Title: THE LIBRARY SUICIDES
Author: Fflur Dafydd
ISBN: 978 1399 7110 74
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 320
Source: ARC from NetGalley
You can get in. But you can’t get out. Welcome to the library…
Twins Ana and Nan are lost after the death of their mother. Everyone knows who drove Elena, the renowned novelist, to suicide – her long-term literary critic, Eben. But the twins need proof if they’re going to get revenge.
Desperate to clear his name, Eben requests access to Elena’s diaries at the National Library where the twins work, and they see an opportunity. With careful planning, the twins lock down the labyrinthine building, trapping their colleagues, the public and most importantly Eben inside. But as a rogue security guard starts freeing hostages, the plan unravels. And what began as a single-minded act of revenge blooms into a complex unravelling of loyalties, motives and what it is that makes us who we are.
Official Summary
17 November 2022
Reading the blurb of this book had me intrigued, and I had to give it a try despite not knowing the author. Who can resist a book about books? The Library Suicides was not what I was expecting. You need to know that this book is set in a fantasy world – not the present. That is not really my thing, I was left just a little disappointed.
The author creates brilliant characters and I enjoyed the way she fits all the lives together. She gives a lot of detail about the people in the story. The timeline and the setting had me a little confused. Alicia always talks about world-building – something I am not familiar with since I do not read fantasy books. After reading this one I am left understanding the need to clear world-building – this book could have focussed on this just a little more.
When Elena, a well-known novelist commits suicide, the media blames Eben – a critic who has been extremely harsh in his reviews of Elena’s writing. Her twin daughters, Ana and Nan are determined to avenge their mother’s death. When Eben requests access to Elena’s diaries which are held at the library where the twins work, they are given the perfect opportunity. Detailed planning and some manipulation of a security guard and they are ready.
This story left me confused – but that was most likely just me.
Ana and Nan have a rather unusual relationship – they appeared to be completely co-dependent, which I think was caused by a mother convincing these girls that they are each half of the same person. Their bond was way beyond normal twins – if anything I felt it was a little freaky.
Men were not an important part of this world and I often felt sorry for the male characters in this book – the dislike of men was a little exaggerated. However, Eben was a rather pathetic man – when this man wets his pants while doing research, the unrealistic nature of this book was confirmed.
I have no idea if I liked this book or not. The double plot held great potential, yet I was left feeling that some details were missing. There is a good chance that I was just a tad too far out of my comfort zone with this one.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Fflur Dafydd is an award-winning novelist and screenwriter who writes in Welsh and English. She is the creator and writer of all 24 episodes of PARCH, the popular returning BAFTA Cymru nominated series for S4C, and the author of 14 episodes of BAFTA Cymru nominated thrillers 35 awr and 35 Diwrnod, for which she also received a best writer nomination in 2019. To date, she has contributed over 40 hours of primetime drama to S4C and the BBC iPlayer, as well as writing on other shows, such as the Chinese remake of the sci-fi sensation Humans.
She is the writer and co-producer of the feature film Y Llyfrgell/The Library Suicides, based on her own book, which was released in 2016, and won the Best Performance Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival as well as a BAFTA Cymru for best director. She is also the co-director of Film Ffolyn, a film production company she founded with multi-award-winning director Euros Lyn. In 2016 she was longlisted for a BIFA for debut screenwriter and in 2017 received a BAFTA Cymru nomination for best screenwriter. Y Llyfrgell/The Library Suicides has been screened at festivals worldwide and is represented internationally by Media Luna Films.
She is also an award-winning novelist. Her second novel ‘Atyniad’ won the Prose Medal at the 2006 National Eisteddfod and her third novel ‘Y Llyfrgell’ won the Daniel Owen Memorial Prize in 2009. Her short story collection ‘Awr y Locustiaid’ was adapted into a BBC Radio Cymru serial in 2016. Her novel ‘Twenty Thousand Saints’ won the Emerging Writer award at the Hay Festival in 2009, and she became an International Fellow of the Hay Festival in 2013. She has also participated in Iowa University’s world renowned International Writing Program and is a graduate of UEA’s creative writing course.
She is currently writing ‘Yr Amgueddfa’ (The Museum) a new 6 part thriller for S4C and developing an original TV project with Hartswood Films, the makers of Sherlock and Dracula.
Thank you for visiting the blog. If you have read this book, please drop me a line to share your thoughts. Until next time…Happy Reading!
