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kikidhaliwal_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
brintty's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mimi2018's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
crbrennan's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely got hooked by this book and the authors writing. I went thru her whole catalog.
Page turner! I was thrilled I couldn't guess the twist on this one, and needed more!
Can't wait til the next book!!
Page turner! I was thrilled I couldn't guess the twist on this one, and needed more!
Can't wait til the next book!!
judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
Valeria Keogh returns following The Trophy Wife with her latest suspense drama, THE LIBRARIAN, where a woman's mysterious past meets the present.
Set in London during the summer, Ava Warrington is a librarian at Tate Modern with a sister Judy who is married with children.
Ava had graduated with a Fine Arts degree from the University of Bristol and stayed on to do a post-graduate qualification in librarianship. She had planned to travel, but when an assistant in the library of the Tate Modern came up, it was an opportunity impossible to pass up.
She loved her job. Ava is quiet, introverted, and has anxiety. She experienced something from her days at university which made her overly cautious.
She had been with Tate for seven years, five as an assistant and the last two as head librarian. She was twenty-nine, going on ninety.
She is friends with Poppy, and they go out to a bistro. They are very different in that Poppy is impulsive and rarely looks further than surface attraction, whereas Ava is one of consideration. She pushes Ava to get out more.
There is a stranger at the bistro, he gets aggressive, and Ava says NO. He issues a threat of: YOU'LL BE SORRY.
The world came to her loud, clear, and laced with anger. Was she a drama queen? (we hear this constantly in the book).
He was just like Simon had been. What happened in Bristol?
Afterward, strange things begin happening. Ava has been suspended and blamed for damaging a painting with a pointer. Her careful, safe life had fallen apart, and she had no idea why.
She had met two horrible men, the Bistro Man (present) and Simon Loder (past). Was the Bistro man responsible for the bird and her job problems? Is he trying to punish her?
The past ten years earlier for Simon is unraveled. She has regrets. What happened back then and how is it connected to the present?
Then someone winds up dead. Was he targeted? Was this a coincidence?
Everything in her life she thought was stable was falling apart. Then another tragedy, and this time, her friend. Now her sister Judy's marriage has problems.
Everything that had happened recently had to link to what happened ten years before and the life she had destroyed. Memories were full of anguish, regret, doubt, and searing pain. Was she a victim?
Someone is out for REVENGE. Two psychopaths. How many close to her will be collateral damage?
Keogh keeps you hanging as you flip the pages to find the connection. Even though I have enjoyed the author's previous books, this one was not quite what I thought, nor a favorite. With the cover and the title, I expected more literary references and mystery about the library.
Instead, it focused more on Ava and her current/past life with these guys. Things get repetitive, and Ava is paranoid about this Bistro Man, her being a drama queen, her past, etc., which gets rather tiring. Very drawn out and lacks a certain depth.
I would classify this as more of a female mystery drama for those who enjoy light cozy mysteries more than a psychological thriller. I loved the cover but did not think it fits the book. Would have liked more literary/books/library focus.
Thanks to #BoldwoodBooks via #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @ JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: April 21, 2023
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Set in London during the summer, Ava Warrington is a librarian at Tate Modern with a sister Judy who is married with children.
Ava had graduated with a Fine Arts degree from the University of Bristol and stayed on to do a post-graduate qualification in librarianship. She had planned to travel, but when an assistant in the library of the Tate Modern came up, it was an opportunity impossible to pass up.
She loved her job. Ava is quiet, introverted, and has anxiety. She experienced something from her days at university which made her overly cautious.
She had been with Tate for seven years, five as an assistant and the last two as head librarian. She was twenty-nine, going on ninety.
She is friends with Poppy, and they go out to a bistro. They are very different in that Poppy is impulsive and rarely looks further than surface attraction, whereas Ava is one of consideration. She pushes Ava to get out more.
There is a stranger at the bistro, he gets aggressive, and Ava says NO. He issues a threat of: YOU'LL BE SORRY.
The world came to her loud, clear, and laced with anger. Was she a drama queen? (we hear this constantly in the book).
He was just like Simon had been. What happened in Bristol?
Afterward, strange things begin happening. Ava has been suspended and blamed for damaging a painting with a pointer. Her careful, safe life had fallen apart, and she had no idea why.
She had met two horrible men, the Bistro Man (present) and Simon Loder (past). Was the Bistro man responsible for the bird and her job problems? Is he trying to punish her?
The past ten years earlier for Simon is unraveled. She has regrets. What happened back then and how is it connected to the present?
Then someone winds up dead. Was he targeted? Was this a coincidence?
Everything in her life she thought was stable was falling apart. Then another tragedy, and this time, her friend. Now her sister Judy's marriage has problems.
Everything that had happened recently had to link to what happened ten years before and the life she had destroyed. Memories were full of anguish, regret, doubt, and searing pain. Was she a victim?
Someone is out for REVENGE. Two psychopaths. How many close to her will be collateral damage?
Keogh keeps you hanging as you flip the pages to find the connection. Even though I have enjoyed the author's previous books, this one was not quite what I thought, nor a favorite. With the cover and the title, I expected more literary references and mystery about the library.
Instead, it focused more on Ava and her current/past life with these guys. Things get repetitive, and Ava is paranoid about this Bistro Man, her being a drama queen, her past, etc., which gets rather tiring. Very drawn out and lacks a certain depth.
I would classify this as more of a female mystery drama for those who enjoy light cozy mysteries more than a psychological thriller. I loved the cover but did not think it fits the book. Would have liked more literary/books/library focus.
Thanks to #BoldwoodBooks via #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @ JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: April 21, 2023
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
btpbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
Talk about the past coming back to haunt you, bloody hell. What a gripping, dark, and disturbing read. I was hooked! It was a very mysterious read with too many coincidences for my liking. I was beside Ava the whole way, from losing her job to her best friend to her sister and finally all the little strange things. I was shocked Ava didn't go mental herself. She is one determined woman who knows who is behind everything. Or at least she thinks she does. A clever read. Messed up. Toxic. Brilliant ending. A well-deserved four stars from me.
danyellalta's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First half redundant, ruminative. Second half evolves quickly.
kjpollard71's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Very slow to start....I almost DNF, but it picked up at the end.