3.5*

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Club is this summer new star of the bookish mystery genre. For a novel that was first published only two months ago it got a lot of fans on Goodreads. Although I was reluctant at first to follow the buzz, I am glad I did because it was a fun read perfect for my summer vacation.

The main reason why this novel is so popular is that it seems to be written specially to tingle every book lover’s pleasure receptors. First of all, the main character is a bookseller with a librarian father. Then, the title is the bookstore which is the location of few important plot developments. Moreover, Lydia, the MC possesses the traits that many book lovers can identify with. Add to this a mystery that revolves around messages hidden in books and you can’t go wrong with the intended audience. It worked, I found myself smiling many times, thinking- This is me and I was immediately invested in the character’s quest to find the reason for her friend’s suicide. However, I sometimes thought that the author was trying too much to satisfy my bookish personality.

The main mystery interlocked nicely with Lydia’s past secrets and I was surprised by some of the plot turns. Unfortunately, I guessed the main culprit quite early so a part of the fun was ruined for me when I realized I was right. Also, I thought that there were too many coincidences that made the plot feel forced.

The writing was ok, nothing special. The focus is on the setting and the plot so there is no space for too much deepness.

As I said, I enjoyed the novel, it is a perfect summer read but I probably won’t remember much about it in a few months.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book keeps popping up on Goodreads with great reviews from friends. I knew this book was a must read and I was lucky enough to get a copy free from NetGalley. For me this turned out to be a 5* read and probably one of my favourite books this year.

A mystery within a bookstore, what more could I ask for... It had so much more than I was expecting in this one book. The writing style was brilliant with well developed characters. Many twist and turns to keep you hooked.

I will be sharing this little gem of a book with everyone I can. Thankyou to NetGalley and Random House UK

I always have a weak spot for any book with bookish references or a story that is at least partially set in a bookstore. So as you can imagine, basically Midnight At The Bright Ideas Bookstore had me at the title. This book has been on my list of most anticipated releases ever since I first heard about for it and I've been looking forward to read it for ages now. And I can tell you one thing: this novel by Matthew Sullivan doesn't disappoint. Or more accurately, I enjoyed every single page of this 'contemporary puzzle and murder mystery in one'. Midnight At The Bright Ideas Bookstore isn't just another bookish book and actually presents two different mysteries to solve. The first is related to the suicide of one of the bookshop patrons and the other to what happened to one of the clerks twenty years ago. The plot is intriguing and well developed; the plot twists and revelations well balanced and I enjoyed solving the puzzles along with the characters. This book definitely has some surprises in store! The writing style had me hooked from the very first page and was both highly enjoyable, engaging and made it very hard to stop reading before reaching the final page. The bookish references are a true delight for any booklover and I love the role books play in this story in general. The mystery is also well done and there were definitely things I didn't see coming. You might start wondering about coincidences and some things seem pretty 'convenient', but I personally didn't care. Midnight At The Bright Ideas Bookstore will go straight to my list of favorites!

This book lifted me out of a recent reading funk. It really grabbed me, and the ending was very satisfying.

I loved this book - I was hooked after the first chapter. Intriguing and ingenious.

Review being published on Thursday 17th August on my blog!

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore grabbed me right from the start. Joey’s suicide is dramatic and sparks enough curiosity to keep on reading, and suddenly I found myself utterly engrossed - it was very easy to get lost in Sullivan’s writing and the story.

I first heard about this book as a mystery/thriller set in a bookstore, which sounded right up my alley. Whilst it’s not necessarily the description I would give, the story certainly has elements of a mystery/thriller, for example the questions surrounding Joey’s suicide and also the traumatic event in Lydia’s past I will warn you: some of this is very gory, with explicit descriptions of violence, so beware!

Despite the mystery/thriller elements in this book, I would say that it is definitely more in the literary fiction camp. It’s much more focused on family and the complicated relationships that exist between family members, as well as trauma. A relationship that is explored particularly extensively is that between Lydia and her father. I loved how we got the perspective of her dad telling the story of their past and to begin with I think I actually preferred reading this rather than the storyline of Joey’s suicide in the present.

The backdrop of the bookstore and the clues that Joey left behind in books were really enjoyable to read about - it was quite fun (and difficult) to work out Joey’s clues and made me feel much more involved and invested in the book. I loved how books were portrayed as such a central and precious part of life for the characters because it is such a familiar feeling. Also, a special shoutout to Plath who sounds exactly like my best friend’s mum, who also happens to be a bookseller.

Overall, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore was heartbreaking and addictive. The writing sucked me in and I got lost in a story well worth reading.

PLEASE NOTE: This review is a copy of the review that will go live via the accompanying link on th 23rd August 2017 at 9AM GMT. Thank you!

