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The Library After Dark: A Novel
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Expected 5 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
23 days and 21:36:03
10 copies available
U.S. only
A bookseller must escape the infamously haunted library that holds her darkest secrets, but with a murderer in her tour group, escaping alive is not as simple as it seems, in this twisty locked-room thriller from bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited.
He’s trying to dig up the skeletons in her closet. She’ll do anything to keep them buried.
Aria Stokes is finally feeling settled—she lives in a tiny New York apartment, works as a bookseller at a local shop, and has even taken a leap of faith in love by indulging her attraction to bookstore regular Jasper. And he seems to already know her so well.
As a Valentine’s Day surprise, Jasper gets the two of them tickets to an exclusive, after-dark tour of the Daedalus Library—the grandiose establishment famed for its immersive genre-based reading rooms and, more notoriously, its rumored hauntings. While Aria normally loves all things ghastly, this place holds more dark secrets than she’d prefer Jasper to know. Like that the last time she was here, she left a body behind.
But when the automatic-door entry malfunctions and Aria, Jasper, and the five other people in their tour group become trapped in the library, they are forced to venture through the storied rooms and hidden passageways of the Daedalus in search of escape . . . and Aria quite literally has nowhere to hide from the shadows of her past. Then the group learns there’s a murderer in their midst.
Now, as she tries to break out of the library’s intricate reading rooms, Aria has to decide who she can trust—and what secrets are best kept buried—if she wants to make it out alive.
He’s trying to dig up the skeletons in her closet. She’ll do anything to keep them buried.
Aria Stokes is finally feeling settled—she lives in a tiny New York apartment, works as a bookseller at a local shop, and has even taken a leap of faith in love by indulging her attraction to bookstore regular Jasper. And he seems to already know her so well.
As a Valentine’s Day surprise, Jasper gets the two of them tickets to an exclusive, after-dark tour of the Daedalus Library—the grandiose establishment famed for its immersive genre-based reading rooms and, more notoriously, its rumored hauntings. While Aria normally loves all things ghastly, this place holds more dark secrets than she’d prefer Jasper to know. Like that the last time she was here, she left a body behind.
But when the automatic-door entry malfunctions and Aria, Jasper, and the five other people in their tour group become trapped in the library, they are forced to venture through the storied rooms and hidden passageways of the Daedalus in search of escape . . . and Aria quite literally has nowhere to hide from the shadows of her past. Then the group learns there’s a murderer in their midst.
Now, as she tries to break out of the library’s intricate reading rooms, Aria has to decide who she can trust—and what secrets are best kept buried—if she wants to make it out alive.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
9966 people want to read
About the author
Ande Pliego
2 books473 followersAnde Pliego began writing stories when she discovered she could actually wield her overactive imagination for good. A lover of stories with teeth, she writes books involving mind games, dark humor, general murder and mayhem, and most importantly, finding the hope in the dark.
When not reading or writing, she can usually be found dabbling in art, scheming up her next trip, or making constant expeditions to the library. Born in Florida, raised in France, and having left footprints all over the globe, she is settled in the Pacific Northwest, USA, with her little son. Ande Pliego is the bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited and The Library After Dark .
When not reading or writing, she can usually be found dabbling in art, scheming up her next trip, or making constant expeditions to the library. Born in Florida, raised in France, and having left footprints all over the globe, she is settled in the Pacific Northwest, USA, with her little son. Ande Pliego is the bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited and The Library After Dark .
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January 31, 2026Full review to come closer to publication date, but I really quite enjoyed this haunted library murder mystery!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine / Bantam for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine / Bantam for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2026
My Quick Takes:
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Genre 📚 thriller
- Language 🤐 moderate
- Spice ❤️🔥 none
- Content 🤔 graphic on page death/murder
Is Ande Pliego ruining thrillers for me?!
I have so much to say about this thriller, but I’ll keep it brief. It is an atmospheric mashup of thriller, fantasy, and a dash of horror. It is CREEPY, I read it at night before bed and got spooked a few times. I don’t remember the last time I couldn’t read a thriller at night, I loved it 😅
Everyone’s a suspect with a secret in this locked room thriller. If you love knives out mysteries and clue, with a Grimm’s Fairy Tale twist, this is the move.
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Genre 📚 thriller
- Language 🤐 moderate
- Spice ❤️🔥 none
- Content 🤔 graphic on page death/murder
Is Ande Pliego ruining thrillers for me?!
I have so much to say about this thriller, but I’ll keep it brief. It is an atmospheric mashup of thriller, fantasy, and a dash of horror. It is CREEPY, I read it at night before bed and got spooked a few times. I don’t remember the last time I couldn’t read a thriller at night, I loved it 😅
Everyone’s a suspect with a secret in this locked room thriller. If you love knives out mysteries and clue, with a Grimm’s Fairy Tale twist, this is the move.
Want to read
December 14, 2025out of all the 2026 synopses i've read, this one is my favorite :]
Currently reading
September 3, 2025I need this book yesterday. I have absolutely NO TIME for ARCs though (my backlog is already like 3 years long - why am I like this) so I'll just be casually frothing at the mouth until May. :'-)
September 3, 2025
If you love books and libraries and stories in stories, you’re going to LOVE this book. A fast-paced, stay up all night thriller that keeps you guessing! I loved Jasper’s character, and love the way Ande wrote Aria’s character growth! This was such a FUN, thrilling ride with all my favorite things!! I need a private, fancy library tour now—sans a killer.
February 1, 2026
I was overall entertained and engaged throughout this book! I am a fan of thrillers that keep me guessing and The Library After Dark did just that.
I loved the added twists of the fairy tales throughout. I liked reading them and then seeing how they played out in the main story. Fairy tales in their nature are very grim and they followed that same formula in the real story so that was a bit gruesome at times. I could have done without a lot of the bloody scenes but overall, they were easy enough to read though.
