This book had a super cool synopsis. Seven people doing an ancient Greek ritual in a super mysterious old library basement. The lights go out, and people start dying.

Unfortunately, the only good thing about the book was the synopsis. It took 25% into the book to even get to the lights going out.

I struggled with the writing style - it was passive, backwards, and confusing. We got a few different POVs, but there wasn't a lot of difference in their internal dialogue's, no one really had any personality. The book was also so, so, so repetitive. I was bored and struggled to get through, just to find out who killed the first guy.

The ending really made no sense, and the "statement" was never tied back to anything. Bottom line, really cool idea, really terrible execution. I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of "The Night in the Library" by Eva Jurczyk. Jurczyk’s writing style in this book is enchanting and atmospheric, making the library feel like a place where magic could actually happen. The story unfolds with vivid descriptions and a sense of mystery, drawing you into a world where books come alive and secrets hide around every corner. Ellie’s journey through the library is suspenseful and full of discovery, mixing fantasy and suspense in a way that keeps you hooked. While the plot can wander a bit, the novel’s charm and imaginative premise make it a captivating read for anyone who loves stories that blend reality with fiction.

On the night before graduation, seven students gather in the basement of their university's rare books library. They're not allowed in the library after closing time, but it's the perfect place for the ritual they want to perform—one borrowed from the Greeks, said to free those who take part in it from the fear of death. And what better time to seek the wisdom of ancient gods than in the hours before they'll scatter in different directions to start their real lives? But just a few minutes into their celebration, the lights go out—and one of them drops dead. As the body count rises, with nothing but the books to protect them, the group must figure out how to survive the night while trapped with a murderer. That Night in the Library is a chilling literary mystery that transports readers to a world where secrets live in the dark, books breathe fears to life, and the only way out is to wait until morning. Not your average locked room mystery. This book is incredibly frightening and held me until the last page.

Being locked in a gothic library overnight, surrounded by rare books, and doing an ancient summoning spell… well, this sounds like my kind of adventure! That Night in the Library by Eva Jurczyk combines a thrilling story with mystery and some horror to make for a near perfect read.

I did have a bit of trouble at the beginning getting into the story. The premise of the story is what kept me going, but the characters are what gave That Night in the Library a bit of a weak start for me. At first they felt a bit one note, and very, very selfish. But I had to remind myself that they are college kids so they don’t yet have the layers that someone 20 years older would.

I’m glad I decided to continue reading, and am looking forward to what Jurcyzk puts out next.

The plan: reenact an ancient ritual in a library basement.

Davey Kebede has worked throughout his time as a graduate student in his Vermont university’s rare books library, and on the night of his final shift (the night before he is scheduled to graduate) he plans to stage a re-enactment of the Eleusinian Mysteries. He has invited several other students, some graduate students like himself and others undergrads (including the two other grad students who are graduating with him and with whom he is in competition for the sole permanent position at the library). The ritual is designed to retrace the steps taken by Demeter, goddess of the harvest, while she searched for her missing daughter Kore (Persephone) who was kidnapped by the god of the underworld, and it involves fasting prior to the revelries, singing and dancing at the onset, and then entering the underworld/sanctuary and consuming a special mind-altering potion . According to Davey’s version, the library basement will be “the underworld” and acid the drug of choice. The invitees: Umu the pretty undergrad and her drug-dealing best friend Ro who lives locally and is providing the acid; Mary the Asian-American social media whiz (and job competitor #!) who practically lives on Adderall; Soraya the second in competition for the library job and someone for whom Davey has carried a (not entirely camouflaged) torch; Kip, the nasty guy who is both Soraya’s manipulative boyfriend and whose family is a major contributor to the library’s collection; and finally Faye, the shy and mousy undergrad who has passed her entire four years at the university without making a single friend or attending a party, and who is invited basically to achieve the right number of participants and because, like the others, Davey thinks it unlikely that she will tell Ronald (the supervisor of the library who doesn’t know about, and wouldn’t condone, the bacchanal) what Davey has planned. What could possibly go wrong? Think Lord of the Flies meets And Then There Were None, with a sprinkle of The Secret History. Blood will be shed, and not everyone who hides in the basement that night will live to see the morning.
The premise for this novel is an excellent one….a locked room mystery, a library full of rare and unusual items, and a ritual steeped in Greek history. I found it hard to stay immersed in the story, however, in large part because I didn’t really find any of the characters likable or interesting. Self-absorbed yes, arrogant also yes, and remarkably un-self-aware. As a result, I was not particularly vested in the survival of any or all of the characters (in fact, I may have been rooting for one or more to get the ultimate comeuppance), and while the ending introduced a plot twist I did not anticipate I had already lost interest in the act that said twist explained. The writing was good, and the lore of old and/or rare books, maps and so on was interesting, it did not for me compensate for spending a few hours with a really annoying group of characters. There may be an appeal for readers of Lucy Foley, Stacy Willingham and Sara Ochs, but I would give the book only a conditional recommendation (2.5 stars rounded up)….others may well have viewed it differently, particularly if they are in an age group closer to that of the characters. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me early access to the title.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 3⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Mystery/ thriller 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I have no idea what was going on in this one- it was all over the place

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Locked in a library setting
Ritual based on Greek myths
Fast paced reads
Multiple POVs
Unlikable characters
Murder mystery

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Rare books library

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I didn’t find the final reveal shocking
I was so confused at times

Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Sourcebooks for this copy of "That Night in the Library."

