Having read In My Dreams I Hold A Knife and The Last Housewife, of course I jumped at the chance to read Midnight Is the Darkest Hour. Ashley writes a really good mystery, but also marks it dark. I glanced at the synopsis and literally that was it for me.

Midnight Is The Darkest Hour is a book that caused me frustration (Against Ruth), anguish (With Ever) and so much hate that I can't put it into words. I want to tell you why, but no spoilers here. This is a story of growth, love, romance, family, a small community, fear and above all religion. But there is also a mystery and this book is clever. Why you ask? For as many times I wanted to scream at Ruth I also was invested in her. The ending was... I can't even tell you. Was I satisfied? No. But...

Upon finishing this book I almost wanted to give it 3 stars, just for the author leaving the ending like that and knowing there wouldn't be a follow up. I can't say more as I will NEVER give spoilers. However, if you read 'A conversation with the author' at the end of the book you will see why Ashley left it there and upon reading that I realised... I think I prefer it that way. I just hope others read that so they feel the same. I'm left feeling a lot of pent up emotions on that last chapter. I knew what was coming, yet still I feel like this inside.

This is a good story, I don't think the mystery is as strong say as 'In My Dreams I Hold A Knife' but there's something about this one that makes it as good. I did work out somethings early on, but it didn't spoil anything. The time jumps were smooth which was a bonus! Maybe it's the old fangirl in me and Twilight? Maybe it's Ever? I can't even tell you. But this is a solid 4 stars. Namely as it's how it's left me feeling and it takes a lot for me to come out of a book feeling like this as I write this review. This isn't like Ashley's other books, but it is on par with them. Please if you've read this book and have not read the authors conversation at the end, go back and read it. The ending then makes more sense.

This ARC was kindly gifted in exchange of an honest review.

Wow. I just finished reading this and I'm pretty speechless. The ending just made me very like HUH? 🤣. This is my first Ashley Winstead book and I've heard great things about her. I'm happy I got to read this as it's so different to other thrillers. It's uncomfortable and unsettling at times but also has this gothic vibe even though a lot of religion is involved. I love Ruth and Evers friendship and all the Twilight references!
I hated a few characters like I should have because they were just awful lol. I loved the darkness at times and confessions. I did feel like at times it felt too slow but I still enjoyed it!

I am giving this book 4.25 stars.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It really started out with a bang, the first paragraph was such an attention grabber referring to a skull found in a swamp; from that moment on I was pretty much fully immersed in the story.

I did find myself a bit overwhelmed with the different aspects of religion and spiritualism, there was a lot going on, but it is fairly obvious just how important these aspects are to the story and how they impacted each and every character and their development in this story. I think it can be a very touchy subject, especially within this story of how the god-fearing preacher and his followers are perceived in a negative light - but it really shows how people are blinded by power and their greed can take control.

It may be a silly thing to pick up on but I was really enjoying the author's use of descriptive words throughout. It was almost like everything was referred back to something dark and scary e.g 'A temporary stay from the guillotine drop of my news.' There were so many other words; menacing, feral, trapped, feral etc. It just really made the thought of 'This is going to be a dark story' really stick in my head from the get go, as well as really creating a dark atmospheric feel and visualisations.

I also need to mention the fact that this is the second book in a row I've read that has heavy references to Twilight and I'm so here for it. I love to see it getting positive recognition - it's sad that some people are made to feel ashamed for enjoying it.

'Midnight Ruth was my boldest self, too precious for sunlight.' - putting this here because it was one of my favourite quotes.

Thank you for the free copy, it was very much an anticipated read for me and it did not disappoint.

#MidnightIsTheDarkestHour #NetGalley
Awesome thriller.
In her small hometown, librarian Ruth Cornier has always felt like an outsider, even as her beloved father rains fire-and-brimstone warnings from the pulpit at Holy Fire Baptist. Unfortunately for Ruth, the only things the townspeople fear more than the God and the Devil are the myths that haunt the area, like the story of the Low Man, a vampiric figure said to steal into sinners' bedrooms and kill them on moonless nights. When a skull is found deep in the swamp next to mysterious carved symbols, Bottom Springs is thrown into uproar—and Ruth realizes only she and Everett, an old friend with a dark past, have the power to comb the town's secret underbelly in search of true evil.
If you loved A Flicker In The Dark then you're in for a ride.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries - Head Of Zeus for giving me an advance copy.

A look at how love, religion, fanatics and family affect lives. What it feels like to be a young girl who's life is driven by her religious fanatical parents. The hope given to Ruth by her best friend Ever.
Will they survive and conquer together?

In a small Louisiana town two outcasts are key to finding a killer. Ruth, the preacher’s daughter is quiet and does not fit in with the Christian community, preferring to spend her time reading. Everett comes from the opposite end of the spectrum - the son of the devil, which makes their close friendship unusual.