This was a sad book. Not ball your eyes out sad, but still devastating. Poor Joey!
Pretty sure I'm meant to feel sorry for a lot of people in this book actually, but Joey stole the spotlight as well as my heart.

This isn't my usual genre of story, though I do sporadically read thrillers - I found this one very well written and hard to put down. I wasn't desperate to know what happened next, it didn't compel me into a speed read situation, but I enjoyed making my way through it and as it happened I was able to read it in one day.
Part of the reason I think I enjoyed it so much as that everything circled back and was interwoven and related which is something I love. There were coincidences and connections and I just needed to see how they were related!
There were a few things I didn't like though.
Mainly, I didn't like the thought that there are actually people in Joeys situation. That this system, meant to protect him, failed him so badly. That he went through all that on his own. No, I'm not blaming those around him for not noticing what he was going through - he wasn't noticed because he didn't want to be but it's just sad.
I also didn't like the landlady. The heck does she mean that Lydia was too old?! She was only 10 years older than him! Why is it alright for the age gap to be the other way around but when the woman is older 'it's just wrong'?! Grr.

There were also creepy men all over the place. I don't know whether they were there because it's something 'normal' to the author/this situation or if they were written in to highlight them. I'm hoping it's the latter because if so, well done Mr Sullivan! More attention needs to be aimed at this situations so many women find themselves in every day.
At one point, when Lydia returns to a place, she even takes her friend Raj because of the creepy guy. It's not like she said "Hey, there was a creepy dude, come with?" but she clearly felt more secure going with back up.

This story answered a lot of questions for Lydia, it wasn't just about Joey. She had a big even in her past too that had impacted her in a massive way so she needed to deal with that and everything connected to it. While there was nothing good about Joey's death, the fact that Lydia sorts herself out is perhaps something.

Now I'm going to go away and pretend a happier ending for Joey happened...

I found this a bit odd and confused, but because of the setting and concept i have a feeling it will be really popular.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The setting is an old second hand bookshop where a young girl with a secret history works. She is friendly with all the visitors who while away their days reading; however when tragedy strikes for one "bookfrog" - he leaves her a string of clues that send her on a pathway of discovery into her past that she has blocked out for two decades. The twists and turns keep you guessing right to the end. Would definitely recommend this book

I only give this book three stars as I didn't really enjoy the story. The writing is good and I will definitely try any future books by this author. The characters did nothing for me and I think that is why I wasnt too bothered about the book.

This Murder-Mystery/ Thriller book will have you rifling through the pages! I finished it in one sitting – about 5 hours of reading.

I love this genre although it isn’t one I read so often, so I often find myself consumed by the book! One thing that stood out for me with this book was the intricate way the author weaves stories between one another, seemingly isolated from the next, however they are beautifully arranged and brought together throughout the book. Not only this, Lydia – the protagonist – is a BIBLIOPHILE! And although a little older than myself, I found myself really connecting with the character.

The book jumps occasionally between time frames, however the author has done this well, and is not confusing (as it can sometimes be). We follow Lydia’s path to uncover the mystery behind one of her favourite BookFrog’s suicide – which occurs right there in the Bright Ideas Bookstore! Haunted by a past which rears its ugly head when she finds Joey’s body, Lydia finds that this mystery is more connected to the Hammerman mystery of her childhood than she would like.

Throughout the story, she finds herself having to revisit places and people from her past; whom she had tried – and so far succeeded – to leave behind. This gave the book great depth and really allowed the reader to get to know Lydia, something I think we all look for in a good book!

Sometimes books of this genre get too tangled up with themselves, leaving behind unanswered questions and loose threads – this is not the case with MatBIBS (catchy acronym! *claps*) and I am very impressed with how Sullivan connects all the subtleties at the end.

Overall a fabulous debut from Sullivan – I will definitely be treating my shelf to a copy. I would recommend it to any thriller/ murder-mystery loving reader. I think to anyone of an age mature enough to read such genres. It reads well, and easily, and does not try to overcomplicate plots or details in the writing.

One small aspect holding it back from a 5* is PART of the prologue… for me it just seemed a bit cheesy and a small let down following from the fantastic book which precedes it. That’s just my opinion, for some people it will be entirely within their tastes – and whilst I understand what it was meant to symbolise, I do not think it was necessary for the story.

Because of that I am awarding this book a 4.5/5 stars, and will be looking for more titles from this author in the future!

The story starts with the suicide of a young customer in a remote area of a book shop during the night. Who was he and why did he do it puzzles a few of his close friends. As the story evolves it seems that they are a people with the veneer of normality but have survived traumatic events in their lives that each is trying to forget. It’s a tragic story that unfolds when pass inexplicable events that link them are revealed, mysteries are unravelled and crimes have their retribution.

