The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego ~ a Review

by MK French

Aria Stokes lives in a tiny New York apartment, works as a bookseller, and has a burgeoning relationship with bookstore regular Jasper. As a Valentine’s Day surprise, Jasper gets the two of them tickets to an exclusive, after-dark tour of the grandiose and probably haunted Daedalus Library. Aria normally enjoys the macabre, but the last time she was here, she left a body behind. When the automatic door entry malfunctions, Aria, Jasper, and the five other people in their tour group are trapped. They are forced to venture through the rooms and hidden passageways of the Daedalus in search of escape. Then the group learns there’s a murderer in their midst.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

May 2026; Bantam; 978-0593871607
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); thriller

We know from the start that Aria has a history with the library, and that its former owner hadn't wanted her there. The other tour participants were not expected, and have their own secrets; even without the back jacket, the prologue tells us there's a killer present that can't leave any witnesses. As we progress, locked doors, lack of electricity, and even a poison room are all hurdles to pass through. Each person has a secret, sometimes more than one, and one by one the bodies start piling up. Some of the rooms in the library are essentially booby-trapped, making them incredibly deadly obstacles in a creepy backdrop.

The story is mostly told from Aria's POV, with some chapters from the other characters' POV. In addition to the main story are the fairy tales from the Dark Hearth Tales, a collection that precedes the Brothers Grimm and is extremely rare to find. It is also rumored to bring death in its wake. The Daedalus Library has a copy being restored on the premises, and the beginning of the book really plays up the book's mysterious aura, as well as the creepy and macabre collections in the library. The scenes are cinematic and drew me in immediately. As the event continues, we move along with the characters and discover what they're hiding and why. This is a thriller and creepy as it progresses, with a fitting ending for all of the characters. 

Buy The Library After Dark at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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