Slowly the layers are peeled back and secrets are revealed. The story takes a lot of dark turns, hence the trigger warnings at the start of the book. I enjoyed seeing the friendship between the central characters grow and their experiences of living within a southern state, religious cult. Although I found the plot of the book interesting, and there were definitely a few positives, I found I didn’t fully connect with the story or the writing style. I found that it read more as a young adult thriller and as someone who has never got that in to Twilight, I found the many references a bit off putting. I am glad I have read this book however, as I have seen a lot of hype around this author and although it wasn’t fully for me at this moment in time, I would definitely give another one of hers a go. I can definitely see this being a big hit! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up

I’ve been wanting to read a book by this author for a while and she’s acquired a new fan, what a book!

In Bottom Springs, South Louisiana, Pastor James Cornier holds these “God-fearing“ folks in the palm of his hand with his old school fire and brimstone preaching. His daughter Ruth, however, is a quiet outsider with a few friends but a closeness to fellow outsider Everett Duncan, the pair are united by secrets. When human remains are found in Starry Swamp it unleashes danger but also myths and legends especially of The Low Man. This is just the start of the darkness and evil that is to come.

I love how this story unfolds and what emerges sure is ugly. It’s a sort of seeker of justice novel where a “Bonnie“ meets “Clyde“, infused with elements of Twilight, one of Ruth’s favourite books, combined with an Old Testament biblical tale. It’s clever and multi layered with a setting that perfectly matches the events. Bottom Springs is a terrible place, it has a veneer of godliness, but it’s the narrow-minded, blindness of faith kind and hypocrisy doesn’t quite cover it. Reverend Cornier and his unholy alliance of cronies stride like giant Colossus wielding such power they create a scary climate of fear. His portrayal is startlingly good and you are able to see him in all his horrifying glory. Add in mediaeval attitudes and the nightmarish legends of The Low Man and you have a tinderbox scenario. Southern Louisiana lends itself to just the right atmosphere too. Its spooky, ghostly, creepy and a sort of swampy, evil, Grimms fairytale emerges. It’s tension fuelled and full of suspense, the hold your breath kind. It’s twisted and twisty right from the start, you expect certain things to happen but you’re constantly being surprised and tested. The levels of danger build and build and you’re just waiting for it to erupt into heaven knows what, except it won’t be heavenly.

What of Ruth and Everett? I love these two and I love their story, which is told in a nonlinear format which works so well allowing you to grow in understanding of their bond. Their friendship and their survival in the face of such darkness is emotional in places as what they confront is so unjust.
They are righters of wrongs though not necessarily following the path of the righteous. The ending is superb.

This is a very darkly different immersive and utterly compelling mystery/thriller with a few elements of horror. I loved it.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Aria and Aries for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Another sizzling instalment by the author!

Rush Cornier is a librarian, living in the town of Bottom Springs and while her father is the pastor and holds significant power in the town, Ruth feels like an outsider. It doesn't help that she has befriended the man that the entire town consider an outcast, Everett Duncan.

One day, when the sheriff discovers a skull next to the swamp with carved symbols next to it, the town is in an uproar and the fictional legend of the Low Man, a figure that kills sinners, continues to swirl. But Ruth knows only too well that people aren't just good or evil, sometimes good people do bad things.

I did not expect the twists in this one and there were a handful that genuinely took me by surprise, which I always love! The pace was perfect and the author really knows how to create the suspense you need to keep the reader hooked. 4.5*
Dark and twisted, this was another one I thoroughly enjoyed.

The first book I've read by this author, I've been eager to try her books after seeing all the praise for her other books.

I went in blind, it's a a small town secrets mystery, set in the Louisiana swamplands. I was geared up for this after recently reading Jess Lourey's small town secrets books, and Anne Frasier's Savannah, Georgia set Elise Sandberg series.

Ruth is the preacher's daughter, Everett the son of the town drunk. Both outsiders, from opposite sides of the town's moral compass. It's the story of Ruth and Everett finding their way, coming of age, surviving, fighting back and investigating the secrets in the community, the church and the rumours of the occult.

It's dark, there's a list of trigger warnings. It's vividly atmospheric, hot and sticky humidity, there's wildlife and weather.

It's deep, dark and detailed, not the fastest book, but it held me transfixed. There's a lot going on, hidden secrets and a complexity in the relationships.

A book to really sink into and enjoy. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries, Head Of Zeus

Although the initial half of the book felt rather slow for my taste, I must acknowledge that this deliberate pacing didn't detract from the overall narrative after recognizing the essential groundwork required for the later developments. Therefore, this work truly stands out as one of the most remarkable literary experiences I've encountered from Ashley's repertoire so far.

Her prose possesses an inherent fluidity that effortlessly carries the reader along in this mystic story. The interplay of religious and occult themes within the narrative, juxtaposed against a backdrop of both horror and romance, is executed in a manner that is refreshingly innovative.
I was also particularly delighted by the nods to the Twilight series, which still holds a cherished place as a comfort watch in my heart, even after all these years. These references seemed to underscore a poignant message of the protagonist's yearning for escapism and love throughout the narrative.