I would highly recommend reading this book with as few breaks as you can. Picking the book up and then putting it down for a few days at a time did not serve me well with all the characters and their interconnected stories. I think I would have enjoy it more (and understood it more) if I had read it in one or two sittings.
Overall, I really enjoyed the characters, the plot twists, the setting, and the ending. I would highly recommend if you like thriller/mysteries with multiple points of view!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!
I loved the added twists of the fairy tales throughout. I liked reading them and then seeing how they played out in the main story. Fairy tales in their nature are very grim and they followed that same formula in the real story so that was a bit gruesome at times. I could have done without a lot of the bloody scenes but overall, they were easy enough to read though.
I would highly recommend reading this book with as few breaks as you can. Picking the book up and then putting it down for a few days at a time did not serve me well with all the characters and their interconnected stories. I think I would have enjoy it more (and understood it more) if I had read it in one or two sittings.
Overall, I really enjoyed the characters, the plot twists, the setting, and the ending. I would highly recommend if you like thriller/mysteries with multiple points of view!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!
January 9, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3 stars overall. When i first got into this book, i loved it! i loved the mystery, haunted library vibe and was excited to see where the story was going. i do enjoy different character POVs but towards the end of this book it got very confusing. Ultimately, there were too many characters... they were pretending to be other people and in some cases pretending to be/or thought to be multiple different people so when some of the reveals were made, i was like wait who is that?? ultimately very confusing. i also felt like the book was a bit too long... towards the end, i was ready for it to wrap up.
3 stars overall. When i first got into this book, i loved it! i loved the mystery, haunted library vibe and was excited to see where the story was going. i do enjoy different character POVs but towards the end of this book it got very confusing. Ultimately, there were too many characters... they were pretending to be other people and in some cases pretending to be/or thought to be multiple different people so when some of the reveals were made, i was like wait who is that?? ultimately very confusing. i also felt like the book was a bit too long... towards the end, i was ready for it to wrap up.
December 19, 2025
I absolutely loved You Are Fatally Invited, but The Library After Dark is what officially adds Ande Pliego to my auto-read author list! It’s like The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (one of my favorite books of all time), House on Haunted Hill, and Clue had a baby. The mysterious patron with a wealth of familial secrets. The setting with its gothic atmosphere, eery fairytales, and deadly history. The guest list full of suspects — everyone is lying, everyone has a secret. The perfect recipe to keep me reading late into the night! Every time I thought I knew what the guests were hiding, there’d be another shocking reveal. This story is perfect for lovers of thrillers, books about books, and mysteries that keep you on your toes. Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bantam Books, Ballantine Books, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bantam Books, Ballantine Books, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2025
Ande Pliego is quickly becoming the queen of a locked room thriller! I loved this book!
The creepy and haunted library setting where no one is who they seem was perfection. I was fully engaged from the beginning and this book kept me guessing until the very end. I love a good plot twist and this book really delivered.
A super fun read and I can’t wait to see what else she puts out!
The creepy and haunted library setting where no one is who they seem was perfection. I was fully engaged from the beginning and this book kept me guessing until the very end. I love a good plot twist and this book really delivered.
A super fun read and I can’t wait to see what else she puts out!
December 1, 2025
“Twisty, atmospheric, and wickedly clever—The Library After Dark is Ande Pliego at her absolute sharpest. A locked-library bloodbath laced with dark romance and secrets that cut deeper than any blade; I devoured it in one breathless, brilliant sitting.”
Want to read
December 6, 2025need this arc approved coz Ande Pliego's first book was my first ever arc 🥲
January 14, 2026
This was an ARC via NetGalley. After about halfway through I didn’t want to put it down. The first couple of chapters took some commitment to get through (as most do!) but the plot and characters kept me guessing til the end. The author’s choice of vocabulary and sentences in the beginning wasn’t very reader friendly, but that did get better as the book continued.
January 18, 2026
3.5 stars
This is a fun thriller set in a creepy gothic library with a whole cast of unreliable narrators. There are more twists and turns than I could count, and it definitely kept me guessing. I loved the macabre “Library of Death” setting, as well as the “Dark Hearth Tales” sprinkled throughout the story. A page turner for sure! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Bantam for the ARC.
This is a fun thriller set in a creepy gothic library with a whole cast of unreliable narrators. There are more twists and turns than I could count, and it definitely kept me guessing. I loved the macabre “Library of Death” setting, as well as the “Dark Hearth Tales” sprinkled throughout the story. A page turner for sure! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Bantam for the ARC.
December 9, 2025
Ande Pliego does it again. From the very first page I was hooked and I couldn’t put this book down. I love multiple perspectives, especially in a thriller where you don’t know who to trust, and Pliego does that so well. Each character and voice is so unique. The twist at the end totally blew me away and I never saw it coming. Pliego has a way of distracting you from the truth with her prose and she reels you in only to completely surprise you. I also absolutely loved the fairytale element of this book. The stories really added an additional layer of mystery and magic. An easy five stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Perhaps I'd just forgotten that fairy tales were cautionary tales."
I feel like this book the way I did about Marisha Pessl's Darkly- excited to devour the book but finding it a) hard to get into and b) a suspension of disbelief over the object (in this book, a collection of fairy tales) causing such a cult following. There are so many characters and all of them sound the same, from a young woman to an old Scottish professor to a retired nurse (this is a major pet peeve of mine when an author chooses to write everything in first person). Many times I had to remember whose chapter I was in as to what secrets this particular character had.
The story is clever but because I read Pliego's last book, I was ready for gruesome deaths, murders that might not be fatal, a large cast of characters who all have something to hide, and tricks of how she uses language. I had a hard time understanding the library's layout (at one point a couple of the characters just seemed to be going down a ton of different hallways with a wrecking ball made of marble).
The fairy tales that were sprinkled in were an interesting touch and I kept trying to figure out if or how they tied into the "real" story happening.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!
