Rating: 2/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️
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I was super stoked to read this one. The synopsis really made this one sound like it was going to be great. I mean come on who doesn't want to read about seven students sneaking into the rare book section of the library for an ancient ritual the day before graduation?! Like that sounds awesome. Not to mention that the cover is superb. Thats about the only thing say I loved about this book. The synopsis and the cover.
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Right from the start of this one I was pretty confused, there was some talk about ancient literature, which I expected to be important, however it was not. Each character was introduced a bit quickly and not for a lack of trying, but none of them were overly remarkable to make them very memorable, except for maybe one or two. Not only that but this story seemed to lack any depth for me. There is a glaring red herring which I did not catch onto until after the big reveal, which wasn't anything super impressive or exciting for me.
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That Night in the Library was a slow to steady pace. Aside from some gory details about a few of the deaths, I think this would make much more sense as a YA read, especially with how a few of the characters acted. Overall, I don't think that I was necessarily the targeted audience for this one. I felt a bit underwhelmed by this story. I think that some people just getting into the mystery / horror / thriller may enjoy this one. If this sounds like something you would be interested in - definitely pick it up and give it a shot!
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This was narrated by Hannah Caball, she did a great job at navigating through all of the characters and I really enjoyed her storytelling. If you are planning to read this one, I definitely recommend picking up the audio.
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That Night in the Library releases on 6/11! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Eva Jurczyk and Recorded Books Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book had so many characters..It was hard to remember who was who. This book feels more geared to YA than adult. It felt like a book I would have wanted to write in my teens.

This book did not go where I expected it to go. There were so many twists and turns. It definitely made me not want to be stuck in the library with these characters.

In addition to reading and reviewing the ebook, I also did listen to the audiobook narration. I thought the narrator did a really good job. There was one track that did not align with the chapters (Track 15) I’m not sure if it was a production thing, but for me it threw off the flow of the chapters and knowing which one I was on. Also, there were a couple of vocabulary changes — I’m not sure if the final script had changed in editing — which is totally possible, but as I followed along with the ebook arc, I noticed it. For example the ebook says “smoke alarm” and the audiobook says “fire alarm” in Chapter 23, part IV. Overall, the narration followed the book very well, and the narrator was engaging to listen to. Thank you!

The synopsis of this book intrigued me from the get go but I will say it didn't necessarily go the way I was expecting it to. I may have enjoyed this book better as a physical read versus audio. While the narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life and differentiating between them, I found the format of the chapters difficult to follow in an audio format.

The book itself was a bit slow to get into. Trying to stay on track with the character introductions and whose perspective each chapter was from was a challenge, however I will say I did eventually get sucked in wanting to know how this book would end.

While the ending twist did surprise me, I did find it a bit lacking. The last student to meet their untimely demise did so in a very unrealistic manner and I have a hard time believing that someone would be able to perform such a task in 'self defense'. The reactions of the person who found them in the morning as well as the officers was not at all the way it would happen in reality. 4 people dead in the library in the morning with the only survivors covered in blood and yet they aren't treated as suspects?

Final thoughts: While I did enjoy listening to this book, I'm not sure I would recommend this to others. The story itself seems a bit too far fetched in what I typically enjoy for a thriller. The book was well written but just left me wanting a bit more.

Eva Jurczyk's "That Night in the Library" is an atmospheric and gripping literary mystery that plunges readers into a night of terror, secrets, and survival. Set against the evocative backdrop of a university's rare books library, the novel skillfully weaves together elements of classic whodunits with the suspense and tension of a locked-room thriller.

The story begins on the eve of graduation, with seven students defying the rules to gather in the library for a ritual meant to banish their fear of death. The setting itself is a character, with the library's shadowy corners, ancient tomes, and hallowed halls creating an eerie and claustrophobic atmosphere that enhances the sense of impending doom. Jurczyk's vivid descriptions bring the library to life, making it easy for readers to imagine the darkened, book-filled space where the drama unfolds.

