This book had too much sci-fi for my taste unfortunately. I did like the audiobook narrator.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

Midnight in Soap Lake is a captivating, atmospheric novel that weaves mystery, suspense, and a touch of the supernatural into a compelling narrative. When Abigail moves to Soap Lake, Washington, for her husband's research, she expects a peaceful life surrounded by nature and quirky charm. Instead, she finds herself immersed in a town steeped in eerie urban legends and strange occurrences.

The story picks up momentum when Abigail encounters a young boy running from something dark and mysterious, leading her to investigate his mother’s tragic death and the secrets of the town. With the help of a colorful cast of characters, Abigail delves deeper into the town's violent history and the lake's hidden magic, discovering that the past might not be as dead and buried as everyone believes.

The novel skillfully blends small-town intrigue with a gripping supernatural mystery, creating an immersive world that readers won’t want to leave. The mix of quirky characters, suspenseful plot twists, and magical realism keeps the reader hooked. Abigail’s personal journey of uncovering the truth and surviving the growing dangers makes for an engaging and satisfying read.

With its richly developed setting and intriguing plot, Midnight in Soap Lake is a great choice for fans of mysteries that blend the eerie with the everyday, and it’s sure to leave readers eager for more.

Well color me impressed! This book is captivating, well written, and full of interest featuring a small town with big secrets.

Do you ever choose a book out of curiosity and don’t expect much of it? That was this book for me. I chose this book because the setting is Soap Lake, about a 2 hour drive west of where I live. We drive through this town every time we’re headed to or through the mountains and it is not a place to stop for any reason. When we see the lake, we have driven a few hours through farm and scrub land with no rest stops so Soap lake is a bit of a relief to see. However, there is only one place to stop, a really nice outhouse type structure, on the outskirts of the gated RV park on the lake. There is a mini mart but it is not inviting to travelers. There are no fast food places or visible stores or coffee shops. It’s safe to say that Soap Lake is a place to quickly drive through toward your destination. Never in my wildest imagination did I think a whole book could be written about this little blip on the map of my great state! But boy was I wrong!

This author not only brought Soap Lake to life, he created colorful and quirky characters that I cared about, some I disliked, and a few I rooted for. This book is written with two storylines, side by side, past and present, intertwining until they masterfully come together with all the reveals.

This is a great book with a compelling story. This book touched my soul and I won’t ever forget it. I can assure you that I will see Soap Lake with new eyes the next time we’re passing through!

If you love books about small town life where a tragic and mysterious murder takes place and a lake that has ancient healing powers, then put this one on your TBR. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on April 15, 2025

3.75 ⭐️

MIDNIGHT IN SOAP LAKE by Matthew Sullivan

Abigail is new to Soap Lake, Washington, and her husband Eli quickly was summoned to Poland to do research. So when she finds a little boy George whose mother was murdered by a screwdriver, she immerses herself into the community, takes an active role in George’s life, and tries to help solve the murder of Esme. The novel flashes back to when Esme was younger in Soap Lake.

➕ Unique way to bring together an actual, mystical lake with a mystery. Soap Lake is a few hours away from me by car, and I enjoyed learning more about this actual lake.
➕ I really liked the found family element in this novel, as Abigail is new to town, and finding George after his mother’s murder gets her more involved in the town. I liked the unique individuals in the town, including the recovering drug addict.

➖ I didn’t think the actual mystery was very compelling.
➖ It felt a little too drawn out.

I’m not usually too much of a fan of quirk, and this novel has some elements that are off the beaten path. I actually liked several of these elements although I didn’t quite grasp the myth of “Tree Top.”

I thought the audiobook narrator Kristen Sieh did a good job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hanover Square Press, and Harlequin Audio for an Advance Reader Copy and Advance Listener Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

It publishes April 15, 2025.

Wow! Midnight in Soap Lake by Matthew Sullivan blew me away with its complex and flawed characters, unique setting, complex storyline, and twists and turns.
I'm glad that I stuck with it, because I did find it to be a tad slow at the beginning and considered setting it aside. But once it picked up, it snowballed! Threads from the past and present were woven into an intricate story that grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The cast of characters - from the bored wife, transplanted to the area and then deserted by her scientist husband, who needed something to occupy her time, to the town pariah Esme, whose story traverses time, to the conflicted police officer, the grieving parents of teens tragically lost, and the scientist who fled the town and the husband she left behind - are compelling and easy to understand. Together they tell a story that is part mystery, part tragedy, and completely spell binding.
This would make an excellent limited television series!
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #MidnightinSoapLake, working title my ARC came with #MidnightintheOrchardbytheLake.

📚 Summary:
Abigail moves to the quiet town of Soap Lake, Washington, to support her husband’s research on the town’s mysterious mineral waters. When he leaves for an overseas project, she is left to navigate the town’s eerie legends and unsettling secrets. A chance encounter with a young boy tied to a local myth pulls her into a web of mystery, forcing her to uncover the town’s hidden past—and the truth about the lake’s enigmatic reputation.