I feel like this book the way I did about Marisha Pessl's Darkly- excited to devour the book but finding it a) hard to get into and b) a suspension of disbelief over the object (in this book, a collection of fairy tales) causing such a cult following. There are so many characters and all of them sound the same, from a young woman to an old Scottish professor to a retired nurse (this is a major pet peeve of mine when an author chooses to write everything in first person). Many times I had to remember whose chapter I was in as to what secrets this particular character had.
The story is clever but because I read Pliego's last book, I was ready for gruesome deaths, murders that might not be fatal, a large cast of characters who all have something to hide, and tricks of how she uses language. I had a hard time understanding the library's layout (at one point a couple of the characters just seemed to be going down a ton of different hallways with a wrecking ball made of marble).
The fairy tales that were sprinkled in were an interesting touch and I kept trying to figure out if or how they tied into the "real" story happening.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an ambitious thriller, playing with timeline and characters' identities and motivations in interesting ways. And it was delightfully atmospheric; as creepy and bizarre as the Daedelus Library sounded, I would love to take my chances on a visit to it.
The basic story is that a handful of people are trapped in the library during a nighttime tour: Aira and Jasper, who are on a date; Callum, an academic specializing in rare books; Piper, a journalist; Michelle, a children's/YA author who'd once studied at the library; Saskia, a librarian tasked with leading the tour; Ruth, the home nurse for the library former owner; and Wes, a random teacher. Spooky things start to happen virtually as soon as the tour starts, with the first death happening shortly thereafter. Is there a killer in their midst, or is the library as haunted as people have said it is? What are the secrets each of them are carrying? And with the bodies piling up and the library seemingly determined to keep them trapped, will any make it out alive?
All in all, the makings of a great thriller. Execution is where this falls short. It was all a bit too much.
- Too many perspectives: we get first-person perspectives from every living character, plus at least one dead one.
- Too many mysteries being revealed, many of which I didn't realize were mysteries I should be looking out for. Several of the characters have secret identity reveals, including one whose identity changes a few times after that. It's like we, the readers, are several steps behind the characters, and we only begin to catch up all the way in the final pages. This is not to say we need to be aware from the jump about all the mysteries about to be solved over the course of the story. However, some early exposition might have given context to events as they were unfolding, allowing us to speculate as to how present events connected to past ones. The constant revising of what I thought was happening in the plot was tiring by the end. And I don't think I could actually say whether the central killer's motivation was founded in fact, based on the evidence we got.
- Layered on top of the actual events was a coded book of dark fairy tales, which are interspersed throughout the book. What do they mean? You may think you know, but honestly, it doesn't even make a ton of sense by the end when they are explained.
This could have been so good with the literary equivalent of Coco Chanel's advice; instead of removing a few accessories on the way out the door, maybe using fewer first-person perspectives, or not including the dark fairy tale chapters, or streamlining some of the motivations.
In spite of how extra this whole book was, I think I liked it. It was creepy and inventive, and I was compelled to keep seeking the library's answers--and exits--with the dwindling group of characters. I just wish I could have been a bit more in on their motivations along the way.
Rating: 3.5/5
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
The basic story is that a handful of people are trapped in the library during a nighttime tour: Aira and Jasper, who are on a date; Callum, an academic specializing in rare books; Piper, a journalist; Michelle, a children's/YA author who'd once studied at the library; Saskia, a librarian tasked with leading the tour; Ruth, the home nurse for the library former owner; and Wes, a random teacher. Spooky things start to happen virtually as soon as the tour starts, with the first death happening shortly thereafter. Is there a killer in their midst, or is the library as haunted as people have said it is? What are the secrets each of them are carrying? And with the bodies piling up and the library seemingly determined to keep them trapped, will any make it out alive?
All in all, the makings of a great thriller. Execution is where this falls short. It was all a bit too much.
- Too many perspectives: we get first-person perspectives from every living character, plus at least one dead one.
- Too many mysteries being revealed, many of which I didn't realize were mysteries I should be looking out for. Several of the characters have secret identity reveals, including one whose identity changes a few times after that. It's like we, the readers, are several steps behind the characters, and we only begin to catch up all the way in the final pages. This is not to say we need to be aware from the jump about all the mysteries about to be solved over the course of the story. However, some early exposition might have given context to events as they were unfolding, allowing us to speculate as to how present events connected to past ones. The constant revising of what I thought was happening in the plot was tiring by the end. And I don't think I could actually say whether the central killer's motivation was founded in fact, based on the evidence we got.
- Layered on top of the actual events was a coded book of dark fairy tales, which are interspersed throughout the book. What do they mean? You may think you know, but honestly, it doesn't even make a ton of sense by the end when they are explained.
This could have been so good with the literary equivalent of Coco Chanel's advice; instead of removing a few accessories on the way out the door, maybe using fewer first-person perspectives, or not including the dark fairy tale chapters, or streamlining some of the motivations.
In spite of how extra this whole book was, I think I liked it. It was creepy and inventive, and I was compelled to keep seeking the library's answers--and exits--with the dwindling group of characters. I just wish I could have been a bit more in on their motivations along the way.
Rating: 3.5/5
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
January 9, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I opened The Library After Dark expecting a spooky adventure through the haunted Daedalus Library. Instead, I was met with a thrilling and paranormal night at the library, with a touch of horror and fantasy. Never once did I know what was going to happen next. Every theory I had was torn to shreds through every twist and turn, and I loved it.
Seven "strangers" come together at the renowned Daedalus Library for a private nighttime tour. Meet: Saskia, the librarian in charge of leading the tour; Jasper, an architect that surprised his date with the VIP tour; Aria, bookseller and Jasper's date, who very much does not want to be on this tour; Michelle, a best selling children's author who was once in residence at the Daedalus, her career taking flight after her paranormal encounter in the library; Callum, one who specializes in rare books, and close friend of Michelle's; Ruth, the home nurse for the library's former owner who has recently died under mysterious circumstances; Wes, a high school teacher that is a Daedalus Library enthusiast; and Piper, a young journalist who has come in place of her boss.
