Most of the way through this book I thought for sure this would be a five-star read. It was suspenseful and creepy and had a supernatural element that I loved. However, the conclusion made me feel like all that suspense led to “not enough” and didn’t make a lot of sense to me.
My opinion of the ending could be due mostly to my preferences, hard to decide. But this was an engrossing story, so if the synopsis grabs you I’d say it’s worth a read.

I had amazing reading journey! I loved the mystery of haunted house, I loved the paranormal - oh let’s say: premonition-al part of the story! I loved the plot line reminds us of a chilling mash up of Whisper Man and Broadchurch! I loved the characters: Sarah who is survivor of big traumas, a loner, a fighter who struggles to gather her composure to adjust in civil life! I also loved Elliot and Maggie! I also loved Elsie and her secret passion about books!

The heart pounding pacing, the chapters which end with striking cliffhangers keep you guessing whodunnit till the end!

Only thing I got a little disappointed was the big revelation ( the identity of perpetrator) I have to admit that person was not the one I putted my bet on! But there are some little plot holes weren’t completely filled! Normally I cut one point when I’m not fully satisfied with the wrapping up of the story but I only cut half star and gave 5 stars ( 4.5 was rounded up to) because sometimes the journey is matters more than your goal. My reading journey was much enjoyable then seeing the story’s conclusion.

I think after reading the story I thought I wanted to spend more time with those characters and made sure they were all right: they already suffered so much and I wished to see their closure.

Let’s take a closer look to blood chilling, terrifying plot line. The story starts 25 years ago on Halloween in Blackhall Manor which turns into a haunted crime scene as a husband massacres his entire family, including his dad and after the carnage he’d created, he takes his own life! The young girl of the family hid in the closet when her father found him to pull the trigger. The last thing she remembered her mother’s pleading voice screaming : “not my little girl”

Now 25 years later, the place is empty but the ghost of young girl’s mother keeps screaming: “not my little girl”! Midnight man is rumored to lurk around the corridors of manor to take the lives who dares to intrude.

There’s already a poem was written about him:
“If you open your door to the Midnight Man,
Hide with a candle wherever you can.
Try not to scream as he draws near,
Because one of you won’t leave here.”

Five girls are invited to play Midnight Game in Blackhall Manor.

Libby thinks this was Angelica who likes to intimidate the four of her friends must be the one who sent the invitations to them.

The rules of the games are clear :
-Rule one: Stain some paper with a drop of your blood
-Rule two: Turn off the lights at midnight, leave the paper at the front door and knock twenty-two times. Open the door. You have invited the Midnight Man in.
-Rule three: Relight the candle. You must avoid the Midnight Man until the 3.33 a.m. If your candle extinguishes , it means the Midnight man is near. If he finds you, you will die.

And actually at the end of the night: one of them couldn’t leave the manor.

After the impactful two events later, we’re introduced officer Sarah who is returning back to her job because of one year long absence of leave. Her colleagues talk behind her back, her superiors walk on eggshells around her. Something so tragic might have happened to her connected with her husband she has ill fated relationship.

She’s sent to take statements of people after Halloween pranks which lead her to talk to two women from her past: her childhood best friend Maggie who is raising her seven years old son Elliot alone after her war hero husband was taken to the hospital for psychiatric care. And Elliot also suffers from nightmares related to Blackhall Manor and Midnight Man which picks Sarah’s interest.

The other woman of her past is Essie who is also dealing with obesity, taken care of by her 25 years old, introvert, counsel games addict son.

When Sarah plans to stay out of trouble, the threat letters she’s gotten forces her to confront with her hidden past. Somebody tries to avenge her by going after five girls who played the midnight game and the person has no intention to stop till she surrenders! Should she sacrifice herself to save the lives of the girls?
What’s the connection of Sarah with this haunted place?

Overall: the characters were multi dimensional and easily relatable. I couldn’t put it down! I love Mitchell’s previous works! But I mostly enjoyed this one! I hope we see Sarah back in near future for another crime mystery! We need more Slayton thrillers!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

25 years ago a family was murdered in Blackhall Manor. Blackhall Manor now stands abandoned and is the subject of an Urban Legend known as The Midnight Man. On Halloween 4 school friends go to Blackhall Manor as a dare but one of those friends will not leave . It is up to Detective Sarah Noble to find out what exactly happened.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it would make an excellent Halloween read. There are some really creepy elements to this book as well as the mystery. I think that the mix between the two is just right. We meet several characters along the way each with their own secrets that come out along the way. Although the story has a satisfying conclusion I felt that there was a lot to that ending and I am still processing it.

