honestly I didn’t jive with this. the characters were all frustrating in their own way and it made the story difficult to get through. I think the timing of night was a little off. just went on and on and I had to read the description to figure out what the ritual was

I was very excited to dive in to this intriguing story. It had such a unique premise. However there were big issues that I couldn’t get past, and for me, the character development just wasn’t there. I did not get a chance to care anything about the characters before…BAM… murder. I still have so many questions that will never be answered. I felt that the pacing was off and everything went so fast.
I really really wanted to love this book but it just wasn’t for me.
To me, it was a 2.7 read but I will round up for the idea alone..also, I did enjoy the narration.

I liked this one a lot! It kept me hooked from the start. I didn't feel like it was hard to get into the world the author built or the characters. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did!

2.5 stars

The night before graduation, a group of seven students gathers in the university library's basement after closing time for an ancient Greek ritual. Things go south when one of them drops dead, and the others have to make it through the night as the body count keeps rising.

The premise of this book sounded so intriguing to me and I genuinely went into it expecting to love it, but I was unfortunately let down. I will say that the atmosphere it created definitely was a highlight for me; there was a chilling, eerie vibe all throughout that I truly did enjoy. Also, the writing itself was definitely not too bad, and I would be interested in reading more from this author in the future.

I found the characters too be just a caricature of what they could have been... I see where it was trying to go, and the potential is all there, but the execution was not it. They were either too bland or too much, there was no in between. It made it hard to relate or even just care about any of them, which made it hard to care about what was going on in the first place. I felt just about the same with the plot: I see what it was aiming for, but it just missed. The pacing was all over the place, and there were so many twists it was just hard to understand what was going on. It had me pausing to try and make sense of it all quite a few times, and I still really couldn't. Many things were predictable, others were simply way too far-fetched.

I listened to the audiobook for this, and I do think this is one of those books where having multiple narrators would have probably helped making the story more engaging, but the narrator did a good job nevertheless. She did a great job giving every character a different voice and she did incredible with building up the tension the story proceeded. It genuinely really helped me get through the book, a definite highlight for me.

Many thanks to RB Media & NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

That night at the library was a disappointment for me.
I had really high expectations since the premise of the book is great- I mean, who wouldn’t like a story about a group of seniors calling upon an ancient god with a murder mystery and everything that comes with it?!

I was confused most of the time while listening to this audiobook and I can’t really wrap my head around if it was the switch between the characters all the time, or the twists and turns that made my head spin like a carousel.

The characters themselves were not my cup of tea, they were boring and weird (not in a good way), and I wasn’t able to attach to any of them.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to listen to That night at the library, but it wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for giving me the opportunity.

I had such high hopes for this book since it has all of the elements I enjoy. A library, a myriad of complex chapters forced together, a closed room mystery, and a bit of ritualistic magic. However, all of these elements somehow became muddled and so incredibly chaotic that I could barely follow the storyline. It gave me Bunny by Mona Awad vibes (another book that I didn’t enjoy), and I genuinely still don’t know what the point of the “ritual” was. I also couldn’t tell you a single thing about the characters, or even their names for that matter. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a much more negative review than I typically give, but I just didn’t get any redeeming qualities in this book .

The synopsis of this story sucked me in but I found myself a little disappointed.

I couldn't relate to any character and I often felt lost during the story.

I am a bit underwhelmed by this one. I couldn't connect to the plot or any of the characters. It felt like nothing really happened in the book but at the same time so much did happen that it just ended up being hard to read and understand where all the plot points where headed.

I do want to give props to the narrator Hannah Cabell for doing such a good job with the characters narration. It's not easy being a single narrator for a book with this many POV's and they did a fantastic job making each character as different as possible.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Wow. Wow. Wow. This was a PHENOMENAL book. I binged it in a few hours I was so obsessed. A twisty locked room mystery with a killer picking people off one by one. I absolutely adored every twisty moment this book gave me. My jaw was on the floor at the end and I am still recovering.

