I love books that have to do with libraries. Imean who doesn't like to get lost in a book about the very things that many of us hold so dear to our hearts. Whats even better is when that book takes a turn and people begin to die.
Based off from Greek Mythology seven students preparing to graduate from university are bound together by a crazy night in the basement of the rare books library.
No one is supposed to be in the library overnight but these students choose to engage in a last party a ritual from Greek Mythology that is supposed to make them never feel fear again.
Instead of never feeling fear though all that comes of that night is fear. When one of the graduates dies from an apparent overdose all the others flying high begin to point the finger of blame onto eachother. They all have their reasons for maybe wanting one another dead, however when more of them begin to die the night takes a devastating turn.

#ThatNightInTheLibrary by #EvaJurczyk is a compelling read and one that I didn't see coming.

Thank you to #Netgalley for the chance to read #ThatNightInTheLibrary by #EvaJurczyk in return for a fair and honest review

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.

A horror/thriller set in a locked library overnight? I was excited to read it. Unfortunately this book ended up being completely different than I expected. It starts with the introduction of the characters. A lot of time is spent introducing each. Right away I didn't like any of them. You don't have to like characters to enjoy a book but the characters are the sort I wouldn't enjoy in any book. Other readers may like them more.

The plot is odd and confusing. The mix of academia and bloodshed doesn't work as presented. Instead of feeling fear or suspense I was just disturbed.

2.5/5

**2.5-stars**

That Night in the Library is an Adult Literary Suspense novel. This is a recent release and I went into it, I'll admit, with a bit of trepidation. The early reviews aren't the highest, but in a way that piqued my interest even more. I frequently find myself in the minority opinion, so I went in open-minded, ready to give it a nice go. I so wanted to at least give this a 3-star rating, but sadly, I just can't.

The concept was okay, like the very basic concept, but the execution completely missed the mark.

This story basically follows a group of seven people, who make a plan to sneak into the basement of the rare books library at their University, and spend the night, performing some sort of obscure ritual while they are there. It says in the synopsis that it is the night before graduation, but honestly, I don't remember those kinds of details from this. It was quite difficult to parse anything out really. I did understand they were going to perform a ritual, that I believe was said to free the participants of any fear, or something like that. IDK, really.

It's an odd mix of characters. They weren't all friends, or anything, they just needed seven people, so ended up inviting a girl who worked at the library, who really didn't know any of them, someone's drug dealer, etc. That one part I did understand clearly about the ritual was they fasted before, and then dropped acid. Most of the rest of it was delivered to us through a drug-addled haze, so not particularly the most coherent way to convey a plot.

Once the ritual starts, they're literally trapped in this basement space; locked in. They're getting into it, doing their chanting, and dancing around and what not, when suddenly, one of the participants drops dead. From there, as you would expect, they start to freak out, because that person is dead! How did they die? Were they killed? Is one of them responsible.

Since they're tripping, suspicions run high. Things get wild. More bodies fall. Is anyone going to survive?

So, yeah, that's a basic breakdown of this story. I feel like it's for a very niche market. You have to be a specific type of Reader for this to work for you. There is sort of a vibe of this being a book about books, but not to the level of like a Strange the Dreamer, or The Dark Half. It's too hazy a theme for me to actually recommend it for that trope alone.

Without any malice, I would say this feels like one of those cases where the author is more enamored with their own writing, the words and phrases they use, than with any actual plot. It comes across a bit arrogant, in a way. I would equate it to The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring.

With this being said, this is 100% my personal opinion. Just because it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you. I would urge anyone who thinks it sounds interesting, to give it a go. There's a book for every Reader, and a Reader for every book. I know there is an audience for this one. Unfortunately, I'm just not a part of that audience.

Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press and RB Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I gave it a shot and even though it didn't work out for me, I appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy. All opinions are my own.

I really liked the premise of this book, as I hugely enjoy a locked door mystery. While this book had many of the elements I really enjoy in a book, I did find myself a bit at odds with the characters in the book. I don't mind an unlikable character, but I really couldn't find a character I did like, or was really rooting for, which made reading the book an interesting journey.

