This is a most unusual story set in the 1920’s where the main character Pearl is stuck in a time loop following an incident at a country house.
It’s a bit like ground hog day where she is reliving the same day time & again.
She has an overbearing father who treats her no better than a servant.
There is nobody to greet them when they arrive at the house for a party & their mysterious host is nowhere to be seen which is decidedly odd.
Pearl wants to escape the party & decides to go for a swim in the cove.
She happens upon an unusual mercury clock that has been hidden in the cave.
This encounter with the clock sets off a series of events happening & all the guests including Pearl die from a fire at the house.
But then Pearl comes too back in the cave time & again seeming never to get by midnight.
Will it be ever be possible to change what happened & finally get to a new day..
Wonderfully addictive unforgettable read that will keep you engrossed to the last page.
Lots of twisty atmospheric suspense I absolutely loved it.

sadly did not manage to read it in time and I love Jenni Keer books so I will have to find a copy at my local bookstore to finally read it. Having read Jenni's books before I know I will be happy sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea enjoying this.

I’ve reviewed three other books by the author, the last being No. 23 Burlington Square. That was also a play on time in its own way. This book is a proper time warp story with Pearl being forced to relive the evening of her death over and over again.

Pearl, our protagonist, is an obedient daughter and an overall unemotional person. She has followed instructions to the letter all her life. Now, she harbours just two personal things that are wholly hers, the love of the water and the obsession with stealing time pieces.

When Pearl is forced to attend a strange party on an almost coercive invite, she is looking forward to some wild swimming. What she doesn’t anticipate is being sick in a time loop where she is unable to change much. After several iterations, Pearl starts to change, becoming more independent. She also starts to dig into the mystery of the invite.

The mystery itself seemed quite obvious, and I was not surprised by much about the plot. The loop and the writing itself were the positive parts of the whole. Once I started it, I was surprised at the number of iterations of the same day I could read, since I expected the number to be quite low. As the author swings between solving the mystery and the growth ARC, we get to read about different types of days as the days keep repeating. The ultimate reason for the loop obviously needs some suspension of belief, but overall everything wraps up well.

I would recommend this to fans of the genre or the author.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

At the Stroke of Midnight is an unusual mystery set in the 1920s at a country house where following an incident in a cave Pearl somehow manages to be stuck ni a cycle where she keeps reliving the same day over and over again, usually culminating in her death every evening. The closest comparison I can think of is the movie Groundhog Day, combined with Agatha Christie.

The character progression of Pearl was fantastic. From a mild-mannered and naive young woman cowed by the demands of her overbearing father, to a determined and confident woman determined to find her own path in life. As she got caught in the repeat cycle, she also became convinced that the other members of the house party were not being honest about knowing one another.

I loved Pearl's connection with Ellery, and the way in which they joined forces to solve the mystery and stop the clock resetting every day.

This captivating murder mystery kept me guessing from start to finish, I thought it was cleverly constructed with the perfect balance of suspicious and unlikeable characters under scrutiny. Step aside Agatha Christie!

1923, Pearl Glenham and her father are invited to a stately home by the sea. Pearl believes her father is being blackmailed but their mysterious host isn't present to welcome them. She goes for a swim and hits her head in a cove before returning to the house, enjoying dinner and then being killed in a fire. She then wakes again in the cove and repeatedly tries to save herself from death...
At The Stroke Of Midnight is a timeloop book in an historical setting.
Pearl becomes stuck in a timeloop, reliving the evening at the country house which culminates in a fire or other means of death. She tries to find ways to outwit the killer but they change their plan to ensure success. She also finds the freedom to escape her controlling father alongside Ellery Brown who becomes aware of her situation.
I felt quite sorry for Pearl. Her mother died giving birth to her and her father treats her like a servant. She is treated dismissively by the other guests but makes a surprising connection with the male servant which develops over the course of the book. Now she dies in a terrible fire but is then caught in a timeloop to save herself and maybe the other guests (who are awful!)
I enjoyed the mystery of the timeloop and Pearl's struggles to survive.  Many of the characters are acting suspiciously or inappropriately which served to make me like Pearl even more. There are secrets to be revealed and the tension simmers gently. The historical and geographical element supported the plot and characters and I felt they had been researched well.
At The Stroke Of Midnight is an enjoyable mystery with a clever timeloop feature.

Really lovely read. A perfect summer holiday book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my feedback.

