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.

10 years ago, a murder occurred where 5 Ohio University students lose their life in an off campus Victorian home. Margot, a survivor of the massacre, returns to the scene of the crime to complete her novel.

Margot not only can reconnect with the other survivors but start to heal from her own trauma she still has to this day. Word spreads about Margot's novel and she starts receiving threatening notes. Margot is hiding something, and she only has a certain timeframe to reveal- 𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.
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This is an ARC review, a big thank you to Netgalley and Emma for the e-arc and audiobook copy! This book was a great debut. Emma did a great job with writing dual timelines, at no point was I confused or felt something wasn't important to know. There were 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 characters in this book, and she made sure to give us 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 to know each character's personality. (Aaron is still my favorite). I will say, it took me about 50-80 pages before I got into it. Once I was though, I couldn't put the book down!

This is a great book to get your toes wet for the thriller genre if you haven't read many (like myself). This murder mystery did not disappoint. It had all the goodies, 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿; 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀. I felt the story was wrapped up nicely and it ended just right. Expect the unexpected when you read this!

Return to Midnight is now available! This is a perfect book to read with it getting chilly out and Halloween around the corner. Happy reading!

✨What to Expect✨
▶ Dual Timelines
▶ Traumatized Author
▶ Lies, secrets, and 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 lies
▶ Constantly wondering "who did it?"
▶ Toxic Ballerinas

It seems like book subjects go in cycles…there has been an influx of “going back to the scene of the crime” type murder mysteries. But Emma Dues has done a really good job of pulling the reading in and keeping you guessing.

Margot Davis really just wants to leave her past where it belongs--behind her! But when she is compelled to write her side of the story about five murders in an off-campus house at an Ohio university, she must return to the scene of the crime--Midnight House. But when she arrives, she receives threatening notes that tell her she better stop lying--or else. The reader learns Margot hasn't been telling the whole truth... for good reason. This is a fun, fast-paced thriller!

{3.5 stars}

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below are my own.

A decade ago a young college student went missing. A year later, a group of her friends are brutally murdered. Margot survived the attack and has returned to the scene of the crime to try to gather her thoughts and write a book about the experience. The house is now lived in by another of the survivors. Quickly she is immersed back in the college town and interacts with many who stayed behind. Little by little her memories begin to resurface but perhaps not fast enough, she begins getting threatening messages that make it clear she knows more than she’s letting on.

I struggled at first with the first person telling of this story. I’m not sure why but it made me worried about the unreliable narrator trope. As the chapters flip back and forth between the present and the past we slowly learn more about what led to the massacre with secret after secret revealed. I liked that the story and the ending was quite believable. The twists were very realistic and there were so many potential ways it could have ended.

3.5 rounded to 4.

The premise of this book is a common theme in the thriller genre. Someone being the only survivor of a killing many years ago, only to revisit the house where it happened and then to be confronted by the killer again. Until the last 15% or so of this book, I was ready to give it a 3 stars as it fell right into the overdone theme I just described. Most of the book was pretty predictable. However, the final twist in the last portion of the book differentiated it slightly from other similar reads and added some extra excitement.

It did find the pages in the first 3/4th of the book to often be drawn out and a bit boring at times. There are so many unnecessary details that served no purpose. I found myself skimming at times. It is worth it to get to the last 1/3-1/4, but be prepared. Once I got to the last portion, I gobbled it up.

Overall, an okay mystery that relies on tropes and is slow to start, but redeems itself with a great ending.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This books was so good and perfect for the upcoming fall season. There’s murder, mystery, a Gothic creepy Victorian house, ballerinas, and lots of secrets. It has me guessing until the very end. I can’t wait to see what this debut author writes next.

I want to make ballet thrillers my personality. They’re just fun! Something about ballerinas being bad truly delights me. This was an excellent debut. I thought the characters were interesting and Dues’ use of the dual timelines was executed well. I kept guessing the villain and was completely wrong. The ending had me shook! I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Return to Midnight centers on Margot, a survivor of the Midnight House massacre where most of her closest friends were brutally killed. A decade later, she’s still grappling with the trauma from that night. Although her boyfriend was convicted of the murders, Margot has always questioned whether they arrested the right person.

