The Burning Library

The Burning Library by internationally bestselling author Gilly Macmillan is a gripping dark academic thriller 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 seemed like an ordinary middle-aged woman—quiet, unassuming, and devoted to simple pursuits. But hidden beneath that ordinary exterior was a dangerous, all-consuming secret tied to a mysterious scrap of embroidery.

For over a century, two rival organizations of women—the Order of St. Katherine and the Fellowship of the Larks—have fought to control a powerful artifact believed to lead to a lost medieval manuscript. When Dr. Anya Brown is recruited to translate cryptic texts at the prestigious Institute of Manuscript Studies, she finds herself caught in a perilous web of ambition, secrecy, and manipulation.

As Detective Constable Clio Spicer investigates Eleanor’s death, the lives of these women intertwine in a high-stakes race for knowledge and power—one that could have deadly consequences for all involved.

"Book clubs will now have their new favorite novel—this is a complete triumph of storytelling." — Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today 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

"A compelling blend of academic intrigue, historical mystery, and high-stakes suspense makes this a must-read." — Library Journal