𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Estella Ecker finds herself back at Rockfall House, a place she never wanted to return to. After years of escaping her controlling father, she is now compelled to step into his shoes, teaching at the college he once ruled and residing in the grand home where he hosted countless artists and intellectuals. To make matters more complicated, her elusive mother has vanished, leaving Estella to grapple with the possibility that she might inherit the estate. At the heart of this turmoil lies her father's extensive library of rare books, a treasure trove she was strictly forbidden to explore during his lifetime. 2. The townspeople are fixated on Estella, constantly murmuring her father's name, while her mother's disappearance seems to barely register with anyone. This raises questions about her true parentage and whether the answers are concealed within the shadows of Rockfall House. As Estella contemplates her identity and the courage it will take to uncover the truth, she realizes that the secrets lurking in her father's dark library may hold the key to her past and her future.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
At first, I needed a moment to get into this book, but as the plot unfolded, I became really interested. The unpredictability of the story was a major highlight for me. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a twist would come along and throw me for a loop. If you're into slow-burn mysteries , Gothic academia, historical fiction, suspense and strong female characters, this book is definitely for you.

Thank You @Netgalley and @Poisonedpenpress for allowing me to review this ARC.

I’m not a big fan of historical fiction. This story was very dark and unsettling. I do wish they had trigger warnings listed at the beginning of the book. I probably would have just DNFd the book. Thank you NetGalley, Mary and Poisoned Press for the E-ARC!

Publication Date: June 24 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️

The setting is a small college town in New York, the 1940s. Our tale opens with Estella approaching the head of her division requesting a nicer office. He refuses; a few moments later and he jumps off a balcony to his death.
Estella Ecker is an overqualified research assistant; she has a PhD in Literature from an Ivy League College and yet she spent hours doing the work of others. Her pay grade is ridiculously lower than her male colleagues. Her deceased father was one of the top administrators; he was a hard man, with deep beliefs concerning literature. He refused to put up with an idiot (anyone that did not agree with him.). He compiled a rare book collection which he kept in his home under strict orders NO ONE was to touch his beloved books.
When Estella left home, she vowed she would never return to Rockfall House. Upon her father’s death she had no choice but return. Oddly her mother disappeared a few days before his death. The local police believe she committed suicide. They had no interest in investigating her disappearance.
Our tale opens with Estella approaching the head of her division requesting a nicer office. He refuses; a few moments later and he jumps off a balcony to his death.
Estella has much to cope with, her father’s unexpected stroke and death, the hunt for her mother, the attitude of the towns people concerning her father. Estella is alone except for two childhood friends. The town is watching Estella closely however no one cares that her mother is missing. Estella had questions and the answers were somewhere in Rockfall House.
This is a slow-paced book. The suspense slowly builds keeping me turning pages. The more secrets Estella unravels the more she becomes entangled in a web.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC that allowed me to make this review.



The Dark Library is a historical fiction that takes place during World War II in which our protagonist, E, is a working professor. With both family drama and darker mysteries to uncover, E finds herself enraptured by the mysteries held within her own walls - her personal dark library.


Wow, wow, wow! The further I read, the more I adored this book. Not only is our protagonist relatable (still a "weirdo" though not entirely removed from society, which is realistic) but she stands to be interesting as well (from her family history down to her personality and quirks)! It has been a while since I gasped out loud at a mystery reveal, and I did it several times throughout this book. It feels as if every detail tied in to some plot point, even if we didn't realize it until the very end. The love interest is believable and likable (a tough combination to get right, though it is done well here!) and every character is interesting and relatable in some way. There is not a single character named who does not hold some significance to the plot. It's incredibly wonderful.

If you enjoy mystery and/or historical fiction, you'll enjoy this book. If you enjoy a "dark academia" read, you'll love this book. If you love commentary on feminism, discrimination, and WWII, you'll love this book.

Wow! I love a strong FMC!!!!! The dark academia/gothic vibes were so good. I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thankyou NetGalley & poisoned press for this arc copy, this book showcases dark academia and mysteries as estella is forced to revisit her past and her life when her father passes.

I really enjoyed this book it had elements of a gothic novel and was an easy read.

If your into dark gothic academia with a strong FMC I would recommend this page turner of a book

I need to quit saying that I don't like war books. I don't like books strictly about war. When there is a beautiful book that just happens to be set in war time, I'm in! This novel opens with a bang. It unfolds with an intriguing premise and a hook that promises suspense. This book is a rich, atmospheric blend of historical fiction, gothic mystery, and personal discovery, set against the backdrop of World War II-era New York. While the novel succeeds in crafting an eerie and immersive setting, it occasionally struggles with pacing and fully developing its supporting cast. E is a compelling protagonist. Her character is well-crafted with emotional depth. Her journey is heartfelt and engaging. The only reason that it's not a 5 star is the pacing in the middle of the book is slow. Overall it's a good read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the Publisher. This is my honest review.

The Dark Library by Mary Ann Evans 4.5
I wasn’t quite sure where this story was going when I started it, but then it got better and better. Some surprisies – I just kept wondering where the title came from but then – it appeared and I said to myself ok, that makes sense.
This was a very good story of Estella returning home after running away from her overbearing father who lived lavishly and to find her mother missing.. She was forced back to teach at the college he was dominant as well. There are many things going on in this story. You will be surprised at what occurs and will enjoy every page. Thank you @PoisonedPress for allowing me the opportunity to read this great book.I will look for more books by this author.

Set in a small New York college town during World War Il, The Dark Library is a gripping Gothic mystery that weaves together family secrets, academic struggles, and the looming tension of wartime espionage. Mary Anna Evans masterfully crafts an atmospheric and suspenseful tale centered on Dr. Estella Ecker, a highly educated yet undervalued woman navigating both personal tragedy and societal limitations.

