Elijah Leith is attempting to make a fresh start back where his life began.

This story covers the years 1994 back to 1973 & everywhere in between. Elijah left Point Orchards, Washington for the big city to write the great American novel. He was supposed to come back for his summer love, Nikita, but he fails to hold up his end of their agreement & by the time he slinks home (a failed author) to his deceased father’s cabin, she’s moved on. But their story doesn’t end there, & just when things are looking up: Elijah is framed for murdering a woman in the exact same way as the story in his only published work…

This debut author does a flawless job of keeping the timelines from being too confusing & giving the reader timely information. The tangled web of small-town living was intriguingly unraveled as we witnessed overwhelming emotion in many characters, & what it pushed them to do. I enjoyed the homesteading aspect of the book, the love of the great outdoors, & it was fun that the main character shared some traits with the author of the story (being a runner & a writer).

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was extremely slowwww in the beginning and took me a long time to get into. Probably the last 50 pages really gripped my attention.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I found the debut novel "Middletide" by Sarah Crouch to be an addictive, interesting & well written story that pulled me in right away & didn't let me go until its final page.
I enjoyed the author's writing style, how she told the story using the past & present timelines.
I am excited to see what Ms. Crouch decides to write next.

I will start with the good: the book is relatively well written, and has an extremely strong sense of place and mood. It definitely read like a small town in the Pacific Northwest, very dark, gloomy, isolated at times, people in their feels. Twin Peaks-y, ya dig? I dug that.

Now for my criticisms. I don’t usually actually find a lot of fault with books, but I *100%* think it would have been better to either not have Nakita and her family be Native American at all, or if they still were, to use and reference a real tribe. The disclaimer in the front of the book almost made the fake tribe’s inclusion more odious to me. Nakita and her family living on a reservation and being Native American really had no bearing on the plot and felt like tokenism, one step away from her being referred to as “exotic.” Nakita, her dad, and Chitto deserved better than that, and the teenage star crossed lovers thing at the beginning.

Character-wise, only Elijah was really fleshed out and allowed to grow. Nakita’s growth occurred off the page. Erin’s character was almost never truly observed and then we had one sudden chapter from her perspective seemingly to just sort of confirm everything Elijah had theorized. I just don’t really get the choices here, I guess.

The plot itself was interestingly paced. After the initial jolt, it was sort of slow and ominous for a while. And then, it wrapped up super quick and nearly with a bow. It also just reminded me of Gone Girl with a suicide.

I think this writer is talented, I hope she writes more and maybe spends some more time developing her characters and if desiring to represent any Native characters, maybe consulting with people from the relevant tribes and asking their input.

Elijah Leith left home to pursue his dream of becoming a novelist. He broke his promise to return to his high school girlfriend Nakita, and his only published novel floundered.

He returns to his family's cabin in the woods following his father's death and takes several years to get back in touch with the land, with his community, and with Nakita.

However, the prodigal son's return home is now threatened by the discovery of a dead body on his property -- and her death eerily parallels the plot of his novel.

I really like the author's use of dual timelines to keep the reader hooked. In one timeline, the reader follows the sheriff as he investigates the death and probable murder of Dr. Erin Landry. The other timeline follows Elijah's journey to recovering the home he gave up. Swapping back and forth between the timelines really helped to propel the narrative and hold my interest.

I do think that the plotting of the novel was not quite as solid as it could have been. The third act feels very rushed and as if unexpected details keep popping up. I think that the novel would have been improved by allowing for more perspective from Erin and more time devoted to the unfolding of the reveal at the end of the book.

There are lots of comparison to Where the Crawdads Sing, and I think readers who enjoyed the mystery aspect and moody outdoor setting of that novel will enjoy this one. However, I think that the overall tone of this novel is quite different and readers shouldn't expect too many similarities between the novels.

This review will be published to Goodreads and Instagram (@goodquietkitty) on June 12, 2024.

This one was really intriguing, and it started off really good! But, around halfway through I just found myself not really caring about what happened.

Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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I was recommended Middletide from @readingismydestiny and I am so happy that I listened to her recommendation and picked this one up.
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Set in the Pacific Northwest, the reader becomes immersed in the little town of Point Orchards. A body is found in 1994, but in order to understand the entire story, Middletide is told in a nonlinear dual timeline; spanning from 1973-1994. I caught a little bit of “Where The Crawdad Signs” vibes but this story in and of itself is very different.
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I immediately became invested in these characters, I wanted to know how their past would have anything to do with the case of the dead body. Crouch did a phenomenal job at really make me suspicious of different characters, not really sure where things would lead. The romance and the character arcs were also a huge bonus in this story. There were multiple twists that I did not see coming and I love how this one ended.
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Middletide is a slow burn, but that ending made it so worth it. There is also so much more depth to this story than just your average run of the mill popcorn thriller. Crouch weaved a very interesting story that was atmospheric, suspenseful at times filled with multiple subgeneres that makes for a unique and refreshing read. Definitely recommending this to all murder mystery / thriller fans who enjoy a deeper read with some romance and self growth.
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This was a great debut from Sarah Crouch, I look forward to reading more of her work. Middletide was just released yesterday 6/11!! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Crouch and Atria books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book.

Middletide was a fantastic debut novel. It's PNW, murder near an isolated cabin setting gave it an eerie, haunted vibe. None of the characters were particularly lovable, but Elijah was someone I was definitely rooting for. I felt for him and thought he deserved better in life than the hand he was dealt.

The mystery had a unique premise and I was hooked from the very beginning. It was an imitation type murder. I wouldn't necessarily call the ending jaw-dropping, but it was certainly unexpected and I doubt most people will see it coming.

I loved this book because it kept me on my toes the entire time! I don't read that many thriller books but this makes me want to!!! I absolutely recommend this book!

Something about this one really stuck with me after reading it. I loved the themes of writing and publishing. The romance and character growth felt real. The moody atmosphere was top-notch. And the murder mystery plot was well-paced. It’s heavy, dark, emotional, and slow-burn. The writing itself was immersive. It reads like a blend of literary, mystery, and romance. A fantastic debut and would definitely read from this author again!

Sarah Crouch’s debut had me hooked from the start. I devoured the book in 24 hours! My only wish is that I started it sooner.

The small town mystery kept me guessing. Though I do wish the end was a bit more of a twist.


Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this moody, slow burn of a mystery. It has a good enough story that kept me turning the pages, but I didn't feel a big "wow" moment. The beginning was very promising - a young, beautiful doctor is found hanging from a tree, but I felt like the story meandered a bit too much and had a lackluster ending.

Beautifully written and atmospheric, this debut novel was an ambitious blend of a classic homecoming story + a murder mystery + a love letter to the natural world. And while the resolution didn’t stick the landing completely, the vibrant Pacific Northwest setting won me over.

What I loved most were the portions of the story dedicated to our MC, Elijah’s, return home to a rural town in Western Washington, where he worked through his grief by renovating the family cabin. With this came a personal challenge to live off the land, providing numerous descriptions of the local scenery, wildlife, and plant life throughout the seasons. As a lifelong PNW resident, I can happily say this part of the novel was evocative perfection!

Alongside the homecoming story, the book jumped back and forth between a murder investigation with ties to Elijah. This is where the plot got murky to me, mainly due to the extremely fast trial. Happening in just 2 days, it felt more like an episode of Law & Order than a well-paced novel plotline. And while the big reveal did surprise me, it ultimately fell flat since the villain’s motives were limited to only a few paragraphs with a “Gone Girl” vibe that felt unearned.

Despite one portion of this novel shining brighter for me than the other, I do think this is a strong debut and have high hopes for the author’s future books!

This review will be posted on June 11, 2024 to: https://instagram.com/amandas.bookshelf

I enjoyed parts of this book, but not all of it. I liked the mystery, but not necessarily the execution of it. The reveal of the "twist" felt too easy. I liked the love story element, but not that it came at the expense of the greater plot. At times, this felt like two separate novels and I don't know that this worked for me. What did work for me was the descriptions of nature, of the fulfillment of working the land, of the joy of yielding bounty from the land. Rating: somewhere between 😐 / meh, it was ok AND 🙂 / liked it
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This book is scheduled for publication on June 11, 2024. Thank you @atriabooks for providing me this digital ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Let's start with the positives: "Middletide" is described as "atmospheric," and that it is. There are parts of the novel that feel like a love letter from Sarah Crouch to the Pacific Northwest. She writes about the weather and the land with tenderness and honesty. There is no sugarcoating how brutal the cold can be, or how deadly the rain.

