The Dark Library: A Novel

by Mary Anna Evans

"A fascinating and intelligent WWII home front story." —Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author for The Physicists' Daughter
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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Gothic, Fiction, Dark Academia, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

Audible Audio

First published June 24, 2025

About the author

Mary Anna Evans is an award-winning author, a writing professor, and she holds degrees in physics and engineering, a background that, as it turns out, is ideal for writing her new book, The Physicists' Daughter. Set in WWII-era New Orleans, The Physicists' Daughter introduces Justine Byrne, whom Mary Anna describes as "a little bit Rosie-the-Riveter and a little bit Bletchley Park codebreaker."

When Justine, the daughter of two physicists who taught her things girls weren't expected to know in 1944, realizes that her boss isn't telling her the truth about the work she does in her factory job, she draws on the legacy of her unconventional upbringing to keep her division running and protect her coworkers, her country, and herself from a war that is suddenly very close to home.

Her crime fiction has earned recognition that includes the Oklahoma Book Award, the Will Rogers Medallion Awards Gold Medal, the Mississippi Author Award, a spot on Voice of Young America’s (VOYA) list of “Adult Mysteries with Young Adult Appeal,” a writer’s residency from The Studios of Key West, the Benjamin Franklin Award, the Florida Historical Society’s Patrick D. Smith Florida Literature Award, and three Florida Book Awards bronze medals.

In addition to writing crime fiction, she writes about crime fiction, as evidenced by the upcoming Bloomsbury Handbook to Agatha Christie, which she coedited with J.D Bernthal.

For the incurably curious, Mary Anna’s first published work, her master’s thesis, was entitled A Modeling Study of the NH3-NO-O2 Reaction Under the Operating Conditions of a Fluidized Bed Combustor. Like her mysteries, it was a factually based page-turner but, no, it’s not available online.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryAnnaEvan...

Twitter: @maryannaevans

Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/maryannaevans/

BookBub: @maryannaevans

Reviews

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Gothics in the sense of menace and secrets and brave women who find ways to face the unthinkable, you're in for a treat with The Dark Library. In this case the setting is a bit more recent than it is in many Gothics—the novel is set in a small college town in New York just after the U.S. has entered WWII. Estella Ecker, our heroine, has a PhD in Literature from an ivy league college, but is stuck in a "research assistant" position, which means completing not only her own work, but that of other "real" faculty members as well. She does get to teach classes, but her rate of pay is nothing like that of her male colleagues.

Her father, who is now dead, was once a top administrator at the college. He was a difficult man, had fierce beliefs about what literature was and wasn't, and didn't suffer fools gladly (and in his world, almost everyone is considered a fool). His library of rare books is the jewel of the family home, a manor built on a cliff above the town.

Days before Estella's father died, her mother disappeared. The local police are content to assume she must have committed suicide—she was "fragile"—and aren't really interested in investigating. Estella's mother was difficult in her own way: icy, reserved, focused on her appearance and on hostessing grand dinner parties.

As the novel opens Estella meets with with the head of her division, asking for a better office. She's unsuccessful—and within a few minutes of their conversation, he throws himself off a balcony, a clearly intended suicide.

Estella is, as one might imagine, spread very thinly, still trying to understand her father's sudden death due to stroke, determined to continue hunting for her mother, and gradually coming to the realization that much of the town hated her father (but why?) and now hates her. She does, at least, have two childhood friends she's reconnected with, so she's not entirely alone.

As I said at the onset, if you like Gothic novels, you're in for a treat with The Dark Library. My summary is a bit sketchy because a great many things happen in the novel and I want to avoid spoilers, but trust me, it's a great read for a dark night or a rainy weekend.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Net Galley; the opinions are my own.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dark Library is a historical fiction novel with splashes of war—though not your typical war story. Instead of focusing on battles, Mary Anna Evans dives deep into the shadows of family, secrets, and legacy. When mysterious deaths and long-buried secrets resurface, E is drawn back home to unravel the lies her father spun throughout her life.

The story unfolds at a slower pace, which may not be for everyone, but the intrigue keeps the pages turning. It’s less about action and more about the emotional and psychological toll of uncovering the truth. If you enjoy atmospheric stories that blend history with mystery and a touch of suspense, this one is worth a read.

