The Library After Dark

Read an extract from The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

Discover this brand new, puzzle-box murder mystery that's guaranteed to keep you hooked until the very last page... perfect for fans of Sarah Pearse and Eight Detectives. 
 
'Irresistible - bright, sharp and rife with danger.' A.J. Finn 
 
'Atmospheric, chilling and brilliantly clever.' Sian Gilbert 
 
In the centre of New York stands the city’s most notorious library. 
 
It has a history of mysterious disappearances and freak accidents. But tonight, it opens its doors to welcome a group of strangers for an exclusive after-hours tour. 
 
The famous author. The journalist. The professor. The bookseller. The architect. 
 
They are here to see a legendary book – one of the most valuable in the world. But each visitor also has other, more sinister reasons for being in the library after dark. 
 
As the tour takes them deeper into the building, one of the guests meets a gruesome, inexplicable end – and the others realise they are living on borrowed time. 
 
The search for the murderer forces them to confront awful truths about themselves and decide which secrets are worth dying – or killing – to keep. 
 
Readers can't put down The Library After Dark: 
 
'Stephen King meets Agatha Christie in this brilliant thriller - a triumph. Do not miss this' - Hank Phillippi Ryan, bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours 
 
'‘Richly imagined and wonderfully atmospheric… a fast-paced, locked room thriller’ - Mary Watson, Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Cleaner 
 
'The Library After Dark is Agatha Christie by way of the Brothers Grimm’ - Kelsey Cox, bestselling author of Party of Liars 
 
'I devoured it in one breathless, brilliant sitting' - Ryan Pote, author of Blood and Treasure 
 
'Smart, edgy, and utterly unique, The Library After Dark will beckon you in… but it might never let you out’ - Tare Goedjen, author of Please Enjoy Your Stay 
 
'A chilling and highly addictive locked-room thriller. Get ready for a ride!' - Darby Kane, international best-selling author of Pretty Little Wife

Praise for The Library After Dark:

Atmospheric, chilling and brilliantly clever. With its gorgeous haunted library, creepy happenings and fresh twists, The Library After Dark is a true modern Gothic thriller. Do not read this one after dark!

Richly imagined and wonderfully atmospheric, The Library After Dark captures the dark heart of fairy tales in this fast-paced, locked room thriller.

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.

Irresistible—bright and sharp and rife with danger, like a shard of mirror. And what a splendid library Ande Pliego has constructed here! A bibliophile's haunted house, crawling with secrets: in the shadows beneath the shelves, in the darkness behind the doors... and, of course, in the heart of our heroine.

A. J. Finn, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

Stephen King meets Agatha Christie in this brilliant total immersion locked library thriller. The incredibly talented Ande Pliego has managed to concoct a gripping genre-bending mix of fairytale, horror story, and murder mystery in one of the most hauntingly cinematic and cleverly plotted novels I’ve read in a long time. In the best of all possible ways, this is the stuff of nightmares— and a triumph of gorgeously written, twisty, and gasp-worthy suspense. All I can say is: Do not miss this. (But fair warning: Read it with the lights on.)

Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours

A brilliantly plotted locked-room mystery steeped in gothic atmosphere and fairy-tale menace. The Library After Dark is Agatha Christie by way of the Brothers Grimm.

Kelsey Cox, bestselling author of Party of Liars

Ande Pliego’s twisty thriller is more breakneck than a guillotine, with all the foreboding of a dark fairytale. Smart, edgy, and utterly unique, The Library After Dark will beckon you in… but it might never let you out.

Tara Goedjen, author of Please Enjoy Your Stay

Ande Pliego's sophomore novel affirms her position as a master of misdirection and spellbinding plots. The Library After Dark propels readers through a labyrinth of twists and turns, secrets and fairytales, turning a nighttime tour of a museum-like library into a chilling and highly addictive locked-room thriller. Sit down, open the book, and get ready for a ride!

Darby Kane, #1 internationally bestselling author of Pretty Little Wife

When you trap a group of mystery authors on a secluded island, the result is wickedly delightful mayhem! It’s Agatha Christie on steroids.