What a wild ending that I will not forget!

The beginning is a little slow as as we meet all the people who have been invited to the reenactment of an ancient Greek ritual on the last day of their library work.

But when they're locked in the basement and ready to start, the lights unexpectedly go out and one of their group dies. How do they figure out the cause of death, which one of them is the murderer, and how to survive the night?

Seven students must survive overnight in a rare books library (with at least one killer on the loose) in this twisty locked-room mystery/thriller.

It’s multi-POV, which works well for this genre as it makes you suspect everyone and no one. The author is obviously a lover or libraries, and the setting is well-researched with lots of dark academia vibes (even down to the pretentious, oblivious, lonely, awkward or highly unlikeable characters). The deaths are grisly and the discomfort palpable, with elements of horror that play on fears of the dark and confined spaces. All aspects that make it hard to put down.

If you’re the kind of person who loves to guess murderer, motive and means, I challenge you to read this book. I called how one of the deaths took place, but not the one that started it all. You deserve a heartfelt round of applause if you figure out what happened before it’s revealed. The author has crafted the story, the clues, the characters and the claustrophobic, traumatised atmosphere so well. It’s fast-paced, clever and scarily believable. You’ll read it quickly, swept up in the horror.

This book kind of reminded me of a mix between the breakfast club and one of us is lying but with characters that aren't as lovable, interesting or fun. I was let down by the conclusion and though it was not my favorite, it was not bad and I did continue too read so I think it just was not for me with how much I read the mystery thriller genre

I’m often baffled by how much other readers seem to like a book that I didn’t care for at all, but here I find myself in the opposite role: The reviews for this book are for the most part decidedly negative, but I thought it was great.

In a lot of ways this is just an And Then There Were None style thriller which has the additional bonus of being set almost entirely inside a college library. This has a bit of popcorn horror to it too (Think Riley Sager or Taylor Adams), and I thought it was smartly plotted and loads of fun.

I particularly enjoyed the structure of this, as well as the fact that it’s almost impossible to guess what really happened until the very end. And though it’s not the ending I imagine many readers wish for, it’s clever and logical and I enjoyed the fact that it breaks with standard Thriller tropes.

The premise of this book was intriguing so as a library lover I just had to read it!
7 people are locked in the university's rare book library but only some of them make it out alive. As the story unfolds the characters clandestinely to perform a Greek ritual rumored to quell the fear of death. However, their plans are disrupted when the library plunges into darkness, and a member of their group is found dead. Was Kip murdered? Did someone poison the drugs that were supposed to be taken by all of the participants? As the night goes on, they turn on each other and only 2 survive the night.
I found this book entertaining and was kept guessing until the very end. I did NOT see that ending coming!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I stopped reading this book around 30% in. The premise sounded interesting, but a third of the way into the book and I'm bored, not wanting to pick it up, and not caring what happens to the characters.

A group is going to spend the night in a rare books library to complete a "ritual" while on drugs... until something happens and they realize they can't get out (cue locked room mystery).

This might work for others, but this one is definitely not for me.

CW: blood, drug use, death

A group of college kids spend their last night before graduation locked in a library to partake in a ritualistic celebration.

Umu, Ro, Kip, Soraya, Faye, Mary, Davey
are the characters and I enjoyed how in depth and interesting the character development is.

Kept me in suspense throughout, and the deaths are disturbing (realistically so).

The book was too intense, graphic, and disturbing for my tastes BUT very well written with an excellent plot. If you don’t mind graphic violence, it’s a great read.

I was so intrigued by this book… a locked door myster/thriller. But this just got so incredibly slow so fast. I struggled to follow the characters, it was just too much. I could not enjoy this book as much as I hoped for that reason. I also don’t enjoy mysteries that are far fetched, and “unrealistic” and this was one of those.

That Night in the Library by Eva Jurczyk is a spine-chilling locked-room mystery that grows more sinister with each page, leading to a cut-throat final twist and reveal that will leave readers breathless. Praised by New York Times bestselling author Elle Cosimano, this novel is as gripping as it is terrifying, ensnaring readers from the very start.

The premise is captivating: on the night before graduation, seven university students gather in the basement of their school's rare books library to perform an ancient Greek ritual meant to free them from the fear of death. The forbidden setting adds a layer of tension, making the library not just a backdrop but a character in its own right, shrouded in mystery and darkness.