An interesting read with a fast paced plot. Enough twists in the story to keep you guessing until the end. I had a hard time getting attached to Lydia and I am not sure that I really understood her. I also felt that some of the plot lines were too contrived and unbelievable.

This was set in a library but a library with a twist. . The main characters were believable and finally the links which drew all the characters together were exposed. It moved at a sedate pace but I felt this was in keeping with the plot. The tension built slowly and finally all the pieces came together

I speeded through this book. I was gripped from the very start and swept along this fast-paced mystery. I felt like I was sat on Lydia's shoulder the whole time, journeying through the adventure. When it was clear her dad wasn't guilty I did work out who did it ahead of the reveal, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of this book. Will be recommending.

Lydia is a reclusive twenty-something-year-old working at the Bright Ideas bookstore, a place eminently suited to her desire for quiet and anonymity, as indeed it suits the 'BookFrogs', the clientele of oddballs, misfits and homeless people who find refuge among the stacks. All this changes one night when Joey Molina, a regular customer with a troubled childhood in foster care and a jailbird past, hangs himself, thus starting a chain of events which will force Lydia to confront the gory past she is hiding from and will result in her setting out to find answers to many unanswered questions about the unsolved murder of her childhood friend's family, which she witnessed as a child.

The narrative rolls along nicely enough, keeping the reader going out of curiosity. However, I found the style of writing curiously like a school essay and it got in the way of my enjoyment of the story. Characters are not well developed - even the protagonist Lydia remains a cipher and we get very little sense of her inner life and the lasting effects of having witnessed a bloody triple murder as a ten-year-old. Her relationship with boyfriend David seems comfortable but unchallenging, but again David remains a marginal character and we are left with little idea of why they are together or why this may no longer remain the right thing for Lydia. There is a great deal of overstatement too, which offended my intelligence as a reader, and there are passages and moments of hackneyed description which seem to have been tagged on as an afterthought because that's what the author thought might be expected.

All in all, an interesting and original plotline which the pedestrian writing doesn't do justice to.

I was unable to finish this book as I found it very melancholy. I was quite disappointed as I've always loved books that are set in a bookshop!

Lydia enjoys working at the Bright Ideas Bookstore in Denver, Colorado. She lives a quiet life and is a willing listener when any customer needs a friendly ear.

When she makes a shocking discovery on the top floor of the bookshop, however, her world is turned upside down. She is led to investigate the life of a vulnerable young man called Joey, who has hanged himself. Joey is one of the BookFrogs – the name given to those regulars who come in as much to find a place to shelter from life's hardships, as to buy books. Following a series of strange clues cut out of, or rather into, books, Lydia finds out more about Joey and his traumatic childhood.

This is not the first time Lydia has had to deal with trauma. As a child she witnessed a series of brutal murders, while on a sleepover at a friend's house. The perpetrator, nicknamed the Hammerman, has never been caught. While digging into Joey's story, she finds connections that lead her to attempt to discover the identity of the Hammerman.

Though she has a boyfriend, David who works in IT, Lydia reconnects with an old childhood friend, Raj Patel. Raj's parents run the gas and doughnut store where she and her friend Carol used to hang out as ten-year-olds. She also reluctantly reconnects with her estranged father who lives a reclusive life up in the mountains.

Filled with quirky characters, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is a gripping read. We dip in and out of the past, steadily learning the secrets of Lydia's early life. As the mysteries unravel, Lydia begins to suspect someone close to her of being the Hammerman. And though the reader, too, begins to have suspicions, the answer is unexpected and shocking.

This is a novel about the love of books, the nature of friendship, and the way childhood experiences shape us. While on some levels it is a murder mystery, it is also much more than that, and though it features more than one terrible tragedy, it is told with verve and sympathy.

This is one of those books I got from Netgalley that has taken me a while to get round to. I thoroughly enjoyed this it is quite simply a great idea within a novel storyline.

The mere idea of a bookstore where people go to read rather than buy, where inclusion is the norm and where the author drops book title names like pennies from heaven would have me lapping up every word to begin with. Then the author starts to unravel a different tale, a mystery from long ago - a crime never solved and I bet every reader thinks they know where its going - but most of them will be wrong.

This is so well written, the characters are unique and brilliantly defined and the whole also evokes a time gone by.

MIDNIGHT AT THE BRIGHT IDEAS BOOKSTORE has an interesting, multi-layered storyline with colorful characters and manages to be at the same time dark, clever, and one of the most original and gripping thrillers I have read recently.
Although the book goes back and forth between past events and the present storyline, it does so seamlessly and it manages to hold the reader's interest and attention throughout.
I have to admit that the end does not come as a complete surprise, but getting there is still a very enjoyable journey. Would recommend it.