I really enjoyed this story. Poor Pearl has to relive the same afternoon which results in the death of all the guests including herself, all while trying to find some missing people and solve the mystery of who is trying to kill them all.
Pearl has had a tough life with her unloving, controlling father. One day she’s told by her father that they are going to stay at a house because he is coming into some money, and his accommodation has been organised by the letter writer. Once they arrive, they realise there are more guests than just them. Three other people. Complete strangers, or are they??
Brilliant plot, brilliant writing. This story had real substance and I thoroughly enjoyed the depth of the characters and trying to work out who it could be!! I was shocked at the answer!!!
Thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy for review consideration via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #TheBoldBookClub, #JenniKeer. AtTheStrokeOfMidnight.

If Groundhog Day and Agatha Christie had a book baby, this would be it!

1923: Pearl Glenham and her father receive a mysterious invite to a country house party on the Dorset coast. Though her father insists he has no connections to Highcliffe House, it is apparent when they arrive and meet the other guests that he is not being honest with her. Despite their somewhat forced conversation, Pearl can tell her father has a history with the other invited guests. Pearl is determined to figure out who Mr. Brockhurst the missing host is and why her father in lying through his teeth.

Usually reserved and obedient in nature, Pearl changes her tune, when she literally stumbles upon a cryptic clock in a hidden cave filled with artifacts, while out for a swim. The bizarre clock causes her day to restart at the stroke of midnight each night. Living her Saturday in a time loop allows Pearl to investigate the peculiar circumstances of the groups’ gathering, and why everyone, including herself, seems to die in a horrific house fire each night.

Determined to change the outcome and stop the time loop, Pearl with a little help works to discover who brought these particular guests to the house, who sets the fire and why someone wants them all dead.
Pearl’s evolution from a quite mouse-like girl to a confidant young woman willing to stand up for herself and see her own value is enjoyable. The light romance is sweet and believable, and the plot is imaginative and fun. This quick read reminds me a bit of Enola Holmes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and of course the author Jenni Keer for the advanced copy of the book. At the Stroke of Midnight is out March 12th. All opinions are my own.

What happens if time resets so you relive the same day again and again?

Pearl lives with her father, her mother having died when she was born (or so she is led to believe). They receive an invitation to a house party, which her father (a man who is not sociable) insists they attend.

Arriving at the house, they find a strange assembly of people, none of whom Pearl has met before but all of whom, she discovers, know her father.

Pearl discovers a cave full of odd relics, slips, bangs her head and is knocked out for a few moments. At midnight that night, the house on fire, Pearl 'dies' in the blaze only to wake in the cave where she fell. The day restarts...

Who are the people? Who invited them there? What is her father's connection to them? Who are the staff hired for the weekend? Why does the day keep ending with the attempted murder of all those in the house?

Can Pearl use her groundhog day experiences to work out what is happening and prevent the murder of everyone involved?

A really enjoyable book - keeps you reading to find out the solution to the many mysteries

This book is a groundhog day type of story in which the main character Pearl lives one particular day over and over again during which she endeavours to find out the truth about why she, her father and 3 other guests have been invited to a Dorset house for the weekend. With the help of Ellery the man servant she slowly uncovers the secrets that the others are hiding. The book was quite slow at the beginning but interesting enough for me to continue. As the secrets are revealed the book gains momentum and becomes harder to put down. Although I did guess the outcome before it was revealed the book kept my attention and the conclusion was suitably satisfying. A very enjoyable read that I am happy to recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I had a tough time getting into this one but I did enjoy the premise: a Groundhog Day type of tale where the main character, Pearl, and her abusive father, are invited to a country home where Pearl must solve a mystery or all will die from a home fire at midnight. I found this to be a good period novel as well as Pearl's coming-of-age tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a wonderful story of mystery, love, death, and magic. It kept me guessing until the end and wrapped everything up so well. The pacing was perfect to keep you on your toes. This was one of the best examples of character development of several characters. The main character, especially, had a beautiful journey. If you are wanting a magical mystery that isn’t scary I would highly recommend.

This is a clever murder mystery with a type of romantic end. The chase in search of the murder 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. There is a nice exploration of life with no consequences as the two lead characters can do what they want knowing that the day will be repeated as if it has never happened before. As the day is repeated the girl grows into a woman and finds herself. There is a realistic happy ending where the two leads are attracted to each other but do not jump into a relationship. This is an intelligent, imaginative read.

Jenni Keer's 'At The Stroke Of Midnight' is such an enjoyable story. The book took a little while to get into it since the introductory chapter presents a grim view of Pearl’s life and prospects. But when Pearl and her father find themselves invited to a mysterious country house party on the Dorset coast her life gets somewhat more interesting. Pearl discovers a strange mercury clock in a cave and is thrust into a time loop, she must unravel the truth behind the gathering and prevent a tragic fate. The book combines elements of Agatha Christie and Groundhog Day with the whimsy of Alice in Wonderland, delivering a unique blend of mystery, fantasy, and romance. I was really drawn into Pearl's journey as she navigates through secrets, twists, and turns, all set against the backdrop of 1920s Britain. I was really engaged until the very end. A thoroughly delightful read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy.

