About the Book
From the internationally bestselling author of The Nanny and What She Knew comes a thrilling dark academic tale of murder, obsession and ruthless ambition, set in remote St Andrews, Scotland.
A deadly rivalry.
A chilling secret.
One woman who can decipher the truth.
On a frigid, windswept day in Scotland's Western Isles, Eleanor Bruton's body is discovered on the shore. To her family Eleanor was an ordinary middle-aged woman. She did flower arrangements and plumped kneeler cushions at church. Little did they know she was harboring a dark and all-consuming secret. A scrap of fraying embroidery that seems worthless at first glance.
For over a century, two rival organizations of women have gone to deadly lengths to secure the valuable artifact in the hopes of finding the original medieval manuscript from which it was torn. The Order of St. Katherine: devoted to the belief that women must pull strings in the shadows to exercise control. And the Fellowship of the Larks, determined to amass as many overt positions of power for women as possible...so long as their methods of doing so never come to light.
When Dr. Anya Brown garners international attention for her translation of the cryptic Folio 9, she is handpicked by Diana Cornish, a professor and high-ranking member of the Fellowship, to join the exclusive Institute of Manuscript Studies in St. Andrews. Unbeknownst to Anya she's been recruited at great personal danger to translate ancient texts that the Fellowship believes critical to their mission.
Meanwhile at Scotland Yard, Detective Constable Clio Spicer begins a private investigation into the death of Eleanor Bruton.
As all the women grow further entangled in this ancient web, circumstances spin wildly out of control and their lives may be in grave danger.
Perfect for fans of Alex Michaelides and Ruth Ware, The Burning Library is the story of a centuries-old secret set to divide and consume those who seek to unearth it.
About the Author :
Gilly Macmillan is the internationally bestselling author of nine novels including The Manor House, The Perfect Girl, The Nanny, and The Long Weekend. She lives in Bristol, England.
Review :
"Dr. Anya Brown becomes an unwitting pawn between two secretive, warring, and dangerous factions of women in search of a priceless medieval manuscript. Fresh, fun, and full of thrills, The Burning Library is dark academia with a sly, feminist twist--deliciously entertaining! Highly recommended!" -- Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author
"Gilly Macmillan takes the thriller genre to a whole new level with The Burning Library, a beautifully-written story of dark obsession and murderous ambition. Outstanding." -- B.A. Paris, New York Times bestselling author
"Macmillan's (The Manor House) compelling blend of academic intrigue, historical mystery, and high-stakes suspense makes this a must-read for fans of Kate Morton and Elizabeth Kostova." -- Library Journal
"What a captivating book! Sophisticated, smart, and absolutely riveting. Two centuries-old secret societies battle to find a powerful manuscript--instantly a terrific idea. But the supremely talented Gilly Macmillian has created a total immersion thriller--relentlessly simmering, disturbingly plausible, and demanding you to turn the page. This is so much fun! But fair warning: You will never look at the world--or women--the same way again. Book clubs will now have their new favorite novel--this is a complete triumph of storytelling." -- Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today Bestselling Author
"I inhaled this fast-paced, clever thriller! A race against time...where every revelation comes with a price and nobody can be trusted." -- Claire Douglas
"The newest novel from the author of The Nanny (2019) and The Long Weekend (2022) is something a bit different: a contemporary thriller with origins rooted centuries in the past...The stakes are incredibly high...Although not a James Rollins-style action-adventure yarn, the book could catch on with historical mystery readers, and Macmillan's fans will love it." -- Booklist
"A fast-paced thriller sure to be the hottest read this year!" -- Julia Chapman
"Macmillan writes with verve and emotional acuity...the final meal is rich and satisfying." -- New York Times Book Review on The Long Weekend
"On a private peninsula on the border of Wales, a lottery winner builds a glass house...The neighbors aren't quite what they seem--but then nobody and nothing is in this gripping new thriller by Gilly Macmillan--the mistress of classy suspense." -- Shari Lapena, internationally bestselling author on The Manor House
"A standout psychological thriller...Ms. Macmillan skillfully keeps all her story's plates spinning in the air until they come crashing down in a smashing finale." -- Wall Street Journal on The Manor House
"Macmillan is such a good writer that we're constantly guessing, believing one thing and then another, right up until the book's final moments. A treat for the author's fans, and, for those who are new to her, a wonderful introduction to this fine writer." -- Booklist on The Manor House
"Remarkably complex.... [The Manor House] dissects everything from family to friendship, from snobbery to ruthless power.... In the talented hands of Gilly Macmillan, the novel is also a striking, cautionary tale about the intrinsic dangers of 'being played.'" -- Anniston Star
"Huge praise for The Manor House. Great characters and a clever plot make for a highly engaging read. Storytelling at its best!" -- B. A. Paris, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The Therapist
"There aren't many books that deliver a twist I didn't see coming. But this was one of them! A one-sit read! Creepy, compelling and superbly plotted!" -- Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium and The Retreat, on The Manor House
"Perhaps [Gilly Macmillan's] most confounding and rewarding psychological thriller yet." -- Bookreporter on The Manor House
"In addition to a whodunit, The Manor House is a con game. There is a lovely little twisted ending that makes this a satisfying mystery." -- Denver Post
"The Manor House is a thrill ride with twists and turns you could never see coming. Be transported, but never become too complacent. With this book, you never know who to trust." -- Novelsalive
"An utterly readable tale of greed, avarice, and revenge." -- The Southern Bookseller Review on The Manor House
"Macmillan uses multiple shifts of time and perspective to propel this unpredictable story; your attention won't flag for a minute, thanks to her nimble inventions, and the double twist at the end is a killer." -- Airmail on The Manor House
"Fast-paced and incredibly compelling . . . this book will not let you put it down." -- Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author, on The Long Weekend
"The Long Weekend is like a chess game with multiple layers and complex characters, all leading to a shocking, explosive ending. Brilliantly plotted, with a crisp pace and constant surprises. Once again, Gilly Macmillan has exceeded my expectations."
-- Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling author
"Well-crafted thriller . . . Macmillan effectively shifts perspectives in this twisty, complicated puzzle. Readers will enjoy putting together all the pieces." -- Publishers Weekly on The Long Weekend
"A real corker. It's fascinating to watch the three friends' relationships crumble as they try to figure out whose husband is being targeted and why....Guaranteed to keep readers on the edges of their seats." -- Booklist on The Long Weekend
"Twisty, dark, and packs a punch. . . . Gripping and genuinely nail-biting." -- Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium, on The Long Weekend
"Beautifully written and wonderfully atmospheric, The Long Weekend is an unputdownable rollercoaster of a read." -- B.A. Paris, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors, on The Long Weekend
"The Long Weekend is exactly the kind of book I love--a chilling, creepy, corkscrew-twisty descent of a thrill ride that left me breathlessly flipping the pages long into the night. Gilly Macmillan's writing elevates the art of creating a suspenseful character study. I'll read whatever she writes!" -- Wanda M. Morris, author of All Her Little Secrets, on The Long Weekend
"I loved everything about this book--the fascinatingly flawed characters, the dark humor, the jaw-dropping twists . . . This is suspense at its absolute best, and I devoured every page." -- Alison Gaylin, Edgar Award-winning author of The Collective, on The Long Weekend
"Deliciously disturbing and terrifyingly twisted, The Long Weekend is a stunning thriller about jealousy, obsession, secrets, and trauma that threaten to destroy a tight-knit group of close friends. Gilly Macmillan has created a haunting setting that is as frightening as the horror awaiting the characters, and her brilliant pacing will keep you on edge from the first page to the last. A riveting read!" -- Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge, on The Long Weekend