Thank you to Netgallery and Poised Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Amina · Rating 2 out of 5]

✰ 1.75 stars ✰

“When your battlefield is a library, paper and ink are your weapons.”

I always prided myself on being a good judge of character - books. If anything my recent readings have proven is that clearly I am not as good a judge as I thought I was. If nothing else, at least it has helped me weed out which authors I definitely know not to bother with again. 🙅🏻‍♀️

Maybe I would have been more forgiving of the plot, if the tone of the writing did not seem so out of sorts with the ambience the story was trying to capture. I understand how the first-person-narrative is in fact a reflection of E's personality - 'I was born persistent.😕 But when you're tackling morbid subjects with mysterious secrets and twisted uncertainties, I cannot take it seriously, if E's train of thought is going to be 'okey dokey'. Or my personal favorite - but my goose was cooked.

Really?? 😵

It could be a nod to the 1940s, where these phrases perhaps may have been used in the mainstream as popular euphemisms, but I just couldn't get behind it. 🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️ Even the trajectory of the plot felt wayward to me; one would argue that the events were interconnected, but I never quite felt them all mesh together, even when E was breaking it down mentally. 😣

“I was startled out of this paralysis when salvation fell from above.”



Writers do have their own style so I'm not discrediting it; but this matter-of-fact, smart alle-ky voice was just not clicking with me - on the day that Dean Jamison flew too close to the sun. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I know she had to behave superior in front of others, to hide the distraught state she was in, but... - okay, fine, it is the WWII-40s and proving one's merit as a female is difficult - but, she was so judgmental. I could not bring myself to empathize or sympathize with her choices or emotions. 🤷🏻‍♀️

And it was the little things. A marriage of convenience, a quasi-romance that was not at all really necessary, the desire to be taken seriously amidst her male colleagues, the financial insecurity - all these issues that weighed on E felt so random. Even when E was breaking it down, I didn't feel it all came together well enough to make me satisfied. 😔

Even having the only Black female character be the smartest one amidst a sea of white suspicious characters also felt jarring. E's mother's apparent disappearance also was kind of sus and the way it was followed up on --- everything seemed oddly placed and that was grating on me. 🤨The story even starts in media res, where much of the past is dictated to us, making it a rather slow start, before it actually picks up.

“Fear can do that. It can take over your senses and make everything monstrous.”

I also honestly don't know how I feel about the 'twist'. 🫤 It just felt so out there, and then kind of dismissed later on, not all together explored or the consequences of it; and then only to have the guilty party make their appearance as such, for the finale to be the way that it was, followed by that very neat closure for E...

I think I just thought there would be more - the dark academia meets Rebecca in a psychological thriller - but I didn't quite get what I wanted from either the Gothic vibes or the 'book about books' bit. Which yes, I have been told these tags are added by Goodreads, so no shade to the author. 🙍🏻‍♀️

I'm struggling to find anything good about this read — apart from the title. Considering the context of what E stumbled upon, I do think it was cleverly done. 👍🏻

But, that's it.

[Ila Perey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Estella Ecker is a strong and independent female character looking into her mother’s disappearance before and during WW2. Finding answers in the sprawling estate only leads to more questions and shocking mysteries including her father’s dark secrets. At a time when gender inequality still guarantees a smaller pay and even smaller career opportunities, she barely avoids bankruptcy or worse, a marriage of convenience which seems more like exploitation of someone’s financial difficulties for personal gain than a genuine willingness to help better that person’s welfare. Happily, she meets and falls for an academic with whom she bonds over similarities and mutual respect.

The dark nature of the novel affords us glimpses over the lives of women living through a period of rationing in which they must readjust and respond to generation gap, a turn in fortune and a trying reality. Despite the austerity of the time and circumstances, there are occasional bright spots; hosting a party seems profligate and untouched with reality but it is a welcomed and uplifting diversion. It gives people something to anticipate, an opportunity to work together in order to add something to the cheer or exercise creativity and ingenuity to transform the most common into luxury. It is not however, a party every guest could enjoy.

It is also a time of cultural shifts and change in women’s rights, liberation and empowerment—a window for a new found appreciation of how far we have come since then. The writing style is contemporary which gives it a more relatable quality.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading Mary Anna Evans’ books for years and was very pleased to receive an early copy of her latest book, The Dark Library. This is not a part of her series but an historical fiction set in in 1942, in the very early days of World War II in a college town on the Hudson River, not far north of New York City.

