Midnight in Soap Lake by Matthew Sullivan is a dark and atmospheric mystery that immerses readers in a small town filled with eerie secrets, quirky characters, and an unnerving sense of danger. Set in Soap Lake, Washington, the novel is a haunting journey that intertwines the lives of two women—Abigail and Esme—and the strange events surrounding the mysterious lake.

Abigail, who moves to Soap Lake for her husband’s research, expects the charm of a small town with quirky attractions and peaceful surroundings. However, once he leaves for a trip, she is left alone in a place haunted by urban legends and surrounded by sand. Her life takes a dramatic turn when a young boy, who recently lost his mother, runs into her arms. This chance encounter sets her on a path to uncover the secrets surrounding Esme’s death, the town’s violent history, and the mysterious properties of the lake that her husband was sent to study.

As Abigail delves deeper into the town’s dark past, she is forced to confront the presence of TreeTop, the town’s spectral mascot, and the sinister forces that have kept the town’s secrets hidden for decades. To navigate this web of mystery, Abigail enlists the help of an eclectic group of characters, including a recovering addict, a grieving brother, and a conspiracy theorist, each of whom holds pieces to the puzzle.

Sullivan expertly creates a small town with a haunting atmosphere, exploring the divide between the town's haves and have-nots, as well as the struggles of protecting a rare and precious gift that others will stop at nothing to keep for themselves. His writing is vivid, creating a rich and expansive universe that is both captivating and chilling. The story is filled with tension, quirky characters, and a steady stream of suspense, making it impossible to put down. It’s a compelling mystery with a touch of the supernatural, reminiscent of Twin Peaks, and perfect for readers who enjoy a good puzzle and a dash of the eerie.

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After a whirlwind romance, Abigail has started married life in a house by a lake in the middle of nowhere, where her researcher husband studies samples of the waters. But when he takes a six-month research project in Poland, Abigail is left alone. Apart from the lake, she has an orchard, thick scrubland and the desert beyond for company. There’s a neighbour she doesn’t know and a small town a few miles away. (The lake is a fictionalised version of Soap Lake, Washington, where the author used to live.)
One day, a young child staggers out of the scrubland and into her arms. He leads her back to a car containing the body of his mother, Esme.
Police seem happy to put the death down to a drug deal gone wrong, but Abigail is determined to help Esme’s older brother care for the child and to delve into Esme’s life in search of a conclusive explanation for her death.
As we discover in chapters told from Esme’s viewpoint, death and danger always dogged her. Locals celebrate the legend of TreeTop, a giant monster who steals around town and country in a white hazmat suit. Esme believed she saw him, with deadly results.
Known for its healing properties, the lake has always attracted visitors, whose spending power keeps the town solvent. Over the years, whenever, a scientist has attempted to study the water, dangerous things have happened. (And there’s plenty of scientific description thrown into the narrative for good measure.)
Now Abigail, wife of the latest scientist, has caught sight of a figure in white peeping through her window…
Fluently written and absorbing, this is a complex (multi layered and 416 pages long), intriguing (ideal for a Netflix series) and, at times, very sad mystery and suspense story (poor Esme).
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
On publication, I will post this review on my blog and on GoodReads.