I did like the foray into the greek mythology/ritual vibe that the book centers around, and I do love ridiculous twists of which this book has plenty. This is a great pick if you are looking for some easy to read entertainment.

This book was not what I expected. I was intrigued by the synopsis, a group of acquaintances stay after hours in a university library basement to perform a ritual, but things end up much differently than planned. I was not expecting this story to go the way it did. I was a bit taken aback at how dramatic it ended up being. I wasn’t particularly a fan of any of the characters and there was too much unnecessary murder. I have so many questions about the story and the characters. I don’t think I was the correct demographic for this one, unfortunately. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC through NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

The premise of this book was immaculate and what first drew me to it. A locked room murder mystery, the promise of a dark force, and a very old library? What more could a girl ask for?

However, upon reading it...

Unfortunately, it wasn’t what I expected at all. I struggled to connect with any of the characters. It wasn’t until over 50% into the book that anything interesting happened. Even when something did happen, I was left feeling confused, like I had nothing to go on. It didn't feel like anything was happening.

The writing isn’t bad; it’s well-written, but the plot felt elusive. I felt like I was learning about the characters yet knew absolutely nothing about them. Because the narrative shifted perspectives between almost all the suspects, there was no one to root for. No one to really trust, but not in a good way. It felt disorienting, like nothing made sense. Everyone seemed guilty until their chapter came around and they spoke in a way that wouldn't make sense if they were the murderer.

Yet, I saw the book to its end. The final sequence of events, during the few final hours until morning, were probably the most interesting part of the whole book. When we stopped getting (in my opinion) useless information about the characters and action started to happen, the book was good. It could've been even better if the first 65% or so was recised and it was faster-paced from the start.

The writing was good, and the book was okay in the end considering everything. Nothing more, nothing less. The end felt a little underwhelming considering what was happening.

In summary, the book had its moments but didn’t quite live up to its promising premise. The locked room, dark force, and old library setup was intriguing, but the execution left much to be desired. The pacing and character development felt off, but the final hours did redeem the experience a bit.

True rating 2.5-2.75

A group of grad students spend the night locked in a library basement to perform a ritual. Of course, things don’t turn out as expected. Told from multiple points of view, this was an excellent locked-room mystery with a roller coaster ending. Highly recommend for thriller readers and this would make a fantastic book club read, as well. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance!

I liked the premise of this book, love a good locked room story, but this didn't live up to expectations.

Seven students come together in a rare books library to perform a ritual after closing, but one of the students dies and the others can't leave, the remaining students have to fend for themselves with a killer among them.

This book is from multiple perspectives, which can be great, but I struggled with these characters and in honesty struggled to finish this book, maybe that's on me for reading while on holiday, but it just didn't hit the spot for me and the pay off wasn't worth it. I did however enjoy the pace of the book, it moves quickly and the intrigue.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

The concept and description of this novel were excellent and made me really excited to read it. The execution, however, was rather scattershot and hard to follow. For a minute I thought we might experience some of the over-the-top campy gore of Grady Hendrix, bur alas, everyone took themselves much too seriously. A DNF at about 60%.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC of That Night in the Library! All opinions in this review are my own.

I was worried going into this thriller because I had seen a lot of negative reviews, but I shouldn't have been! I always like closed room mysteries so being stuck in the dark basement of the library was a great set up for this one. I've seen a lot of complaints about the characters, but I feel like they weren't written to be liked and they were erratic because they were on acid the whole time. My favorite part was how everything came together and the twist at the end! Overall, this was a quick, creepy thriller.

*That Night in the Library* is a gripping literary mystery set in the basement of a university's rare books library. On the eve of their graduation, seven students gather to perform a Greek ritual meant to free them from the fear of death. However, their celebration is cut short when the lights go out and one of them dies. As the body count rises, the students must uncover the murderer's identity and survive the night.

