Member Reviews
It Ends at Midnight is a complex thrilling mystery. It has multiple POV, multiple timelines and a few main stories. It is perfect if you like books that hook you and have you figuring out multiple plot lines at the same time. I loved this book, especially the ending. The author has a masterful way of writing characters that you want to trust but are not sure you can. The setting added a lot to the book as I’ve visited some of the areas and could picture them as I read. Excellent book!!!
3 stars. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. “It Ends at Midnight” by Harriet Tyce was an easy, fast-paced read, with an interesting plot and fascinating, yet unlikable, characters. The one thing that threw me off is the description of the novel didn’t exactly match up with the actual story, as the party/celebration was only featured in the last bit of the book. My suggestion is that this should be updated to accurately reflect the plot. Overall, an enjoyable read.
This psychological thriller is filled with all the characters you love to hate. Two best friends, both manipulative, one going for the job of her dreams and the other finding out time is precious. Their youthful escapades come back to haunt them in adulthood as lies, deceit and murder come crashing down around them.
It Ends at Midnight is an incredibly quick read, told from the points of views of the murdered as they lay dying and the events leading to the crime. The storyline is a bit unbelievable, especially the photos that are uncovered as a quality police unit would've been able to tell they were fake before destroying someones livelihood.
Tyce did build a bit of intrigue and suspense which kept me reading. But overall, the novel fits the quintessential thriller for fans of this genre.
Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the complimentary copy.
Being a fan of legal thrillers, or thrillers in general, I was very happy to get a chance to read this. It begins with a lavish party at a fancy home where two people end up dead before the evening is over. Dark, suspenseful and keeps you gripped!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC!
I really wanted to like this one...but I could see the twist coming within chapters of starting and felt like the ending did not have the BAM I was expecting.
The characters were so unlikable, which now finishing the book, I get was probably the point. I did not like Tess or Sylvie one bit and honestly felt like their friendship was WAY off...I mean, can we even call it a BEST friendship when neither trust each other and have so many secrets. I also feel like small hints throughout the book were given that characters were not who they were said to be (no spoilers).
I received this as a complimentary e-book, so I am not sure if it was just that it was a digital proof, but the formatting was very confusing too...it went from individual POV, to a future timestamp, to potentially alternating POV's - it was honestly just all a little confusing. I feel like the ending left me somewhat confused and questioning why this book tied up the way it did...and also some of the pieces that were thrown it really left me with a big question mark....once (and if) you read it, you will understand some of the scenes where I cringed and thought "why."
There were definitely some TW's in this book, so make sure you take a glance at those!
Who is hanging on the fence outside a building in Edinburgh? The answer won't be known until the end of this twisty novel about Sylvia, a woman on the cusp of achieving her goal of becoming a judge and something that happened when she was a teen. Sylvia has spent her life pushing forward in the law in London, she's just met Gareth, a chef, and she's happy. And then her friend Tess throws a shadow- she's ill and she would like to resolve something with Linda, who went to prison on their testimony many years ago. Sylvia's life begins to unspool and then to spiral as the defendant in a case she's hearing makes accusations but Gareth and Tess are there for her, aren't they? So hard to review without spoilers! This hits multiple topical issues without being trope-y. Know that it's graphic in spots. Yes, Sylvia is unlikable but you will feel for her as she stumbles. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a very good read.
I really wanted to love this. I wanted it to grip me, thrill me, make me hold my breath waiting to see what happened next. Unfortunately none of those things happened. I did, however, end up getting a few pretty good naps since it didn't hold my interest any time I picked it up. The stars are given for .... I don't know. Effort? Participation trophy? The fox and the cameraman?
It Ends at Midnight is a twisty but slow mystery. Sylvie and Tess are old friends who have secrets. Tess is determined to right wrongs from the past, and at a fancy party, those wrongs end in someone dying. There are quite a few twists in this one, and it is amazing how much perspective matters (though that is all I can say without spoilers). I did feel like some parts of the story seemed to repeat themselves and drag on quite a bit, and I was not a huge fan of any of the characters. Yet this did not deter me from reading the entire story to see what happened and what the twists and the ending were! I was surprised to find I was not correct about who ended up murdered.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook for this one in exchange for my honest opinion.
What a dark, twisty psychological thriller! You know right from the beginning how it ends at midnight, but then learning how we get there is quite the ride! I don't want to say too much, because this book is best experienced with no preconceived notions. Sylvie and Tess are quite the interesting characters with a long term friendship, with things that need to be resolved.
"New Year's Eve, when the clock strikes twelve. A lavish party in one of Edinburgh's best postcodes is sent spiralling into chaos when two guests fall tragically from the roof, impaled on the cast iron railings below.
For Tess, it was about more than reuniting with long lost friends. Recently diagnosed with an illness that could be terminal, it was her last chance to make things right. Having grown apart from her husband Marcus, she knew this would be the perfect opportunity to renew their vows, surrounded by everyone they love.
Their time is running out. Tess' closest companion Sylvie knows this better than anyone. She's trying desperately to offer her friend some closure from the guilt that has plagued them both for decades.
But as midnight approaches and the countdown begins, it becomes clear that someone doesn't want a resolution.
They want revenge."
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
If you were someone who grew up loving Fear Street books, this is like a more adult version of one. The friends, a holiday party & revenge gave it those vibes, in a good way!
