Nearly ten years ago, Margot was one of the only survivors of the "Midnight House Massacre", a killing spree that ended the lives of most of her friends and housemates. She's dealing with a lot of trauma years later but also somehow manages to become a successful crime writer. She has a contract to write a book about the killings, but she is having a hard time writing it.

Ten years ago, Aaron -- her friend and ex-boyfriend to her housemate Julia, was convicted of the crimes and sentenced to life in prison. But now Margot is getting threatening messages to tell the truth before the anniversary or something will happen to her -- leading her to believe that maybe they got the wrong guy and the real killer is out there.

It took me a longg time to get into this and mostly because we didn't really know what happened that night until the last section of the book. I think I would have liked this book so much more if the sequencing had gone through a bit more editing and I would have felt more invested in the characters and the plot. It was way too easy for me to put this one down and each time I felt less motivated to pick it back up. I didn't love our narrator Margot and some of the suspenseful timing just felt off based on the way things were revealed to the reader. This has gotten great early reviews but it just wasn't a hit for me. The quality of the writing was pretty solid for a debut though, so I will definitely look for future books from this author!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for supplying me with a free copy in exchange for a review!

The true strength of this book was Emma Dues' writing, her prose and description style were wonderful. While reading, I was surprised this was her first book because her work read like she's been publishing for years.
I did enjoy Margot as a character, even though I did not feel entirely connected to her. I think her relationship with grief, trauma, and especially her mother was very interesting and felt very real when we were inside her head.
The ending was fantastic! It was crazy and twisty, and though I had many theories, I was not able to predict the ending at all. Thankfully I read it during the day time because it successfully gave me the creeps!

There were some weaknesses I think should be noted. The beginning and the end of the story were very engaging, but it did lose my slightly towards the 50% mark. However, the constant foreshadowing and flashbacks between past and present definitely helped counteract this.
I would have loved to see more of the relationship between Margot and her friends, I feel like I only really understood the dynamic between her and Julia the most. A scene at the beginning where they met for the first time would have helped me really believe their connection more.

The rest of what I want to highlight deals with specific plot points, so there will be spoilers:

[ This also applies to the relationship between Margot and Aaron. If we could have seen the development of their friendship and relationship more, then it could be more impactful. I wanted to see their longing for each other, which we only got a bit of. I felt like their story relied on the "I've wanted to do this for so long" trope, instead of showing us their true feelings throughout the story. If their relationship was more developed, it also would have made the reveal that he was not the real killer even more heart-wrenching.

The reliance on tropes also applied to the repeated occurence of Margot almost being killed in the Midnight House and needing to escape. I think it was fascinating the first two times, having the security of a home be ripped away and transported back to the awful night in October. But by the third time, when Alice was revealed to be the true killer and tried to kill Margot, it was a bit repetitive and it was difficult for me to suspend my disbelief that she managed to escape three separate times.

Lastly, while I do think most things were wrapped up nicely, I am still wondering why she saw Alexander's face in the window when she was staying at the Midnight house. I thought this was one of her hallucinations, but all the other hallucinations were addressed and explained except for this one. Because of this, I felt Alexander's character to be a loose thread to the story.

Overall, I rate this a 3.75 stars! The majority of the story was a 3.5, with a 4 star ending! It was an enjoyable read, with a twisty jaw-dropping ending, and I am looking forward to reading more future work from this author!

Ten years after the Midnight Massacre, Margot returns to the Midnight House.

The night of the massacre, five of Margot's friends were brutally murdered. She was left as one of three survivors and, haunted by the events of that night, has struggled ever since. Now a writer, Margot has finally decided to tell her side of the story and reunite with the two survivors, back at the Midnight House, where their friends died. But, no sooner has Margot returned, things turn deadly. Threats are left, imploring her to tell the truth. Bad blood comes to the surface. And Margot has a sneaking suspicion she can't trust anyone - even her fellow survivors.

RETURN TO MIDNIGHT was an enjoyable, thrilling, twisty debut from Emma Dues. I loved the dual timeline - one set in the present day and one set in the hours before the massacre - and how the author ramped up the tension as she counted down to the moment the massacre happened. Tension in general was handled very well and I could feel my heartbeat pick up as more and more things came to light and more was revealed and the threat to Margot's life became very palpable. I enjoyed the atmosphere and sense of anticipation very much.