The plot moves quickly in this relatively short novel, which clocks in at 288 pages.

But that's where my appreciation ends.

The plot that moves quickly relies on a timeline that jumps back and forth over, at times, mere months. The setting in the 1990s seems a strange choice. There are no pop culture or other references that would make the timing relevant. As with other readers, I was confused about the author's choice to create a fictional indigenous tribe, which then was painted with a broad brush with no real attention given to the details of this supposed culture she created.

The lead male character is strongly unlikeable, which I think is intentional but done in such a way that instead of adding to the plot, it becomes a distraction. The two female characters feel more like caricatures, one of a native woman and the other of a woman driven mad by grief. They seem at times like women who were written by a man.

"Middletide" spends a great deal of time building atmosphere - but it also spends a great deal of time explaining the lead character's love of homesteading and his passion for working the land. While this might have a place in other novels, it sticks out like a sore thumb in a way that, again, is distracting. So much attention is paid to how this man works his land, and so little attention given to the Squalomah tribe the author created. It's a disparity that is noticeable.

While there were other smaller issues with the novel - some use of cliches, including polishing something "until it gleams" - I can't get past the trial, which seems slapdash in its telling.

The ending of the novel felt rushed. Overall, I think this would have served with another round of edits, perhaps from a pair of eyes that hadn't been involved in the process so far. There is a lot of promise in "Middletide," but the execution is lacking.

Middletide by Sarah Crouch is sort of a mystery, sort of a love story, and sort of a coming-of-age novel. The title is also the title of the novel that Elijah Leitch wrote in college and subsequently published. Unfortunately, no one bought it so now he was back home again, after refusing to return after so many years, even when his father needed him. He had to kick in the door to his cabin, his father’s cabin, as the key was too rusted to work. He would be a busy man, making this habitable, but he did. He cleaned and repaired; he tilled and planted; he honed his skills with a bow and arrow and hunted; he remembered how to fish. Eventually he was living off the land, but it wasn’t enough. His father’s friend, Chitto, had offered him a job in the garage. He held off as long as he could, but eventually he showed up and accepted the offer. And found his father had been working on a Camaro for him. Perfect outside but no motor. He had a project. He had another project: the girl he left behind, Nakita. So much more to tell.

A well-plotted book, involving a woman overcome with grief, well two really, and how differently they handled it all. Elijah was a good character, although the way the story unfolded, one wasn’t always sure of that. He was was a writer at heart and had crafted an excellent novel, earlier, one used against him now. People are always willing to believe the worst, and when he was accused of murder, they all jumped on board. All except Nakita and her father. The trial was a scary thing, especially from the viewpoint of a man who knew he was innocent but saw no way out. This is a truly wonderful book, a little different, but full of heart and promise. Thanks Sarah Crouch!

I was invited to read Middletide by Atria Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AtriaBooks #SarahCrouch #Middletide

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for this title! I was very interested in reading when I saw it was a BOTM selection. The setting was very atmospheric and I thought it was a great debut novel overall. The premise of the murder was a little unbelievable, and it would have been better for the author to use research on a real indigenous tribe instead of creating one for the novel.

Happy Publishing Day!
This is an atmospheric read thrilling read. I went into this book not knowing much but immediately swept up into the setting. The plot of this book was beautifully done and the timeline layer was impeccable. This book is the Folklore album in a book. (I am serious, all songs relate to scenes in this book)
If you are a folklore fan or a fan of atmospheric love stories and thrillers this genre-bending novel is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a copy of this novel. I am ordering my physical edition now!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read. It was good read but I found that it was a bit slow for me. As well, the romance in the book was missing something. I think more detail was needed but it was still good.

Setting is in the Pacific Northwest, small town of Port Orchard. I have lived there the majority of my life so very excited to read this book.

This book was a very interesting read for me and loved that it's a debut novel.

When Dr. Erin Landry is found deceased hanging from a tree, there seems to be questions surrounding the death and Elijah Leith an Author that just returned to town seems to be of interest. There is so much more to this story that, brings it all together and I would recommend this book to anyone that just wants to take their time and enjoy this read as it's not face paced.

I found this a slow read but I loved the story line. As a debut novel this was really good, and I can only imagine the next read from Sarah Crouch will be even better.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital read in exchange for my honest review.