I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

A suspenseful locked room mystery with an intriguing premise. However the pacing is a little uneven and the characters feel under developed so I did not fully engage with any of them. Still there was suspense and an eerie atmosphere. A good read.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This starts as a slow burn introducing each of the students and setting the scene prior to being locked in the library basement for the night. From about 25% on things escalate quickly with deaths, hallucinations and no one knows what's real anymore.

This was a fun ride and takes place in a library. What more could you want?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

The book had an intriguing concept and technically had everything that I am drawn to when reading a book. The library as a setting and the haunting nature of the library was extremely spooky and such a great environment for this story.

I had high hopes for this "thriller", but was sorely disappointed. An inordinate amount of time is spent on the set-up and the individual issues of each character. The murder (that was obviously going to happen) finally occurs 1/3 of the way into the book. By that time, I was just bored. I understand there is an ending with a "shocking" twist, but I just can't bear to continue. I have so many other books that sound more compelling.

Giving this book 3 stars because the author's writing is clear and well done, she just seems to take way too long to get to the point. For readers who are very interested in the inner working of a university library and the young people who work there, but don't look for page-turning action.

Eva Jurczyk's That Night in the Library masterfully blends elements of classic whodunits with the allure of dark academia, creating a gripping mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The novel centers around a group of seven students who find themselves locked in their university's rare books library on the night before graduation. Their intention to perform an ancient Greek ritual to conquer the fear of death takes a harrowing turn when one of them suddenly dies, and what follows is a night filled with tension, suspicion, and survival.

Jurczyk's prose is both elegant and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the eerie ambiance of a library cloaked in darkness. The rare books library, with its labyrinthine aisles and the weight of centuries-old knowledge, becomes a character in itself, adding layers of intrigue and dread to the unfolding drama. As the body count rises, the sense of claustrophobia and urgency is palpable, making it impossible to put the book down.

The characters are well-drawn and complex, each harboring secrets that are gradually revealed as the night progresses. Jurczyk skillfully delves into their psyches, exploring themes of fear, ambition, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. The dynamic between the characters, filled with mistrust and shifting alliances, adds a psychological depth to the narrative that elevates it beyond a typical murder mystery.

One of the novel’s standout features is its exploration of the power of books and knowledge. Jurczyk infuses the story with literary references and philosophical musings, creating a rich tapestry that appeals to bibliophiles and mystery enthusiasts alike. The ancient Greek ritual at the heart of the story adds a unique twist, blending mythology with modern-day suspense in a way that feels fresh and original.

While the pacing is generally tight and the tension high, there are moments where the narrative slows down, particularly during detailed descriptions of the library and its contents. However, these moments also serve to deepen the reader’s immersion in the setting, making the eventual revelations all the more impactful.

In conclusion, That Night in the Library is a chilling, intelligent mystery that will captivate readers from start to finish. Eva Jurczyk has crafted a novel that is not only a thrilling page-turner but also a thoughtful meditation on fear, knowledge, and the dark corners of the human mind. Whether you are a fan of literary mysteries, dark academia, or simply love a well-told tale of suspense, this book is sure to satisfy.

I really liked the premise of a locked room thriller and that is what drew me in for this one. It was a decent read but I found it had a hard time keeping my attention. The book felt very chaotic. It had multiple perspectives and no one really knows whats going on as all hell breaks loose in this library basement and so I felt like there wasn't really anyone I could root for because I couldn't trust anyone. There are also incidents that happened that I feel would have had consequences in real life but they were just kind of brushed over. The ending had an interesting twist. This book would be good for academics that love thrillers since they quote a lot of academic books and refer to library installations and ancient literature.

Enjoyable read and something that will lure you in and keep you on your toes!


Though there was a little hesitation on the start of the real adventure making the pace of the storytelling a little bit slower than most books on its genre, when the action happened, it kept on rolling!

That Night in the Library is a literary thriller that isn’t quite what I expected. I went into it knowing that it’s literary, though in this case, I think the word “literary” is mostly being used to emphasize that the story has a slower pace, with a lot of character background and flashbacks. I think the poor reception for this book has to do with the fact that thrillers, in essence, are fast paced. They have a lot of twists in the plot, and they get the readers’ blood pumping with adrenaline. This book doesn’t quite do that, and as a result, it feels more like a suspense novel.

I enjoyed the build-up to the “night in the library,” as we got to know the characters and why they chose to participate in this peculiar and mysterious little ritual. That said, none of the characters are particularly likable. Because there are so many characters with complex backstories, it felt like we didn’t have the chance to dig deep into any of their motivations or personality quirks. At least, not enough to push past the unlikable characteristics to truly understand them.

