New Year’s Eve in Scotland is definitely a tradition to be followed and enjoyed, and for a party in Edinburgh – and not just any part of the city but a swanky postcode – everyone is preparing to say goodbye to the year. Many are looking forward to what the new year will bring, but not everyone will get there. Someone will die at the party tonight because one of the guests doesn’t want a resolution. The drinks are flowing, fireworks light up the sky and celebrations are in fine form. But as midnight approaches, someone takes action. What leads up to the fatal accident is beautifully explained in Harriet’s novel – from a hardworking woman unsuccessfully trying to avoid her past, a best friend who seems more of a frenemy than a confidante, and a new relationship that requires her to be honest about what she’s previously done. At times there’s little to like about the characters but that keeps the reader on their toes. An exciting author – love to see what she’s doing next.

Another compelling legal thriller from Harriet Tyce.

Dark and twisty with a toxic friendship at the heart of the narrative, this is a clever page-turner that had me gripped throughout. Recommended.

Harriet Tyce’s latest novel, ‘It Ends at Midnight’ is certainly a page turner. Set in London and Edinburgh in the present day, and in Edinburgh in 1999 when Sylvie and her close friend Tess are sixth form students, the narrative tantalises from the beginning with the discovery of two people impaled on railings outside a grand Edinburgh mansion. Be warned – Tyce does not hold back on the grizzly details!
Sylvie and Tess reunite in London after Sylvie comes down from Cambridge, with a law degree and plenty of ambition. Tess marries Sylvie’s lawyer friend, Marcus, and the three are ‘best friends’ for the next twenty years. Inevitably, there is plenty of legal action which Tyce portrays extremely well. Clearly her former work as a barrister helps here.
The novel is, ultimately, about toxic relationships and why people endure them. It’s not the most subtle in terms of motivation – it’s easy to guess one central twist quite early on. The success of the final chapter, set two months after a disastrous New Year’s Eve, depends on whether or not the reader is prepared to accept the feelings and situations of those remaining at face value. If you don’t, and I didn’t, then it could be argued that Tyce has deployed the unreliable narrator function extremely effectively. However, that said, it’s then quite difficult to imagine that the ‘long game’ that has been depicted could be credible. Whilst this all sounds a bit cryptic, to be more transparent would mean plot spoilers.
My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Harriet Tyce is one of my all time favourite authors and when I got chance to read It Ends At Midnight, I was super excited.

This novel did not disappoint at all, it is such a fabulous read and I can not recommend it enough.

We meet Sylvie, who is works as a court and is hoping for a promotion, she is dating Gareth and we also meet Sylvie's best friend Tess and her partner Marcus.

Without giving too much away Tess is ill and asks Sylvie to get in touch with one of their 'friends' from many years ago. The story really starts to take grip when we read of Sylvie and Tess' past and the secret that they are harbouring.

The chapters switch between the past and the present, which I find really grips me when reading novels as I love to find out what happened many years ago.

This story is brilliant, the characters, for me, could literally be people that I know as Harriet Tyce's telling of stories are second to none.

I did not see the end twist coming either which was great. I read this novel in a few sittings and recommend it to everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harriet Tyce and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoy legal thrillers and It Ends At Midnight is a very good one. The beginning, where two bodies are found impaled on railings grabs the reader immediately. Who are they and why have they died in such a gruesome manner?

The story centres on two women, Sylvie who has ambitions to become a judge, supported by her new partner, and her best friend, Tess. Written in two time frames, with flashbacks to their teenage years, the present day focuses on Sylvie's current trial. But her life begins to unravel in unexpected ways as she tries to keep her past hidden. Someone is determined to have their revenge.

The characters are well-drawn and tension is maintained throughout. The final twist is a cracker. Perfect for fans of Sarah Vaughan. Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the opportunity to read and review It Ends At Midnight.

Harriet Tyce has a style all her own, so twisted you keep turning those pages as surely there’s a curve ball coming around the next corner. It ends at midnight doesn’t disappoint as events spiral out of control for Sylvie when events from her past collide with the hopes and dreams of her future, brought about by Tess, her constant ‘friend’ through it all. Great writing, great suspense and well done if you managed to guess any of the twists. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

Wow! Another fantastic book by Harriet Tyce! After reading and loving Blood Orange a couple of years ago, I knew I’d love this new one.

It Ends At Midnight is a dark and mysterious tale about two best friends who experienced something when they were younger that had a big impact on their lives and those around them. Flipping between the past and the present we learn what happened, while the unreliable narrator adds to the tension. I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book and even though I guessed one of the twists, I was way off track with how I thought it would end.

A wonderful, suspenseful and twisty thriller full of lies, secrets, jealousy and betrayal.
It had me hooked from page one.
5 stars all the way!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of It Ends at Midnight, a stand-alone psychological thriller set in Edinburgh and London.

I have not read this author’s work before so I was unsure of what I would get. I was attracted to the novel by the implication that it is set in Edinburgh as I always like a bit of tartan noir, but most of the novel is set in London where the events that lead up to the deaths in Edinburgh unfold.

