Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
That Night in the Library is a dark academia/mystery thriller by Eva Jurczyk. Released 11th June 2024 by Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen Press imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.
It's a neat premise: a locked room mystery in a creepy closed library with a group of graduating students who are doing stuff they really shouldn't do (recreating an ancient Greek ritual to free themselves from the fear of Death). Unfortunately, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
The characters are mostly archetypes, flat, and feel sketched in. Additionally, they're just about universally unpleasant (drug addicted, whiny, arrogant, and/or desperate). Most of the action happens when they're under the influence and much of it is hazy and unclear. The ending is a bit of a mish-mash and very little is conclusively resolved by the last page.
Three stars. Difficult, disjointed, and would have benefited from another round of editing/polishing.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Reviewed by annieb123 on
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 29 September, 2024: Reviewed