This is the 2nd book I have read from this author and I really enjoy her light, easy style. I enjoyed the various characters and trying to work out their dark secrets. An easy read with a mysterious undertone that is underpinned by the main characters reliving the same day over and over… intrigue is slowly revealed and when the crescendo occurs it all comes together in a satisfying manner. Yes you have to suspend belief but you would go into that with your eyes open, knowing you’re going to read a ‘time slip’ book.

4* at times a little frustrating and simplistic at times, but on the other hand it kept me very engaged throughout

"It’s 1923 when Pearl Glenham and her father are invited to a mysterious country house party on the Dorset coast, by a total stranger.
Her father claims not to have any prior association with Highcliffe House, but upon arrival, it is apparent that he has a secret shared history with several of the guests. Belatedly discovering that her father was blackmailed into attending, Pearl’s worries are compounded when their elusive host fails to even appear… Intimidated by everyone at the party, she escapes to the nearby cove and stumbles upon a mysterious mercury clock hidden in a cave. This strange encounter sets in motion a series of events that culminates in an horrific house fire, claiming the lives of all the guests, including Pearl herself. But then… Pearl wakes up back in the cave, seemingly destined never to live past midnight. She can repeat the day. But can she change its outcome?" Does she change its outcome or does her day just keep repeating itself over and over? This was interesting book, fast paced, suspenseful. First time read, will be reading more from this author. I give this book 4 stars.
Thank you to netgalley, boldwood books for an opportunity to leave an honest review.
Published March 12th, 2024

1923, Pearl and her father are invited to a party given by a stranger, and she later discovers her father is being blackmailed. Pearl discovers a mysterious device on the grounds and later apparently dies in a house fire, only to wake and start the same day over. And over. This was good, obviously a bit of a Groundhog Day situation but with a mystery to be solved. 4 stars.

So many things to love about this book – stunning setting, fabulous characters, a murder mystery to solve, and all under a spellbinding timeslip twist. Absolutely devoured the pages

Pearl and her father are invited to a mysterious country has party on the Dorset coast by a total stranger, immediately the story sounds like Agatha Christie and then there were none. However, this book is very different although it is in true Agatha Christie style a mystery the mystery is only Solved gradually she finds herself having to relive the same day again and again and look at things from different points of view each time. in a Groundhog Day fashion. I thought this was a very clever and enjoyable idea.
The setting and the mystery are pure Agatha Christie style I think she would be very pleased with this style imitation and it works extremely well. Setting the novel and historical period also add drama and glamour to the story.
There isn’t a little love story inside the novel. I personally felt it wasn’t necessary, but others may not feel the same.
This is a primary story based mystery novel and I did feel that the characters weren’t as well developed as I would have liked. The setting is highly visual and I suspect this would make a fabulous film. I would hope that the film will be gobbled up to see it on Netflix soon.
I would recommend this novel for lovers of mysteries like Agatha Christie.
The book was published on the 12th of March 2024 by bold Wood books. I read an early copy on NetGalley UK.



This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.WordPress.com. It will also appear on Amazon UK .

Pearl and her widowed father are invited to a house party in Dorset. Pearl has no knowledge of the place, the person and why they are invited.

Her father, thought seems to be holding back some secrets as the other guests gather ad the all somehow know each other. Whilst they wait for their host to arrive, who has been inexplicably delayed, tensions begins rise.

Pearl escapes to the cove by the house, discovering a cave with some hidden treasures, Pearl knocks into a mercury clock. This triggers some horrific events, which sees the house go up in flames and everyone perish including Pearl.

But at the stroke of midnight, it all starts again and as each evolution happens, she lives the day again, when the novelty wears off, she uses this unique opportunity to learn about all of the guests, their past and their missing host. Can she stop the fire and all of their deaths?

This novel is part historical fiction, murder mystery with a dose of suspense and magical realism in. The reliving of the same day at the stroke of midnight, was not at all jarring and adds to the overall magic of the story as Pearl solves the mystery presented to her as she eventually needs to stop reliving that fateful day.

Great characters, interesting plot device that kept me captured and will certainly recommend to any who want something familiar but different to their reading.

Described as Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day, this book delivers just that.

An invitation to a dinner party in a well to do house is completely out of the ordinary for Pearl and her father.

As she relives the same dinner day after day Pearl finds the confidence to become herself grow and we unravel the mystery bit by bit.