💭 Thoughts:

This was a true whodunit, and I was HOOKED from the start! 🔍✨ I even tried to stay up reading, but I just couldn’t keep my eyes open—otherwise, I would have devoured it in one sitting. 😴📖

Sullivan crafts an atmospheric and immersive mystery that perfectly balances eerie folklore with a gripping investigation. Abigail’s journey was compelling, and I loved how the town itself felt like a character, filled with quirky residents and chilling secrets. The pacing kept me engaged, steadily unraveling twists while maintaining an undercurrent of suspense.

If you love mysteries that keep you guessing, small-town secrets, and stories that feel like they could be real, Midnight in Soap Lake is a must-read!

I have to share a little secret about this book…

When I requested, the cover had yet to be revealed. Me, a typical cover snob would never request a book without at least recognizing the author BUT I was completely captivated with the description that I knew I didn’t want to miss out !

Midnight in Soap Lake

Not only is the revealed cover amazing but it’s as mysterious as the book is. I absolutely love it!

Equal parts mysterious and suspenseful. Matthew Sullivan does an incredible job pulling you right.

I LOVED the urban legend incorporation!

Sullivan is THE author too keep an eye on and I can’t wait to see what’s next .

Check out this teaser :

A lake with mysterious properties. A town haunted by urban legend. Two women whose lives intersect in terrifying ways. Welcome to Soap Lake.

When Abigail agreed to move to Soap Lake, Washington, for her husband’s research, she expected old-growth forests and craft beer, folksy neighbors and the world’s largest lava lamp. Instead, after her husband jets off to Poland for a research trip, she finds herself alone, in a town haunted by its own urban legends.

When a young boy runs through the desert into Abigail’s arms, her life becomes entwined with his and the questions surrounding the death of his mother, Esme. In Abigail’s search for answers, she enlists the help of a quirky cast of friends to unearth Esme’s tragic past, the town’s violent history and the secret magic locked in the lake her husband was sent there to study. But as she gets closer to the truth, her own life may be in danger, too.

A sweeping, decade-spanning mystery brimming with quirky characters and puzzle-hunt scenarios, Midnight in Soap Lake is a rich, expansive universe that readers will enter and never forget.

_Midnight in Soap Lake_ by Matthew J. Sullivan is an atmospheric mystery read about a small town urban legend and real-life crime. It follows newly married Abigail in the present-day, who is stuck in the small town of Soap Lake after her husband is employed out of the country, as she investigates a tragedy that leaves a young boy without a mother. At the same time the reader follows Esme, a high school student who left the town after a horrific event, from the past to the present. With suspense from the cryptic TreeTop monster, who has terrified the town for years, well-developed characters, and clues throughout the book, mystery fans will appreciate this read.

It took me awhile to figure out how I was going to rate this book. Not because it wasn’t well written, it is.

Not because of the dual POV’s or alternating timelines, they were clear and each POV and timeline contributed to the story. I think the book would have lost something without them.

The ending was unexpected and to the author I say “Wow!”

It finally came down to the fact that even after I finished this book and started a new one, this one was still rolling around in my mind and to me, very few books today can offer such an experience.

Take a chance, you might just find yourself thinking about this book long after you’ve put it down too.

Midnight in Soap Lake by Matthew Sullivan is a haunting and atmospheric mystery that immerses readers in the eerie town of Soap Lake, Washington, where urban legends and unsettling history collide. Abigail, expecting a quiet life in the picturesque town while her husband conducts research, quickly finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and danger when a young boy thrusts her into a mysterious case surrounding the death of his mother, Esme.

The novel skillfully blends elements of supernatural intrigue, small-town charm, and a deep dive into the dark past of both the town and its residents. Abigail’s journey to uncover the truth about Esme's death and the strange powers of Soap Lake is filled with quirky characters, twists, and puzzles that keep the tension high and the pace relentless. The deeper Abigail digs, the more she realizes that the lake’s secrets could cost her everything.

With its richly developed setting, intriguing mystery, and complex characters, Midnight in Soap Lake offers a compelling read for fans of atmospheric thrillers and slow-burn mysteries. Sullivan expertly crafts a gripping narrative that will keep readers hooked long after the final page, offering both suspense and reflection on the consequences of uncovering hidden truths.

"Midnight in Soap Lake" by Matthew Sullivan is an intriguing story but for me felt like it doesn't quite reach its full potential. There are moments of genuine suspense and intense emotion, yet the pacing, multiple POVs and puzzle-hunt scenarios, were uneven, with certain sections dragging while others rush key developments. The characters are well developed but occasionally veer into familiar tropes, making it difficult to feel truly invested in their journeys. I was curious but I didn't burn through it, more a slow plod. The ending was anti climatic, leaving questions unanswered which is unfulfilling and doesn't make me want to recommend. Sullivan's writing is solid, with some beautiful descriptions, but the narrative lacks the spark that would make it truly memorable. Overall, it's a decent read—enjoyable enough, odd and quirky characters, but not particularly remarkable.