Estella “E” Ecker, PhD has returned to the home town she left when she was 17, having intended to stay away forever. Her overbearing and controlling father had made life impossible and her mother was unavailable to her. But a frantic call from Annie, her parents’ housekeeper, has brought her back to Bentham-on-Hudson some 10 years later as her father lay slowly dying and her mother is missing. While she tries to figure out what has happened, she is able to find a job at the college in town, as a research assistant and teacher. Even though many men have left their positions at the college for the war, a woman with a doctorate still finds it impossible to be hired as a Professor!

There are many levels of activity and mystery in this novel, as well as a side of romance. E must learn more about her parents and the grand house she had once left behind in order to figure out the truth about her parents, what may have happened to her mother and what might happen to herself. As it happens, there are levels of secrets she never would have guessed and some evil in this town beyond her imagination. The power of secrets and lies is ever present.

I do recommend this book highly for its interesting and well written characters, a complex and suspenseful plot that kept me guessing, and a satisfying ending. I’m looking forward to whatever Evans writes next.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is mostly a case of bad timing.
The Dark Library is about a woman that comes home after hearing about her mother's disappearance and her father's death, it is timed in WWII with the background of her work in a university where she's not appreciated because she is a woman in academia.
This should've been a hit, but it missed for some reason. I couldn't concentrate and/or connect with the characters.
I think I will have to pick it up again another time when I'm in the mood for a family mystery. I absolutely recommend it if you like thrillers and mysteries, I'm the problem here.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite its slow start, I found myself pulled into the mystery. This story follows Estella, who prefers to be called E as she returns home to Rockfall House after the death of her father and disappearance of her mother. She takes a professor position at the college her father governed.

The estate is a mess with only the housekeeper/cook remaining and the finances are a nightmare. Besides that, there is the matter of her missing mother. Did her father push her off the cliff as some suspect? Evans weaves an interesting and atmospheric tale from the library filled with books her father never allowed her to touch, to the new governor at the college who unexpected lept to his death.

We have two men vying for E's attentions. The first is her solicitor, who is older and kind but whom she feels no chemistry and a young professor but someone is watching the house and there is evidence of someone trying to break in.

A box of forbidden books hidden under her bed, including one penned by her mother, might hold the answers. I enjoyed how the author built suspense and revealed pieces of the puzzle. She used both the setting and the period to build her story, and it was suspenseful.

Filled with twists and turns, The Dark Library delivered and is perfect for fans of gothic mysteries. Be warned, it starts off slowly, but if you allow it, it will sink its claws into you. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Brenda Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estella has returned home after being told her mother has disappeared and her father is near death. Our perspective of life and families can be much different between our childhood and as adults. Upon returning home Estella realizes what she saw as a child wasn’t quite the really she thought it was. While looking for her mother she finds secrets from the past.

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow paced story, riddled with missing family, murder, and a poor recollection of the past.

Estella, who goes by E, has returned home. Her father has passed and her mother is missing, assumed dead.
E doesn't believe this is the case, and moves back into her childhood house, where memories are triggered and not everything is as she remembered.

While this is a very slow paced book, it held my attention the whole time. I loved the gothic tones and feel like it would be a great book for who loved Daisy Darker and Mexican Gothic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for the chance to read and review prior to the June 24th 2025 release.

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Alya · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans
Publication date: 24th June 2025

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 a suspense and mystery then this book is for you

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the arc

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was an interesting way to talk WWII subject matter without being depressing and heavy-handed.

I will say the first half of the book is slooooooooooooow. There is a lot of time spent on learning about E and her life - which is interesting, so that’s what kept me going. When the plot cranks up in the second half, it really gets going.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! I would say it’s Gothic-adjacent, much to E’s chagrin I’m sure.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mary Anna Evans, and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

"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.

[Sarah ⚘]

Dnf'd about 30% in after about a week of struggling to get into the book. It was due back at the library, and I knew there was just no way I was going to finish it in time and enjoy it.

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poison Pen for my advanced copy! I loved it.

[thtgrl_wanda_knows_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately convinced that I would’ve finished this one quickly. It was a slow start but it kept me turning pages quick. I enjoyed the story behind it and I am sure others would also.

It had a little bit of everything in this book. It was suspenseful, mysterious, intense, and a war story.