The tour begins through the exquisite, gothic library. Its themed rooms and secret, hidden passageways make one wish it was a real library. Pilego does an incredible job bringing the library's details to life on the page. I felt like I was alongside the guests on the tour as Saskia guided them along. Not long after the start of the tour, spooky things begin to occur. Everyone is on edge, worried that the notorious paranormal rumors of the library were in fact true. When suddenly, the first death has occurred. All eyes turns on the other person, and thus begins a terrifying night locked in the Daedalus Library. Sprinkled among the events of the night are the tales from a highly sought after, rare book, The Dark Hearth Tales, which is housed in a private section of the library. One will find that the terrifying moments they experience happen to lead right back to the warped fairytales.
We receive first point of view chapters from each of the characters throughout the book, with Aria being the main focus. I really enjoy multiple POV's, but I know that isn't everyone's cup of tea. Between the changing point of views and the fast paced plot, readers are taken on a wild ride. My one qualm with the book was the amount of secrets that were revealed. I am all for the shocker of a secret reveal, but I felt it became clunky towards the end. There were so many layers to so many secrets that it was hard to keep track. However, I don't feel it takes away from the shock-value or ending of the book.
Overall, this is a book any thriller fan, library enthusiast, or anyone looking for a spooky thrill will enjoy. I've already started telling people I know to shelve this book on their TBR and to prepare for the release in May.
I opened The Library After Dark expecting a spooky adventure through the haunted Daedalus Library. Instead, I was met with a thrilling and paranormal night at the library, with a touch of horror and fantasy. Never once did I know what was going to happen next. Every theory I had was torn to shreds through every twist and turn, and I loved it.
Seven "strangers" come together at the renowned Daedalus Library for a private nighttime tour. Meet: Saskia, the librarian in charge of leading the tour; Jasper, an architect that surprised his date with the VIP tour; Aria, bookseller and Jasper's date, who very much does not want to be on this tour; Michelle, a best selling children's author who was once in residence at the Daedalus, her career taking flight after her paranormal encounter in the library; Callum, one who specializes in rare books, and close friend of Michelle's; Ruth, the home nurse for the library's former owner who has recently died under mysterious circumstances; Wes, a high school teacher that is a Daedalus Library enthusiast; and Piper, a young journalist who has come in place of her boss.
The tour begins through the exquisite, gothic library. Its themed rooms and secret, hidden passageways make one wish it was a real library. Pilego does an incredible job bringing the library's details to life on the page. I felt like I was alongside the guests on the tour as Saskia guided them along. Not long after the start of the tour, spooky things begin to occur. Everyone is on edge, worried that the notorious paranormal rumors of the library were in fact true. When suddenly, the first death has occurred. All eyes turns on the other person, and thus begins a terrifying night locked in the Daedalus Library. Sprinkled among the events of the night are the tales from a highly sought after, rare book, The Dark Hearth Tales, which is housed in a private section of the library. One will find that the terrifying moments they experience happen to lead right back to the warped fairytales.
We receive first point of view chapters from each of the characters throughout the book, with Aria being the main focus. I really enjoy multiple POV's, but I know that isn't everyone's cup of tea. Between the changing point of views and the fast paced plot, readers are taken on a wild ride. My one qualm with the book was the amount of secrets that were revealed. I am all for the shocker of a secret reveal, but I felt it became clunky towards the end. There were so many layers to so many secrets that it was hard to keep track. However, I don't feel it takes away from the shock-value or ending of the book.
Overall, this is a book any thriller fan, library enthusiast, or anyone looking for a spooky thrill will enjoy. I've already started telling people I know to shelve this book on their TBR and to prepare for the release in May.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Library After Dark: A Novel | Ande Pliego
🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
This book hit me exactly where I live. A haunted, gothic library. A locked-room nightmare. A messy cast of strangers, each with their own motives, secrets, and sharp elbows, all trapped together and very willing to crawl over one another to survive. "The Library After Dark" felt like the perfect spiritual follow-up to "You’re Fatally Invited"…proof once again that Ande Pliego absolutely thrives in the realm of twists, revenge, and deliciously paced murder.
What begins as a romantic, after-hours visit to the legendary Daedalus Library spirals into a night of terror when a select tour group is sealed inside its shadowy halls. As paranoia mounts and violence erupts, bookseller Aria Stokes is forced to reckon with long-buried truths while navigating secret corridors, unsettling folklore, and the growing certainty that one of them is a killer. In other words, we’ve gotta survive the night, baby!
Now, the Daedalus Library itself is a character, and possibly my favorite one. Ornate, eerie, and dripping with atmosphere; its themed rooms, hidden corridors, and whispery folklore vibes had me wishing it were real so I could book my tour. It's the perfect setting for Pliego to weave dark fairy tales and warped folklore throughout the story in a way that feels both sinister and strangely magical. The stories from The Dark Hearth Tales (book within a booook!) spider through the plot, mirroring the horrors unfolding in the present and giving the whole story that delicious “nothing here is accidental” energy.
Beyond the library itself, we get multiple POVs (my catnip), and watching these characters circle one another (suspecting, scheming, unraveling) was dangerously fun. Everyone has a reason for being there, everyone has something to hide, and nobody feels safe for long.
Yes, the secrets pile up fast, and toward the end it gets a little stacked with layers on layers on layers, but honestly? It didn’t dull the impact for me. The reveals were an absolute trip, the ending is a high note, and the ride getting there is wildly entertaining.
Tropes & Vibes ✨
🗝️ Locked-room thriller
📚 Haunted library
👀 Multiple POVs
🏰 Dark folklore & twisted fairy tales
🫢 Secrets upon secrets
🩸 Murder mystery
🫣Trust no one
💀 Atmospheric & gothic
If you love clever thrillers with teeth, this one deserves a prime spot on your TBR… preferably read after dark. 🖤
Thank you to NetGalley and the wickedly talented Ande Pliego for the opportunity to read and revel in this twisted tale.
🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
This book hit me exactly where I live. A haunted, gothic library. A locked-room nightmare. A messy cast of strangers, each with their own motives, secrets, and sharp elbows, all trapped together and very willing to crawl over one another to survive. "The Library After Dark" felt like the perfect spiritual follow-up to "You’re Fatally Invited"…proof once again that Ande Pliego absolutely thrives in the realm of twists, revenge, and deliciously paced murder.
What begins as a romantic, after-hours visit to the legendary Daedalus Library spirals into a night of terror when a select tour group is sealed inside its shadowy halls. As paranoia mounts and violence erupts, bookseller Aria Stokes is forced to reckon with long-buried truths while navigating secret corridors, unsettling folklore, and the growing certainty that one of them is a killer. In other words, we’ve gotta survive the night, baby!
Now, the Daedalus Library itself is a character, and possibly my favorite one. Ornate, eerie, and dripping with atmosphere; its themed rooms, hidden corridors, and whispery folklore vibes had me wishing it were real so I could book my tour. It's the perfect setting for Pliego to weave dark fairy tales and warped folklore throughout the story in a way that feels both sinister and strangely magical. The stories from The Dark Hearth Tales (book within a booook!) spider through the plot, mirroring the horrors unfolding in the present and giving the whole story that delicious “nothing here is accidental” energy.
Beyond the library itself, we get multiple POVs (my catnip), and watching these characters circle one another (suspecting, scheming, unraveling) was dangerously fun. Everyone has a reason for being there, everyone has something to hide, and nobody feels safe for long.
Yes, the secrets pile up fast, and toward the end it gets a little stacked with layers on layers on layers, but honestly? It didn’t dull the impact for me. The reveals were an absolute trip, the ending is a high note, and the ride getting there is wildly entertaining.
Tropes & Vibes ✨
🗝️ Locked-room thriller
📚 Haunted library
👀 Multiple POVs
🏰 Dark folklore & twisted fairy tales
🫢 Secrets upon secrets
🩸 Murder mystery
🫣Trust no one
💀 Atmospheric & gothic
If you love clever thrillers with teeth, this one deserves a prime spot on your TBR… preferably read after dark. 🖤
Thank you to NetGalley and the wickedly talented Ande Pliego for the opportunity to read and revel in this twisted tale.
December 10, 2025
4.5/5 stars! I present to you the ultimate mystery for bibliophiles. A page turning, heart racing, lose sleep over, locked room murder mystery for lovers of literature. I have never read a book quite like this one, which is a compliment. There is a supposedly haunted library, a potentially cursed book, false identities, betrayals and so much more. The book has a very gothic undertone that I just ate up. It paired beautifully with the atmospheric writing and descriptions. This book would be perfect anytime of year but especially in the winter. There are plenty of descriptions of snow and cold. The nature of this book itself is chilling and the atmosphere only enhances that more. This story is full of untrustworthy characters. There are multiple POVs and all of them are unreliable. The story takes place during an after hours tour of an infamous library and the way the story is told/written it makes the reader feel like we ourselves are taking the tour and watching everything unfold. We learn everything as the characters do. Each one has something to hide from one another. I simply could not stop reading. I didn’t want to. It was so unpredictable and full of twists, even at the very end! It had me questioning anyone and everything. What was real? Who really were these people? There are interwoven folklore/fairytale stories throughout that are important to the story. I enjoyed them very much on their own. I’m really glad the author included them in the book. It made the experience that more immersive. Even though so many horrible things happened in the library, I so wished it was real. It was a mesmerizing setting filled with themes reading rooms, bookshelves shaped like trees, secret passages, hobbit holes, wardrobes to Narnia, and so much more. Truly it was a book lovers dream and at times a nightmare. If you couldn’t tell, really loved this book. (Despite giving me whiplash and mild motion sickness.) I don’t know how it would work but I would love to read more from this world. I won’t stop thinking about this book for awhile.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*
January 19, 2026
“You can bargain for love by shoving parts of yourself out of sight under the floorboards, but to be know, and seen, past the worst thing you’ve ever done…it is both agony and peace, and I don’t understand how.”
I’ve been very eagerly awaiting Ande Pliego’s sophomore novel since I finished, and loved, You Are Fatally Invited. And I can confidently say she’s written some of the best locked room mysteries I’ve read to date.
The Library After Dark brings us to the Daedalus Library, a renowned gothic library known for its themed rooms and secret passages. Pliego is a master at writing settings and I am truly sad that this library isn’t real. Do you know how fun it would be to be on a behind the scenes tour there?! Assuming it goes better than it did in the book that is…
Our cast of characters, who arrived with the expectation of touring the library and seeing the rare and maybe cursed book The Dark Hearth Tales, quickly find themselves in a fight for their lives. I loved how much Pliego leaned into the paranormal aspect. It made for a unique reading experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book flips between each of the characters perspectives and I enjoyed reading all of them. I was also very grateful for the list of characters provided at the beginning of the book - it came in handy multiple times. We also got a sprinkling of stories from The Dark Hearth Tales throughout and I loved the addition of them.
As the book progressed, more and more secrets were reveled. I particularly liked how Pliego would reveal a secret in the last sentence of the characters’ chapter and then immediately fling us into another POV. I had a lot of “wait, what?!” moments that led to me racing through to their next POV chapter. The ending had quite a few twists that I thought were well laid out. I enjoyed how everything wrapped up in the end and I liked the timeline jump to solidify the story.
Thank you to Ande Pliego, Bantam Books and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review! Out May 5!
I’ve been very eagerly awaiting Ande Pliego’s sophomore novel since I finished, and loved, You Are Fatally Invited. And I can confidently say she’s written some of the best locked room mysteries I’ve read to date.
The Library After Dark brings us to the Daedalus Library, a renowned gothic library known for its themed rooms and secret passages. Pliego is a master at writing settings and I am truly sad that this library isn’t real. Do you know how fun it would be to be on a behind the scenes tour there?! Assuming it goes better than it did in the book that is…
Our cast of characters, who arrived with the expectation of touring the library and seeing the rare and maybe cursed book The Dark Hearth Tales, quickly find themselves in a fight for their lives. I loved how much Pliego leaned into the paranormal aspect. It made for a unique reading experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book flips between each of the characters perspectives and I enjoyed reading all of them. I was also very grateful for the list of characters provided at the beginning of the book - it came in handy multiple times. We also got a sprinkling of stories from The Dark Hearth Tales throughout and I loved the addition of them.