Estella, or "E," returns to her childhood home, Rockfall House, after her father's sudden death and her mother's mysterious disappearance. The once-grand estate, perched on a cliff, holds more than just memories-it harbors secrets that have long been hidden within her father's collection of rare books. As she settles into a research assistant position at the local college, E is met with hostility and suspicion, further exacerbated by the sudden and shocking suicide of her department head. Amidst financial hardship, gender discrimination, and whispers of war-related intrigue, she begins to unravel a tangled web of deception that may hold the key to her mother's fate.

Evans excels in creating a slow-burning tension that crescendos in the novel's final act. The historical backdrop of the early 1940s enriches the narrative, offering a glimpse into the challenges women faced in academia and society at large. The depiction of wartime America-rationing, absent young men, and the paranoia of potential spies-adds depth and urgency to Estella's story. While the novel starts at a measured pace, it rewards patient readers with a series of well-placed twists and an explosive conclusion.

Though some plot elements feel rushed in the final chapters, The Dark Library is a compelling read for fans of Gothic fiction, historical mysteries, and strong female protagonists. Evans blends atmospheric writing with an intricate mystery, making this a perfect book for a stormy night or a cozy weekend read.

Recommended for readers who enjoy:
* Gothic academia
* Slow-burn mysteries
* Historical fiction with a touch of suspense
* Strong-willed female protagonists

Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. I look forward to reading more from Mary Anna Evans! All opinions are my own and given freely.

I just love historical fiction books and I just finished a good one. The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans was a great book.

I loved all the unexpected events that occurred in this book. I initially thought it was going to be similar to some other books I had read recently, but nothing evolved as I expected. This turned out to be a completely original book with many surprises. There was mystery, romance, family drama, social commentary and more. The author did a great job bringing the time period to life. She showed the many challenges of the times. I enjoyed every aspect of the book, and I highly recommend it. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of it. I look forward to the author's next book!

1941. When Estrella “E” Echer got the message that her father was gravely ill, she gave up her teaching job in Boston and returned to the village of Bentham-on-Hudson. mansion on a cliff high above the Hudson River. Her father had suffered a massive stroke. The only words she could understand were about her mother, over the cliff, gone. Her mother had disappeared several months earlier. Some believe she threw herself off the cliff; others thought she’d left her overbearing husband for destination unknown. E refused to accept that her mother was gone, and continued the search long after the authorities gave up. Her father died two weeks after her arrival. Most of the villagers attended his funeral, but she sensed contempt, not respect, from most of them.
The author has created a perfect Gothic novel in the spirit of the Bronte sisters, and, more recently, Barbara Michaels and Victoria Holt. There are dark and stormy nights, a dark, brooding mansion on the hill with hidden rooms harboring dangerous secrets, destructive and deadly fires, handsome men who may or may not have her best interests in mind, everything one could ask for.

What a great mystery; I never saw the ending! A woman returns to her home town after her father's death and her mother's disappearance. A job at the local college provides her with little income to keep her and her family"s cook to keep them going. Preparing to sell her father's massive book collection, she stumbles upon hidden secrets that could expose people in the small university town. Set in the Hudson valley (where I now live), I loved every minute of this book. Looking forward to more from this author.

This book was ambitious and tried to accomplish a lot. From gender inequality, forced mental asylum visits, murder, blackmail, rape, war, Germans, race inequality and romance. It was fractured and hard to follow along with. I would have liked a couple of relevant topics of the WWII time and not all of them at once.

Estella, or E, has returned to the home where she grew up as a professor's daughter. Her father, now dead, was a well-respected man in literary circles. Presently working at the college herself, E. is witness to the shocking suicide of the dean. As she tries to come to terms with what she saw, she continues to search for her mother who has been missing for almost a year. Many believe her to be deceased, but E. believes she's still alive and is determined to find her.
The setting of the early 1940s adds to the atmosphere of this mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in E.'s grand old family home and stood in cerebral solidarity as she discovered more than one family secret. The addition of strong female characters pushed it up to 4.5 stars for me.

What a great book! I absolutely loved how twisty and clever this one was! I was totally engrossed from beginning to end and would definitely read from this author again, So, so, so good!

I am sorry but this one was not for me.
The pace was too slow for me.
I could not finish it.

Hence i wont be posting it.
Thanks.

Dark academia vibes.
A thriller that had me guessing a lot.
Engaging characters and plot.
Higky recommend.

The Dark Library

by Mary Anna Evans
Pub Date: Jun 24, 2025


This book has a slow burn-beginning and picks up speed after chapter 10. It is one of those books where the details that are shared with the reader all play a part later in the story and they are important to bringing the entire novel together! No matter how enticing it seems to skip over the boring details do not do so or you will find yourself having to re-read these important items.
I found this book very difficult to get into at the beginning, but it does pick up speed if you stick with the entire thing. Once you get hooked you are in for the duration as the plot continually takes you in different directions. Just when you think you have gotten it down another loophole throws everything you thought you believed out the window. Another suggestion is to not try to guess the villain. It is never who you think they are as you will see in this book.
I was really surprised at how well I liked this book after the rocky beginning that I felt took me forever to get into. These tend to be the best books if the author does the job and combines everything in a likable, believable, and enticing story. This author has done this in spades with this book. It takes time to get into the storyline but once you do you will be hooked. It will be well worth the read and I am sure it will be a book to not forget. Ever. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable book with surprises, mystery and heroines to die for. Literally.

Give me a dark academia book any day. Anything that has a library in it, I will devour. This was a nice pace of thriller, it wasn’t too stressful or intense, which was a nice change.