Gone by Midnight Candice Fox.

Riveting addition to the Conkaffey /Pharrell series. More than just a story.

In the steamy, primeval tangle of the Queensland outback a child disappears. His mother is out with friends enjoying drinks while their respective children are left to entertain themselves in a hotel room. By midnight the boy is gone without a trace.

Although Ted Conkaffey is no longer of interest to the police they view him with suspicion and are less than pleased when the child’s mother employs him and his quirky partner, Amanda Pharrell to discover what has happened.

Fox’s highly original characters do not disappoint in this gripping tale full of wit and wisdom. Inevitably their lives are filled with trials and tribulations not least due to the prejudices that surround them.

Ted is due to look after his daughter for the first time since he was accused. How will they get on? Mixed emotions swirl around him into the torrid mix that his life has become. how will he feel if she rejects him? And - he has met someone. A woman who seems to like him and who he likes and in his loneliness he desperately wants to know. A vet, new to the area who does not know his past; who is drawn to him when he arrives frantic at her doorstep with an injured goose, one of those he adopted when he first retreated to Crimson Lake. The feathered family that helped keep hm sane. Dare he tell her?

Amanda Pharrell meanwhile has her own problems the form of an obsessive female police officer who hates her with a passion, blaming her for the death of her colleague and idol.

At the heart of this novel relating the struggles to find the child - hopefully but increasingly unlikely alive, are questions that probe the human psyche and all its prejudices. We are shown that people are not always what they appear to be. That moral and ethical codes are not always dressed in posh clothes. Fox delves below the surface into both dark hearts and pure motives exploring and questioning the various facets of human nature in all its complexities.

There is often a thread of dark humour running through the book which is at times laugh aloud funny but simultaneously sad and shocking. This is a great read; a good story with issues that will stay with you and leave you wanting more from Fox, Conkaffey and Pharrell.

A good start to this mystery with a boy going missing from a hotel room. For quite a long time you have no idea what has happened to him. Plenty of twists in the tale. The characters were interesting and unusual but not believable. Amanda annoyed me as there is no way she would be allowed anywhere near a true investigation. I actually wanted her to be involved in some way. There were parts midway through the narrative where I was bored with all the squabbles and accusations. I did enjoy Ted's relationship with his daughter which will hopefully develop in future books.

I loved this book - superb pace and very clever story. No real shocking twists but lots of turns. I found Amanda to be the more interesting and somewhat unique lead character. I didn't get much association with Australia in the story - it read and felt more like an American book with the finale in the Florida swamps. Still I give this a wholehearted 100% recommendation for a good read that you will find hard to put down.

I went from feeling sorry, to absolutely hating one of the main characters. I felt uneasy reading this, and it goes to show what superb literary skills Candice Fox possess’. Highly recommend.

Another great addition to the Crimson Lake series.
The characters we have come to love are made even more vivid as we journey through their troubled and colourful lives whilst attempting to solve the mystery of a missing kid.

The writing is plain and simply brilliant. The crime in essence is a small part in what makes for a great read. It’s the intricacies of the characters and their interactions, the plots and multitude of sub plots that keep the pages turning for me.

I must admit though that I only gave this book 4 stars (the first 2 books in the series received well deserved 5 stars). There were just some altercations/interactions that seemed to push the plot and or characters slightly too close to the in-plausible.

All in all though, Candice Fox has done a superb job with this series and its characters.
I definitely can’t wait for more of Ted and Amanda.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for a Review Copy

Gone by Midnight by Candice Fox is the third book in a series and it took me a while to get into the story.
A boy goes missing from a hotel room and the police are hoping to find him soon.
Two investigations are hired by the child's mother to look into the case. These characters are pretty unusual and not quite believable.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story of Ted ConKaffey and his partner Amanda appears to be a book within a series, that I have not read. This did not detract from the reading of the story at all. I loved the characters, Amanda giving some very comical moments. The story kept me gripped and I was held until the end. A book I would recommend as fast paced andenjoyable.