As the book progressed, more and more secrets were reveled. I particularly liked how Pliego would reveal a secret in the last sentence of the characters’ chapter and then immediately fling us into another POV. I had a lot of “wait, what?!” moments that led to me racing through to their next POV chapter. The ending had quite a few twists that I thought were well laid out. I enjoyed how everything wrapped up in the end and I liked the timeline jump to solidify the story.
Thank you to Ande Pliego, Bantam Books and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review! Out May 5!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was jump-scared by reviews going live (hello! Thank you early readers!), so before I sign-off Goodreads, a quick word about The Library After Dark.
Crack open the first page, and you might notice that this story dances right off the edge of a knife (or, guillotine blade). The Library After Dark sparked to life during one of the darkest seasons of my life, and as a fun result, was the hardest book I’ve ever crafted. Writing is a staring contest between your soul (sanity?) and your paper, and I’ve never so badly wanted to blink (quit) than with this book. And yet.
Everything snapped into focus once I (exasperatingly belatedly) remembered why I bleed ink in the first place: monsters in life may abound, but books—the echoes of people long past, made immortal through pen on paper—can be a lifeline. Sometimes, we find courage in a book. I know I have.
And there it was, the theme of the book. Duh, Ande.
With this story, I strived to capture both the horror and whimsy of fairytales because the best ones—in my opinion—have a bit of both. After all, life itself is a balancing act of wonder and terror, isn’t it? If You Are Fatally Invited is about want and what you do with it, this book is about fear. It’s about the nightmares that reduce us to our most terrified, child-like selves, and the stories that give us the courage to bare our teeth back and say “do your worst.”
The Library After Dark is for the adults who once lost and found themselves again in fairytales, who crave that nostalgia of being swept away into a beloved story for the first time. And perhaps most importantly, it’s for anyone who has ever found exactly what they needed between a book’s pages. Beneath the bizarre book history bits, the glint of a knife and the haunting rooms where silence is thick as smoke, I hope you find something that’s a comfort to you, as it was to me.
-A
Crack open the first page, and you might notice that this story dances right off the edge of a knife (or, guillotine blade). The Library After Dark sparked to life during one of the darkest seasons of my life, and as a fun result, was the hardest book I’ve ever crafted. Writing is a staring contest between your soul (sanity?) and your paper, and I’ve never so badly wanted to blink (quit) than with this book. And yet.
Everything snapped into focus once I (exasperatingly belatedly) remembered why I bleed ink in the first place: monsters in life may abound, but books—the echoes of people long past, made immortal through pen on paper—can be a lifeline. Sometimes, we find courage in a book. I know I have.
And there it was, the theme of the book. Duh, Ande.
With this story, I strived to capture both the horror and whimsy of fairytales because the best ones—in my opinion—have a bit of both. After all, life itself is a balancing act of wonder and terror, isn’t it? If You Are Fatally Invited is about want and what you do with it, this book is about fear. It’s about the nightmares that reduce us to our most terrified, child-like selves, and the stories that give us the courage to bare our teeth back and say “do your worst.”
The Library After Dark is for the adults who once lost and found themselves again in fairytales, who crave that nostalgia of being swept away into a beloved story for the first time. And perhaps most importantly, it’s for anyone who has ever found exactly what they needed between a book’s pages. Beneath the bizarre book history bits, the glint of a knife and the haunting rooms where silence is thick as smoke, I hope you find something that’s a comfort to you, as it was to me.
-A
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Show of hands, how many of you would love to tour the Daedalus Library after hours, even knowing what happens in this book? Pliego makes the building sound amazing, especially for bookworms. Twisted, dark, original and utterly fantastic, the titular library is home to incalculable treasures, like a combination of the Winchester House, the Smithsonian and the Natural History Museum. Aria knows more about it than she’s willing to admit, but she’s moved on and just wants to forget everything about the Daedalus and its founder, the recently deceased Evangeline. Dream guy Jasper has other ideas, planning a romantic date around a visit to the library, after dark. They are joined by a group of people who have secrets related to Evangeline, the Daedalus or the centerpiece that it was built to protect: a collection of dark fairy tales that may have influenced great works like Pinocchio or Alice in Wonderland. The visitors are soon trapped in the library, getting injured, or worse, trying to navigate the labyrinth and find out many different secrets from various timelines. The plot is suspenseful and full of unexpected twists that made me go back and rethink the whole book. The characters are likable, so it was easy to root for them all, and suffer along with them. I especially enjoyed the stories, interspersed with the main plot, as well as the description of the Daedalus. The novel is full of creepy passages and the twists were not what I was expecting. I love it!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Ballantine | Bantam.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Ballantine | Bantam.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have to start by saying that I adored You Are Fatally Invited, and gave it 5 stars, so I was incredibly excited to start reading The Library After Dark.
I'm a sucker for a good murder mystery, and the idea of it being set in a reportedly haunted library in New York sounded right up my street. But, unfortunately, this fell incredibly flat for me.
Even though I did quickly get to grips with the different and distinct characters, it felt quite confused throughout.
Of course, each individual was going to have their own motivations for being there, apart from Aria, but the reasons felt a bit nonsensical and we don't really get an answer as to what really happened to each of the people who were murdered.
I also got quite bored as they made their way through the library, and even though I didn’t mind some of the characters, I wasn’t really willing any of them on to survive and escape.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a sucker for a good murder mystery, and the idea of it being set in a reportedly haunted library in New York sounded right up my street. But, unfortunately, this fell incredibly flat for me.
Even though I did quickly get to grips with the different and distinct characters, it felt quite confused throughout.
