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!

Honestly was very excited for this book! Had a great start, but ultimately did not enjoy. Confusing with so much going on at one time it was hard to stay focused.

Special thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the idea of a mystery thriller that also had academia vibes. I was expecting suspense and intrigue, but this kind of fell flat for me. I loved the idea of the students sneaking into their university’s rare books library and performing a ritual. They are trapped in the dark with something sinister on the loose with only books for protection. The group must work together to unravel the mystery and find a way to survive the night.

I do normally enjoy multiple POVs, but I had a hard time differentiating between each of them in this book. I also expected distinct multiple personality types for each of the characters, but unfortunately I think the author missed the mark there. The atmosphere of the book was definitely the highlight for me. I enjoyed the dark academia/horror vibes that conjured up memories of “Scream”. I was engaged and on edge throughout the story. There was a twist or two I wasn’t suspecting, but some of the story was more predictable than I hoped.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and all of the spooky vibes.

So I loved the concept of That Night in the Library and while I didn't really like any of the characters, I didn't mind that bit as a reader. It did make me slightly less invested in all of it though. There was no one I was cheering for to survive (or the be the murderer).

While I appreciate that Jurczyk gives readers chapters from the POV of each of the seven characters who agree to participate in the ritual, it does make the plot a big muddled. In fact, I lost the plot a few times once people started dying and those left alive began accusing each other. I thought that the reveal of how the first person dies was interesting and fit within the theme and location of this book... and it also wasn't what I was expecting.

This is a pretty quick read that was still enjoyable, even if it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Having one person responsible for narrating all second POVs is no small task and Hannah Cabell does this well - though I think this audiobook would have benefited from even just two narrators splitting between a male and female narrator to help distinguish the unique voices better.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, RB Media, and Recorded Books in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this but this just wasn’t for me. I didn’t like any of these characters or the plot as it developed.

Mystery thrillers aren’t typically my genre of choice, but every once in a while, I find one that really captivates me. This was one of them. I loved the idea of a Greek Mythology ritual bringing a group of unlikely college students together. While there were some slow spots and a few too many POVs, I ultimately really liked this book. It was an easy book to read, with lots of moments when I re-guessed who the killer was. Faye was a good character to narrate this story, as was Umu, and surprising death scenes. And the twist about Kip?! Loved that!

I don't quite understand how this one went so wrong for me, but despite a premise and cover that immediately drew me to the book, I could not for the life of me actually get into the story... The characters were, frankly, rather odious and unlikeable. An unlikeable character is not necessarily a problem, but when every single person you encounter makes you either angry or eye-rollingly annoyed, it doesn't help with reader engagement. I also found the story to be remarkably slow-moving, particularly considering the premise. While I understand the need for set-up, it just felt like all I was encountering were different character descriptions, over and over, with no action - despite rituals and closed libraries and the promise of Dramatic Events to Come. The narrator was fine but didn't pull me into the book either. I wasn't able to continue listening or finish - this one was not for me.