Like Amy McCulloch's adult debut, this is a gripping, original thriller with the added claustrophobic atmosphere of the ship setting. McCulloch's writing definitely draws readers in and has fantastic characters. I loved it!

Action packed, gripping and full of tension. I really enjoyed the claustrophobic feel of the book given that it was set largely on the ship. I'm new to the author but will look out for more from them.

When I read Breathless last year I was blown away by Amy McCullough’s descriptive writing that transported you to the heart of the action. As soon as I heard about her next book I knew I had to get it on order, but life got in the way and I have only just had the chance to take it off my TBR pile.
Olivia is about to embark on what most people would consider a trip of a lifetime in Antarctica except that she is not a huge fan of boats due to a bad experience as a child. She is really there to support her boyfriend as he launches an art exhibit except somehow he has missed the sailing and due to poor communication she is unable to contact him. Her unease continues when she feels she is being followed and that someone is targeting her. What she doesn’t know is who or why or why things are being kept hush hush. What is certain is that things are getting deadlier by the minute and there is no way she can get off the boat. The question remains is will she make it to the end of the cruise alive.
I have to admit I kind of flip flopped between liking Olivia and finding her deeply frustrating. At the start of the book, it was as if she couldn’t function without her boyfriend at her side and she seemed to let people walk over her slightly, especially business acquaintances. As the book progressed and I learnt a little more about her back story I did have some sympathy for her and as more things happened she did seem to develop a bit more of a backbone and not take things lying down as much. She does seem to make friends with the other occupants of her cabin, and they make a pact to look out for each other, and that works for a while. With the tension mounting and things becoming more deadly, like Olivia you are looking for every clue as to who is behind it all.
What I loved about this book is that there were quite a few twists in the tale and several potential suspects and at one point even a potential different victim bringing a whole different slant on the events that were unfurling. Once again Amy McCullough brings the reader into a stark location highlighting the beauty and the danger of the Antarctic where things can change so quickly. Whilst part of me would love to experience a trip like this, I am also not sure that I could spend time on a boat miles away from anyone or any help should things go wrong, after all you would literally be sailing towards icebergs.

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for a book which was different.
I loved Amy's first book but was a little unsure of this, and although it was a really good thriller for me there were a few, whats and whys!
So I would love to give 4 stars but feel it only deserves 3.5.
I would like more though.

'Midnight' is such an incredible, immersive read. This is set on a cruise to the Antarctica and the sheer remoteness and beauty of the Antarctica really comes across spectacularly well. It also provides the perfect location to build a sense of unease and danger. Olivia is our main character for this and I instantly connected to her and liked her. The other characters are strong and they all provide a mixture of personalities that come together to form an eclectic mix but it was interesting getting to know all of them.
The tension really builds throughout this book and I was hooked as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed this intense yet enigmatic read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an advance copy.

I'm always drawn to mysteries aboard cruise ships and the likes and after hearing great things about Amy McCulloch's first book, I was keen to give this a read.
Sadly it was far too slow for me. I understand going slow to create tension but it almost had the opposite effect for me in this.
I also found it hard to connect to or root for Olivia. She was a bit bland and unremarkable.
I wouldn't really call this a thriller either, maybe a mystery would be a better way to describe it.
I think I will go back and read Breathless and would be interested to see what the author does next. But unfortunately I don't think this story was for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I liked the authors writing style but I found the story very slow, especially the second half. The setting was great and very atmospheric.

I loved her first book so much I was a bit tentative about this. But no reason to be. I think she is going to be a massive star in the literary world. Her books are so different and real thrillers. The descriptions of these unknown (to me!) places are as relates it gets. Roll on #3

Breathless was a five-star read for me, and I was so excited for this one . While this book was an ok read, it didn't compare to Breathless for me, so I was a little disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley, Michael Joseph, and Amy McCulloch for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this book actually made me FEEL things. and i’m not even talking the usual crying and getting emotional, it genuinely made me want to reach through the pages and shake some of the characters, particularly the staff on the cruise and just scream in their face that they’re all dumb *****. so there’s that - when a book makes you feel emotions at the same time as the protagonist, the author must be doing something right to make me feel like it’s me who was in that situation and the sense of vulnerability and powerlessness olivia felt. the ending was satisfying (and frustrating too), and it felt like a well timed and thought out thriller.

