The Librarian by Valerie Keogh

Valerie Keogh is the author of this unsettling, psychological thriller. The Librarian was published in 2023 by Boldwood Books. The version of the book that I borrowed is in large print, which I prefer personally. It is a handy read for those struggling to read up close. I borrowed this book from my local library, Gorey, in Co Wexford. Most libraries will actually have a Large Print section! Written well, this novel is creepy and although it initially took me about four chapters to get into it, I really did enjoy it immensely when the tension started to build.

Set in London, we step into the shoes of the young woman that is Miss Ava Warrington. She is a librarian in the Tate Museum of Modern Art. It is a job that she both adores and studied and worked extremely hard for. Her job is her life, her everything. A quiet, loner, Ava has her reasons for living as she does in the shadows. But what about what and who is lurking in her dark shadows, unbeknownst to her initially?

This book is written through the eyes of Ava in the first person, and the world and people around her. For me, I prefer books written this way as it’s more intimate and you can really get drawn in closer this way, both to the character and their setting, making you the reader feel like you are actually submerged into their world, their reality and in this case, their nightmare.

The Blurb

“Since that fateful night, I have always kept to myself to myself. Reserved. Private. Alone.

Some people think I am too quiet. That life is passing me by. But I know there is safety in my own company. That no one can hurt me if I don’t let them get too close.

Until the day I meet him. A handsome, charming stranger. A chance for me to take a risk… finally?

Or a man who threatens everything I’ve worked so hard for?

YOU’LL BE SORRY.

And that’s when my whole life begins to fall apart….”

A Compelling Read

Whilst some of the plot twists were partially predictable, this psychological thriller was constructed skilfully, written deftly and is a compelling read.

It’s a good book to munch on some biscuits, to, with a nice hot cuppa to heat you up when the shivers start crawling up and down your spine. So, to sum it up, entertaining, check, well written, check, psychologically thrilling, check. You just need to provide your own tea and biscuits to check that one of the book’s reading check-list!

Valerie Keogh’s style of storytelling is great. It is great in the sense that I could visualise each chapter of the novel as I read them in my head. I haven’t read any of Valerie’s other books, but have requested another from the library.

Valerie has quite a few to choose from, and I will definitely be reading more of her books as I really enjoyed her writing in this novel. This is one of her many stand-alone books. She also has a series of books in the Dublin Murder Mystery series, and these can be read in order as stand-alone, and feature detective Mike West. And then there are the Hudson and Connolly series set in Falmouth, Cornwell in the UK.