I finished this book just in time for its pub date and loved every minute of it. I wouldn't say I liked the author's first book very much but happy that I gave this a try.

One summer, sisters Meg, Esther, and Claire are shown an unusual house with a hall of doors, each opening to different terrors. Since then, their lives have never been the same and it all comes falling when Claire takes her life. This book talks about mental issues and suicide, so be warned. Cleverly written and a page-turner. A must-read for horror fans everywhere.

This is hard one for me to rate. It's a well written story, and I enjoyed the multi genre blend. The story in general is also really good. However, this book was just slow for me and I kept setting it aside, even though I really wanted to know what happned. I also found it slightly hard to keep tack of which sister was which. Could have just been me being distracted by other things and how slow it felt, but these two things together didn't quite work for me.

I would, however check out other books by this author because the writing was really good.

I've been wanting to read a Katrina Monroe book for a while now and I enjoyed this one. I went into this one for the haunted house vibes and the idea of each character having to go through their tailor-made house of horrors. That part and getting to delve into the sisters was fun and interesting to me. It deals a lot with family dynamics, especially between the 3 sisters which tends to be a theme I find hit or miss in horror but this one worked for me. I think it's a very interesting and well-thought out, fresh idea for the horror genre, and if that sounds like something you would like, I would definitely check it out for yourself! I look forward to reading her other books I have on my physical shelf now even more! :)

A huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

Through the Midnight Door by Katrina Monroe hits melancholic tones of familial trauma, strife, and darkness that have have a unique resonance through the spectrum of grief. Following the death of their sister Claire, Meg and Esther attempt to navigate the confounding maze of grief. As we all know, the past has teeth and the art of moving on becomes even more layered with difficulty for the sisters for different reasons. Looming large in their memories and their current emotional state is a worn down house from their childhood, one with ever changing doors, keys, and darkness. A lingering look into desperation for closure, Through the Midnight explores the subgenre of grief horror through familiar ideas and tropes, delivering a sense of profoundly emotional dread.

In many ways, this novel feels like a deep character study of Claire, Meg, and Esther as perspectives and timelines shift quite a bit. Dark family secrets that explain Meg and Esther's current anguish slowly reveal themselves as the plot progresses. We spend a lot of time with Meg and Esther specifically as parts of their childhood haunt them, especially through the house on Hill Street (yes, that does feel a *little* on the nose to me). These are all thematic pieces we have come to recognize in stories marred by grief, and Through the Midnight Door is no exception when it comes to tried and true scenes of emotional horror. Normally this kind of thing is right up my alley. However, these aspects felt slightly repetitive. Make no mistake, this is very much a "me" issue, and not a book issue. Meg and Esther's story is deeply traumatic and details the harshness of healing in the face of intense loss. It's raw and painful, but necessary growth that comes with finding closure, ideas that hit the nail on the head but fell slightly short in execution. I still highly recommend this one if you're looking for a deep examination of familial grief horror.

Claire's death leads sisters Meg and Esther to revisit their past- and the trauma-in this horror/gothic/psychological novel that features a very creepy house. Mental health and abuse loom large for these women who are well drawn and sympathetic characters. Thanks to netgalley for the ArC. For fans of the genre.

Cant give 4.5 stars but i would. Great little horror book. Took me a second to figure out if it was like a demon or a serial killer, which turned out to sorta be both. Great amateur sleuthing, talking about family matters and like what happens after trama and working together to find answers. Read it in one day!

This was a heavy one. It took me awhile to get through it partly because of the dark themes, but also because it was a little slow. For most of the book, I struggled with if certain things were actually happening, or if they were hallucinations. I felt like some of the characters' reactions to what was happening seemed a bit unrealistic. The horror elements were really well written, and I could envision things perfectly. Certain aspects of this tragic story really hit home and I know I'll be thinking about it for days to come.

Through the Midnight Door is such an interesting play on different genres and family dynamics. It's a little bit horror, thriller and fantasy all at once.

This is a story of fears and the way they manifest. I just wish the house and doors were more fully realized. I found myself captivated by them, but at the end unsure of the house, its purpose and what happened to it. Katrina Monroe did familial relationships so well, the sisters and their relationship with each other and their parents was so nuanced. There were so many layers to how they reacted to each other.

Overall - creepy setting, solid horror entry!

I am very unsure how to rate/review this book, ultimately rounding up to a 3. I kept reading, because I felt something special just under the surface of this story - but it just never really came together for me. I couldn't quite figure out why the MCs were doing what they were doing. It kind of made sense in the end, but I feel like we needed more of that information earlier in the story to really get invested. There are important ideas in here about grief and loss but ultimately, it just didn't totally work for me.

