Ten years ago, Margot, then a senior in college and member of a tight-knit friend group, survived a massacre, which killed five people, including most of her close friends. Now, she’s a successful true-crime writer, but she’s never gotten over that night. When she agrees to write a book about the tragedy, she goes back to Midnight House, the scene of the crime to finally confront the demons of that night. But it appears that not everything about that night is over yet, despite the fact that the killer is safely behind bars. And Margot is going to have to get real about what happened that night to figure things out, and quickly.

The story is told along two timelines: one in the present; and one, hour by hour, leading up the murders.

Of course, the mystery and set-up pulled me right in. It was Final girl-esque (one other couple survived that night) and sounded downright creepy, right up my alley, so immediately, I was in. And I wasn’t disappointed as I dove into this one. The storyline is fantastic as you get to know this damaged friend circle in the past and get involved in this mystery in the present.

There’s also twists and turns around each corner as secrets and lies are revealed. I mean - it’s a group of college girls, right? It definitely gave me Gossip Girl vibes at some points, which added a nice layer, especially since I’m well past those days, lol.

But I have to say, the major reveals weren’t too shocking. They were pretty majorly hinted at throughout the story, so I figured out some version of most of them, if not guessed them spot on. But there were some nice twists, even if I was in the ballpark, which kept things interesting. Read this one to the very, very end, guys!

Overall, this was a creepy, well-plotted thriller, with a good mystery at its core. Don’t pass it up!

Solid suspense/thriller set in small university town. I liked the premise of this novel the main character going back to revisit a crime that killed her roommates trying to move past it and write a book about the experience. There were some good twists in this novel and I liked the dual timeline between the present the day the events happened. would rate this one 3/3.5 stars. I want to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ohhhh, this was fun! And the cover is GORGEOUS.

Margot survived a violent tragedy during her senior year of college. In an effort to get closure, she decides to tell her story in a book. She returns to her college home, The Midnight House, to dive into her memories and ends up questioning if the right person was convicted.

This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- final girl energy
- creepy old houses
- tense whodunnits with lots of suspects

I had a great time with Return to Midnight! I loved how the past timeline recapping the slaughter at The Midnight House was interwoven throughout. It had a lot of tense moments that spiked my heart rate and creeped me out! I'm not a slasher movie enthusiast -- so don't come at me -- but I thought it had Scream vibes or other movies of that era, especially the end.

I imagine some readers may find this book repetitive at times, but Margot has been stuck trying to escape a memory loop of the worst night of her life for ten years. I gave her some grace.

Rating: I really liked it! (4)

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an early copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of Return To Midnight by Emma Dues. It took me some time to get used to the writing style, and the plethora of descriptions made the book longer than it had to be. Neither timeline was very compelling until close to the end, and then the big reveal fell a little flat, and some of the characters never had an ending. I loved the idea of this story but the execution was off and while I eventually enjoyed this book, I was never fully immersed in it. 3 stars

I've always been a sucker for dual timelines, especially when it goes back to college days. I was a little afraid that this one was going to be a little reminiscent of the Bundy crimes and another recent novel. However, while this did involve murders in a house rented by college students, that was where the similarities ended. This was a well written mystery with a plot that had its own originality, separating itself from the others. It keeps the reader guessing and paranoid, thinking that every character might just be involved with the threats surrounding the protagonist. Equal parts thrilling, sad, and haunting, this was a great read and one to remember. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer, for this ARC.

Return to Midnight by Emma Dues was fun, dizzying, and dark! I love stories with dual timelines and this was one of the best I’ve read. Alternating between the days and hours leading up to the “Midnight House Massacre” and then 10 years later, you are left breathless trying to figure out exactly what happened. The main character, Margot, was relatable and mysterious at the same time. The depiction of friendships in college with their highs and lows was dead on. I can’t wait to read more books by this author!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

Interesting story with plenty of plot twists. I thought the dual timeline was done well. I just didn't connect with the main character.

This story is a testament to spooky season, and as a spooky gal myself, I loved it. This is the perfect story to curl up with when the wind is howling.

"Return to Midnight" by Emma Dues is a gripping and intense thriller that delves into the aftermath of a gruesome tragedy and the dark secrets that linger. Nearly a decade after the horrific murders of five Ohio university students in an off-campus Victorian house—infamously dubbed the Midnight House Massacre—survivor Margot Davis is reluctantly drawn back to the scene of the crime. As a novelist, Margot has tried to bury the past and move on with her life, never speaking of the killer or the events of that night. However, the opportunity to write her own account of the massacre forces her to confront her traumatic memories and return to Midnight House.

Margot’s return is not just a journey to reclaim her narrative, but also a chance to reconnect with other survivors and attempt to heal from the profound trauma. The book promises to address and debunk the many conspiracy theories propagated by true crime enthusiasts. However, the task becomes more dangerous when Margot receives a threatening note demanding she stop lying—or face dire consequences. This threat chills Margot to the core, as it implies that someone knows she hasn’t been entirely truthful about what happened that night.

As the threats escalate, Margot finds herself in increasing danger. A journalist approaches her with new suspicions about the events of that October night, adding another layer of mystery and urgency. Margot realizes that to protect herself and possibly save her life, she must reveal the secrets she’s been hiding—secrets that have haunted her for years and that she’s been too afraid to share.