A great premise that is well executed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the preview copy.

This book started slow but soon picked up speed.
It is a superb time twist novel.
At the Stroke of Midnight is a cross between Groundhog Day and an Agatha Christie.
I enjoyed it.

This is a clever murder mystery with a type of romantic end. The chase in search of the murderer is excellent in that it uses a ‘Groundhog day’ device where the main characters experience the same day repeatedly and find out more about the mystery as the repetitions of time continue.

I liked the sound of this book, and it was a pleasant read with a nostalgic feel. I think it just wasn't quite what I expected somehow, and I didn't really feel connected to any of the characters. I would probably try another book by this author though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

I was on the blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources

http://ramblingmads.uk/2024/03/16/blog-tour-at-the-stroke-of-midnight-jenni-keer/

Cada uno tenemos nuestras preferencias a la hora de leer y si a mi me pones delante una historia de viajes en el tiempo es bastante complicado que la deje pasar, en especial cuando se recurre al tropo del bucle temporal del que parece imposible salir, entonces ya me tienes totalmente ganada. Lo malo de esto es que tras haber leído la maravillosa The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, es muy difícil encontrar algún libro que siquiera se le acerque en cuanto a complejidad de trama e inmersión en la lectura. Es por esto que aunque At the Stroke of Midnight es una buena novela, palidece en la comparación.


El principal problema de At the Stroke of Midnight es un comienzo bastante lento que lastra el desarrollo de la historia. Tanto la situación geográfica, con un misterio de “mansión cerrada” por llamarlo de alguna manera como el momento temporal en que Jenni Keer sitúa su historia son muy acertados para un relato de este tipo, pero quizá se demora demasiado en los detalles preliminares antes de llegar al meollo del asunto. El año es 1923, como buen misterio con toques a lo Agatha Christie, y la protagonista es Pearl Glenham, una joven apocada que siempre ha estado al servicio de su frío y distante padre. Todo esto cambiará cuando los inviten a una retirada mansión sin una causa clara y sobre todo cuando empiece el bucle temporal al que se ve abocada por enigmáticas causas.

Pearl vivirá un rito de madurez tras otro de forma muy acelerada en cada una de las iteraciones del día que le toca revivir, algo que la autora nos muestra de una forma concisa e inteligente, partiendo de la confusión inicial al disfrute de la libertad sin compromisos ni consecuencias y finalizando en la reflexión y madurez. En este aspecto, Pearl Glenham es el sujeto perfecto de anodino presente que va desarrollándose gracias a esta oportunidad para florecer en su vida adulta.

El casting mental que realizó la autora para los personajes no llega a sorprender tanto, quizá por lo escaso de su número o por lo estereotipado de algunos de ellos. Cumplen perfectamente su función, pero quizá son un poco bidimensionales si los comparamos con Pearl. Aún así, cumplen perfectamente su papel como figurantes en el misterio.

Respecto al misterio en sí, las causas de la repetición del día y también cómo salir del atolladero no son excesivamente originales, pero si que son funcionales y plausibles (dentro de cierta suspensión de la incredulidad) y dan a la novela cierto toque de verosimilitud que ayuda mucho a disfrutar de la lectura, ya que son coherentes dentro de la lógica interna del propio libro.

En resumen At the Stroke of Midnight es una novela agradable para leer, que no viene a revolucionar el género pero que tampoco lo pretende.

Deliciously quirky cozy mystery, intriguing historical characters with a time travel twist or groundhog day twist. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

In this historical fiction novel, Clue meets Groundhog Day and plays with the concept of time travel in early twentieth-century England. Jenni Keer brings readers into a house where Pearl Glenham and her father live an isolated and eccentric life until they are invited to a mysterious house party in Dorset. The first night, a fire burns the manor home down -- except Pearl wakes up and lives the day over again with all of her memories. As she continues to live, die, and relive the house party, Pearl must use all of her wits and skills to uncover the mystery of the house party, those in attendance, and stop the cycle from repeating itself. Keer’s characters are the star of the show, and Pearl is a particularly unique and complex heroine with a depth to her character that is not immediately apparent to the other figures in the novel. Location, too, plays a massive role in the story for reasons which will be revealed to the readers as Pearl continues to live the day over and over again. A fun take on the standard historical fiction mystery, fans of the genres are sure to enjoy Keer’s unique and innovative historical fiction novel.