I loved parts of the story and other parts fell very flat. I really enjoyed the background story of Esme and Silas and Kevin. I wasn’t a fan of Eli and his work. I understand the point of his character and his work. But I found it a boring. The tree top urban legend idea was great I wish they played more into it. Honestly tho I felt this story was all over the place. The ending fell so flat as well. Not a book that I will really be talking about I’m sure.

Right of the bat this one locked me in. However it was a bit all over the place in terms of what actually was happening. While I was still wanting to know what would happen next, the ideas and premise were not consistent to keep me engaged throughout. Once you hit the end - it felt like there was no point as nothing really got resolved. I’d love to read future books from Matthew Sullivan.

Thank you NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the arc!

When I saw this title I couldn't click request fast enough. I'm from the town next to Soap Lake and my husband is from Soap Lake.

The premise of the book was really interesting. A woman moves to Soap Lake, with her husband who is a scientist studying the lake. She find a little boy and his mother who has been killed in her car. The book is all about unraveling why the mother was killer and her back story, and how it connects to the scientist and his wife.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. There are a lot of different characters and they are all interwoven, which really is just like small-town life. I liked how the author kept most of the town as it really is, although the author note does say that it's a fictionalized version. I was fairly worried that he hadn't ever been to Soap Lake at the beginning of the book.

I really like the science that was there to explain the properties of the lake and why people flock to the shores or laying in the water all day. I'm not sure about the conspiracy side of things but it added to suspense I guess.

The ending was a bit anti-climactic and left me with a lot of questions.

The setting in this book was so intriguing to me. The story takes place in Soap Lake, Washington. This book has mystery, conspiracies, urban legends. It’s addicting and I couldn’t put it down.

The audiobook is narrated by Kristen Sieh. She does such a good job voicing the role. I felt all the emotions while listening to this story.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This novel takes place in small town Soap Lake, Washington. The town’s lake plays a significant role in the narrative blending mystery and drama.
The characters are well-developed and the intricate dual timeline plot weaves them all together, creating a rich tapestry of life in this unique and intriguing setting.
The conclusion took me by surprise!
I highly recommend reading the author’s note - very interesting and informative.
I both read and listened to this story and felt like I grasped the complex concepts easier with the e-book.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book wasn’t quite for me. While the writing was strong, and I found myself invested in the story, I struggled to follow it at times and often lost focus. It definitely keeps you guessing, but the heavy focus on lakes and science wasn’t to my taste and made it hard to stay engaged. That said, The tree top kills part really spooked me! I think many readers will enjoy it though.

Nope. Sorry, but if you don’t know how to end a story then don’t write the damn story. This book has two timelines and countless mysteries connecting them both. Good character development but I didn’t like any of them. Even little George didn’t escape my annoyance. Too much science, too much urban legend, too many questions unanswered. The cover art is pretty fantastic though. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Wish it didn't take me so long to get to reading this book because I really enjoyed it! I saw some reviews say it was a weird read, but I am very much into "Weird." I actually thought it was a unique story and I thought it was so cool that Soap Lake actually does exist and is ecologically and culturally significant to the people who live around it as well as visitors. It's even considered to be "healing waters" with it's healing properties of alkaline water, oil and mud to the Moses-Colombia tribe. So, knowing you are reading a story based on a magical/mysterious lake that is real makes it all that more interesting!! I love a story with a mystery, and Soap Lake provided that. Abigail and her husband Eli, move to this town primarily so he can research this mysterious lake but shortly after arriving, he ends up moving away to Poland after being offered another job while Abigail stays behind. Abigail stumbles upon a crime scene and is thrust into trying to figure out what is going on-not only with the murder of the woman Esme, but also just the mysteries behind this town, lake and legends in general. The chapters read in alternate voices between Abigail and Esme and there are some great supporting characters. If you feel the book starts off slow, just keep with it because it really does end up being a good one!

“A lake with mysterious properties. A town haunted by urban legend. Two women whose lives intersect in terrifying ways. Welcome to Soap Lake, a town to rival Twin Peaks and Stephen King’s Castle Rock.”

After a world win romance, Abigail agrees to move with her new husband Eli to a tiny town called Soap Lake for Eli to work his dream job studying the mysterious lake. Before they can even get settled in, Eli ships off to Poland for a different research project. This leaves Abigail all alone in a new town with new people. Out one day for her daily walk, she finds George, 4 year old boy that runs out of the desert. After finding the car with George’s dead mother, Esme, seated in the front seat, Abigail is thrown into trying to solve the mystery of Esme’s death and the town’s creepy mascot, TreeTop.

This book is very well written in two different timelines. The author takes his time to build both timelines in such a way that you truly feel for each of the characters. The book kept me guessing the entire time and actually surprised me several times I highly recommend this book!