night. The Dark Library is not just a mystery—it’s a love letter to libraries, knowledge, and the courage it takes to uncover truth in a world built on shadows.

If you’re a fan of The Shadow of the Wind, The Historian, or Evans’ own Faye Longchamp series, this book is a must-read. Prepare to be spellbound.

5/5 stars – a triumph of literary suspense. Pre-order it now.

"Can a family's dark history repeat itself?

Estella Ecker has returned to Rockfall House, the last place on earth she wants to be. Years after she ran away from her overbearing father, she has been forced back home to walk in his footsteps, teaching at the college he dominated and living in the fabulous home where he entertained artists and scholars for decades - and perhaps she owns it now, because her mercurial mother has disappeared. At the center of everything - the whispers, the rumors, the secrets - is her father's library of rare books, which she had been forbidden to touch while he was alive to stop her.

Everyone in town is watching Estella, with her dead father's name on their lips, and no one seems to care about her missing mother. Who were her parents, really, and is the answer hidden somewhere in the depths of Rockfall House? And who will Estella be, if she gathers enough courage to find that answer? What she discovers is that no one can escape the secrets hidden in this dark library.

Suspenseful and unsettling but ultimately triumphant, The Dark Library by acclaimed author Mary Anna Evans is a compelling tale of mystery, family secrets, and the quest for truth."

I want into that library as well!

The Dark Library was entertaining enough—I didn’t dislike it—but it felt pretty messy overall. The pacing was odd, with not much happening for a while and then a sudden barrage of twists that felt more chaotic than clever. I get what it was going for, but it didn’t quite land for me.

The whole setting of this book was fantastic and very exciting to read. it was alot different than most WWII books, which was fresh and new. It did get a little slow for me but then alot happened the last quarter of the book.

Really wish it was evenly paced and not squished together at the end; it made it feel a little rushed.

This book was really good. It was WWII era that did not focus on the war but the lives of people in NY at that time. The ongoing war was really more in the background throughout the book.

While the beginning was good and there were a couple good twists, it did move a little on the slow side which some people may like. At 75% the pace really picked up and everything happened SO quickly that I wish the pacing had been more even to flush some things out in the end. There were a couple parts in the wrap-up that confused me but I very likely just missed something earlier on.

I would recommend to anyone who likes slower paced suspense and/or historical fiction.

🤫 T R O U B L E S O M E T H U R S D A Y review 🤫 featuring “The Dark Library” by Mary Anna Evans!

Estella Ecker fled from her overbearing father the moment she could for her university degree and doctorate in English literature.

Now she has gone back to Rockfall House after she caught word of her mother’s disappearance and her father’s sudden death. Bentham-on-Hudson is a small college town in New York and is struggling through World War 2. Regardless of her PhD, Estella finds herself stuck as a research assistant at the college where her father once dominated as a top administrator.

But all eyes are on her … as her father held onto A LOT of secrets, rumours and answers that could ruin many of the townspeople. Hidden in the depths of his extensive and rare library lay secrets so dark and disturbing that Estella has no idea what her father was really capable of.

I enjoyed the genre mash up of historical fiction, gothic mystery and suspense all together. The mysterious library and the crumbling house on the cliff are characters of their own and creates such a menacing, haunting and unsettling atmosphere for reads to get wrapped into!

Thank you kindly to @maryannaevans @poisonedpenpress @netgalley for my #gifted advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on June 24, 2025!

I really enjoyed reading this book, kept me interested and guessing until the very end.i would read more books by this author.

This started out strong and held my interest until about the halfway mark. The book just seemed to have no direction and no clue what genre it wanted to be. The pace was astonishingly slow and the writing bored me. There was WAY too much unnecessary filler and dialogue. I DNF'd around the 70% mark and tried skimming through the rest. It seemed to continue with the confusion and was all over the place. I really had no desire to find out how it would end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for and ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 Star Read
Mood: Slow-burn Modern Gothic Mystery
I've never read Mary Anna Evans writing before, but I loved this book. I'm so glad that I came across this stand alone, as I feel like it was a really great way to get a sense of her style without committing to an unfamiliar series. Now that I've read The Dark Library, however, I'll definitely be TBRing both of her popular series!

As for The Dark Library novel itself, wow! The plotline was delicately laced with just the right amount of intricately laid clues to keep me guessing - incorrectly - the entire time. The character development and characters' backstory development were very good for a short novel; particularly one with a fairly long list of secondary characters. The secondary characters while plentiful, do all feel necessary to the story by the end of the book.

I was absolutely delighted with the main character Estella, or E, as she prefers. She is a no-nonsense American Literature professor with a degree from Yale who will do anything to keep herself and her beloved housekeeper Annie afloat. Annie practically raised E and they are very close.

As the description of the book mentions, E moves home to try to determine what has become of her missing mother. However, once home, her journey turns into one of much greater magnitude - one that could potentially affect the fate of not just her family. The secrets that E and her two close friends uncover together could cause a ripple effect of devastating consequences for the entire community that they live in, and perhaps even further away.

There is a bit of a romantic thread gently woven through out as well, but it is minimal and doesn't overshadow the storyline at all. In fact, if anything it's used conveniently here and there to help the story along. The entire story is a very well done, modern Gothic piece that alternates between a slow and medium pace to maximize the reader's enjoyment of the slow burn mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

📖 ARC Review 📖

Publishing June 24, 2025

A special thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and author Mary Anna Evans for selecting me to receive an advanced copy of The Dark Library. 💙 This is my voluntary and honest review.

This is a standalone historical suspense that is set in the 1940's and follows Estella Ecker. Estella returns to her childhood home, Rockfall House, after the mysterious disappearance of her mother and her father having a stroke. After the death of her father she becomes the owner of Rockfall House which has a library filled with rare books. Considered off limits to her growing up, Estella (E) now has access to her father's library. What dark secrets will she uncover? It seems that E didn't know her parents as well as she thought she did.

I normally am not one to read historical but this book drew me in right away. Being a single, working woman in the 1940's proves to have its challenges and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about E as she navigates her way through life. The twists and turns of this book had me engaged throughout and I couldn't wait to learn what secrets E would uncover along the way! I will say, this isn't your typical historical fiction, or at least not what I think of when I think of historical fiction. It had lots of suspense and a great story line. I will definitely be checking out more of Mary Anna Evans' work.


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The Dark Library is an eerie gothic slow-paced story that unsettles the readers and brings out the darker sides of life and death. A story of the missing and murder, of past and present, of memories and truth. The story is slow paved but beautifully written so that the reader cannot help but become a character, to be drawn into the mystery that surrounds this family. I really enjoyed the mystery and the threads that are woven from the past to the present. It is a story of atmosphere as much as actions.