From the moment the lights go out and the first student falls dead, the tension is palpable. Jurczyk expertly paces the narrative, keeping readers on edge as the body count rises and the survivors realize they are trapped with a murderer. The sense of isolation is profound, with the students cut off from the outside world and forced to rely on their wits and each other to survive the night.

The cast of characters is diverse and well-drawn, each bringing their own secrets, fears, and motivations to the table. As the night progresses, the facade of camaraderie crumbles, revealing deep-seated mistrust and hidden agendas. Jurczyk delves into the psychological complexities of her characters, exploring how stress and fear can bring out the best and worst in people. This depth adds richness to the narrative, making the characters' actions and decisions feel authentic and relatable.

The plot is intricately crafted, with each twist and turn adding to the mounting suspense. Jurczyk plants numerous clues and red herrings, keeping readers guessing about the identity of the killer until the final, shocking reveal. The interplay between the ancient ritual and the modern-day murder mystery is particularly intriguing, adding a layer of mysticism and historical intrigue to the story.

Jurczyk's writing is sharp and evocative, with a keen eye for detail and a talent for building suspense. She seamlessly blends literary elements with the conventions of a thriller, creating a novel that is both intellectually stimulating and heart-poundingly exciting. The themes of fear, mortality, and the search for truth resonate throughout, giving the story a depth that lingers long after the final page.

"That Night in the Library" is a chilling and compelling read that will captivate fans of mystery and thriller genres. Eva Jurczyk has crafted a novel that not only entertains but also challenges readers to think about the nature of fear, the power of secrets, and the lengths to which people will go to protect themselves. It is a book that invites readers to get lost in its pages, even as the characters fight to escape the library's deadly grip.

In summary, "That Night in the Library" is a masterful blend of suspense, mystery, and psychological depth. Eva Jurczyk has delivered a standout novel that is sure to keep readers riveted from start to finish. If you're looking for a book that will keep you up all night, this is the one to reach for.

If you are a fan of cult/ritual type stories then this is the one for you it starts off in a library and some hand picked people will be staying in the library overnight. They are not lead there for the reasons they think and suddenly they are on an acid trip and people are dying.

Before I get into my review, I want to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I did really enjoy the narration and thought they did a good job of trying to give each character personality and inflection.

The premise of the story, dark academia vibes, and the cover art drew me to want to find out what was within the pages. However, I found many of the characters flat and undynamic. 7 students snuck into the basement of a college library the night before senior graduation in order to conduct a Greek ritual. Not all of them are seniors, one is just a drug dealer along for the ride, one is a girl who was asked only because they wanted 7, etc.

However, the book starts off promising if not a bit chaotic as the characters prepare for their night being shut in. I am confused by the fasting they needed to do beforehand because it seems no one brought food and water for their overnight, There are bits and pieces that didn't seem fully flushed out and I think another round of edits might have caught the inconsistencies and given us a more cohesive story.

Before I decided to write my review, I wanted to see what others were thinking and it seems many of them thought the same. The characters were trying to hard to be "cool" and it didn't work well for the story ,The plot itself wasn't as suspenseful as I hoped.

A group of grad students gather in the basement of a library in the rare books area and go on an acid trip in a library basement where people end up dead. Supposedly to recreate Persephone l’s story? This was a confusing story for me. There were a lot of characters. The plot was a bit far-fetched and I was quite confused for the entire book. It was a bit Gruesome? A bit Weird? I was left with a lot of questions. Just not a book for me..
2.5 stars

I DNF but from the 5 chapters I did listen to it was too much. The characters were unlikeable and it seemed that every single person was going to get their own POV chapter and I simply couldn’t handle it a second longer. The narrator was good and not the reason I stopped listening

I really wanted to like this one. I think it was written well but I was expecting something more intense for the ending. It left me with a “that’s it?” feeling. Otherwise not a bad book

I was really excited to read this one; it had some really great ideas! The synopsis sounded like something I would really enjoy. But, the character development was too complicated and there are too many POVs. The inner dialogue was so verbose that it overshadowed the plot of the book and I could not get into it.