This book was very disappointing as it was not as good as Breathless. Forced myself to complete it.

Midnight was SUCH a flop, I’m sorry to say. After Breathless I think everyone was expecting a lot from McCulloch’s follow up thriller, this time set on a ship heading to Antarctica. I loved the premise of this one as I’m really into locked room (or ship, in this case) mysteries and I also really enjoy travel thrillers.

What I love about travel thrillers - or thrillers set outside of the UK - is the atmosphere and the unwelcomeness of the landscape. I didn’t feel any of those vibes with Midnight. I feel like it could have been set just about anywhere.

The main character, Olivia, was also boring and I didn’t care about her survival at all.

I’m really sad about this one!

I really enjoyed McCulloch's Breathless so I had very high expectations for Midnight. Filled with suspicious characters, an interesting and extremely isolated setting and tons of suspense, Midnight lived up to my high expectations. I had a great time reading this one and look forward to diving into whatever McCulloch publishes next because I'm sure it will be equally fantastic.

Another exciting, thriller by Amy McCulloch.

The descriptions of Antarctica are beautiful and chilling, and it gives you a real sense of the remoteness and breathtaking nature at the far end of our remarkable planet.

There is murder, mystery and suspense in this new must read novel.

I really enjoyed this thriller, a murder mystery set aboard a ship heading for Antarctica. The killer must be on board but tantalising, it could be one of a selection of suspects. Olivia was interesting as a main character, some questionable decision making and a good back story perhaps influencing those decisions. The setting was fantastic and you could really feel the environment, the cold and the ice. Great sense of claustrophobia on board the ship. Complex web of characters and plenty of motives.

I loved the first book by Amy McCulloch Breathless so was keen to read Midnight.

This is the story of a trip to the Antarctic, where an exclusive art auction is taking place on board a luxury cruise liner. Olivia is on board with her partner, who is the agent for the artist. He has asked Olivia to support him behind the scenes, promising to support her as she has a fear of being on boats following a childhood incident. Unfortunately he misses the ship's departure so Olivia is on board the ship without him, surrounded by strangers who are asking where he is and what's happening with the auction. She has to face her fears of being abandoned as there's no way out. And then the accidents start happening.....

The sense of place and the majesty of the scenery all around is just as vivid as Breathless, and the author's love of the natural world is apparent, the scenery comes to life on the page. I enjoyed the story (though not quite as much as 'Breathless' and was interested to see where the plot would take me.

3.5 stars rounded up

I think that this is maybe trying to do too much? It feels like there’s too many motives and that for all of them our main character, Olivia, is really only incidental? I did like the Antarctic feel and adventure stuff - Amy does this really well. But the mystery is a little messy. It’s potentially worth a read if you want to experience the adventure part, but otherwise probably isn’t. 3 stars, just.

The chance to sail on a luxury cruise to the Antarctic helping organise an Art Auction for an esteemed & recently deceased artist was every thing Olivia could have wished for, especially along with boyfriend Aaron. However things are not smooth sailing. Aaron gets called off the boat for a business meeting & doesn't return before the ship sails. Olivia swaps the luxury cabin that she should have been in with a honeymoon couple only for them to be taken fatally ill. The shared cabin she swapped into is ransacked & Olivia struggles with her fears of the sea.

I have always had a fascination for Antarctica & this book really appealed to me, especially after enjoying 'Breathless' The descriptions of the continent did capture the setting although the majority took place on the ship. I did enjoy the book but perhaps not quite as much as I hoped. Maybe it was because I never really bonded with Olivia. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This isn't my first by this author, so I went in with high expectations, and I don't think I paused for breath after the first chapter.
The setting was absolutely faultless. Hopeless, desolate, and downright dangerous. Mix this with an anxious and flawed Olivia, and you have a recipe for a high tension read.
The danger was just everywhere, it had me absolutely hooked on what was coming next.
This author is fast becoming one of my favourite psychological thriller writers. The pace is fast, the action, constant and you just can't stop reading.