The Burning Library

Hardback Published on: 29/01/2026
Price: £18.99
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Bookseller Reviews

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The Burning Library
Fast-paced and Thrilling Read
If you are looking for a fast-paced, gripping thriller for a holiday read look no further. This is the Da Vinci Code for feminists. Two secrets societies (... READ MORE
Sally, Richmond
The Burning Library
Libraries, ancient manuscripts and a thriller……
The Burning Library had everything I loved in one book. Libraries, ancient manuscripts, puzzles, history and academia all woven within a gripping, addictiv... READ MORE
Emma at Waterstones Blackburn

Synopsis

'An exciting and multi-layered academic thriller that reads with the pace and complexity of a feminist The Da Vinci Code'
Irish Independent

'A race against time through ancient manuscripts where every revelation comes with a price'
Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The New Neighbours
_______________________________
For over a century two rival organisations of women have gone to deadly lengths to secure a precious scrap of fraying embroidery in the hopes of finding the original medieval manuscript from which it was torn.

There's the Order of St Katherine: devoted to the belief that women must pull strings in the shadows in order to exercise covert control. And the Fellowship of the Larks: determined to amass as many overt positions of power for women as possible . . . while making sure their methods never come to light.

When trailblazing paleographer Dr Anya Brown is headhunted by the exclusive Institute of Manuscript Studies at St Andrews, she's unaware that she is in grave danger - her new employers are the Larks, and they'll stop at nothing to achieve their mission.

As Dr Brown is drawn deeper into this ancient web, events spiral beyond her control. To uncover the truth, and escape with her life, she must summon all her expertise to decipher a series of messages that have lain hidden for centuries.

An exhilarating and page-turning race against time, The Burning Library whisks you from the hallowed cloisters of Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews to the stunning medieval Italian city of Verona.
_______________________________

'Blending academia, history and danger, this high-stakes thriller will have your heart pounding'
Woman & Home

'Macmillan is every bit as thrilling a writer as Dan Brown'
Daily Mail

Publisher information

  • Publisher: John Murray Press
  • ISBN: 9781399828437
  • Number of pages: 304
  • Dimensions: 236 x 162 x 32 mm
  • Weight: 500g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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The Burning Library
Watch out Dan Brown
For over 100 years the ‘Order of St Katherine’ and the ‘Fellowship of the Larks’ have gone to drastic, sometimes deadly lengths in their search for the ‘Bo... READ MORE
Stacey Sewell
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Burning Library
Dark and exciting
I am all for hidden books with lost knowledge and secret societies running the show while looking for said book. And this story certainly has it all. It wa... READ MORE
K. Bickmore
The Burning Library
A daring dark academia adventure
When Dr Anya Brown is headhunted by the Institute of Manuscript Studies at St Andrews, she has no idea that she has become embroiled in an age-old battle b... READ MORE
Jade Boyd
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Burning Library
Not the right person for this story
The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan The Order of St Katherine (Kats), devoted to the belief that women must pull strings in the shadows to exercise c... READ MORE
marilyn wiese
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Burning Library
Academia and Secret Society!
This is nothing like any other Gilly MacMillan book I have read. A modern story but it felt like a historical novel too. Ideal for readers who like aca... READ MORE
Susan  Frances
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Burning Library
The Burning Library
We start with the death of a woman. Eleanor Bruton's body is found on the windswept shoreline of the Hebrides. On the face of things, she was thought to be... READ MORE
Ashrae
The Burning Library
The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillian
The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan is the story of dark academia with tales of murder, obsession and ruthless ambition set in St Andrews, Scotland. The... READ MORE
Christine Rennie
The Burning Library
Complex and entertaining dark academia mystery
A woman’s body is found on the shore of a remote Hebridean island. She had been hiding a fragment of valuable embroidered material and it’s still missing.... READ MORE
Lynda’s Book Reviews
The Burning Library
Four stars!
The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan is an intelligent and atmospheric book that blends mystery, history and feminism into a story of power, secrecy and ... READ MORE
The Secret Book Review
The Burning Library
This is an intriguing fast paced novel
The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan is a very different read to the usual psychological thrillers I normally read, More of a Di Vinci Code novel with a ... READ MORE
Gary Wilkes
The Burning Library
Exciting read
I love the premise of this book - 2 mysterious, secretive, all-female groups vie for a prize that will make one supreme. There’s a lot at stake and Anya fi... READ MORE
Gee Wood
The Burning Library
The intrigue builds as the complex plot unfolds
Drawn together by strong ideological principles, two diametrically opposed secret groups of very powerful and influential women are seeking to interpret an... READ MORE
Anne T
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Burning Library
Thrilling
Thank you NetGalley and John Murray Press | Baskerville for this eCopy to review. The Burning Library is a richly layered dark‑academia thriller filled ... READ MORE
Bzz Kolla
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Burning Library
Intriguing.
THE BURNING LIBRARY - An absolutely mesmerizing story filled with intriguing story lines, interesting characters, and historical bits woven into a tapestry... READ MORE
Texas
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Burning Library
Academia meets conspiracy thriller
The Burning Library is a twisty, academia-infused mystery that blends manuscripts, decoding puzzles, and secret societies with a thriller edge. The setup i... READ MORE
Eleni Gogos
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.