Middletide by Sarah crouch relies on atmosphere and character to propel the story. Do not go into this thinking this is a murder mystery/thriller.

A young, beautiful doctor is found dead on the farm of Elijah Leith-a young, aspiring author. Elijah becomes the prime suspect when it becomes clear that the murder was pulled straight from a book Elijah wrote called middletide.

The book cuts back and forth between the start of Elijah’s relationship with a girl from the neighborhood reservation, Nikita -the relationship that develops between him and dr. Erin, and the present day as he tries to hide from the past and rekindle with Nikita.

This isn’t a fast-paced mystery-this is a quiet character study and meditation on grief and regret. The “mystery” doesn’t kick in until almost 2/3rd through the book. Very similar in tone to where the crawdads sing. If you are looking for a slow-burn read , you will love this!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In a small, quiet Washington town a body of a young beautiful doctor is found. Since she is found on Elijah's farm, he becomes the immediate suspect. Through flashbacks we learn more about Elijah, how we got to where he is and his relationship with Erin, the dead doctor. We also learn that the way the doctor was killed, was already described in a book that Elijah wrote. Most of the middle of the story, we learn about Elijah as a teenager and his first love, Nakita, his inspirations to be a big famous author, and what made him return to his hometown.

This would have been so much better, if the 70% of the book was not described in the blurb. And the "mystery" part of the story is the last two chapters, with such a sudden, unearned resolution to Eliah's problem, was a let down.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for a free copy of this book.

Wow! What a great debut.
If you liked:
Where the Crawdads Sing,
Go As A River,
The Berry Pickers,
We Begin At the End,
The River We Remember,
Where Butterflies Wander,
The Frozen River,
then I think you will also like this.
It was a quick read with beautiful writing. Not a page turning thriller, but a beautiful story about love and loss.

Thank you so much to Atria and netgalley for the arc of this in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book did not grab my attention. I was just a bit bored throughout and I couldn’t connect with anyone or anything.

This book was not for me but I hope others love it!

An incredible book. So well composed to keep you reading, wondering, and hoping for a good ending. It does not disappoint. At the center is Elijah Leith, a defeated novelist back in his home town trying to just live and regain the trust of his long lost love Nakita. Swirling around Elijah is Erin Landry, suicide or murder victim. Elijah is the only suspect in this twisted tale.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This books beautiful cover and wonderful prose took me to misty and old woods of the Pacific Northwest. The writing evoked the feel of an insular community close to fictional reservation land. The pond, the woods, the fishing it all felt very natural and with this book being Sarah Crouch’s debut novel it is clear she has a gift as far as descriptive scene setting prose goes. The thriller itself, slow building and intricate, literary from the start tells the story of the town doctor - beloved and beautiful but now dead (not a spoiler, she is found dead on the first couple of pages) - and the town’s prodigal son Elijah returned from California without actually making it as a writer, living in his homesteading parents old cabin and working at the little garage. It is also a coming of age story and a story of love and loss. But at the end of the book the author tried to veer into legal thriller territory and as a working judge I truly hope that the author will research more if including legal proceedings in her next books (which I will read, I liked it but the legal stuff ….;-)).

Middletide follows Elijah Leith through the years leading up to and following a murder of a local Doctor found on his property. I loved the small town setting and nature elements to the story. I did end up guessing the ending, but I really enjoyed the story leading up to it.

I received an ARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a great debut! I was sucked into this book from the start. I enjoyed the beginning with Elijah and Nakita, their young love and some background into their lives. This story and the writing remind me a lot of Where the Crawdads Sing. The description of the area Elijah grew up in and returned to makes you feel like you are there. I did feel there were some pacing issues and I felt it slowed down in the middle. The relationship between Elijah and Erin seemed so forced, which we find out why, but when you are reading it, I felt it was played out odd.

I wouldn't really call this book a mystery or thriller. Yes, there was a death and courtroom proceedings but they felt more generalized. I enjoyed the writing but felt that most of the story was not believable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of Middletide by Sarah Crouch for an honest review.

Underdeveloped characters, a predictable mystery, and inconsistent plotting make this short novel a less than satisfying reading experience.

I am a sucker for a small town mystery and this did not disappoint! The book was the definition of atmospheric and fully immersed me. Definitely more literary than thriller, but so well written.

This was a great debut mystery novel and it sucked me in from the very first page. I believe that Sarah Crouch is a fantastic new voice in the mystery genre and I definitely look forward to more novels by her.