Emma Dues masterfully weaves a narrative filled with suspense, tension, and psychological depth. "Return to Midnight" explores themes of trauma, truth, and the quest for closure. The novel is a page-turner that keeps readers on edge, blending the thrill of a mystery with the emotional resonance of a survivor’s story. Margot’s journey is both harrowing and compelling, as she navigates the dangerous waters of her past and the present threats that seek to silence her.

With well-crafted characters, a haunting atmosphere, and a plot full of twists and revelations, "Return to Midnight" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and true crime fiction. Emma Dues delivers a powerful story that questions the nature of truth and the lengths one must go to uncover it, making this novel a standout in the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review.

Absolutely incredible! I loved the premise of this book and am so thankful to have read it. I really enjoyed the way the book was set up with the different time frames, it was well executed to progress the story without being confusing! I was able to connect to the main character and be invested in how the story progressed. The plot twist at the end was so unexpected and it worked out so well! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

I didn’t love this book! But it was a unique premise and different than other thrillers. I just couldn’t get into it.

The synopsis of this book made me think of the 2022 homicides at the University of Idaho. I am a big fan of thrillers, but Return to Midnight felt more like a YA version. Margot is an extremely unreliable narrator and also not the smartest female. She seemed like a very unrealistic character. For the past decade, she has lived with her mom since surviving the massacre. And yet, she returns to the scene of the crime to obtain information for the book she is writing after receiving numerous threats. She's suspicious of the friends she is staying with who knows own The Midnight House. These friends don't want her nosing around there yet ask her to watch the house for them while they go away. The dynamics just don't work logically. The suspects are all presented quickly and unfortunately no crazy twists happen. If the book was written from a different point-of-view, it may have been more exciting.

I honestly loved this book so much! It kept me in the edge after each chapter I read, I really didn’t want to put it down and needed to know what happened next!!
The setting of this book was also something that I loved, I love the idea of it being set in October with some spooky elements and atmospheres.
I’m a sucker for a past and present timeline so I really enjoyed that through this book!
I can’t wait to see what else this author will bring out in the future, I think she may be one of my auto buy authors since I loved her writing style so so much!!

Return to Midnight follows Margot Davis, a survivor of the 'Midnight Massacre,' as she recounts her the time leading up to the horrific event where she lost most of her friends. In an attempt to heal some of her trauma, Margot returns to the Midnight House and reconnects with the other survivors, but she is soon greeted with threatening letters telling her to stop lying and reveal the truth.

This is a thriller through and through. A little more is revealed with each flashback until the truth comes out. It was a quick read, but some of the details and the set up felt redundant. This did not keep me from devouring the story. I was on edge as I tried to figure out who did it and whether or not the characters were safe at any given time. I had a feeling I knew who was responsible for the massacre, but there were some twists I was not prepared for!

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

This book was fantastic! I finished it in two sittings; I could not wait to get to the ending. I had not guessed how it was going to end, which is always refreshing to experience in a thriller. The characters were likable and I was happy to see that everyone had a "resolution", so nothing left unfinished or unresolved. I had a great time reading this and would recommend it to my friends/family/followers.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.

I agree with everyone else who wrote a review about this book. Complicated describes this book perfectly. Readers make sure you.read this book very carefully, or you may miss something that will help bring this story to a close. Everything is not what it seems. It is kind of creepy, and your are unsure of whom to trust. I would love to see a movie based on this book, because the descriptions of the house itself is a horror story/movie in the making. Margo, one of the survivors of a mass killing spree comes back on the 10 anniversary of the Midnight House massacre to tell her story. as she is a journalist/ writer. But with her return, she opens up a darkness that she will wish would remain buried. Secrets long buried. Enjoy!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book ahead of it's publishing date.
I give this book a 4 out of 5.

The first 30% had me hooked, but the middle third was repetitive and bland and I got so tired of the FMC’s internal monologuing. I was glad when it picked up around the 60% mark but I wasn’t thrilled — it was pretty predictable and nothing even mildly shocked me. The writing was nice, though again repetitive!

I love the dual timelines, it really kept me engaged throughout the whole book. The dual times was written well and I was not confused while reading. Each chapter left me wanting more and I couldn’t put this book down! I love an unreliable narrator, there were times I didn’t even trust Margot. I really enjoyed the writing and I am really excited to see what else Emma Dues comes up with. I love a good thriller and I alway love trying to solve things while reading. I liked Margot’s character, and how we see how much this event affected her and how she carries it with her.

I do wish some of the characters were touched on more and some of the relationships. The main characters were well thought out and written and I wish the side characters had the same detail. It left me wanting more of their lives and the relationships.

Title- Return To Midnight by @egdues
Rating-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was blown away by Emma’s debut book! It was a thrilling read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The book is told in two timelines, which were seamlessly woven together. The plot twist at the end was a complete surprise, and it added a fantastic element to the story. 👏🏽

If you followed the Idaho college killings in 2022, this book would be right up your alley. (Not the same story but some of the elements are similar and it’s what hooked me)

Synopsis-

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.

This one you will want to add to your tbr asap! This book will be available on Amazon and kindle unlimited August 27, 2024✨

Thank you to @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I’m not normally a thriller girl, but Return to Midnight might’ve changed that! I really enjoyed the world Emma created and THOSE TWISTS!!! So good!!