Special thanks to Netgalley and Ashley Winstead for early access for MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR! I am such a big fan of Ashley Winstead, and each of her thrillers is more mindboggling and insane than the last! Unfortunately, this book was not as gripping as her last. I wanted more murder, more spooky, more religious upheaval! Still good, but not quite what I was hoping for.

Loved this thriller where a young woman is still battling against the influence of her preacher father, a real fire and brimstone elder. The town holds numerous secrets and when a skull is found in the swamp Ruth has to fight to save the person she loves as suspicion falls on those around her.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

Wow this book truly was a work of art! 🤯 From the writing style, to the story and the characters, @ashleywinsteadbooks created a universe that was eerie, dark, and complex that had me captivated from page 1! The imagery, poetic writing and atmospheric storytelling made this book truly something special.

What I loved most about this book is how it makes the reader dive deeper into the meaning behind the story. You’re forced to analyze more than just the words on the page and question any previous notions you have about evil, religion and the occult. The touch of romance in this book fit in perfectly with the storyline. Typically I don’t prefer romances in thrillers but this one was necessary for the overall plot. I found myself rooting for Ruth and Everett despite the dark secrets that haunted them.

Definitely more of a slow burn but the pacing is crucial for the intent of the story. But hold on tight, because the ending will have you questioning everything you thought you knew. The last scene my jaw was on the floor and it’s still one I analyze to this day! 🫶🏻 A true masterpiece from Ashley and one you’re going to want to get your hands on for spooky season! 🖤

Thank you so much to @ashleywinsteadbooks and @netgalley for an eARC of this book!

Ruth is the preacher’s daughter and loves to sneak and hide books from the town library. Her favorite series is the Twilight Saga. If you did not read this book, you may not get the references that were used multiple times.
Ruth is lustful teenager and finds herself dreaming of the new young man attending her daddy’s church. She goes out with him and he has intentions beyond her experience. To her rescue is Everett, a classmate that is the outcast and to often has unexplained bruises.
This is a gothic thriller, with town secrets and forbidden desires. When a skull is found in the swamp, Ruth has to come to terms with her past. As she tries to break free from her over controlling dad, she becomes more entangled in events of self discovery, fighting social norms, reality, and myth.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC reading exchange for my review.

I read the audiobook version of this title, and I found it hard to get through. It wasn't because of the story, but it was because of the narrator. She was horrible. If you're reading a story, please pronounce words correctly. Also, if you are supposed to be in Louisiana, you would have an accent. You would also pronounce New Orleans as Na-lins, not New Or-leens. Painful narrator aside, I did like the story. The plot was really suspenseful and mysterious. The story revolves around a small, very religious town. The pastor's daughter, Ruth, is attacked and someone comes to her rescue. He's the "bad boy" of the town named Everett (Ever). Something fishy is going on in this town. Bodies are found in the swamp, men die mysteriously, and the leaders of the town are acting shady. Ruth and Ever work together to get to the bottom of it. The ending sucked and, please, no more Twilight references!

Incredible literary thriller with southern gothic vibes. Fans of True Detective, Sharp Objects and gripping mystery will love.

(To be totally transparent, I finished this book in late October 2023 and am just now getting around to writing a review. While my thoughts aren't exactly "fresh" in my mind, I do remember quite a bit about what worked for me and what didn't.)

3.5 stars. Midnight is the Darkest Hour was a book that I was really looking forward to! The Southern gothic thriller vibes drew me in and had me excited to read my first Ashley Winstead book. According to my Goodreads, I started the book at the end of August and finished in at the end of October; I found myself losing steam on this book pretty frequently. Winstead's writing style was enjoyable and easy to get jump back into after a break, but the storyline felt convoluted and juvenile at times. I won't be putting this at the top of my list(s) to recommend to others, but it wasn't bad. I'll be giving the author's other books a shot! 10/10 stars for the cover design though... loved it!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced reading copy!

~3.5 stars

Engaging and dark, though I found some of the legends to be a bit too many side stories. Ultimately a great thriller for fall reading, though.