That Night in the Library by Eva Jurczyk
Narration by Hannah Cabell
3.75/5⭐

Thank you to the following for trusting me for an honest review with this ARC: NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and RB Media

Synopsis: 7 students lock themselves into their university's rare books library after dark to perform an ancient Greek ritual to free themselves of the fear of death. What could go wrong? A few minutes into the ritual and the lights go out and one of them drops dead. That is when things take a turn.

Review: This is everything you could want out of a dark academia horror novel. The story is told from multiple POV, and the narrator did a great job of bringing those views to life. The pace of the story could be slow at times and other times had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who was the killer. The characters were not very likable, but I think that's what makes it relatable. They were all completely different but in it for their own reasons. I think the author showed how self-preservation, flight vs fight, and how caught up in our lives we can be that we are failing to see what is happening right in front of us. The dark academia aspects of the storyline were great along with descriptions of the library, although I would have liked to see the Greek mythology aspect a little more involved in the story. The horror part was very well played out with the psychological twists and turns. Reads similar to The Atlas Six for me. I really wanted to like it more than I did, but overall, it was a good read/listen. All I can say of the story is that was one bad trip to the library. IYKYK.

TW: drugs, violence

You'll like this book of you enjoy
🔸Dark academia
🔸Escape rooms/locked room mysteries
🔸Horror/Thriller
🔸 Psychological twists

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #thatnightinthelibrary
#arcreview #audiobook #darkandtwisted

Just Say no to dropping acid with a bunch of other college students that you don’t really get along with, while being locked in your colleges rare book library the night before graduation, all to preform Greek rituals!! Someone will probably end up dead.
I had really high hopes for this book but was left pretty dissatisfied. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. The setup was awesome but then the book lost me from there. I almost DNF’d many times but as I was an arc reader and really enjoyed the beginning I figured I’d continue on and hoped it would get better but it didn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and RB Media for the ARC and audiobook of
That Night in The Library by Eva Jurczyk

When 7 students are locked up in the library one night before graduation to perform an Ancient Greek ritual. What can go wrong when the lights go out and one of them drops dead? The only way to survive the night is to TRUST NO ONE!

The book isn't bad; it is a twisty, chilly, mystery/ thriller that takes place in a library basement, and murders are involved. It kept me on my tiptoes trying to figure out who the killer is when you think you have found out who might be the killer the book takes you in another direction pointing fingers at someone else.
The book has multiple points of view which I enjoyed.
The twist about Kip was good!

I really like the audiobook; Hannah Cabell did a great job narrating multi-POV.

I listened to this in one sitting because I couldn’t prolong this book for any longer than I needed to.

Seven characters that are individually the worst… Lots of nonsense happens. That’s about it.

A group of college students get together to spend a night in a library as celebration. They drop acid and this could have gone SO many different ways. Each character is an educated person, but they all act so stupid from start to finish. When one of them dies, the rest of the book is spent collectively deciding who is guilty. Fingers are pointed at pretty much each person, and the weird mob mentality was unnecessary and unnerving. I wanted to chalk it up to them being under the influence of drugs, which could clearly impair their judgement, but the lengths they go to detain whichever person they are blaming in the moment was just bizarre.

By the end, I KNEW what was going to happen and it made the entirety of the story so stupidly pointless.

I was so excited to receive this audiobook, but I really struggled as it had so much going on. The premise behind the book was good, just the execution with feeling like I was being bounced around.