I would recommend this quick read!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estella Ecker has returned to her home despite running away from her now dead father years ago. She is here now to look for her missing mother and the secrets in his library. Very interesting! Books Off My Reading List

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The time frame--1942, the location--Hudson Valley, NY. Lovely gothic-y tale of academia and small town secrets, complete with hilltop ruins, a cliff-side house and a humdinger of a storm.

I had a great time reading this one.

I loved our heroine Estella, who hates her name and prefers to be called E. I was likewise fond of our hero, Devon Chase, a man of many parts. There were all sorts of twists and turns to the plot, with a goodly number of secrets coming to light. I especially appreciated the epilogue and its look at what happened to our main characters after the very dramatic climax.

This author is on my 'must read' list, no I am now awaiting whatever she next comes up with.

[Liz Mannegren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical novels are my favourite, and I love that The Dark Library gives us the tension of a mystery set shortly after the US joined WWII. With the sudden absence of young men, Estella is granted a teaching position but struggles with the limitations set upon her by society. Throughout the novel, we see E fight to stretch food rations and cover expenses on her limited income, and I really enjoyed seeing the 1940s homefront as the backdrop for this mystery.

With its opening line, "I suppose there are more soul-destroying places to die than at the foot of an ivory tower, but I can't think of many," this book grabbed me from the start. The writing style felt moody and dark, sucking me in. With a turreted castle for a college, a family library full of secrets, and a house set on a crumbling cliff, The Dark Library had all the promised gothic academia vibes.

Estella's character is determined and smart, and I particularly loved her relationship with her housekeeper, Annie. Her quest for answers about her mother had a slower start, but the worldbuilding was well done and the suspense slowly built to the final crescendo of reveals. While some information drops felt a little abrupt, the mystery was fun and kept me guessing until the very end.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with gothic academia vibes, this is one to add to this list!

3.75 stars rounded up!

Thanks to the publisher for this gifted advance copy!

[Kristin Scearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose there are more soul-destroying places to die than at the foot of an ivory tower, but I can’t think of many.

With that opening line, how could I not be engrossed in this book immediately?

The writing for this is so beautifully done, and I really felt transported back to the early '40s, not only with the typical societal pressures of a woman trying to make her way in a man's world, but also the effects of joining a global war and what that does to society. The middle of the book seemed a little slow for me, but I believe it's necessary to really set the stage for the ultimate reveal and the chaos that ensues from that point all the way to the end. Because once that part happens? You're not going to want to put the book down at all, trust me.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good historical mystery, especially set in this time period, framed by WWII and its effects both globally and one a more personal level. I will definitely be reading more by this author soon.

4.5 stars

**I received a review copy of this book from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**

[Dr CG · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big shoutout and special thank you to #NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this little mystery novel. The setting felt well-researched and immersive, and I loved how the author wove in just enough period detail without making it feel like a history lesson. There were plenty of intriguing puzzle pieces to work through along the way, which kept me guessing and engaged.

The female main character was a standout for me. Strong, intelligent, and holding her own in an academic field dominated by men. That dynamic felt true to the time period and added emotional depth to the story. I found myself really rooting for her, especially during moments when she had to fight harder just to be heard or taken seriously. It gave the story some weight that went beyond the mystery itself.

My only real complaint was with the pacing. At times, the narrative dragged a bit and felt unnecessarily stretched out. A tighter edit could’ve made the momentum a little stronger, especially in the middle chapters.

Overall, though, this was an enjoyable read with an engaging mystery and a satisfying historical backdrop. I’d definitely check out more from this author in the future.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5 stars, rounded up)

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans is a beautifully atmospheric gothic tale that slowly wraps itself around you, layer by layer. This is not a fast-paced thriller—it’s a meticulously built story, steeped in historical fiction and brimming with the quiet, creeping tension that defines the best gothic novels.

The setting is richly described, with the library itself becoming a character—dark, brooding, and filled with secrets. Evans excels at crafting an environment that feels both intimate and ominous, pulling you into a world where the weight of the past presses heavily on the present.

The pacing is slow but purposeful, perfect for readers who love to savor the details and immerse themselves in the subtle unraveling of mystery. The historical elements are woven in with care, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative without ever feeling heavy-handed.