I have very mixed feelings about this novel and it will be difficult to explain them without spoilers, so advance apologies if I’m a bit vague. I’m not a big fan of psychological thrillers and the novel is all about interpersonal and somewhat toxic relationships, secrets and lies from the past and ambition. It’s all a bit first world and middle class for me. I didn’t like any of the characters so it was hard to care about them. I also guessed the direction of the plot early on.

On the other hand I thought the author did an excellent job of building the suspense and intrigue. The novel opens with two bleeding bodies and no further explanation, so who, what and why are continually in the reader’s mind as the novel flashes back to prior events, both the recent past and further back. The main narrative in this explanation is told in the first person so the reader gets up close and personal with the narrator’s dysfunctional friendships and secrets. I was impressed by the gradual way the scenario changes from sad but normal into something darker. It’s insidious but organic. It would be easy to lose sight of the endgame, two bodies, in this onslaught of conflicting priorities so the author inserts a few first person passages from various investigators and responders giving their impressions of the crime scene. It’s a brilliant way of keeping the reader’s eye on the ball and bringing reality into an otherwise unlikely narrative.

It Ends at Midnight is a well plotted and written thriller that will appeal to many readers.

I loved the contrast between the past present, how the initial cuts to the now were just so blatant and dark and then it'd cut back to the past and completely change the tone. I haven't many legal thrillers, but I did enjoy this one. I did find myself rushing through thr current court related storyline so I could find out what had happened way back when and also what had happened at mightnight but no doubt that's just me being impatient lol. The book is well written and the characters are really well rounded and fleshed out in the dual timelines. You really won't guess what to come until the clock strikes 12. And as a Scottish lass, I did love such an iconic setting as Edinburgh on hogmanay!! Its on TV every year so its just a setting that is so easily conjured up with just those 2 words really!

End At Midnight is a dark tale of toxic relationships, guilt, lies, and retribution, wrapped up in a hefty dose of mystery. The story centres around Sylvie, a legal professional who dreams of being a judge. She has been friends with Tess since school, but buried in their past lies a secret. It’s one both parties have tried to forget. But as NY Eve approaches, everything unravels for the two friends and the night ends in someone’s death!

I really appreciated the buildup of tension in this book, Harriet Tyce deftly drip feeds the reader just enough juicy titbits to keep the reader engaged.I wasn’t a huge fan of Sylvie or Tess, I felt their characters were far too selfish and their choices were questionable at the best of times. I found their relationship intriguing though. To outsiders, looking in their relationship is toxic. It’s a relationship built on teenage problems, wanting to belong and insecurities. But as the author expertly peels away the complex layers of their relationship, you realise no good can come of a friendship that’s based on lies and resentment.

I found Sylvie’s court case fascinating, and as this tale takes many a twist and turn, you realise there are similarities to her own dark and disturbing past. Although I guessed one of the main twists, it no way spoilt my enjoyment of this read, in fact, it enhanced it as knowing the ‘who’ but not the ‘why’ urged me on. The plot is well devised, the writing extremely engaging, and the air of tension never waivers. On the whole I found the End Of Midnight to be an enjoyable read and one I would recommend to those who enjoy a story about toxic relationships.

My review will be published to my Instagram account, Goodreads, Amazon

An excellent psychological thriller from Harriet Tyce, a classic page turner with a full on twisty sense of the unknown.

Two friends, two truths, one inevitable showdown keeps you immersed throughout. Our unreliable narrator is engaging and cleverly presented so the feeling that something unexpected could happen only adds to the unpredictability factor.

Really well written and plotted I was never absolutely sure where it was going and that's the benchmark for me. Recommended.

Author at the top of her game.
New year's eve and in one of Edinburghs best postcodes a very lavish party is about to begin.
Time for old friends to put past wrongs right and look forward to new starts,champagne and fireworks flow but no celebrations happen.
As the countdown to midnight begins one guest doesn't want a resolution they want revenge.
Tonight someone at the party will DIE.
Great court scenes and plenty of suspense.
Very enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline books for the ARC

Harriet Tryce serves up yet another excellent legal thriller!

As with her previous books this one starts out as one thing and quickly spirals out of control into a totally other thing. Tryce’s books are always focused around a member of a legal team. In this case a court judge with high aspirations for her future career path. Her great depth of knowledge of court-life and that of the legal personnel is always a fascinating part of her novels but ultimately her characters’ personal lives are the ones that bring the ‘colour’ to her novels.

In this book we follow the life of Sylvie. Told from two timeline narratives. The dominant storyline being that of Slyvie’s current life, career and friendship and how it all starts to crumble around her as her past begins to catch up with her.

Excellent writing and utterly thrilling to read. Tryce has created some fascinating characters from which she performs a verbal autopsy. Ripping apart their built up facades and carefully cataloguing all of their flaws and the creation of their toxic relationships. Because that’s ultimately what I felt about the main characters all the way through. Sylvie and Tess are not friends. Never have been. They like the idea of each other being friends but instead together they’re just toxic.