4 stars

Fun, strange, unique, full of heart.

What more can I say. This is ground hog day meets Alice in wonderland meets (you choose) Agatha Christie. It was absolutely delectable.

Agatha Christie, meets Groundhog Day. Pearl travels to Dorset , England with her father who got a mysterious letter threatening him if he didn’t attend this weekend getaway — once there Pearl has an accident and gets stuck in a time loop where a mass murder takes place and she has to figure out who did it to save them all !
I was pulled in from the beginning to this book — the premise and time loop was well written — though I did lose focus a bit during the main characters (Pearl) first 6 times stuck in the time loop, I was hoping for more changes each time with a bit faster pace — but the romance was slow, fun and cozy - the characters had good chemistry. I didn’t see the solution even with the clues but it was enjoyable to read along as Pearl discovered and figured out who the murderer would be . Looking forward to future books by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for this ARC . This is my honest review.

This book is very well written and has a clever premise which the author executes well.

I’m not usually a fan of this kind of fantasy but it’s done so well that you can’t help but be drawn in and enjoy it..

This is a captivating story that kept me reading late into the night. It is a very extraordinary "whodunnit" set in a different era. The main motif reminded me of the film "Groundhog Day" with repeating the same day again and again. The novel is full of interesting characters who all have something to hide. There are twists and turns all the way as the secrets come to light one after the other. At the end the culprits get their punishment and there is the promise of a happy ending for the lovers.
I loved this book and can recommend to everyone. I also loved No 23 Burlington Square by the author.

At The Stroke Of Midnight is set in 1923 Britain, and Pearl and father Raymond are invited to a gathering at a country home by a mysterious host. Upon arrival, it is clear Pearl's father knows the other guests, but why is he denying it? When a strange series of events sees Pearl reliving a particular afternoon over and over, she has the chance to discover the truth about the gathering - can she solve the mystery and save herself from the Groundhog Day she is experiencing?

A very readable period drama, with plenty of interesting characters and location. I enjoyed trying to figure the secrets out alongside Pearl - I realised a few of them as she discovered clues, but one in particular had me surprised!

What a lovely story. I really enjoyed this one. A little like Groundhog Day but, it was such a readable book. I was hooked from the first page. Highly recommend this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

The mystery here sis definitely one that keeps you reading until you have the answers. The relationship with the dad definitely highlighted the era to me as Pearl is obviously abused / mistreated by her dad.

And Then There Were None meets Groundhog Day - when Pearl and her father are invited to a country house for the weekend, things aren't as they seem. And when Pearl visits the cove by the sea, she discovers a strange clock; she stumbles, hits her head, and her day resets... But who's behind this all?

Enjoyed this thoroughly. The author does a great job of making you feel as if you're in the 1920s; it's a clever Christie-like whodunnit (and I didn't guess!) but it's more than that. It's a coming of age story where we get to see Pearl grow and blossom; a lovely romance; and magical realism with the 'timeloop'. The denouement is very well done.

Thoroughly good read. Would definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood and Jenni Keer for the ARC.

Another amazingly told story by Jenni Keer is about a young woman swept up in a web of secrets spun by her father and others.
Set in the 1920s, we meet Pearl Glenham, a simple woman who asks for nothing. She and her father are invited to a dinner party somewhere she has never heard of- apparently, neither has her father.
Things start to become strange after they arrive, and she suspects she is not being told the truth. Then, a chance accident leads to her reliving the same 24 hours again and again as she tries her hardest to work out what is really going on.
An intriguing cast of characters, and an amazing storyline. I was hooked!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

"It's 1923 and in a decade that promises excitement and liberation, 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 shared history with several of the guests, although he won't admit it. Belatedly discovering that her father was blackmailed into attending, Pearl's worries are compounded when their host fails to arrive...

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 will culminate 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?"

Time loop at a country house party? My catnip!

What a strange book, like Alice In Wonderland! This book starts so depressing that I didn't want to finish it, I am glad I did, it became interesting, and I couldn't wait to see how it would end. It is a unique story, strange happenings, a young lady, mousy, under her father's thumb, dies a horrible death, then she must relive it over and over until she solves the mystery of her murder! Believe it or not it is interesting, thoroughly entertaining, sometimes funny, and what a magical ending. This would make a good TV series on Britbox. I highly recommend it.
Thank you #Netgalley
carolintallahassee

Pearl and her father are strongly invited to a huge estate for the weekend where they don’t know the other guests or even their host. Pearl lives a small, inhibited life, bullied by her father who doesn’t seem to love her, so she feels awkward and less than as she meets the other guests. The only thing she’s looking forward to is a swim in the ocean, where she feels most at home. Coming upon an artifact filled cave she stumbles into a clock, knocking herself out, which starts a strange chain of events. That night a raging fire sweeps through the house killing everyone, but Pearl wakes up in the cave the next day as if nothing has happened yet. Both mystery and magical realism, this is a fun book to read.