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4.0
The Library After Dark
ByPublisher Description
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.
Not all fairytales were meant for children.
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.
Not all fairytales were meant for children.
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.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThe Library After Dark Reviews
4.0
“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!”
“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!”
“3.5 stars. This book was so creepy and atmospheric. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but feel I must admit that I spent a large portion of it confused, which is why I ultimately gave it a slightly lower rating.
There were A LOT of POVs and I thought I had characters figured out, but I didn’t. I honestly still don’t know what the character, Ruth’s, motivations were for being on the library tour.
This story was fast-paced, gory, and borderline horror. The sprinkling of creepy fairytales added to the horror-like atmosphere.
I enjoyed some of the twists. Some I figured out on my own and some totally blindsided me.
Ultimately, I do recommend this one, but maybe don’t devour it because the devil is likey in the details that I read over too quickly…
This one releases on May 5, 2026. A big thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for a free eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.”
“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 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!”
About Ande Pliego
When not reading or writing, Ande Pliego 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, Ande is settled in the Pacific Northwest with her little son. Ande Pliego is the bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited and The Library After Dark.
Other books by Ande Pliego
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