Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the advance copy of Return to Midnight. I did read this book on time, but fell super behind on my reviews!

Ten years ago eight students at a small Ohio university had their lives destroyed - five of them were murdered and three have done their best to pick up the pieces. Margot had moved away and tried to move on, but when she decides to face the music (& the armchair detectives/conspiracy theorists) and write her side of the story in a tell-all it’s time to return to Midnight House and confront that night and the other remaining survivors.

The other two survivors still live in the house, healing in their own way and in Margot’s eagerness to reconnect and maybe remember missing pieces they’ve all forgotten together, she’s forgotten that not everyone handles trauma the same. With a less than warm welcome and a revival of theories and buzz about the story, Margot starts to get paranoid when someone leaves a note demanding she stop lying and tell the truth about ten years ago. Everyone who experienced that night and lived to tell about it has secrets, some could bring everything down.

Okay, I LOVED this book. I’m not sure what element did it for me, but there were so many that I enjoyed. I’m a sucker for the ‘returning to the scene of the crime to confront my demon’s’ trope so I was hooked on that. Also, the ballet aspect because for some reason I am obsessed with thriller books about ballerinas & dancing so even though that wasn’t the main plot, it played into the main plot making it super interesting for me.

I thought all the characters were shady and guarded (rightfully so), none seemed to have dealt with their past issues and it shows big time. I didn’t really care for any, but I was invested in what was going on with them.

This was Emma’s first book and I will absolutely be on the lookout for a sophomore endeavor.

With looming danger and past tragedy, this is pulse pounding debut that keeps the pace going throughout. It does a great job capturing the atmosphere of a college town and the aftermath of tragedy.

Return to Midnight is a fast paced thriller about a "final girl" going back to the scene of the crime ten years later.

I really enjoyed this book & was impossible to put down - I read this very fast! I loved the dual timeline up to the murders and 10 years later - giving you a real viewpoint on the story all together!

This is a must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Return to Midnight by Emma Dues!

Nearly ten years ago, five university students were murdered in an off-campus Victorian home. The media dubbed it the Midnight House Massacre. Ever since, survivor and novelist Margot Davis has wanted to forget it until she’s compelled to write her side of the story. To do that, she’s returning to Midnight House. But when news of Margot’s book gets out, she receives a threatening note that demands she stop lying. Margot must reveal her well-guarded secrets—ones that, for good reason, she’s been too terrified to share.

The mystery novel RETURN TO MIDNIGHT is an engaging read that keeps readers intrigued and suspicious of every character involved. Margot, a survivor of the tragic Midnight House Massacre that claimed the lives of her friends, embarks on a journey to uncover the truth and honor her lost friends through her writing. Margot's character is complex and evokes empathy for her suffering. Although I found it difficult to relate to her and the other characters on a personal level, I appreciate Emma's efforts in creating a thought-provoking narrative that focuses on tragedy and trauma.

As the chapters progressed, I found great pleasure in connecting the clues, leading me to the well-thought-out turn of events. Despite my early prediction coming to fruition, my appreciation for the suspenseful plot remained undiminished. Emma has skillfully crafted a respectable debut novel, showcasing her remarkable potential as a writer. For those who enjoy fun whodunnit mysteries, I highly recommend RETURN TO MIDNIGHT for a gratifying reading experience.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Not a bad thriller if a bit fluffy. That being said, I didn't hate it, but not my favorite.

Return to Midnight is a heart-pounding thriller that grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let go! This is the kind of book that keeps you up late at night, reading just one more chapter, only to find yourself diving into the next one before you can even think about sleep. The character development is truly unique and complex. If you’re a fan of thrillers that keep you guessing with every turn, Return to Midnight is a must-read! This one is a solid 5-star winner in the thriller genre for me. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good page-turner!

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

This book follows a "final girl" who returns to the scene of the crime. She wants to write a book about the massacre. Things quickly unfold when a journalist realizes that she has been lying.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this book. The main character was very unlikeable and just dumb. I need a good main character to enjoy a book and Margot was not.

I also feel like the pacing was just a bit off and I couldn't get into it.

I hope others love it.

Oh my gosh, this is a MUST READ.