The depiction of Margot struggling with her past, with flashbacks, with the horrifying effect the massacre left on her felt very genuine and realistic and her emotions felt like they made sense for her. and I'm glad the author didn't shy away from showing the full extent of those.

I did find the novel took a wee while to fully get started. The start was a wee bit more of a slow burn for me and I found I wasn't fully embraced by the story until about 100 pages in. As a result, I had a few false starts when I first started reading. But once I was properly hooked, I raced through the book in two nights.

On the whole though, I had a great time with this novel and I am looking forward to reading more by the author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-Arc.

This book seems to take inspiration from a few true stories. One of them is obvious, especially if you've been keeping up with crime news from the past few years. However, there is another case to which I was sure this story was alluding. There just seemed to be too many lines that appeared to reference the somewhat lesser known incident(s). And I was right!* *hold for applause* As much as I love being right and feeling smart, the incorporation of this case may strain credulity for some readers. It also doesn't help that Margot is apparently going for a bad decisions personal best. Overall, though, this is an engaging read.

*If I didn't actually predict this/this was just a coincidence, then that's none of my business.

Return To Midnight was a book that truly intrigued me with the premise, but unfortunately I just could not get into it. I really really tried, but it just did not work for me. I had to DNF.

I love a final girl thriller. I've read more than I can count, and I will continue to read them, because there's just something about them, and none of them are exactly the same.
Return to Midnight was a little slow in the beginning, but the multiple timelines, and mounting mysteries really helped to move the story along.
As a thriller reader, I have a habit of creating a list of suspects while reading, but nothing makes me happier when I'm wrong.
Very excited for more from Emma Dues.
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Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was very hyped for this book based on the synopsis, but it fell a bit flat in the end. I didn't click with the writing/main character's point of view, as I found her a bit of an overly chill doofus much of the time, which created a distance that I couldn't really overcome to immerse myself in the world, as I prefer to do with my favorite thrillers. It was still fine, and some of the twists landed effectively.

RETURN TO MIDNIGHT is a blend of ballet, true crime, thriller, and mystery with Emma crafting a suspenseful tale of dual timelines (past & present) that'll leave you at the edge of your seat. Margot, our main character, is one of the few survivors of the Midnight House Massacre, who reunites with the other survivors at the very house where she lost her friends. She's writing a book but feels there are loose ends still haunting her and the others. Who can she trust? Who can she talk to? We don't know! With each alternating chapter, you dive further into the past in reflection to the present which brings you closer to everything that went down that horrific night.

There wasn't a day I wasn't reading to find out more. Dual timelines are hard to achieve, but Emma writes it so well that it's easy to follow along and know where you are. Definitely a recommended read.

Many thanks to Emma Dues, Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for the E-ARC!
RETURN TO MIDNIGHT debuts on August 27th, 2024!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC to read in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Return to Midnight is a dark and thrilling story of murder and suspicion that keeps you questioning not only who did it but also what happened in the first place. I really liked how the author drew out the flashes from the past to keep me on my toes, guessing left and right about what was happening and who did it. I felt the author did a great job with leaving out names or references in certain spots to keep the past a mystery until the scene happens. This was a memorable, spooky mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Ten years after the Midnight House Massacre, Margot finds herself back at Oxford University. The night of the massacre, five of Margot's friends were brutally murdered, leaving her as one of three survivors. Being a writer, Margot feels compelled to finally share her side of the story.
Overall, the story itself was good. I enjoyed the flashbacks and how it gave insight as to what truly happened leading up to that horrible night. Unfortunately, the writing seemed a little repetitive. Some ideas nd details were brought up a number of times, like the mention of Margot digging her nails into her skin. There were quite a few twists, with the very last one being the best!

Thank you NetGalley and Emma Dues for this read!

Almost a decade has passed since a harrowing tragedy struck an off-campus Victorian home, resulting in the deaths of five Ohio university students. This haunting incident was branded the Midnight House Massacre. Margot Davis, both a survivor and a novelist, has strived to repress the memories, avoiding any mention of the perpetrator's name. Yet, she feels compelled to document her account, leading her back to the ominous Midnight House.