The characters are complex and flawed, their personal struggles and hidden motives adding another delicious layer of intrigue. I especially appreciated the exploration of legacy, forbidden knowledge, and the moral gray areas that arise when the past refuses to stay buried.

Overall, The Dark Library is a thoughtful, moody read that rewards patience. Gothic lovers and fans of slow-burn historical fiction will find plenty to admire here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press and Mary Anna Evan’s for the opportunity to read and review this gem!

[Jessie Kratzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just not for me, that being said it still was well written. Thank you to NetGalley and loosened pen press for the arc of this book.

[Read-n-Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I liked this one, but I thought the dark library was actually dark and scary 🫣. I guess it is kind of 🤔 but not in the way I thought. 😁 Anyway The Dark Library is still a good book. It has really good characters and a good story though there are some things I didn’t expect or agree with, it was still a good read. The main character E, (Estella, she likes to go by E) is a professor at the University where her father worked and was well known. She was out of town on her own when her mother and father’s housekeeper, Annie, calls and says her father is not well and that she needs for her to come home quickly. Estella goes and soon after she arrives her father dies. Her mother is not there and they have no idea if she’s alive or dead. Her mother and her father had had an extremely bad argument on the day her father took sick and her mother disappeared. So now Estella and Annie are trying to take care of a mansion of a house with hardly no money, because WW II is happening and things are rationed and women doesn’t get paid well for a job well done in 1942 because they are women 😑. And from there it just gets worse. Yes I know by now I’ve realized why is this called The Dark Library? 🤔 well, I don’t and you won’t either, if you read, until towards the end, very close to the end and then it opens up and you will say “Ahhhhhh, I get it now!” Or at least I did anyway 😊 I recommend to anyone who likes mysteries, and stories with timeline around WWII. There is hardly no language, if any, and no sexual content. I would have given it 5 stars because of this, but the reason for the 4 is because I believe the library should have been spoken of more. It really wasn’t mentioned until towards the end when the ah hah moment comes around and you realize that’s why it’s the dark library. So I just felt it should have been spoken of sooner. Her father’s books were spoken about but not why it was a dark library. I just thought it should have been known to the reader much sooner. But it is still a great story with great characters. Thank you to #NetGalley, the author, and publishers for the opportunity to read and review #TheDarkLibrary with my honest thoughts and opinions. 🙂

[Anaiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own**

In The Dark Library, Mary Anna Evans takes readers into the library of a young woman’s father who recently passed away. As hidden truths come to light, she finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue, betrayal, and the possibility of love—all while trying to solve a mystery that could cost her everything.

This book was such a delight to read! The pacing was perfect, keeping the suspense alive without dragging things out or rushing through the plot. I really liked that the story takes place in 1941-1942 during WW2. I’m a sucker for war novels so this was a great read. Also, the touch of romance was a pleasant surprise—it was subtle, never overwhelming, and blended beautifully with the main storyline.

What really stood out to me was how unpredictable it was. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there’d be a twist that completely caught me off guard. It’s the kind of book that keeps you turning pages late into the night.

If you’re looking for a story that’s atmospheric, thrilling, and just the right amount of romantic, The Dark Library is a must-read. Highly recommend.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Darkness on so many levels behind so many facades. The climax was one of the more uniquely intense scenes I’ve ever read, with nature ferociously trying to take back the worst that mankind can do.

[Saltygalreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 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.

[Stephanie Milner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC. This book kept me guessing until the very end! Every time I developed a new theory of what Estella’s father had hidden in the library or about who may also be trying to find her father’s secrets, I was proven wrong.
WWII has begun and Estella is enjoying her independence in Boston far away from her overbearing father and her childhood home. But when their housekeeper, Annie, calls her in hysterics demanding she come home, Estella leaves it all behind to return to Rockfall House. When she arrives, she finds that her father has suffered from a stroke and her mother is missing. Not long after arriving her father passes away without ever revealing what he knows about her mother’s disappearance, and Estella is forced to move back in to Rockfall House, take a job at the college her father reigned over as dean, try to look for her mother, and try to keep the house with what little money her father left behind. Meanwhile it seems everyone is constantly watching her, and she begins to wonder what secrets her father left behind.
I was a little unsure of this book at first, but once I got to around the 30% mark, I could not put it down. I had to keep reading to see what secrets were being hidden in Rockfall House!

[Atty · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!