The novel features well-developed characters, each with their own fears and secrets, adding complexity to the unfolding mystery. Themes of fear, mortality, and ancient knowledge are explored against the eerie backdrop of the library, which becomes a character in itself. The author's atmospheric and evocative writing, combined with suspenseful twists, keeps readers on edge. This is a captivating mystery that delves into survival and dark secrets, perfect for fans of literary thrillers.

A bunch of college students hide away to spend the night in their library's basement in order to recreate an ancient ritual involving drugs. So, like, what could go wrong? The students are a bit of a cliche of subgroups and they are really obnoxious in a way only college students in a book can be. All of that aside, this was a good read with a lot of scares and a good ending. Once you get past the first 25-30% and into the real tension the story does pull you in.

As cool as the concept was here, it just did not hit for me.

Highlights:
- Setting. The concept of being trapped in the basement of a library, surrounded by old, rare books? Amazing.
- Overview of plot. The whole "bodies dropping one by one" idea is very classic, and being an enclosed space, there are limited suspects.

Reasons this book wasn't for me:
- Overall, I got bored. I didn't really care what happened to these characters as they they were all pretty annoying.
- The beginning didn't set things up well to the point where I cared about how it ended... Like the "twist" at the end fell flat because I didn't care about the "hint" at the beginning.
- The drugs. I don't really like when all the characters are high for the entirety of the action, it usually just makes things less exciting because of delayed or altered reactions than they would normally have.
- I simply do not understand the importance of the Greek ritual. It was talked about so much, the story of Persephone and Demeter, but ultimately I don't know or care how it actually mattered in the grand scheme of things?

I love locked room stories!! This one is no exception. Seven undergraduate students gather in the basement of the campus' old library. Each of them carefully selected for a party that would take place in secret, in the basement, after hours. However, this party wasn't a typical campus party, it was set up to perform an ancient ritual that helps dispel the fear around death. Ironic.

By morning who will be left? With such a sensational cast of characters- it could be anyone! I really enjoyed this story even though I found the ending to be a bit predictable. I think it raises some great questions about human behavior. I also think the book could have been longer to add more depth to the story. The cast was amazing but I needed more character building to fully appreciate them. Overall a fun story! I look forward to reading more from this author!

What happened that night in the basement of the rare books library?

Six people were invited to participate in a Greek ritual organized by one of the library assistants on the night before graduation. Most of the invited had a connection to the library but one tagged along with the drug (acid) that is meant to be used to enhance the experience. The library finally closed and they were locked in the basement for the night. The lights went out. Almost immediately, one is found dead. There was no way to communicate their distress because of scheduled IT maintenance and no phone signals. One by one, the attendees are picked off.

The premise was intriguing, but the execution left me rolling my eyes in boredom. Lots of repetition and characters that I could not care less about. The narrative shifted from person to person and in time as the reader learns more about them. Unfortunately, none were so endearing as to be missed when they died off. With all that happened, still was not sure I understood whatever was meant to be the main point nor were any of the answers to my questions given. It was a continuous ramble. I suppose if one was a rare book person or into Greek mythology, it might have proved more compelling, but I'm neither. Frankly, I should have marked it DNF and moved on.

I listened to the audiobook while following along with the e-book ARC - both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Hannah Cabell, was OK but the recording would have benefited with having a male voice as many of the characters sounded exactly the same.

Overall, quite a disappointment to me, a library lover who was aghast when some books were ruined. I'm even less interested in the antics of college students or reenactments of silly rituals based on mythology.

If you like Greek mythology, this book's for you. If you like locked room mysteries and you were ever tempted to get a backup charger for your phone, were afraid of the dark, or hated the smell of blood, you need to read this!

It was supposed to be a ritual, honoring the Eleusinian Mysteries and the myth of Persephone. No one was supposed to die. An after-hours ceremony in the rare books basement storage of the library. A drug fueled evening of storytelling and secrets.

Davey was the host. He wanted to show he was in charge, that the ceremony would result in attendees leaving fearless.

