The premise of this book is very intriguing! I also felt like there were twists that I did not see coming, specifically the things found by Emma while cleaning her mother's flat. I will say that while an enjoyable read, there was a bit of a slow pacing issue in the beginning. I would have liked to get to that middle part a little faster. I felt like while we got to know Emma, it would have been nice to also get to know Clare and Mr. Eals, specifically more on their relationships with Margaret. I also would have loved an expansion on the relationship between Margaret and Betty through the adult years. That being said, I think this book was beautifully written. I also enjoyed reading it and being along for the ride.

Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
At its heart, this is basically a mother-daughter story. It is told from three points of view (which is three generations). The closest to the present time is told by Emma. When her mother, Margaret, dies Emma discovers some letters in her mother's things. This leads her on a quest to find out more about her mother. I enjoyed this book. It kept my attention, and the characters were well written. I could feel the pain of the mothers and the daughters. I would like to read more books by this author. I recommend this book if you like books about family relationships.

First, let me say that this book was not for me. Not because it was a bad book, but because I found the subject matter rather difficult. Primarily this book is about complicated relationships between mothers and daughters…and I have a complicated relationship with my late mother. So it’s hard for me - take my review with a grain of salt.

That being said, if you are a person that appreciates trigger warnings, I would HIGHLY encourage you to find a list of trigger warnings and read that list carefully. Nothing is “glossed over.” Everything is so visceral - thanks in part to excellent writing by the author.

Solid 2.5 stars (rounded up because the author can write so well).

Do you like books that describe family secrets? If so, Yhe Girl in the Midnight Maze should be high on your TBR list.

Great book - enjoyed this story. Sad in parts. Loved the hertiage of the picture. lovely that the sister met in the end. Strange how things can change with just a letter left

A decent read about family history, dynamics and intergenerational trauma. It’s a book that can get a bit confusing in places as the different narrative voices are quite similar in places, making it difficult to situate yourself in the different historical periods. But the plot is suitably gripping and the writing well crafted.

Fantastic. Love the way there are three different timelines for three generations. The mystery of the painting and who the girl could be is great. Brilliant read.


Thank you Cathy Hayward, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed reading this story as I was intrigued from the beginning and I also liked the way the author wrote - it was quite beautiful.

Emma hasn't ever been close to her mother and when she dies, she's surprised that she's left her home to her daughter (someone who her mother had never liked, had quite openly dismissed and had no time for), and is shocked that the painting she always admired has been left to someone she's not heard of before. As Emma begins to look into who this person is, she learns that there was more to her mother...

This is a dual-timeline, we also go back to Emma's grandmother too and this leaves us trying to guess how the two stories link.

It was cleverly written and it did leave me guessing.

The only criticism is that some of the chapters were quite short so this meant I wasn't fully invested in one time before then jumping to the next one again.

I really enjoyed this book. The description of the painting the book is named after (The Girl In The Midnight Maze) is so evocative. Surrounding this is a beautiful and tragic tale of parental love and sacrifice, with the past cleverly woven into the present day.

*** SPOILERS BELOW ***
I particularly liked the descriptions of Emma meeting Elizabeth for the first time. I found my brothers when I was 30 and they were 39, and can testify that the emotion involved was portrayed very well in this book.

Good story overall, but struggled a bit at times. Hard to see young girls being wrenched away from their newborns, isolated mother-daughter relations, etc. Still though, kept my interest to see how it ends, and would recommend.

This book was absolutely beautiful and devastating and unlike anything I’ve read so far. Although at times I feel like the plot could be a little bit more streamlined, I think this book was a beautiful story about a generation of mothers and the stories they left behind.

A wonderful book tackling some some difficult subjects. The characters are nuanced and have real depth to them. Nothing is black and white and there can be so much more to people than we realise. This book is largely about the relationships between mothers and daughters following multiple generations of the same family. Moving and beautifully written. 5 stars.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a dive into grief and is very heartfelt. The mystery elements were well written and Emma is a great character. You'll end up rooting for her every step of the way.