What a fabulous book- full of the unknown twists and turns round every corner. You will not be able to predict what happens next nor how it will end.
Strong story and characters
Thank you to both NetGalley and Random House UK for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

Unfortunately I wasn't able to finish Gone By Midnight, the character of Amanda put me right off this one! Manic pixie dream girl involved in policing and solving crimes? Harry Potter was more believable. I don't think the author knows anything about police work, absolutely shocking attempt at being quirky and fun.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a intense and addictive thriller and I absolutely loved it. Highly recommend

This book continues the story of Ted Conkaffey in the Crimson Lake series. His partner Amanda, never fails to make me laugh, she's a breath of fresh air. The police officers are so incompetent, it's almost too much, and I do desperately want Ted to get his life back on track. The past injustices seem too hard at times. The crime strand of the book is a fast paced page turner of a story, and the personal side of Ted's family life and his new relationship with the town vet, are quite heart warming. I absolutely love this series, and can't wait for the next book from Crimson Lake.

Not my usual genre but this book had me gripped throughout. Will be looking out for more of the same!

I didn't think Candice Fox could write another amazing, gripping, scary and twisted book, how wrong I was
This book stuns and amazes me dragging me back to Crimson Tide and it's strange investigation unit of Pharrell and Concaffey who are still the same with Pharell in a very open vendetta with Joanne Fischer a police officer whose partner died in the last novel.
Four little boys in a locked hotel room watching tv and videos whilst thier parents are downstairs having a meal, every hour a parent checks in on them, sleeping like angels.
Then Sara had gone into the room at some point during the early hours and started shouting 'Richie where's my Richie??'
And so it begins a man hunt for a little boy whom after local police forces and sniffer dogs search every part of the hotel, the hotel is on lockdown, no one in and no one out, a small boy can't just disappear.
Amanda watches the boys being interviewed and Concaffey watches cctv footage which covers all entrances and exits. No one goes into the hotel unless they work there so absolutely no way anyone could have got a boy out alive or dead
So many suspects spring out local convicted child killers ( close to Ted s own previous experience), people who work at the hotel , the parents of the missing child
Underneath there is the brewing storyline of Amanda and her ongoing run in with the police especially Joanne Fischer who is constantly following her
Or Ted's daughters first visit to him how will he manage looking after a little girl 24/7 when she probably doesn't even remember him how is going to cope?
And one of his precious geese is hurt and he loves them like family will his little daughter help him realise what having a family is really like ??

I read Redemption earlier on this year, so when Gone by Midnight came up for review with NetGalley, I knew that I wanted to read it. It rejoins Ted and Amanda not far from where Redemption left off. Ted is no longer a person of interest in the abuction and rape of a teenage girl and Amanda is....well her usual complicated and wonderful self.

Their strength is still present as is the character which made me love them so much last time. Gone by Midnight has just as much going on in it as Redemption did, if not more. There is a case to solve: this time a young boy who seems to have gone missing into thin air from his hotel room. There are relationships to complicate things: Ted's young daughter has come to stay and a new relationship seems to be developing for him, the bad thing being that she knows nothing about his past. Then of course there is added drama in the form of a cop who has a serious grudge against Amanda. All this makes for an action packed book filled with likable characters that come with a lot of drama. Fox is still the queen of bringing her sets to life as I was transported to the world of Crimson Lake and this time I loved the inclusion of the croc's.

Although I've still not gone back to read the first book in this series, it doesn't matter. Fox does a great job of ensuring she keep her readers with her as she takes her characters on a journey filled with questions, twists and turns.

Gone by midnight is the third book in Candice Fox’s Crimson Lake series but works well as a standalone thriller. You do not need to have read the others in the series although once you have read this you will want to.
It is every parent’s nightmare. Four sets of parents, 3 couples and a single mum each with a son, are on holiday together. They have booked into White Caps hotel near Crimson Lake for a break. So they can have a little peace they leave their boys together in the hotel room to entertain themselves while they have dinner. When they return at the end of the night one of the boys is missing. How could he escape from a room that was locked on the outside? Why did none of the other boys notice he was gone?
Sarah Farrow is the mother of the missing boy. She calls in detective partners Ted Conkaffey and Amanda Pharrell to help with the case, against the wishes of the local police.These partners both have a past. Ted is an ex-cop who was falsely accused of child murder. He now lives in the countryside with his flock of geese and his dog. Amanda is a convicted murderer who has served her time. They need to find the missing boy, Ritchie, before it is too late.