There were some interesting twists in the plot, though the book does unfold exactly how you would expect. Despite the book’s general predictability, the final reveal at the very end gave me chills. The setting is fantastic–a library–and because the story is touted as literary, we do get quite a bit of interesting historical information sprinkled throughout.

All in all, this book was entertaining, despite its slower pace and unlikable characters.

"That Night in the Library" by Eva Jurczyk promises an intriguing mystery set in a beloved library, but unfortunately, it falls short of its potential. While the setting and premise initially draw you in, the story struggles to maintain momentum and deliver the excitement one might expect from a mystery novel.

The plot centers around a mysterious death during a private event at a library, with Lily, a librarian and amateur detective, stepping in to solve the case. The setting is well-drawn and has a lot of potential to create a tense, atmospheric mystery. However, the pacing is uneven, and much of the narrative feels bogged down by unnecessary details that don't add to the story or the suspense.

Character development is another area where the book falters. While Lily is a somewhat engaging protagonist, her character arc is underdeveloped, and her motivations are not always convincing. The supporting cast is mostly forgettable, lacking the depth and nuance that could have added more layers to the story.

Overall, That Night in the Library has a charming premise and a great setting for a cozy mystery, but it doesn’t quite live up to its promise.

I received a complimentary copy from the Poisoned Pen publishers and all opinions expressed are mine.

The book follows seven students one night before graduation who decide to perfom a ritual in the university rare books library basement. During their ritual ,the light's go out and one of them drops dead. I did not quite enjoy this read but it's perfect for fans of locked room mysteries

A group of college kids lock themselves in a basement and attempt to perform an old ritual. Then people start dying one by one. This story reminded me a lot of Christie’s “And Then There Were None.”

The story was slow for me to get into at the beginning but it picked up about 1/3 of the way in. The writing style was good, and I like the multiple perspectives. The ending was predictable, but the story was still enjoyable and worth the read.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of That Night in the Library by Eva Jurczyk in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and the odd twists. It reminded me of a movie that I recently saw, but if I said the title it would reveal some of the plot. It was a fun book to read.

My feelings about this book are complicated. On one hand, I kind of hated it. On the other hand I did finish it, so as a thriller it did work. It's possible this book is just not for me since I hated every single character. I did not relate to them and thought they were underdeveloped and super annoying. Now, the book is short so maybe I'm not being fair. The premise of this locked door mystery was intriguing, but I did not care about the "ritual", and I did not care about the characters. I was very curious about the initial death and what had caused it. I was pretty sure it was not in fact a murder, and I was interested enough in finding out what had happened there that I kept reading. That was also a huge letdown in the end.
I think the author was trying to make a comment about how quick we are to jump to conclusions and think the worst of each other. It just made for a book full of monsters who had no depth or empathy. I gave it 2 stars instead of one or none, because I did finish it, and so again, I give small credit to it as a thriller.

This book sounds cool.

It's not.

It's boring with flat characters and a predictable plot. Completely unnecessary.

***A big thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC copy of this book.***

Seven pretentious college students gather for a night of Greek rituals and drugs, spiralling into paranoia and violence in a library basement.

Though the premise is intriguing, the execution falls short. For a sub-300-page book, the pacing drags with too much exposition and too little action. The Greek rituals, central to the plot, are poorly developed, and the self-absorbed characters are hard to root for.

The ending offers a twist that may divide readers—some will find it clever, others cheap. Overall, it’s a forgettable read, but if you enjoy chaotic college tales, it might be worth a quick skim.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this chilling read! I love locked room mysteries and this hit the spot. The suspense in this story was great, it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end, but I didn’t LOVE the characters.

This was super fast paced and kept my interest all the way through and I would recommend it to any who love these types of stories!

The story is fast-paced but the characters were uninteresting and their constant bickering became annoying. The ending was disappointing, and the plot was too chaotic to take seriously.

I struggled to finish it and wished I’d stopped earlier. Other than the interesting premise and Greek mythology, there wasn’t much I liked. It might not be for everyone, so check other reviews before deciding to read it.

"That Night in the Library" by Eva Jurczyk was a book I was excited to read.

The premise of the book, seven grad students sneaking into the rare book section of the library after hours before chaos ensues, initially grabbed my attention. However, as much as it pains me to say, I felt the execution was lackluster at best. It was hard to root for any of the characters or even care about some of the plotlines. The story felt convoluted at times when it could've benefitted greatly from some simplification.

It read as though the author grew up as a fan of Agatha Christie and maybe tried a little too hard to follow that blueprint.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me this ARC.