This novel followed Elijah Leith from 1973 when leaves the small town he grew up in only to return and then be accused of a horrible murder years later in 1994.

This book sucked me in from the very first page and I couldn’t put it down. The setting really just gave me gloomy vibes and it added to the atmosphere of the novel. The story was so good. It was a mixture of mystery and lost love and getting true justice.

Middletide by Sarah Crouch is a very promising debut—atmospheric, gripping, and intense. In other words, the perfect ingredients for a satisfying read!
I devoured this book. And it did not disappoint.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I can’t believe this was a debut book! I am not normally a mystery reader, but I was hooked into this story from the very beginning. I loved the moody atmospheric setting of Washington. I really recommend this to anybody who likes mysteries or even people who normally don’t vibe with mysteries. Congratulations on an excellent debut.

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of your Middletide. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and I am delighted to share my thoughts with you.

I have rated your book 4 stars, and it truly deserves this high praise. One of the standout elements for me was the exceptional character development. Each of the main characters was crafted with such depth and authenticity that I found myself deeply invested in their journeys. The nuances and complexities of their personalities added a rich layer to the narrative, making their interactions and growth all the more compelling.

As the story unfolded, I found myself on the edge of my seat, particularly as it approached the climax. The suspense was palpable, and I was literally holding my breath during the final moments leading up to the verdict. Your ability to build tension and keep readers guessing was masterful. The story was refreshingly unpredictable, with twists and turns that kept me engaged from start to finish.

Thank you once again for allowing me the privilege of reading your work. It was a memorable and enjoyable experience, and I look forward to seeing more from you in the future.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC of this title.**

I really enjoyed the thriller and mystery elements of this book, and Crouch can certainly paint a picture. Middletide is beautifully written and super atmospheric, which is something I appreciate in a book.

This one was a bit too "literary" for me, and a bit on the nose as well. I am rounding up to 4 stars for the writing, but the story was closer to 3 stars for me.

I've seen a lot of people that have really enjoyed this one and I'm not writing this author off by any means. Middletide will just not be in my top 10 for the year, lol.

Set in the Pacific Northwest, Middletide is the story of Elijah, a young man who left home to become a writer. His first novel was the subject of a scathing review and sales dipped until the publisher dropped the book. Because his alcoholic father scorned his choice of becoming a writer, Elijah never came home until after his father’s death and he struggles with guilt over not reconciling with him before he died.

Once home, Elijah has tries to rekindle his previous relationship with Nikita and it doesn’t go well. He then dates Erin, the local doctor for a brief time before realizing she is not a good fit for him. Elijah and Nikita manage to work out their issues and become a couple once again.

Meanwhile, Erin its found hanging from a tree on property owned by Elijah. Naturally he becomes a suspect. When the local sheriff is mailed a copy of Elijah’s book, he realizes that Erin’s death is the exact death of a character in Elijah’s book. Elijah is arrested and has to find the one mistake made in the death in order to get himself free.

I found the story predictable, but I enjoyed anyway. I would have liked to have seen more character development with Elijah and Nikita. Overall I felt this was a good debut mystery.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review to other readers.

I tried to get through this, but in the end I had to stop reading. I didn't realize before starting this book that the author had made up a fake indigenous tribe (why??) or I probably wouldn't have picked it up to begin with, but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt so I pushed through the first half of the story. The premise seemed interesting and I wanted to like this one but it never came together for me.

There's no reason for the made up tribe, honestly, and it's just a weird not to the story. The plot started out interesting but the characters just never held my interest. I wouldn't recommend this one.

Marketing this book as similar to Where The Crawdad Sing? First mistake.
Spending the first 70% of this book on homesteading details and a relationship so basic and shallow that I truly didn’t realize that was supposed to be THEE story? Second and third mistakes.
The motive? Not at all believable.
Loved the idea of a copycat crime from a book, but execution was not my cup of tea.

Middletide, by Sarah Crouch, is a debut novel that blew me away! It is a compelling mystery set in an isolated, rural area of Washington state. The main characters are complex and multidimensional that you are hoping will achieve what they most want. The book covers approximately twenty years, spanning the end of adolescence to the mid-thirties. My only criticism is that the time line jumps forward and back frequently and somewhat abruptly in spots. Focus on the dates at the beginning of each chapter. Although you might want to linger a bit over the beautiful descriptions of nature, it is otherwise a quick and very twisty read. Definitely recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

Thanks for the review copy. I wish I had chosen this for my Book of the Month box. I loved the twists throughout the book.