4.25 stars - Thank you Sourcebooks and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story is told from the 3 sister’s POVs in past and present timelines. This book’s vibes immediately intrigued me. The setting is creepy and there’s a sense of heaviness and dread throughout. I love the idea of a past coming back in a mysterious way and having to relive a past the characters thought they escaped. I also really enjoyed the sister aspect of this story and the ways the characters interact with each other and begin to come together since growing apart after a traumatic childhood. I thought the weaving of the multiple timelines and character’s perspectives was so well crafted and I didn’t want to put this book down. There wasn’t anything specific that I didn’t enjoy in this book, it just didn’t give me that five star feeling

As a reader who gravitates toward thrillers and supernatural horror, Through the Midnight Door was one I was very excited to read. Sisters Meg, Esther, and Claire Finch visit an abandoned house with impossibly long hallways and mysterious doors. Each door has a key, and each girl chooses a door to walk through. After facing an unimaginable horror behind the doors, we follow the three Finch sisters through multiple POVs and flashbacks to see how their lives have been affected by that house. As a supernatural horror lover, the supernatural elements throughout this story were very well done and had me pretty spooked!

I loved the idea of this mysterious abandoned house with unimaginable terrors within its walls, and I was left wanting more backstory on it. I would have loved if there was more lore about how this house became such a sinister force and how it was able to influence people. I thought the author did a great job of exploring trauma, fear, grief, and guilt through the lens of horror and how all of these things can put a strain on family relationships.

Despite wanting more, I did enjoy this and liked the idea! It had some amazing supernatural elements making this a quick read. This book really gave me Mike Flanagan’s Haunting of Hill House vibes, so if that was something you liked too, then I would absolutely recommend giving this a read!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

When a great horror read blends its story together with hair raising psychological components, it makes for a wild ride, and that is precisely what Katrina Monroe has done with Through the Midnight Door.

The story seems to be influenced by Shirley Jackson's classic, Haunting of Hill House, but takes on a life of its own. Exploring themes of inter-generational trauma and the family bonds between sisters, this story will leave you guessing and trying to determine just what is going on and what will happen next.

"Through the Midnight Door" by Katrina Monroe is a captivating and atmospheric read that will keep you turning the pages. Monroe blends suspense and supernatural elements, crafting a story that is as emotionally impactful as it is thrilling. The characters are well developed, and the plot is engaging, with unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. This novel is a must-read for fans of atmospheric thrillers.

"Three sisters. Three keys. Three unspeakable horrors.

The Finch sisters once spent long, hot summers exploring the dozens of abandoned properties littering their dying town - until they found an impossible home with an endless hall of doors...and three keys left waiting for them. Curious, fearless, they stepped inside their chosen rooms, and experienced horrors they never dared speak of again.

Now, years later, youngest sister Claire has been discovered dead in that old, desiccated house. Haunted by their sister's suicide and the memories of a past they've struggled to forget, Meg and Esther find themselves at bitter odds. As they navigate the tensions of their brittle relationship, they draw unsettling lines between Claire's death, their own haunted memories, and a long-ago loss no one in their family has ever been able to face. With the house once again pulling them ever-closer, Meg and Esther must find the connection between their sister's death and the shadow that has chased them across the years...before the darkness claims them, too.

As emotional as it is haunting, Through the Midnight Door explores the sometimes-fragile bonds of sisterhood and the way deeply rooted trauma can pass from generation to generation."

Trauma, mystery, yeah yeah, this house totally eats people right?

I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but right off the bat, it sucked me in with its "Haunting of Hill House" vibe. If you're a fan of family drama and dark, eerie mysteries with a touch of supernatural horror, then this is the book for you. This novel follows the Finch sisters, Claire, Meg, and Esther, as they are drawn back to the old abandoned house that holds the key to disturbing secrets from their past.

The story begins with the tragic death of the youngest Finch sister, Claire, who is found hanging from the rafters in a decrepit house that the sisters used to explore as children. As Meg and Esther delve into the mystery surrounding Claire's suicide (or was it?), they are forced to confront their own haunted memories and the long-buried secrets that almost ripped their family apart.

I really enjoyed watching the sisters uncover the dark truth behind Claire's death. Flashing back and forth in time between all three of the sister's points of view, we slowly begin to unravel the events that fractured the bond between these once close-knit siblings. From the book's first lines, we're pulled into the mystery when Meg receives a haunting call from a distressed Claire. Meg knows exactly where Claire is, and she knows something has pulled her back to this creepy old house, but when she finds Claire dead, she fears that whatever lurks in the walls will likely come for her and Esther next.

The complex family dynamics and the unique personalities of each character were a highlight for me. It made it easy to keep track of who we were hearing from in each chapter. The house, with its endless hall of doors, is a character in and of itself, providing a chilling backdrop to the sisters' journey into the unknown.