To make sense of her ordeal, Margot returns to the site of the massacre and begins writing a book about the event. When she starts receiving anonymous threats suggesting she may be hiding something, she decides to delve deeper into the scene of the crime.

The story’s twists kept me guessing throughout; I genuinely had no clue where it was headed, and none of my predictions about the outcome were correct—quite a feat, given my extensive experience with thrillers. The book’s structure, alternating between Margot’s present-day investigation and flashbacks to the past, was particularly compelling. This dual timeline approach provided insight into the dynamics between Margot and her friends and built tension with a countdown to the murder.

The pacing and cliffhangers in each chapter made it hard to put down. Initially, keeping track of the numerous characters was challenging, but it became easier as the narrative progressed. The blend of truth and ambiguity kept me on edge, making it difficult to distinguish reality from Margot’s perspective.

Return to Midnight is an outstanding debut thriller, featuring a gripping plot, intricate characters, brisk pacing, and a chilling atmosphere.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

New to me author...the story of a woman writing an expose about a murder from her college days. Definitely kept me guessing. Interesting premise.

Return to Midnight is a gripping thriller that delves into the traumatic past of Margot Davis, a survivor of the notorious Midnight House Massacre. Nearly ten years after five Ohio university students were brutally murdered in an off-campus Victorian home, Margot has tried to put the horror behind her. Now a novelist, she’s compelled to return to Midnight House to write her side of the story, hoping to reconnect with other survivors and dispel the conspiracy theories that have plagued them. But as news of her book spreads, Margot begins receiving threatening notes, warning her to stop lying. As the threats escalate, Margot realizes that her own secrets about that fateful night might be the key to uncovering the truth—and staying alive.

I found Return to Midnight to be a thrilling and intense read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story masterfully intertwines past trauma with present danger, making for a compelling narrative that explores the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. The suspense builds with each page, and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. This novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and mysteries, delivering a chilling reminder that some truths are better left buried.

Another amazing debut! When I saw the cover of this book I was instantly in love! I’m a ballerina at heart and you add thriller to the mix…. Sold.

RETURN TO MIDNIGHT was an atmospheric thriller that really stands out. The plot was unique, the pacing was well done and the twists were plenty. I was suspicious of everyone in this book and I was pleasantly surprised by who the culprit was. This was a solid thriller and I definitely recommend checking it out!

3.5. Return to Midnight is set ten years after a horrific murder takes place in an off campus home. Margot is a survivor of the massacre and has returned to the scene of the crime to complete her novel telling her side of the story.

This story was entertaining and twisty! But prepared to not be sucked in until the last third of the book. The first parts included so much detail about the characters that I felt were unnecessary at the end of the story however I enjoyed the book! The last portion was particularly bingeable. This was a solid mystery!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Emma Dues, and Thomas & Mercer for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on August 27th!

I have posted my review on Goodreads, my Facebook book club, and will make a TikTok to post before the pub date.

<i><b> "Thank you to Emma and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for this Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my fair and honest review..."</b></i>

<b>One Line Review:</b> Ten years ago Margot was a dancer and a college student until one fateful night everything changed when some of her closest friends were murdered in the home they all shared. Now an author, Margot returns to the home ten years later to tell the story from her own viewpoint, while trying to navigate anonymous threats and unknown danger.

<b>Synopsis:</b> Margot lived to dance and spent most of her young life doing exactly that, until one fateful night in college that irrevocably changed the path of her entire life. Almost all the friends she loved are gone at the hands of a murderer... and now ten years later she is still deeply affected by what happened, unable to sleep or function in most normal ways. When she starts receiving anonymous threats about the fact that she's kept truths hidden, she returns to Midnight House and her past to decide what the truth really is. I trusted NO ONE throughout this novel!