I had the opportunity to read and listen along to this locked room thriller but sadly it did not keep my attention. I did enjoy the narrator as she had a easy to listen voice. I just did not feel connected to the characters. I did enjoy the setting in the library.
Give it a chance. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to read and listen
3/5 stars

That Night in the Library tells the story of seven students preparing to partake in a ritual in the rare books basement of the university library. The best part of this audiobook was the narrator. Her soothing voice actually made the story a bit creepier, it really added effect to an otherwise unimpressive story. The premise sounded great but I was left disappointed. The chapters within the chapters and quickly changing POVs made it a bit difficult to keep up with what was happening. As expected from seven people that would choose to lock themselves in a library while fasting and doing drugs, everyone was awful. Not poorly written, like actually awful. I had zero sympathy or connection to any of them and didn't really care about the mess they chose to get themselves into. Overall: good audiobook quality for a lacking story.

“That night in the library” is a locked door thriller that follows seven students who break the rules and sneak into the university’s rare books library after closing hours on the eve of graduation. The group selection is small and specific, Some of them are students, library employees and others and plus one invites.

The intention is to perform a Greek ritual, however things go badly wrong when one of the group mysteriously dies and the rest are left to fend for themselves against an unknown murderer whilst being trapped inside with no way out.

There is multiple deaths, lots of suspicions and paranoia, multiple POV for each of the characters.

What I liked;
The setting taking place in the library was different, especially including all the old rare books elevating that mythical mystery aspect.

The audio narrator Hannah Cabell did a great job of narrating, I enjoyed listening to her throughout.

What didn’t work for me:
The overall plot had potential but I had a difficult time connecting with the characters.

Thank you to RB media, Eva Jurczyk and NetGalley for the ALC!

Publish date; June 11th

Eva Jurczyk's That Night in the Library is a compelling fusion of suspense, intellectual intrigue, and dark academia. Set in the enigmatic confines of a rare books library, the novel follows seven students who gather for a secretive Greek ritual the night before their graduation. What begins as a quest to conquer their fear of death quickly devolves into a nightmare when one of them suddenly dies, plunging the group into a desperate struggle for survival.

Jurczyk’s storytelling shines through her atmospheric prose and meticulous attention to detail. The library itself is brought to life vividly, its shadowy aisles and ancient volumes creating an almost tangible sense of mystery and foreboding. This setting serves as a perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama, where every creak and whisper heightens the suspense.

The characters are intricately developed, each bearing unique motivations and hidden fears. As the night progresses and more deaths occur, their personalities and secrets unravel in unexpected ways. Jurczyk expertly balances these revelations, ensuring that each twist adds depth to the plot and keeps readers guessing about the true identity of the murderer.

One of the novel’s most intriguing aspects is its exploration of fear and the human psyche. The ancient Greek ritual they attempt, intended to free them from the fear of death, is a fascinating plot device that not only drives the story forward but also provides insight into the characters' deepest anxieties. This psychological layer enriches the narrative, making the characters’ experiences and interactions all the more compelling.

Jurczyk’s love for literature is evident throughout the book. She weaves literary references and themes seamlessly into the narrative, adding a layer of intellectual richness that will particularly appeal to bibliophiles. The rare books and their historical significance are not just background elements but integral to the story, contributing to the sense of urgency and danger the characters face.

In conclusion, That Night in the Library is a masterfully crafted mystery that combines the thrill of a whodunit with the allure of dark academia. Eva Jurczyk has penned a story that is as intellectually stimulating as it is suspenseful, making it a must-read for fans of literary mysteries and psychological thrillers. The novel's rich character development, atmospheric setting, and clever plot twists make it a standout in its genre. Four stars.

This book was ok. The story had a lot going on at once. The character development and library elements were great though. I thought the narration was well done. And that the voice actor did a good job of differentiating the characters and showing enthusiasm as the plot progressed.

This was a great audiobook to listen to while working. It was an easy “read” to get through in a day and had characters just begging to be killed off. I swear, I never get enough of books like this where all the characters end up going feral on each other. Like others though, I did find the ending a bit lackluster. I was hoping for a huge bang at the end considering the amount of craziness that was happening in the last half. It’s not that it was a bad ending, I was just hoping for something more. Nonetheless, it was entertaining and I liked all the characters, even the unlikeable ones!

Huge thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!