Our protagonist has to deal with the past coming back to haunt her. Years ago she made a mistake & her best friend wants to drag it all back up again. Tied in with a wedding vow renewal on New Years Eve & it’s a recipe for trouble.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & it was really good. She tied the past & present together very adeptly & the chapters involving the case Sylvie is working on, is apropos to what’s going on her own life. It’s a fast paced domestic mystery that I can honestly recommend reading.
It Ends at Midnight draws you in slowly to this dark psychological thriller that has all you could ask for: murder, secrets, flawed characters, revenge and twists and turns that keep you guessing to the last page.
The story goes back and forth in time from present to past giving subtle clues along the way to what went so very wrong and why there is now two dead people impaled on cast iron railings.
Sylvie and Tess friends for years having been hiding a huge secret and secrets have a way of coming out.
I wavered on who the two dead people would be. I was half right.
This is my first Harriet Tyce book but it wont be my last.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an intriguing page turning read.
This started off strong- I loved coming to know the flawed MC and her aspirations on becoming a judge, but for me the plot lost steam. We know the party is going to end with two people losing their lives at a NYE party, but I lost interest in the middle. This might be better on audio.
Finally, Sylvie feels the timing is right. As a criminal lawyer and a district court judge, she feels her career is doing well. She is ready for the next step – she will finally be in a position to shoot for her dream – becoming a Crown court judge. She just needs to get through her application and interview. All of her friends tell her, she’s got this.
After a win in court, Sylvie heads home to celebrate. She opens her door to heavenly smells. Her sometimes live-in boyfriend/professional chef is in the kitchen cooking. Life couldn’t be better than this! She feels a bit guilty that she hasn’t told her best friend Tess about him yet. She will soon. She vows to tell Tess the next time they get together.
Tess, though, has plans of her own. She takes control of the conversation at lunch almost immediately. Sylvie’s jaw drops at the awful news Tess tells her. Then Tess asks for the impossible and Sylvie can’t believe she thought everything was so wonderful. As Sylvie tries to help Tess, she finds her own life spiraling out of control. She wishes she could disappear, but she needs to be there for her friend. It all explodes one evening in a spectacular fashion and is over by Midnight.
I greatly enjoyed this book. I was a bit confused at the story construction at first, but quickly caught on to the author’s intent. This book reminds me of Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney. The twisty story completely catches the reader off guard and the surprise ending is a real stunner.
This one is a challenge to review. I had a really tough time getting through the story and was a little confused as to the timelines. I felt frustrated with the characters and the decisions they were making. I was screaming at them in my head. However, once I got to about 80% it started to pick up and the story came together and started to make sense. I thought the ending was great. For me, this wasn't a favourite but I definitely think there is an audience for this one.
Wow! My second Harriet Tyce book and it was awesome! I totally love her writing style. This one hooked me early on and never let go. Filled with tension, twists and great reveals. And the characters were fabulous!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book
It Ends at Midnight is gripping and kept me guessing the entire time. It was hard to put it down. It is written in three different times which sometimes draws me away from the story, but Harriet Tyce did a wonderful job and it worked well. I don't want to say too much and give anything away, but it is a tangled web that is slowly unraveled.
I highly recommend It Ends at Midnight! It is one of the best thrillers that I have read.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this dark story about an attorney in England - she has a mysterious lover -
A dark past and is judge on a trial that will bring her past to the forefront - she will be accused of tampering with an underaged witness - meanwhile two bodies are dangling odd a building - builds to a gripping climax
A solid thriller with tons of twists and turns. Kept me guessing until the very end but forgettable after a few weeks. This is a fun, in the moment book but not one that will stick with you.
This one started out feeling very predictable, like it was a combo of various other thrillers I’ve read on the past. I did guess the biggest twist pretty early on, but the ending was still a bit of a surprise. Not the best, not the worst. A quick read, though - which I do enjoy!!
It Ends at Midnight is a suspenseful psychological thriller set in the UK. There are three main things happening in this book:
-we are introduced to our MC Sylvie, who is an ambitious lawyer hoping to soon be appointed as a Crown Court Judge
-some short chapters describe a crime scene from various POVs
-other chapters take us 20 years into the past and tell the story of Sylvie’s school days in Edinburgh and the dark secret she hides
Sylvie feels her hard work is finally beginning to pay off and her life is really coming together. Along with her thriving career, she recently started dating Gareth and things are becoming serious. Then enter her bff Tess, who has some shocking news. If that weren’t enough, Sylvie is residing as the judge in youth court. The case is bringing up dark memories of her own. Everything starts to unravel.
I think there is an audience who will really enjoy this book. It’s a quick and easy read that is well paced. It’s a page turner that keeps you intrigued. I admire the author’s vision and effort. I especially enjoyed the court scenes. Everything was clear and easy to follow.
Overall, for me, this book was okay. I was able to predict the outcome early on, but I kept hoping I was wrong. I didn’t like or trust any of these characters. I felt very little connection to them or any emotions regarding what they were going through. Sylvie’s bff Tess is insufferable. Even given her circumstances, she is a terrible friend. Dialogue doesn’t lie.
There were a couple details that seemed completely random and unrelated, including when the MC considers taking her bf’s used condom out of the trash and ‘inseminating herself.’ Then, nothing of that nature was ever mentioned again. The ending felt a bit rushed and underwhelming. I wasn’t completely convinced or sold on the outcome; it fell a bit flat.
If you’re looking for a quick suspenseful psychological thriller with interesting court cases, this may be the book for you.
Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks and Harriet Tyce for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.