<b>My Thoughts:</b> I enjoyed this book, and although I struggled slightly to connect with the main character, I absolutely loved the opportunity to get to delve into her feelings and process the emotions and trauma she was feeling (even if it felt like we didn't get all the facts.) I have seen others mention this also, but you really get a sense of not being totally "in-the-loop" with things, especially since it was from a first-person perspective. If you enjoy an unreliable narrator, this is a win for sure! Margot continuously makes decisions I didn't agree with, and although tricky to get through at times, was still enjoyable for the most part! I also really loved the slow creeping countdown to the time of the murders tucked in between each chapter, slowly giving more details of what happened the night of the murders. I really wished there would've been a little more detail of the actual night, but it was overall still an awesome book!!

Happy Pub Day Emma Dues and thank you NetGalley for the ARC of RETURN TO MIDNIGHT

I’m starting to base my book ratings on how late I’m willing to stay up reading; this one is absolutely a 5 ⭐️ This was the perfect blend of “mystery within a mystery,” unreliable narrator and a satisfying ending tied up with a beautiful pointe shoe ribbon.

Congratulations, Emma! I’m already looking forward to your next book. And only 65 days until Halloween! 🩰🔪📚🍁🎃

Return to Midnight is my favorite kind of thriller. It’s dark, gritty, and full of secrets. The dual timelines really worked to reveal the details slowly, so that we know the how, but not the why and the who. This is a strong debut, and I’m already anxiously awaiting Emma Dues’ next book. I have a feeling she’s going to become one of my next must-buy and immediately binge authors.

Return to Midnight by Emma Dues is a riveting thriller that kept me up racing through it!
Emma Dues is bringing us a gripping debut.
I loved reading this book. The characters are well crafted
I really enjoyed the setting and found it to be compelling.
The great storyline and character development made for a quick and fun read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emma Dues for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Return to Midnight coming out August 27, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really wanted to love this book. I enjoyed it a lot, but I feel like there was something missing for me. I loved the backstory plot with the Midnight House Massacre. I love a good horror story and this started off really amazing. There was a lot of mystery in the beginning. It had all the elements of a Final Girl story. However, I wasn’t as much a fan of the last third of the book. I think some truths were omitted and the narrator wasn’t as reliable. I would check out other books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder books!

Margot Davis has lived through some trauma. 10 years ago, her friends were slaughtered in their Victorian campus home, dubbed The Midnight House. Margot is writing a true-crime novel about the slaughter for the 10-year anniversary. But she has to go back to the house to get answers she's not sure she's ready for. Along the way, Margot starts to receive threats about telling the truth. Or else. Because Margot is definitely keeping secrets and it's time the survivors were honest with themselves and everyone else.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-arc.*

A fun twisted thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. Every time you think you’ve figured out who the villain is a new option emerges. The main character is intriguing and well written, making you want to solve the mystery along with her.

Margot has been trying her best to forget about the massacre that changed her life 10 years ago, the night that she lost most of her friends and a chunk of her future. But now, with the anniversary coming up, she feels it's the time to visit the site of the murders and write her story - to tell her side of that night and keep her friends' memories alive. Unfortunately for her, someone out there also knows about what happened, and they're not happy that Margot is still keeping secrets.

I did like this one, but it wasn't anything ground-breaking. A solid enough debut, Dues does a good job of keeping the reader guessing until the final curtain call, and I read this in a pretty short time frame so I could reveal the ending. Dues' writing is descriptive and I found myself truly in each scene with each character, as they lived and fought and screamed and died.

There was a lot of downtime where Margot is trying to fill in the blanks (but not very effectively). A lot of the action is repetitive (Margot gets a threat, she spirals, she investigates, she forgets until she gets another threat, etc.) and some of the decisions she makes had pulling my hair in frustration. Still, I was rooting for her to come out on top by the end.

Overall, an average but very readable thriller. I will be keeping an eye on Emma Dues to see what she writes next!