Monroe's writing style is immersive and atmospheric, drawing readers into the world she has created and keeping them engaged from start to finish. The worn-out town and its financially struggling citizens were easy (though a little uncomfortable) to settle into. I felt the citizens' depravity and hopelessness and understood the adverse effects of poverty on the Finch family.

What really makes this book work is the complex and nuanced relationship between Meg and Esther. Their bond is fractured by years of guilt, grief, and resentment over an event that nearly destroyed the family - an event Meg feels responsible for - and Monroe perfectly captures the raw emotions that simmer beneath the surface of their interactions. As the sisters race against time to solve the mystery before the darkness claims them too, readers will find themselves rooting for the sisters to overcome their differences and confront the demons of their past, stopping the house and the darkness inside it once and for all.

While I enjoyed the book, I felt the situation that nearly pulled the family apart could have delivered a stronger punch if there had been a more impactful reason behind what transpired. It all felt a little weak. I also felt the "big bad" was obvious, and some of the scenes felt as though they were lifted right out of familiar ghost stories we've seen (or read) before. Still, none of these issues were enough to completely ruin the overall story for me.

While I had minor issues with a few plot points, I still enjoyed the creepy atmosphere and complex family dynamics within the pages. This is a chilling read that will appeal to fans of horror, mystery, and supernatural fiction. If you are a fan of the Mike Flanagan "Haunting of Hill House" series, I would recommend checking this out.

Told in three voices and two timelines, Through the Midnight Door is an interesting study in horror and psychology. Three sisters made a choice to enter a house as children/teens and the aftermath follows them into adulthood.

I tend to be drawn to sister stories. It's my own life, with 4 sisters of my own. There's a way that sisters talk to each other, the shared history and long-standing fights. The Finch sisters are sharing many secrets, including a loss that no-one in the family will discuss.

This is a heavy book, it left me unsettled and uncomfortable. And I think that's the point.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you @poisonedpenpress @netgalley #partner for the gifted copy of this eARC!

Looking for a haunted house book for your spooky season? Well look no further! This book isn’t just a typical scary horror story it actually has a lot of familial elements and depth within each character. Three sisters grow up in a small town with abandoned houses. In an effort to stifle boredom they stumble upon an empty house and become curious and decide to explore. Inside they each find a key and behind each door they discover unspeakable horrors that stick with them their entire lives. 💀 When one sister ends up committing suicide, in none other than the haunted house from when they were children, it leaves the other two questioning what happened. They must piece together the details to stop their dark spiral downward from continuing on!

This was a first time for me to read this author and I’m surprised I’ve not heard of her before! Her writing is stellar and the plot just felt unique and really drew me in from early on in the story. This book was eery and left a very haunted feeling but at the same time left me with more emotions than I had expected. These characters experienced a lot of trauma in their lives and as I mentioned before it was this past that made this book more interesting than just a regular horror book. If you are a lover of spooky season and love a haunted house story make sure to add this one to your TBR!

Through the Midnight Door was a chilling and memorable horror tale with a great mix of supernatural elements and real-life "adult fears." The three sisters are strongly written and the family is a powerful portrait of people dealing with incredible grief and trauma in different ways. Towards the end, we learn more about the supernatural elements of the story, but I wish we got a little more information about what exactly they were up to and what they wanted. However, if you like horror with complicated characters and sibling drama, this is a great read for you.

Through the Midnight Door was a genre-bending book that started a horror story but morphed into more of a thriller with a supernatural twist.

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for supernatural elements in a book, and these ones were SO GOOD. They were genuinely scary, and really helped to elevate the story. There wasn’t a shortage of supernatural moments by any means, but I still wish there had been more.

My favorite part of the book was the creepy house from the Finch’s childhood!! It made this book feel super unique and I was dying to know more about it. Unfortunately, it didn’t feel like it was a central part of the storyline, which felt like a bit of a missed opportunity for me.

The author did a great job portraying the family’s grief over Claire’s death. It was almost as if I could feel their pain too. With that being said, I didn’t feel much of a connection with the main characters.

Read if you like:

✨Creepy houses
✨Stories about sisterhood
✨Supernatural reads
✨Female dominated books

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Through the Midnight Door far exceeded my expectations! I was sucked into the lives of Claire, Esther and Meg and their struggles dealing with the darkness from the abandoned house. This was a mind bending novel that had you guessing if the darkness was real or a figment of imagination and emotional trauma.

I do have a couple gripes. First being the mom was completely let off the hook. She deeply struggled with grief, to the point where her behaviors should have landed her behind bars an with her kids taken away, yet nothing happened. Second, the representation of nurses is atrocious. Granted I am a nurse, so I'm partial. But damn, the way Monroe wrote the nurses I'm guessing she has beef with one in her personal life.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.