CWs: religious fundamentalism, substance abuse, ableism, colonialism, familial violence, sexual violence, child abuse, murder, use of word "c*bal" in association with evil group

I usually enjoy Winstead's books, but this one was a miss for me. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the story line at all.

Midnight Is the Darkest Hour
By Ashley Winstead
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Ashley Winstead is the queen of dark and twisted thrillers and no one can convince me otherwise!

This one has it all. Cult vibes, romance, magic/witchy vibes, murder, action, literally everything. All my twilight girls, this one is for you!!!

Ruth and Everett have been friends for many years. But now these friends find themselves in trouble. The two are keeping a big secret and the truth cannot come to light. If Ruth were to find herself in the middle of a scandal, it would be devastating for many reasons. You see, Ruth is the daughter of fire and brimstone preacher, Pastor James Cornier. But he’s more than a pastor. He’d the one all the people of Bottom Springs, Louisiana look to for leadership. When a skull is found in the swamp, the people of Bottom Springs are desperate for answers. The town has always feared a mysterious man known as the Low Man and with the discovery of the skull, the town is on the hunt for the Low Man who must be the culprit. As for Everett…. Let’s just say he’s definitely not Bottom Springs favorite and they’ve always had suspicions about him. Many think he may be the Low Man. How far will Ruth go to protect her best friend?

Y’all I’m not kidding when I say that the end of this book had my jaw on the floor. Even thinking about the ending days later still leaves me in shock!

This one is definitely heavy and I recommend looking up trigger warnings before starting, but this is a great thriller to add to your TBR!

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I want to start by saying thank you very much for this eARC that was generously provided by the publisher and author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I cannot review this book as I could not get into it and dnf’d it a little before halfway.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

Ashley Winstead's "Midnight is the Darkest Hour" is a captivating gothic thriller that seamlessly blends Southern charm with chilling suspense. Set in the small Louisiana town of Bottom Springs, the story revolves around Ruth Cornier, the preacher's daughter, and Everett, a troubled outcast. Winstead skillfully creates an eerie atmosphere, weaving together elements of folklore, religion, and the supernatural. The Low Man, a vampiric figure said to kill sinners, adds a layer of fear and intrigue to the narrative. The discovery of a skull in the swamp sets off a chain of events that exposes the dark underbelly of the seemingly peaceful town. Ruth and Everett's complex relationship is at the heart of the story. Their shared outsider status draws them together, and their bond deepens as they investigate the town's secrets. Winstead's character development is nuanced, revealing the vulnerabilities and strengths of both protagonists. The plot is well-paced, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. Winstead's prose is evocative, painting vivid pictures of the Louisiana landscape and the oppressive atmosphere of the town. The ending is satisfying, tying up loose ends while leaving room for interpretation. Overall, this is a well-crafted thriller. I enjoyed Winstead's ability to create a sense of dread and her exploration of complex themes make this book a must-read.

I loved Winstead's previous novels, "In My Dreams I Hold A Knife" and "The Last Housewife," but this book didn’t resonate with me. It felt targeted towards a younger audience, perhaps YA, with numerous Twilight references that were off-putting.

The story follows Ruth Cornier, raised in a strict religious household, whose father controls the town with his church. Ruth befriends the outcast Everett, and they vow to stay together forever. When a skull surfaces in the swamp, their secret about a night in the woods is threatened, challenging their fight against the judgmental community, including Ruth's father.

Overall, I was disappointed and couldn't get into this book. I hope Winstead's next work reconnects with me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

It was an okay read that needed more twists and a deeper plot. The pacing at times was slow and hard to get into.

I wanted so badly to love this book as I've adored everything else that Ashley Winstead has written. I thought the concept was creative and the setting totally lent itself to a thriller with cult undertones. The characters were fascinating and layered; no one was innocent and there was an interesting play on the importance of reliance on religion in small towns in the south that I was intrigued by. I do think this would make a really good book club book- there's so much to talk about and I'd love to connect with others to hear their thoughts (especially about the ending)!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had to try think twice before I made it through. I just couldn’t get into the storyline. Ruth was so immature and backward. Some of it seemed so far fetched. I thought it was kind of predictable and I couldn’t really root for any of the characters. Also, the ending was so abrupt and unresolved.