I loved everything about this book. It has a back and forth between the past and the present, allowing us insight into what happened the fateful night of the murders. I think that was my favorite part - a group of college friends with secrets to hide that eventually might lead to their downfall.

I also loved how Margot, a survivor, does everything she can to try to figure out the mystery regardless of the fact that returning to Midnight does things to her that obviously can't be healthy. I wanted so much for her to figure out what happened all those nights ago, and I couldn't help but root that she'd be able to find some sort of happy ending.

This book was such a great page turner and would be an excellent beach read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

*Yawn*. I feel like I have read dozens of this book's plot before. MC was the only survivor in a massacre in college. Goes back to get closure. Finds love and finds out who the real killer is.

This could have been a good book but every part of it was so cliche. I may read more by this author but I hope she can come up with some original material soon!

Return to Midnight by Emma Dues is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. Margot Davis, the lone survivor of a brutal 2007 mass murder, returns to the scene of the crime—Midnight House—almost a decade later to confront her past and write her truth. As she faces threats and unearths new suspicions surrounding the massacre, Margot must reconcile her trauma with buried secrets she’s spent years hiding. Dues skillfully builds suspense, creating a chilling atmosphere filled with twists and revelations that reveal just how much Margot’s story has been shaped by fear. Return to Midnight is a taut, compelling novel about memory, deception, and the danger of unspoken truths.

I LOVED this book. It had so many twists and turns, had me scared on the couch while reading the more spookier scenes. The back and forth with the timeline confused me here and there but once I realized we were in the past or back in the present I could understand better. The cover pulled me in and I knew I needed to get my hands on it as a former danced. My favorite part about this book for sure. Had me on the edge of my seat wanting to play Nancy Drew.

This book was just okay. I tried to read it early to review but ended up waiting for the audio to be able to finish it. I was captivated by the concept of ballet but the story itself didn’t grip me as I’d hoped.

This is a thriller mystery that grabbed me unlike any other has in recent memory. The shifting between timelines wasn't confusing, and the investigation kept me engaged. The twist was a bit predictable, but not enough to ruin the experience.

I loved this book!

This book is told in alternating time lines and was really solid and i loved the mystery. It kept me wanting to read since page 1 and just was hard to put down. While reading and the end came i was in total shock at the end. Very well written never seen that ending coming.

Will recommend this book. Will read more from the author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

A mass murder, current threats to survivors, a chance to go back and find out if the wrong person was convicted.... it had everything to made a great suspense novel, but unfortunately I just didn't care for it.

It was a slow read of annoying characters. This one just was not for me.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! Obviously inspired by the true events in Idaho but with its own twists and turns. Very entertaining and kept you guessing. I look forward to more from this author.

Told in alternating past and present chapters this was a really solid and compelling mystery/thriller. The end reveal took me by surprise with many red herrings along the way. I also loved that the book was themed around ballet too, the past chapters of the girls as teenagers gave Tiny Pretty Things feels.

This one became a DNF for me fairly quickly. I'm not sure if it's the pacing of the book or the story, but it just didnt work well for me and keep me captivated enough to continue .

On the anniversary of a savage mass murder, a survivor returns to the scene of the crime―and all its buried secrets―in a twisting novel of suspense.

Nearly ten years ago, five Ohio university students were murdered in an off-campus Victorian home. The media dubbed it the Midnight House Massacre. Ever since, survivor and novelist Margot Davis has wanted to forget it, and never again utter the killer’s name. Until she’s compelled to write her side of the story. To do that, she’s returning to Midnight House.

It’ll be a chance for Margot to reconnect with other survivors, heal the trauma, and dispel the ugly conspiracy theories of obsessed true crime fanatics. But when news of Margot’s book gets out, she receives a threatening note that demands she stop lying. Or else. It chills Margot’s blood. Because she hasn’t been telling the whole truth.

As the threats continue, each more sinister than the last, a journalist comes to Margot with new suspicions about that brutal October night. Now, to save her own life, Margot must reveal her well-guarded secrets―ones that, for good reason, she’s been too terrified to share.

Holy snickerdoodles! This is one plot driven and twisty thriller. Enjoyed from start to finish. Cannot wait to read more from the author.