The Library After Dark
AUTHOR: Ande Pliego
Reviewed by Rod M. on April, 23, 2026
A haunted library. An eccentric owner who may or may not have been a serial killer. A rare book with poison-coated pages. Hidden doors, secret hallways, rooms that probably shouldn’t exist. And seven invited guests… or at least, that’s what they’re calling themselves… all gathered to view this book before its public unveiling.
Naturally, things go sideways. One by one, the guests start dying. And you’re left wondering, is it the library itself, something supernatural, or just a good old-fashioned murderer picking people off?
Now, here’s where things get a little less magical.
The Library After Dark is a complicated story with a dense, layered setting and no shortage of twists. It’s the kind of book that clearly wants to impress you. The ideas are there. The ambition is there. The problem is the execution doesn’t quite land the punch it’s aiming for.
It feels like a really intricate machine that never quite clicks into place. You can see what it’s trying to do, and sometimes you even admire it for trying, but it doesn’t fully deliver the impact it promises.
So here’s my thoughts
• If you’re a plot-driven reader
• You like puzzles, twists, and “what’s going on here?” energy
• You’re okay with writing that’s more functional than brilliant
You’ll probably have a lot of fun with this.
• If you’re more critical about craft
• You care about sharp prose, tight pacing, and standout writing
• You want something that really sticks the landing
This might leave you a little underwhelmed.
It’s not a bad book. It’s just one of those frustrating ones that gets so close to being great you can practically feel it… and then doesn’t quite get there. Which, somehow, is worse than just being bad.
- Reviewed on Net Galley by Rod M.