Of course, each individual was going to have their own motivations for being there, apart from Aria, but the reasons felt a bit nonsensical and we don't really get an answer as to what really happened to each of the people who were murdered.
I also got quite bored as they made their way through the library, and even though I didn’t mind some of the characters, I wasn’t really willing any of them on to survive and escape.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Library After Dark is exactly the kind of mystery I love: a locked‑room setup, a cast of strangers with secrets, and a setting so atmospheric it practically becomes a character. A notorious New York library with a history of disappearances? That alone had me intrigued before the plot even kicked off.
The story brings together five very different visitors for an after‑hours tour, each with their own hidden agenda. Watching their motives slowly surface as the tour winds deeper into the building is half the fun. The other half is the creeping tension — that delicious sense that something is very wrong long before the first body drops.
Once the murder happens, the book shifts into a sharp, puzzle‑box mystery. Every character feels like a suspect, every conversation has an edge, and the library’s eerie history hangs over everything. It’s twisty without being confusing, and the reveals land in a satisfying way.
The atmosphere is a standout: dark corridors, whispered legends, and that claustrophobic feeling of being trapped with people you absolutely cannot trust. It has the vibe of a classic whodunnit but with a modern, slightly sinister flair.
A smart, entertaining mystery that keeps you guessing and gives you plenty to chew on. Perfect for readers who enjoy their thrillers with a gothic touch and a cast full of secrets.
My thanks to Ande Pliego, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The story brings together five very different visitors for an after‑hours tour, each with their own hidden agenda. Watching their motives slowly surface as the tour winds deeper into the building is half the fun. The other half is the creeping tension — that delicious sense that something is very wrong long before the first body drops.
Once the murder happens, the book shifts into a sharp, puzzle‑box mystery. Every character feels like a suspect, every conversation has an edge, and the library’s eerie history hangs over everything. It’s twisty without being confusing, and the reveals land in a satisfying way.
The atmosphere is a standout: dark corridors, whispered legends, and that claustrophobic feeling of being trapped with people you absolutely cannot trust. It has the vibe of a classic whodunnit but with a modern, slightly sinister flair.
A smart, entertaining mystery that keeps you guessing and gives you plenty to chew on. Perfect for readers who enjoy their thrillers with a gothic touch and a cast full of secrets.
My thanks to Ande Pliego, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
February 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego.
I am devastated at how much this book did not work for me. You are Fatally Invited was one of the first audiobooks I listened to this year and was so excited to get my hands on this one. Maybe it was the difference between the audiobook and an actual book that made this so hard for me to follow? There are so many narrators and in print, they all come off very similarly.
This read like a first draft. The ideas were there, the characters formed, the bare bones of the storyline, but none of them felt complete. Everything felt out of reach - I did not know much about any of the characters and it was written purposely that way - I think/hope.
By about 50% I had really lost patience with the writing. There was so much information dangling - glimpses of who these people are and what’s really going on - but no, you never get anything until about 75% in. I’m sure it was to add to the suspense, but I just did not care anymore.
The setting was perfection and I wish I had cared enough about the rest to truly appreciate it.
This book really required a suspension of disbelief only because it never made me, as a reader, feel included. It never seemingly proved anything to me, to care about a character or plot point. I finished this book to finish it, not because I cared anymore about how it would end.
I am devastated at how much this book did not work for me. You are Fatally Invited was one of the first audiobooks I listened to this year and was so excited to get my hands on this one. Maybe it was the difference between the audiobook and an actual book that made this so hard for me to follow? There are so many narrators and in print, they all come off very similarly.
This read like a first draft. The ideas were there, the characters formed, the bare bones of the storyline, but none of them felt complete. Everything felt out of reach - I did not know much about any of the characters and it was written purposely that way - I think/hope.
By about 50% I had really lost patience with the writing. There was so much information dangling - glimpses of who these people are and what’s really going on - but no, you never get anything until about 75% in. I’m sure it was to add to the suspense, but I just did not care anymore.
The setting was perfection and I wish I had cared enough about the rest to truly appreciate it.
This book really required a suspension of disbelief only because it never made me, as a reader, feel included. It never seemingly proved anything to me, to care about a character or plot point. I finished this book to finish it, not because I cared anymore about how it would end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First, thank you to NetGalley and the publishing company for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a tense locked room (well, locked library) murder mystery in the vein of And Then There Were None (though I don't think anyone will ever match the grand master Agatha Christie at locked room mysteries). I have not read this author's first book, but I may now because I found this engrossing and creepy. A number of characters, all with their own secrets and suspicious motives, manage to snag invitations to a special after hours tour of the famed, labyrinthine, macabre, and possibly cursed Daedalus Library. Many people have died in the library via "accidents" over the years and - not really a spoiler alert - more will!
The library itself was practically a character in the book. Descriptions of its exhibits, grotesque architecture, and secret passageways added to the uniqueness of the story. This is one of those mysteries with multiple perspectives which, by the end, convinces you that virtually any of them could be the murder. It's a little over the top in how dramatic and convoluted everything gets, and the POV chapters are sometimes frustrating in how clearly they are leaving gaps to keep the reader in the dark, but overall, if you like mysteries with a little gruesomeness thrown in - and/or library's - I'd recommend this read.
This was a tense locked room (well, locked library) murder mystery in the vein of And Then There Were None (though I don't think anyone will ever match the grand master Agatha Christie at locked room mysteries). I have not read this author's first book, but I may now because I found this engrossing and creepy. A number of characters, all with their own secrets and suspicious motives, manage to snag invitations to a special after hours tour of the famed, labyrinthine, macabre, and possibly cursed Daedalus Library. Many people have died in the library via "accidents" over the years and - not really a spoiler alert - more will!
The library itself was practically a character in the book. Descriptions of its exhibits, grotesque architecture, and secret passageways added to the uniqueness of the story. This is one of those mysteries with multiple perspectives which, by the end, convinces you that virtually any of them could be the murder. It's a little over the top in how dramatic and convoluted everything gets, and the POV chapters are sometimes frustrating in how clearly they are leaving gaps to keep the reader in the dark, but overall, if you like mysteries with a little gruesomeness thrown in - and/or library's - I'd recommend this read.