Unlike the previous novels Harriet has written, I felt this particular storyline was too closed and intense for any mystery or big reveal. Sadly I guessed very early on what was happening and who the key players were which didn’t leave any twist or omg moment at the end for me. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and read it in record time - even though it’s Christmas week!

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a tense and exciting thriller. Usually I hate waking up in the night but I was pleased to do so when reading this as I could get back to the story! Sylvie and Tess were friends at school and the action switches between the drama of their teenage days and the present, where Sylvie’s law career is going from strength to strength and she seems unstoppable. Then it all starts to unravel... I enjoyed the court scenes and the case with the three boys that sheds light on the past trial. It’s a gripping, twisty thriller and I thought I knew what was going to happen but was wrong. Reading it has kept me buzzing over the last few days and the ending, well, I don’t want to give anything away but the tension ramps up and I felt as though I was on the rooftop with the characters at nearly midnight in Edinburgh on Hogmanay. Another great thriller by Harriet Tyce! With many thanks to her, to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

There is just something about the way Harriet Tyce writes that is so compelling and that was the case with It Ends At Midnight, I couldn’t put it down!

I’m not a massive fan of legal thrillers these days as I’ve read so many but I always make exceptions with Harriet’s books as the legal aspect is never overdone and is actually interesting. I felt incredibly tense throughout pretty much the whole story and there was always a niggling sense of dread that something awful was going to happen. This book is the perfect cocktail of an unreliable narrator, conflicting characters, the harsh and messy trials and tribulations of teenage life and deep-rooted toxic friendships - I would recommend to anyone!

Big thanks to Headline and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ambitious Sylvie wins a court case, her eyes on the prize of becoming a judge; she’s in a relationship with Gareth and it’s going well. Over drinks her old friend Tess reveals she is very ill and asks Sylvie for help in breaking the news to her estranged husband Marcus. Sylvie rallies round but distinctly hesitates when Tess asks for closure on the guilt that has burdened them since their sixth form days in Edinburgh. The countdown to midnight is on and someone will have their revenge as the unwelcome ghosts from the past are back. Told in the present by Sylvie as we head to Hogmanay and from the autumn term of 1989, these sections are vivid as a very unpretty story emerges. Interspersed are sections post midnight that are terrifying and freeze your blood and fill you with a multitude of questions.

Harriet Tyce is a must read author for me as her novels transfix and keep you superglued to the narrative. This is another clever and impossible to put down belter. It’s all about your honour (in more ways than one), reputation and honesty versus regret, guilt, lies, restitution and retribution as timescales collide. Sylvie‘s court case is both fascinating and illuminating as it brings her past into sharper focus. The characterisation is excellent and you make up your mind about the key characters but we’re in for a few unpredictable surprises but it’s very clear that there is much toxicity involved. One character spirals down in the most dramatic of ways as the gods of vengeance descend. As midnight approaches you feel a sense of impending doom and appreciate that your feelings there is something distinctly whiffy at the heart of the drama is right, it’s not just whiffy, it stinks. As the ending approaches I can scarcely breathe, I do guess part but not all by any means and it’s tension and suspense personified as horror unfolds before your eyes.

Overall, yet another outstanding novel from the talented Harriet Tyce. It’s dark, atmospheric, it’s totally messed up and utterly believable. Highly recommended and an easy five star read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline/Wildlife for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Another twisty and Suspenseful book from Harriet that leave you reading up until the early hours. 'It ends at midnight does not disappoint
The main character Sylvie aspires to be a judge when she takes on a case that may affect her ambitious goal. The underlying topic is friendship and this runs throughout the novel with Sylvie's relationship with her best friend and an event that happened when they were teenagers. It's this friendship that delivers the exceptional ending, one which I did not predict.
Tyce's characters are dark, twisted, and gritty and they are exceptionally believable.. I thoroughly enjoyed the book I think many others will as well.
with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy to read and review

I have only recently discovered the author and have read the author previous book which I loved , This Book is my favourite of the authors, without giving any spoilers away I would highly recommend this book to everyone and I have read this book twice as it is so good, I could not put this book down and had to finish it in one go, Many thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the arc of this book

Another triumph to add to Harriet Tyce's incredible collection!

I love a legal thriller and coupled with Tyce's ability to create complex and gripping characters, I was completely hooked from the beginning! I stayed up far too late finishing this and the ending does not disappoint.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my early read.

I liked the writing style - everything flowed well, characters and situations were believable and the story held my interest. There were some good twists to the story and I was never entirely sure who to trust.

I especially liked the flashbacks to the characters' teen years as I thought they were very realistic and the sub-plot with the boys in court for robbery was good. I was also a big fan of the bits written by those investigating the crime scene.

The main character wasn't particularly likeable so I wasn't that bothered when things started to go wrong for her, and I do think things were wrapped up a bit too quickly at the end. There was a lot of build up and the major events and aftermath were brushed over very quickly.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book as it covered a lot of interesting themes and I enjoyed reading it.