The novel's atmospheric and foreboding tone held me captivated, keeping me on tenterhooks throughout. Told through dual timelines—one unfolding before the massacre and the other in the present day as Margot seeks answers—the story brims with tension. While each character seems to possess a motive for the murders, the actual truth remains an elusive mystery that defied my expectations.

The narrative weaves a complex web of hidden truths, surprising twists, and turns that continually challenge and redirect the reader's assumptions—a narrative approach that I found deeply engaging. The mounting suspense was tangible, compelling me to resist putting the book down.

I extend my thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granting me access to this captivating tale.

This was really well written, I absolutely loved this story! If you love murder mysteries then this is the book for you! I loved how the main character was authentic in the end and she owned up to her part in the tragedy that occurred.

An enjoyable debut thriller from Emma Dues! I didn’t find the resolution or twists totally revolutionary but it was fast paced/ multi timeline/ unreliable narrator which are all elements I enjoy in this genre!

Gorgeous writing. Impeccable storytelling. A thrilling ride. What's not to love? A fantastic debut by Emma Dues!

Loved this book! Normally I struggle with the jumping around story lines but this was easy to keep up with! I liked that there were so many suspects to keep you guessing. The only reason I gave this a 4 star review was that I was able to figure out who it was early on as I always suspect the innocent, nice one trying to get close to the group, but also having some type of history (I read a lot of crime and thrillers). I, also, figured out that there was something hidden in the walls that allowed someone to get inside early on as well. However, the way the book was written to reveal who it was, trying to throw you off with the father, I found very clever. And what happened to Cooper I feel like was a great way to throw off readers as well! Overall it was a great book and I would definitely recommend it! (In fact, I already have a few friends reading it now!)

This book kept me reading and reading. While the main character is unreliable and this has been done a lot lately I still enjoyed Margot. There are lots of suspenseful scenes and a few good twists and just wanted to know what happened. This is a great debut novel!

I has the pleasure of receiving an ARC for Return to Midnight by Emma Dues.

First and foremost, I loved the vibes of this book. It takes place during Spooky Season, and all I wanted was to be surrounded by pumpkins, candles, and cozy blankets while reading this. Emma does a great job of really setting the tone for this story, adding an air of eeriness at every turn.

I found the story itself very gripping. I love dual-timeline novels, especially in thrillers. I also really enjoyed Margot's character, and despite wanting her to succeed, still wasn't sure I could completely trust her (which goes the same for all the characters). I love a good unreliable narrator, and this one certainly delivers.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a great debut, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Emma's work.

This is the kind of book when you say “just one more chapter” and you end up reading it in one setting.

This book has a creepy and dark setting that kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time. It’s told in 2 different timelines, one leading up to the massacre and one year after as Margot is still trying to uncover and understand what really happened that night. Everyone had a motive for the murders but I would’ve never guessed how it actually all happened.

There were so many secrets and twists and turns that everytime you feel like you got it right it takes you to a completely different path and I love that. The tension building was insane, I truly couldn’t put this book down.

I can’t wait to read more from this author.

4.75 stars.*

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC copy.

#ReturnToMidnight #NetGalley

3.5

this one was complicated. it almost put me in a slump, but i enjoyed the writing in general, more specifically the descriptions. the dialogue felt a bit cringe and corny at times, relying too much on cartoonish villain explanations near the end like the author forgot she needed the audience to get some kind of closure. tropes are fine, but you also need to rely on the strength of your characters and your plot, not just other devices.

as a character, margot was fine. she wasn't annoying, albeit jaded, and i could definitely feel her emotions, particularly her grief. her relationship with her mother is the true highlight of this book and i would have liked to see it be explored a bit more.

I found this book to be a little under developed, The ballet subplot was interesting as was the creepy house the murders happened in but nothing really pulled together. Even though there were chapters about the events leading up to the murders no one really felt like a real person so it was hard to tell when someone was acting out of character or even what was going on since they were so interchangable.

There were also so few characters, there was really only one outcome of the book that made sense