• Ro was there to protect Umu, his lifelong best friend.
• Umu was there because she thought it was going to be a party, and she was invited by her TA, Kip.
• Soraya was invited as Davey's assistant and because her boyfriend could get the special sauce for the celebration. But she was there because she wanted "real" experiences.
• Kip was there because he was Soraya's boyfriend, and she invited him. Davey allowed it because Kip was bringing the drugs.
• Mary was there because Davey thought she was smart and could keep a secret.
• Faye was simply there because they needed a 7th person. But she wanted to attend at least one party before she graduated....maybe she would even make new friends.

When the bodies start dropping and Davey loses control, Faye takes the responsibility for getting everyone through the night. But who can they trust? And who started it all?

There was a great deal of knowledge about rare books shared at throughout the book that created a bit of a slow start, and it was a little hard to keep track of what was going on and what the relationships were. However, once everyone gathered in the basement, things took off like a slingshot!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance reader's copy.

Spending a night locked in a library is something that I have dreamed of since I was a child. In this book, a group of students about to graduate plan a very detailed night, in the basement of a library once everyone has gone home. What they didn’t plan for was murder being on the guest list. With no way out until morning, how many of them will survive. Oh, and who is the killer?
I can’t say any of the characters really grabbed me, but the reason that they were there, and the overall plot captured my interest. If I ever do get to spend the night locked in a library, I hope that I emerge unscathed.

3.5⭐️
I’ve been a lover of locked room mysteries since I watched Clue. It’s still my favorite board game to this day.
This felt very much like something would happen. A group of 7 people are brought together to party and do a ritual the last night of their college year. Most of them work in the library, but aren’t really friends. When the first person dies, it’s anyone’s guess who makes it through the night. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters but I did understand their motivations for participating and found some to root for.
This felt like a locked door mystery with the violence level of a slasher movie. I wasn’t actually sure what happened until the reveal. And I didn’t guess right!
🎧 Hannah Cabell did a good job narrating. There was a good difference between the calmer moments and the action scenes which helped heighten the emotions. I’d recommend this one on audio if it sounds interesting.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Recorded Books for the arc and alc.

A group of seven decide to spend the night before graduation in the basement of William E. Woodend Rare Books Library in Vermont to participate in a ritual that they believe will set them free from the fear of death. Of the seven, three of them are students working as assistants in the library each hoping to secure the one permanent position being offered after graduation; another is a PhD student/TA who frequents the library for his research and also convinces one of his students to bring along a friend who would supply the drugs they would need for the ritual; and the other is a socially awkward scientist who is involved in a project for the library. After the library closes for the day, they lock themselves in the basement and commence with the ritual. In a shocking turn of events, one of them suddenly dies and the other, unable to exit the building with scheduled routine maintenance rendering them unable to communicate with anyone on the outside, are left to fend for themselves with a killer in their midst.

I was intrigued by the premise of That Night in the Library by Eva Jurczyk. A locked room mystery set in a library, that too a rare books library, and a ritual rooted in Greek myths – this one checked all the boxes for this bibliophile who loves Greek mythology.

The narrative is shared from multiple perspectives and moves quickly enough, but none of the characters were particularly interesting and I soon got tired of their bickering, bouts of self-pity, and overall immature behavior. The final reveal was underwhelming, to say the least, and everything in between was bizarre. I don’t mind OTT (it is expected in this genre), but in this case, the plot was simply too messy (literally and figuratively) and absurd, to take seriously.

I struggled to finish this one and in hindsight, I should have followed my instincts and abandoned it mid-read but I didn’t in hopes that maybe, just maybe…..but sadly, I couldn’t find anything that appealed to me other than the premise and the element of Greek mythology. Perhaps I wasn’t the right audience for this one.

Overall, I can’t say that I enjoyed this novel. However, I would request you to read other reviews before making a decision about reading this one.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Actually, I had high expectations for this book because the premise seemed promising and intriguing. I admit that this book had a lot of potential. Sadly, I have to say that I DNF-ed (did not finish) the book after reaching 20% because I struggled with the writing style and was confused by the numerous POVs. The POVs changed too quickly, and I felt they were disjointed. I think it might have been better if each POV had been written in more pages.