Jurczyk's writing excels in creating an atmosphere of claustrophobia and dread. The moment the lights go out and one of the students falls dead, the story plunges into a gripping tale of survival and paranoia. With the body count rising, the students are left to fend for themselves, using only the books around them as their shields against the unknown threat lurking in the dark.

The character dynamics are a standout feature. Each student brings their own secrets and fears into the library, and as the night progresses, these hidden aspects come to light, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The interplay between the characters, coupled with the escalating tension, keeps the reader engaged and on edge.

Jurczyk's skillful pacing ensures that there is never a dull moment. The plot unfolds with meticulous precision, each twist and turn ratcheting up the suspense. The final reveal is both shocking and satisfying, a testament to Jurczyk's ability to craft a compelling and unpredictable mystery.

That Night in the Library is more than just a thriller; it's a literary exploration of fear, friendship, and the unknown. Jurczyk weaves a narrative that is as intellectually stimulating as it is terrifying, making this book a must-read for fans of mysteries and psychological thrillers.

In conclusion, That Night in the Library is an excellent story with great writing. Eva Jurczyk has crafted a masterful tale that transports readers to a world where secrets live in the dark, books breathe fears to life, and the only way out is to survive until morning. Once you enter this library, there's no turning back. Highly recommended!

💊 T R I P P Y T U E S D A Y 💊 featuring “That Night in the Library” by Eva Jurczyk!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤/5

Seven students come together the night before Graduation to spend the night in the basement of a rare book library to perform an Ancient Greek ritual. They hide in the library basement after hours to perform a ritual that banishes the fear of death. They all pop an acid tablet to loosen themselves up and to open their minds. However, as the ritual begins one of the students winds up DEAD 😵! The group is totally locked up, have zero service to call for help and must do what they can to survive the night!

I can’t say anything else because the less you know the better! This story is bizarre, trippy and not at all what I expected! It definitely is a mash up of locked room mystery, gothic thriller and dark academia!

Thank you kindly to Eva Jurczyk, Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for my digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book released last week!

This was good mystery set in closed place. I enjoyed all the twists and turns and it kept me on the edge. Good book! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher

If you think that this novel is a cozy locked room mystery then you’d be sorely disappointed. This book had some serious stuff and is definitely NOT for the faint of heart. There’s violence all throughout as one by one, the dead bodies piled up. I certainly didn’t expect the final twist nor the abrupt ending. At first I felt let down and was like, that’s it?!?! After all the buildup and suspense?? But, upon further reflection, I realized that this literary locked room thriller is really quite clever. The people hoping to come out fearless by performing the ancient Greek ritual had the outcome they deserved because of their own (un)doing. You have to read this to understand.😉 The events that transpired THAT NIGHT was sooo grisly it was like a Quentin Tarantino movie! As the story progresses, the pacing also hastened. It was wham bam kapow then boom! The end! I usually liked clear cut endings but for this one? The sudden ending worked in its favor especially for the way the final twist was sprung. Suffice it to say, my jaw dropped. I love it when a plot twist comes out of nowhere but actually ties the whole story together. I really enjoyed reading this one so thank you Poisoned Press for sending me the digital ARC. That Night in the Library is already available where books are sold.

I was surprised to see the rating of this book on Goodreads but despite that I’m still hopeful this book might work for me. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

The premise of this book sounds very promising but some parts feels dragging especially the inner monologue of the characters. The main storyline didn’t start until after 20% into the story which causes me to lose interest very fast.

I was hoping once we get to the main storyline, the locked-room mystery will be more suspenseful. However, I didn't feel the gripping atmosphere despite the characters being locked in a room with a 'murderer' together for a long time.
I skimmed a lot of pages just to get to the ending and know who’s the murderer and how did the victim die.

However, the ending felt too rushed with just a simple explanation about how the first victim die which send off a chain of several horrible events that took place.

Overall, this book is definitely not for me – I struggled so hard to finish this book.
Probably because I didn’t really like the writing style, so many parts felt confusing and I didn’t feel connected with the characters as well.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: blood, murder, violence, drug use, addiction

That Night at the Library was, um, interesting..... this was a little bit of a bizarre story, but considering most of the characters had taken drugs, I suppose that tracks.

That Night at the Library is a locked room mystery. It's kind of a dark Breakfast Club meets Lord of the Flies.

A group of university students get together to spend the night in the William E. Wooden Rare Books Library at their school. Their intent is to recreate the Eleusinian Mystery ritual. In theory, during this ritual, they'd face the thing they were most afraid of, and they would never be afraid again.

But, the students get more than they bargained for when one of them dies horribly. Locked in a room in the basement, it had to have been one of them. Slowly, fear and suspicion take over, and they start to turn on each other. The consequences of this night end up being unfathomable.

The book alternated between different points of view of. The characters were all flawed, and all seemed to have something to hide, so it was hard to tell who was guilty. To say things got carried away would be an understatement. It honestly made the story slightly over the top.

I was definitely compelled to finish this book, I needed to know what happened in the end and who was guilty, and it was a quick read. It was definitely written well. As I said, I just found it a bit too out there.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.