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The Dark Library ARC by Mary Anna Evans - Review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Description: An atmospheric family drama with an academia theme set against a historical fiction backdrop that will keep you guessing at the details of the mystery until the very end

Mood: Slow-burn Modern Gothic Mystery 

I've never read Mary Anna Evans writing before, but I loved this book. I'm so glad that I came across this stand alone, as I feel like it was a really great way to get a sense of her style without committing to an unfamiliar series. Now that I've read The Dark Library, however, I'll definitely be TBRing both of her popular series!

As for The Dark Library novel itself, wow! The plotline was delicately laced with just the right amount of intricately laid clues to keep me guessing - incorrectly - the entire time. The character development and characters' backstory development were very good for a short novel; particularly one with a fairly long list of secondary characters. The secondary characters while plentiful, do all feel necessary to the story by the end of the book.

I was absolutely delighted with the main character Estella, or E, as she prefers. She is a no-nonsense American Literature professor with a degree from Yale who will do anything to keep herself and her beloved housekeeper Annie afloat. Annie practically raised E and they are very close.

As the description of the book mentions, E moves home to try to determine what has become of her missing mother. However, once home, her journey turns into one of much greater magnitude - one that could potentially affect the fate of not just her family. The secrets that E and her two close friends uncover together could cause a ripple effect of devastating consequences for the entire community that they live in, and perhaps even further away.

There is a bit of a romantic thread gently woven through out as well, but it is minimal and doesn't overshadow the storyline at all. In fact, if anything it's used conveniently here and there to help the story along. The entire story is a very well done, modern Gothic piece that alternates between a slow and medium pace to maximize the reader's enjoyment of the slow burn mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.


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