Within the pages of this novel, a myriad of justice forms emerge, spanning from the tenets of the law to the principles of faith, even encompassing the nuanced ethical choices one makes in dire circumstances. The lens through which Ruth experiences this tapestry of justice is intriguing, for she finds herself ensnared by her personal brand of retribution, all within an environment where true justice remains scarce.

Winstead deftly interlaces moral and religious convictions into the very fabric of her narrative, leading one to initially perceive her presentation as starkly binary, with clear demarcations of right and wrong; However, it's in the experiences of Ruth and Everett that the authentic complexity of the narrative emerges. A spectrum of intricacies that can occasionally present the storyline as quite challenging. Ruth endeavors to liberate herself from the constraints that ensnare her, navigating a terrain that seems straightforward yet is laden with profound intricacies. Moving beyond the simple recognition of these nuances and fully embracing them poses a formidable endeavor, especially when one's upbringing is firmly anchored in specific beliefs.

The narrative showcases an array of characters, each embodying distinct shades of justice representation. There are those stalwartly upholding moral rectitude, others steeped in corruption, and yet some who blindly surrender to the prevailing norms. Amidst this array stands individuals like Ruth and Everett, who fashion their unique constructs of law and order, ones that defy the predefined scripts assigned to them.

The conclusion is likely to evoke different reactions among readers, yet personally, I found it to be precisely the kind of ending I relish. What I truly appreciate was the enriching discussions the author includes at the conclusion of the book, delving deeper into the underlying themes and implications woven throughout the narrative.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Ashley Winstead has quickly become one of my favourite authors and the way she writes is incredible. I love both her thrillers and romance books so in my eyes she can do it all! This book is a very different tone to her previous thrillers but I love that she can tackle completely different topics in each of her books making them all so unique. Religion and community play a big part in this book and it may not be for everyone but I really enjoyed it. I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling anything but I’m not the biggest fan of ambiguous endings so this would be the only thing I could critique but she even covers her reasons for doing this in the conversation with the author section.

Is it my favourite Ashley Winstead book? No. Would I recommend you read it? Absolutely, it’s a banger.

This was my first book by Ashley Winstead and I’m completely blown away by just how good it was. The story I felt started slowly but then drew me in and I became totally engrossed in the life of Ruth the main character who is the daughter of the towns pastor. The book is so many things and far too hard to describe, the feelings of claustrophobia is overwhelming, the evil and menace is profound, the plot line unique and the writing sublime making it for me a completely different and unexpected reading experience.
I’m not going to say more as this is one of those reads where is better to just go in blind and not knowing what to expect because it sure blew my mind and I now plan to read all the authors previous books so many many thanks to Ashley Winstead for an amazing read.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Aria and Aries, Head of Zeus for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow, where to start! This book has cemented Ashely Winstead as a must read author for me - I'll be inhailing everything she puts out 😅 I saw that she'd shared the NetGalley ad for this on her story and I applied right away. I read The Boyfriend Candidate as an eARC and loved it, so I had high hopes for this and I was not disappointed! I couldn't put this down once I started and ended up binging it in a day! I can't wait to get a physical copy when it's released in October 📖

This book is a dark mystery thriller with a lot of religous and occualt theming throughout, mixed with a splash of horror and romance. It's set in a small southern community that feels like it's gripped by a satanic panic. We follow Ruth, our MFC, who is the daughter of the big preacher in the town, and Everett, known as the "devil's son". The book is set in both the present day, and flashbacks to a few years back to gain context - this is done really well and it's always very clear which time period you're in 👻

We see Ruth try to live up to her father's high expectations of being a devout Christian, which she struggles with as she tries to find herself. Ruth becomes good friends with Everett who comes from a very different background and gives off a "lives on the wrong side of the tracks" vibe. We get to see their close friendship blosum as they bond over their love for literature 📚

A skull is discovered in the swamp, followed by another, which leads the local police into hunting a serial killer. This leads Ruth and Everitt to delve into the mysteries of the town. There's SO much more I want to say, but I'll end up in spoiler teritory and you really want to go into this book with no spoilers to get the full effect!

I love the nods to Twilight that we see throughout the book, the nostalgia that gave me was amazing - I'm considering a reread 🙈 I also got some Riverdale vibes (mainly from the small town southern setting I think) - but good Riverdale, before it went a bit off the rails 😅

Ashley's writing is phenominal, it's amazing how she manages to take such a dark, complex topic, and make it so enjoyable. It blows my mind how she can deliver such outstanding books across multiple genres. I really recommend reading this book when it comes out on 3rd October 2023 📅

The book is dark and there are trigger warnings listed, so definitely check these out before jumping in.

Huge thank you to @netgalley and @headofzeus for my ARC in exchange for my honest review 🖤

My first Ashley Winstead. What an author and what a ride. I thoroughly enjoyed this and am excited to read her backlist. This plot is utterly amazing and the setting is very atmospheric and I loved every single minute.

Ashley Winstead knocks it out of the park with her newest novel showing the dark side of religion, when faith borders on obsession and there is danger everywhere. Lovers this amazing story!

winstead will forever be my fave thriller author and she’s nailed it once again. i am truly obsessed with the vibes & the story x