You Are Fatally Invited is a novel with black ink in its veins and a cheeky smile on its face. RSVP immediately.

Glass Onion meets Cluedo in this intricate and clever thriller - original and atmospheric.

Twisty and fabulously fun, You Are Fatally Invited is a locked room mystery that readers won’t want to put down. With its clever use of tropes and an expertly drawn cast of characters, this debut is not to be missed!

And Then There Were None via Knives Out meets... On Writing?! An ingeniously plotted, deliciously dark treat for thriller fans. I enjoyed every page.

Ande 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 humour, general murder and mayhem, characters pushed to the edge of themselves, 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, Ande is settled in the Pacific Northwest, USA, with her little son.

In the centre of New York stands the city’s most notorious library. 
 
It has a history of mysterious disappearances and freak accidents. But tonight, it opens its doors to welcome a group of strangers for an exclusive after-hours tour. 
 
The famous author. The journalist. The professor. The bookseller. The architect. 
 
They are here to see a legendary book – one of the most valuable in the world. But each visitor also has other, more sinister reasons for being in the library after dark. 
 
As the tour takes them deeper into the building, one of the guests meets a gruesome, inexplicable end – and the others realise they are living on borrowed time. 
 
The search for the murderer forces them to confront awful truths about themselves and decide which secrets are worth dying – or killing – to keep.

Ande Pliego

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre. 
You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

When you trap a group of mystery authors on a secluded island, the result is wickedly delightful mayhem! It’s Agatha Christie on steroids.

Tess Gerritsen, New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles series.

Clever, funny and devilishly twisty, You Are Fatally Invited is a must-read from an exciting debut author.

Here's an invitation you'll want to accept: a sneaky, snaky mystery that nods to (and winks at) private-island thrillers from And Then There Were None to Lucy Foley's The Guest List - but beats with a pulse all its own. Rush down the steps of those secret stairwells and you'll trip over twists; enter the hidden rooms and you'll drop through trapdoors. You Are Fatally Invited is a novel with black ink in its veins and a cheeky smile on its face. RSVP immediately.

Glass Onion meets Cluedo in this intricate and clever thriller - original and atmospheric.

Twisty and fabulously fun, You Are Fatally Invited is a locked room mystery that readers won’t want to put down. With its clever use of tropes and an expertly drawn cast of characters, this debut is not to be missed!

Amy Tintera, bestselling author of Richard & Judy bookclub pick Listen For the Lie

And Then There Were None via Knives Out meets... On Writing?! An ingeniously plotted, deliciously dark treat for thriller fans. I enjoyed every page.

No.1 bestselling author Catherine Ryan Howard

This meta ironic fun thriller will keep you turning pages late into the night. You won’t know who did it or how or why until the very juicy end!

Sascha Rothchild, Emmy award-winning author of Blood Sugar

The debut of 2025! Ande Pliego breathes new life into the locked room mystery with a riveting tale of a thriller writer’s retreat gone awry. You Are Fatally Invited winks at the tropes while delivering twist after twist after twist. Mark my words, Pliego is destined to reach the top of the thriller writer world—even without killing off the competition.

Alex Finlay, bestselling author of If Something Happens to Me

A fresh, fast-paced take on the classic murder mystery, You Are Fatally Invited kept me guessing until the very end. The great set up is only the beginning - clever twists, compelling characters, and juicy secrets make this one of the most entertaining thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Clear your weekend, because once you start, you won’t want to put it down.

Kristen Perrin, author of How to Solve Your Own Murder

Diabolical, twisty, and utterly entertaining. Ande Pliego delivers a delicious twist on a locked room thriller with Clue and And Then There Were None vibes. Filled with a rich mix of hidden identities, shifting alliances, shocking murders, and piles of secrets, You Are Fatally Invited drops readers into the middle of the scariest thriller writers retreat ever and dares them to figure their way out. Do not miss this stunning debut.

Darby Kane, bestselling author of Pretty Little Wife

In her homage to one of my favorite childhood games – Clue – Ande Pliego has crafted a twisty, locked room mystery that’s as fun and as intense as Game Night with friends. I devoured You Are Fatally Invited in one night! A pitch-perfect debut.