Gone by midnight is a gripping book that keeps you turning the pages to find out what has happened. The two detectives are insightful and are quick at discovering new leads. This keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The mother Sara seems to be hiding secrets. Her ex-husband Henry has issues with their custody arrangements. The hotel maintenance man is trying to keep a low profile and there is a known police paedophile not too far from the hotel.
It is a race against time for Ted and Amanda who are also trying to deal with personal issues. Ted has a sick goose and his ex wife has just left his child with him for the first time while she goes away. Amanda has a stalker. You need to keep turning the pages until you reach the ending which will leave you reeling.

I went through stages of both loving and not caring about this book. I loved it until about half way through and then stared to lose interest. I have no idea why. Maybe it's just me. I will say though, I loved Ted and Amanda, the bone lady (Val? I am useless with names) and Superfish. Really strong, lovable characters. I will be trying another of Candice's books

Gone By Midnight is another pacy, intense and addictive thriller in the “Crimson Lake” series and I’m a fan of the main characters, especially the spiky, mouthy Amanda who takes no prisoners with her acerbic irony and total impatience with humanity. 

In this instalment a child has vanished in a twisty take on a locked room mystery and our pair are called in by the mother, who believes herself under suspicion. 

This fairly rocks along- the mystery is intriguing and emotional, the author keeps things beautifully unpredictable plus we have a terrific finale. The ongoing saga within the series takes a dark turn which is sure to haunt the next novel and overall this was a genuinely terrific read that just solidified my attachment to the books.

Roll on the next is what I say. If you’ve not discovered these yet, Crimson Lake is where to start. 

Recommended.

EXCEPTIONAL PLOT, CHARACTERS and NARRATIVE – A GREAT READ:
Candice Fox is rapidly establishing herself as a successful author in her own right after collaborating with James Patterson in the Detective Harriet Blue Series and The Inn.
“Gone by Midnight” is the third book in the gripping Ted Conkaffey series following on from “Redemption”, and “Crimson Lake”.
An ex-Cop, Ted, was accused, in a case which made national headlines, of abducting and raping a young girl. The prosecution decided to drop the case for lack of evidence. Although innocent of the crime, mud sticks, and Ted must contend with many who believe him a paedophile. He now lives in Cairns in the outback but news travels far and fast with internet accessibility.
In “Gone by Midnight” a child is missing, and local police naturally arrest the best known paedo in the area, Ted, on suspicion of abduction. But contrary to the arresting officers’ beliefs, it is the mother of the missing child who has requested that Ted assist the police in their investigation, much to Chief Superintendent Clark’s chagrin. Amanda Pharrell is back as Ted’s partner in their private detective agency. Uttering totally unsuitable comments much to Ted’s horror. Amanda lacks awareness of social niceties and introduces humour which lightens the investigation. Amanda possesses incredible insight which gives them an advantage over the police.
Richie, a young boy, is missing and as with all investigations of this nature the first 24 hours are precious if the boy is to be found alive. The pressure is on. Will Amanda and Ted crack the case before the police do? Will they find the child alive? Who is the mysterious abductor? As the investigation intensifies, we meet police officers of dubious morality whilst Amanda revels in low-life company. Entertaining throughout, Candice Fox has created two marvellous characters in Ted Conkaffey and Amanda Pharrell.
As the time slips relentlessly by, the reader is taken on a journey of discovery. The pages roll by and before you know it all is revealed.
Another brilliant story penned by Candice Fox and bound, deservedly, to be a fly away success.

A devilishly clever book. All you could want from a thriller with a whole lot more. The plot was beautifully twisty and never went quite where I anticipated, keeping me guessing right to the very unexpected and enjoyable conclusion. The characters were also wonderfully unexpected and completely atypical, with rich and colourful backgrounds adding a whole new dimension to the plot. One of the best crime novels I have read, I'll be looking out for more. Definitely one to add to your bookshelf, I'm sure I'll be reading this one again.

An enjoyable book, though took a little time to really get going. Some of the characters were a little quirky, OK if you like that, and not very believable. The first half, I felt was a little slow, but it did pick up pace. I felt that there was a little too much angst and there were times when I had to stop reading, because of the predicaments of the main characters. It did turn out to be a page turner and because of that I have given it four stars