This is a fast paced, original, well written Crime psychological thriller.
Written in that great inimitable British way!
I started reading it late at night and couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it.
Gripping stuff!
Easily worthy of 4 stars ⭐️

I have mixed feelings after finishing this one. I typically enjoy a clean and tidy ending to a story and this one ended with too many unanswered questions for me.

I was really enjoying the story until about half way when my interest seemed to dip and never really came back for me.

There were elements of the story that annoyed me and Elliot influence in particular I wasn’t a fan of.

I didn’t feel a fantastic connection to the main character and the way she dealt with certain situations.

I had hoped for more given the premise behind the book and the set-up etc.

Didn’t blow me away unfortunately. 3/5.

This was my first book by this author and I was definitely impressed. It was spooky and thrilling - really kept my attention. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good suspense.

A creepy old dilapidated house with its own horror story. A scary game played by teens on Halloween. One of the teens goes missing. That’s me hooked!

The story of Blackhall Manor is known by all the residents of the small town. 25 years ago the father killed his whole family then turned the gun on himself. It is believed the house is cursed and has been left locked up since the day the police left. Until the night 5 local girls receive anonymous invitations to play The Midnight Man game at the Manor. On the back of the cards the words ‘If you tell you go to hell’.

When one of the girls goes missing the others are too terrified to admit where they were. Did they summon the midnight man? Is he after them next?

Sarah returns to the village with her husband and their cat. They are both police officers but Sarah is currently on leave. Her story unfolds as the book progresses.

We meet many interesting characters in the book, my favourite being 7 year old Elliott who is having nightmares about The Midnight Man, apparently seeing him in his dreams.

Who is The Midnight Man?

Well you will just have to read the book to find out!

Ooh this is wonderfully creepy. I had high expectations and they were exceeded by far. Gothic atmosphere throughout that never loses it edge. As more home truths unravel it gets better and more horrifying as the book progresses. Star of the show was a psychic little boy. Shocking, dark, packed with actions and secrets. Don't read it alone in the dark!

What an entertaining and gripping story. A mix of horror and thriller that I read in one sitting.
It starts with a bang and kept me turning pages as I was slowly discovering the story of Sarah and following the twists of the plot.
The author use some horror tropes and creates a fresh and exciting story.
Sarah is a great character, a damaged woman who faces her demons and is able to overcome them. I loved her and would happy to read other story featuring this characters.
I loved this story and hoped to read soon another one in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

OH MY GOD!! What a book. This book actually creeped me out it was so good. At times I had to remind myself to breath. One of the strongest main characters I've come across in a long time and the plot.... WOW! This book kept me up well into the night. After I checked all my doors and windows were locked though!

I own several books by this author, and this is the first time I have read one! I know, I know...

Her latest book The Midnight Man is a fabulously addictive crime, thriller and series suspense novel that has its roots based in the past. After a family is murdered an urban legend gradually starts to permeate from the abandoned and creepy Blackhall Manor. Fast forward 25 years and a group of teens decide to follow the rules to summon the Midnight Man. A game, nothing will really happen, but five girls arrive and only four return home again!

Well, this had a very series feeling to it pretty much all the way through. The opening for the story sets the tale that is to follow. I do like the way an old mystery or crime can give credence to a rumour. This sets the atmosphere for the story and with the inclusion of someone who has knowledge of the old manor it also adds secrets.

When the teen goes missing it starts to bring the past to the forefront of peoples minds. This gives the police investigation a nice twist. There is more to Det. Sarah Noble than first meets the eye. She has recently returned to the force and she herself bears an air of mystery.

This is a story that has mystery upon mystery. The author has started with one theme that centres around the Manor, it has then been morphed, twisted and tweaked. This gives the reader a chance to encounter several characters, a few other theories and this leads the reader to start drawing conclusions. I found myself convinced I had this one sussed out, and then I changed my mind, and yep changed it again! I love it when this happens.

As this is the first time I have read anything by this author I found a deeply twisted story that was creepy yes, but not too frightening. It is a mix of crime, thriller, mystery and suspense, it does have an element of police procedural. There is far more to this story than I have hinted at here, and I did find it hard to put down. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Urban legends have caused real damage and kids have been known to do dangerous and crazy things to try to prove or disprove them. On halloween night, a group of girls try to resurrect the Midnight Man. They go to Blackhall Manor, where they write their names on pieces of paper that they then anoint with their own blood. Legend says if they then knock on the door 22 times, the Midnight Man will appear. Detective Sarah Noble knows more about the Midnight Man than most, so she’s the one tasked with finding out why one of those teenage girls never came home. Creepy and a grim reminder how dangerous urban legends can be