Kellye Garrett, award winning author of Missing White Woman

This playful take on classic crime and horror tropes is a joy to read. Ande Pliego's writing is sharp and stylish and it's a compulsive ride.

Deliciously twisted, You Are Fatally Invited is perfect for thriller fans hungry for a fresh spin on a locked room murder mystery. This is one writer retreat I'd be happy to miss!

Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child

This book was absolutely delicious! A remote island, a cast who dreams up death for a living, and plenty of guilt to go around: You Are Fatally Invited has concocted the perfect recipe for murderous mayhem, and I couldn't put it down. Playfully twisted, You Are Fatally Invited will keep you guessing until the last page!

Agatha Christie meets Knives Out in this intricately plotted and compelling thriller which will have you racing through the pages to find out what happened. A superb debut from an author to watch. One of the best books I've read all year.

Ande Pliego’s You Are Fatally Invited is a murderously fun thriller, full of dark games and trope-fueled puzzles, all set on a private island where a group of authors think they’ve been invited for a writing retreat, but in reality, must solve their own series of murder mysteries if they hope to survive. A clever, tightly plotted story with cunning characters and astonishing twists, this is the most intriguing locked room thriller I’ve read yet!

Jessica Payne, bestselling author of Make Me Disappear & Never Trust the Husband.

A darkly glittering gem of a book! Enthralling and deliciously clever, You Are Fatally Invited pays homage to the best mystery tropes while also smartly upending them. Pliego’s writing is fresh, addictive, and razor-sharp. This book is a dark love letter to mysteries and their readers, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

Emily Bain Murphy, author of Enchanted Hill

It’s a great read but one that I stupidly chose to devour in the dark at night. Do not read this book in the dark at night!

The Host 
Legendary mystery author J. R. Alastor’s books are sold all over the world, but no one knows his real name. After years hiding in the shadows, he has sent out six invitations to an exclusive murder mystery retreat on his private island. 
 
The Players 
The six bestselling thriller writers accept their invitations without question – it’s an opportunity any author would kill for. 
 
The Game 
What should have been a week of fun takes a sinister turn when one guest is found dead, and the others find themselves in the midst of a nightmare drawn from Alastor’s dark imagination. They may have written thrillers – but now they must survive one...

Ande Pliego

Praise for You Are Fatally Invited

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre.
You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

When you trap a group of mystery authors on a secluded island, the result is wickedly delightful mayhem! It’s Agatha Christie on steroids.

Clever, funny and devilishly twisty, You Are Fatally Invited is a must-read from an exciting debut author.

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre.
You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

When you trap a group of mystery authors on a secluded island, the result is wickedly delightful mayhem! It’s Agatha Christie on steroids.

Clever, funny and devilishly twisty, You Are Fatally Invited is a must-read from an exciting debut author.

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre.
You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

When you trap a group of mystery authors on a secluded island, the result is wickedly delightful mayhem! It’s Agatha Christie on steroids.

Clever, funny and devilishly twisty, You Are Fatally Invited is a must-read from an exciting debut author.

Books by Ande Pliego

Articles featuring Ande Pliego

Read an extract from The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

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Praise for You Are Fatally Invited

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre. You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

When you trap a group of mystery authors on a secluded island, the result is wickedly delightful mayhem! It’s Agatha Christie on steroids.

Clever, funny and devilishly twisty, You Are Fatally Invited is a must-read from an exciting debut author.

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre. You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

When you trap a group of mystery authors on a secluded island, the result is wickedly delightful mayhem! It’s Agatha Christie on steroids.

Clever, funny and devilishly twisty, You Are Fatally Invited is a must-read from an exciting debut author.

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre. You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

When you trap a group of mystery authors on a secluded island, the result is wickedly delightful mayhem! It’s Agatha Christie on steroids.

Clever, funny and devilishly twisty, You Are Fatally Invited is a must-read from an exciting debut author.

Books by Ande Pliego

Articles featuring Ande Pliego

Read an extract from The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre.
You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre.
You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

Ande Pliego plays smartly with the often-implausible tropes of the suspense genre.
You Are Fatally Invited works most effectively as a homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.