A multigenerational story about three women, this book was deeply moving. Emma desperately wants to reconnect with her mother, Margaret, but Margaret dies before that can happen. It’s when cleaning out her mother’s apartment, that Emma begins to really know the woman her mother was. I shed a few tears, thinking of my own mum, no longer with me

This was a very interesting book with chapters about three women in a family. Grandma Betty, her daughter Margaret (who Betty gave birth to at the age of 16), and Margaret's daughter Emma and her family. By reading about three generations of women you really come to understand how drastically life has changed in the last 50 years for women.

A trigger warning for some abuse to one of the characters which adds to Margaret's mystery and why she acted the way she did. Things wrap up nicely at the end for Emma and her family

Very very well written and good book!
Was very kindly accepted to read this before it's release.

Longer more in depth review to come.

This was a very elegantly written book. Often when reading books that traverse two different timelines it can be difficult to tie them together, but Cathy Hayward did it seamlessly. The writing was detailed, painting vivid pictures of each timeline, interactions, and the experiences each character had. The fact that this book was so real made the story an easy and quick read. The writing drew me in and I didn't want to put it away until I had all the details of the family drama to piece together what I thought the story was - and then - there would be another twist! While I loved all the characters, I was particularly fond of the beginning of the story with the solicitor - who had his secrets to guard and gave plenty of warning to Emma. Alas, she was a person who needed connection and acceptance. My heart ached for Betty, who also was just searching for love and acceptance while trying to navigate a difficult time for women both socially and economically. Overall this was an excellent read, very detailed and enjoyable!

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my personal opinions.

<i>"Sometimes when you lose someone you didn't get along with, it's harder than when you lose someone you loved unequivocally. You realise you can never put it right"</i>

The Girl in the Midnight Maze is an utterly poignant yet beautiful read, shedding light on the aspects of motherhood, family muddles, stereotypical expectations of society, deep-dark sensitive subject matters, and the burdensome decisions a woman has to make. Hayward has enticingly reflected upon mother-daughter relationships through dual POVs and multiple time switches which has been done effortlessly.

The painting never loses its significance throughout the entire book, which I view as an artistic way to describe the woman, one way or another trapped within the shackles and confinements of society and expectations, dilemmas, and regrets. It is the sense of relatability and resemblance to the girl and a mirror of their feelings in the maze that makes Emma, Libby, Betty, and Clare hear the echoes of the girl at night.

The book has led me to an intense book hangover and I'm certain I will not get over it soon, it was an assorted journey of emotions where, along with the eyes my heart bled for Margaret, the anguish I felt towards Betty (even though empathizing with her feeling as well) and the sadness I felt towards Elizabeth. From the very start, the story gets you hooked and captures your heart with an unrelenting grip.

(P.S. - I even cried while reading the Acknowledgments).

This was such a good book! I knew the minute that I opened this book i wouldn't be able to put it down until Betty, Margaret and Emma told me their story. At times, it such a sad and selfish one but an understanding one.
It's probably how my birth mom felt about giving me up. At least I hope so.
Here's a quote from Mr. Eals "Our parents lives are
mystery, aren’t they?’ he said. ‘We’re not interested while they’re alive, too busy with our own lives. We think that our existence is more interesting, that our parents are dull and have never lived. And then, too late, we often discover that we could have learned a
lot from their example."
I'm guilty of the very same about my parents.
The one I felt mostly sorry for was Emma and Elizabeth. Emma finding things out the hard way which really shouldn't have happened.
She's a wonderful character but it was Margaret and Betty who made this story interesting.
Mr. Eals is a mystery in himself. At first I wasn't sure why I liked him so much but as I read on it became clear why. I want to call him the gatekeeper of many secrets.
I loved that this novel is based on the author's life.
Please read her notes at the end. They're very interesting.
I've also learned quite a bit about birthing homes I guess you'd call them. Not so nice places. My heart went out to those women and girls through no fault of their own.
I was completely invested in this book from the beginning because the secrets are what kept me turning the pages.
Times I wanted to cry and times I just wanted to shake my head.
But I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I'm giving this book 5 stars. I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

I love a good story about a secret in a family and this was it! It was sooooo good! I could not wait to see how it ended, and was amazed at the ride the story took the reader on. Well done!