January 7, 2026
Thank you to Bantam and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an early review.
What a wild time! What could make for a better Valentine’s date than being in an actual locked room murder at the Daedalus library? This is the nightmare that Aria and Jasper finds themselves in when he surprises her with tickets to an exclusive event at the notorious library. Things take a disastrous turn (or many in this case) as people starts dropping dead. Our lovebirds will need to find an escape before the killer gets to them next. No strangers can be trusted, but can they even really trust each other?
Usually thrillers don’t get past 4 stars for me, as once the who-done-it part is revealed, the story kind of loses its appeal overall. This one blew me away though and pushed beyond my usual reading experience with the genre. I really love the short, dark fairy tales sprinkled throughout the book and how it tied in with the events of the story. A lot of research and thought was put into the construction of the plot and its library, and just made for such richer reading.
My many efforts to try and determine the murderer in this story was just outright embarrassing. Let it be known, I was fooled time and time again. Maybe my friends will have better detective skills than I did once they get to this novel. I will be recommending this book to every thriller lover that I know!
What a wild time! What could make for a better Valentine’s date than being in an actual locked room murder at the Daedalus library? This is the nightmare that Aria and Jasper finds themselves in when he surprises her with tickets to an exclusive event at the notorious library. Things take a disastrous turn (or many in this case) as people starts dropping dead. Our lovebirds will need to find an escape before the killer gets to them next. No strangers can be trusted, but can they even really trust each other?
Usually thrillers don’t get past 4 stars for me, as once the who-done-it part is revealed, the story kind of loses its appeal overall. This one blew me away though and pushed beyond my usual reading experience with the genre. I really love the short, dark fairy tales sprinkled throughout the book and how it tied in with the events of the story. A lot of research and thought was put into the construction of the plot and its library, and just made for such richer reading.
My many efforts to try and determine the murderer in this story was just outright embarrassing. Let it be known, I was fooled time and time again. Maybe my friends will have better detective skills than I did once they get to this novel. I will be recommending this book to every thriller lover that I know!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Library After Dark is the first book I have read by Ande Pilego and it was not what I was expecting, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I love books about libraries and mysteries, so that was what drew me to this book. I was also expecting a dose of the paranormal and maybe a gothic setting. That is not what this book is. It’s a scary and graphic book, which many people like, but I was not used to. However, the story is very well written and there are twists and turns everywhere. I really enjoyed the writing from many perspectives because it really kept you in the middle of all the action. I was very shocked by the ending and I really couldn’t put it down until I finished it. I actually read the last few chapters twice because I was so surprised by the ending! I’m not sure if Ande Pilego will become one of my favorite authors, but this is a good read and I can understand why it is so highly anticipated.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2026
The Library After Dark is an odd mix of horror, supernatural thriller and locked room puzzle. With a large cast of characters, almost all of whom are hiding secrets, it is complex and ambitious, but ultimately doesn't really hold together.
The titular library is in New York City, a family mansion turned into a home for rare books, including a valuable work of fairy tales. Almost everyone with a connection to the volume has died, often in mysterious circumstances. After many years of restoration, the book is to be made public again. But before this happens a small group of people are invited for an exclusive tour. And not too many of them make it out alive.
The novel is based on events from the past, and each character has some connection and motivation, all revealed in a rush at the end of the novel. The tale is told using multiple points of view, but the voices are indistinct with little personality to differentiate. It makes the narrative confused and difficult to follow, as do the insertion of short fairy tales throughout the book.
The titular library is in New York City, a family mansion turned into a home for rare books, including a valuable work of fairy tales. Almost everyone with a connection to the volume has died, often in mysterious circumstances. After many years of restoration, the book is to be made public again. But before this happens a small group of people are invited for an exclusive tour. And not too many of them make it out alive.
The novel is based on events from the past, and each character has some connection and motivation, all revealed in a rush at the end of the novel. The tale is told using multiple points of view, but the voices are indistinct with little personality to differentiate. It makes the narrative confused and difficult to follow, as do the insertion of short fairy tales throughout the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A highly addictive, eerie licked room mystery that takes place on the history tour of an old library. No one is who they say they are. Some people aren’t even who they say they are the second time.
Ande Pliego’s sophomore Effort does not disappoint. It is less jump-scare, and more immersive world building. Darkly suspenseful, we follow aria and her new boyfriend Jasper as they go to take a tour of the locally famous Dedalus library. What a name, right? Although Jasper thinks this is going to be a private tour, they are surprised to find a group that will also be a part of the tour of the historical landmark. They are even more surprised when they find themselves, unfortunately, locked in. And with at least one killer amongst the group.
You won’t be able to put this one down! Although the room is full of a character cast, they have enough differences that you can easily tell them apart, and guess who is next. The internal dialogue, contributes to the intricate plot, and while the ending is somewhat unbelievable, I was 100% along for the ride. I love the way this author sets up a story.
If you love books, and have fantasized often about living in a huge old library, you will love being a part of this world for a while.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC. Book to be published May 4, 2026.
Ande Pliego’s sophomore Effort does not disappoint. It is less jump-scare, and more immersive world building. Darkly suspenseful, we follow aria and her new boyfriend Jasper as they go to take a tour of the locally famous Dedalus library. What a name, right? Although Jasper thinks this is going to be a private tour, they are surprised to find a group that will also be a part of the tour of the historical landmark. They are even more surprised when they find themselves, unfortunately, locked in. And with at least one killer amongst the group.
You won’t be able to put this one down! Although the room is full of a character cast, they have enough differences that you can easily tell them apart, and guess who is next. The internal dialogue, contributes to the intricate plot, and while the ending is somewhat unbelievable, I was 100% along for the ride. I love the way this author sets up a story.
If you love books, and have fantasized often about living in a huge old library, you will love being a part of this world for a while.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC. Book to be published May 4, 2026.
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