Though gruesome, this book had so much that kept me interested. The twists kept me guessing and I loved the Greek Mythology that played a role in the story. I appreciated the "aha" moments and that not everything is as it seems. Don't believe I'll be spending time in a library basement any time soon.

Thanks to Netgalley for the audiobook!

This one had a really cool premise, but it just wasn't for me. I think a key flaw in this audio was the narration. It honestly read like it was nonfiction, which may have been a stylistic choice that just didn't work for me.

Whilst this book had a lot of potential, it fell flat for me. None of the characters particularly stood out to me and thus their POVs begin to mix together making it hard to keep track of where everyone was. The narrator was good.

That Night in the Library is a captivating read, though it seems more suited to a young YA audience. The story is engaging and filled with mystery, but the themes and writing style may resonate more with younger readers. While the plot is intriguing and the characters are well-developed, older readers might find the narrative and dialogue a bit simplistic. Nonetheless, it's a good pick for those looking for an easy, enjoyable mystery.

The blurb about this book didn't accurately tell what this book was about. It sounds like a group of graduating seniors who went to school together are going to be doing a ritual while locked in the library basement. Really, it's a good of employees of the school library (not all about to graduate), plus a few hanger-ons, who are gathered together by Davy, one of their "bosses" who is vying for the only permanent job the library will have to offer to the graduating seniors.

While I found the hokey ritual parts of the story quite weird, it was interesting to listen to the fallout of that one mysterious death, Kip's. With no idea who poisoned him, and trust being at a bare minimum. the reader experiences the story of the night through multiple POVs. Without a doubt, the best POV is Faye, and it's through her eyes that we receive the final twist of the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audio copy of this book.

Thank you, Netgalley, for giving me the opportunity to review this audiobook prior to its release. The below are my honest opinions:
Whilst a bit confusing, as there is only one narrator and multiple points of views, this story was fascinating. It's a mix between a suspense, a psychological thriller, dark academia and a study of characters.
Our protagonists meet in the library after hours to perform a ritual they know little about, they take some drugs and chaos ensues. Throughout the book, we are left wondering who the killer is (yes, there is murder and this is not a spoiler). But I never guessed the ending.
It left me wondering, how would I react if I were in that situation?

That Night in the Library is a locked door thriller - we follow a group of students who decide to perform a Greek ritual in the library overnight before graduation. Sounds like a great plan, until one of them dies. Throughout the evening more of students wind up dead as the group tries to figure out who the murderer is and how to survive until the morning.

The premise of the book was a fun one but admittedly I did not find myself caring at all about the characters. For the most part the characters weren't particularly likable. I would have enjoyed it more if I liked the characters.

Overall, I found the book to be ok. I didn't hate it by any means but it won't end up on my list of favorite thrillers. At the end of the year when I reflect back on my books read, I probably won't remember the details of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for allowing me to listen to an arc of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I believe the reason this book has such a low rating is not because it is a bad book, but because it is mis-marketed. If you approach it with expectations of Scream meets And Then There Were None you might find it quite enjoyable despite some of its flaws.

The main criticism others have of the book is that the characters all blend together, and I think that is somewhat true, especially toward the beginning. However, I tend to be forgiving of this because it is a flaw I find quite common in thriller/horror books.

Are some of the actions unbelievable? Sure, but this book also includes some realistic elements that are often left out of these sorts of stories, which I really liked. People are paranoid. People are traumatised. There are some fun deaths and gore. Additionally, I really liked the audio narration and writing.

I needed more references to Greek mythology or academics to consider this as belonging to the dark academia sub-genre. The pacing is off, with the build-up to the conclusion taking ages, but the conclusion itself feels quite rushed.

If you're looking for a good mystery or deep character development, you might want to skip this one. However, it is by no means as terrible as the 2.82 average rating suggests.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.