Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

0.5 Half star rating

Whoa. Where to start? I am a fan of Ashley Winstead so I got overly excited when I received the ARC. Unfortunately it was just not my cup of tea. The writing style was off. I couldn't stand any of the characters much less develop a relationship with them. I will still try more books by this author but I definitely won't be recommending this one. It felt both rushed and draggy...which seems like a weird thing but true readers will understand. Maybe in novella form I could've connected but I was almost in tears trying to finish it.

Growing up the daughter of a pastor in the small town of Bottom Springs, Louisianna, Ruthie finds herself longing for more than the town can offer. No matter how much she wants to, she just can’t manage to get out of the town, even as an adult. But with her books, and a best friend who she can be herself with, is that enough? 

When Everett returns to town, she finds everyone is up in arms about evil lurking. Is it truly evil, or is it something else? When the town’s leaders seem to be blaming Everett for everything that has gone wrong, Ruth decides it’s time to find out why they want to pin everything on a young man who just returned to town. Will she be able to defy her father and the sheriff or will she finally succumb to their control over her?

This was such a great book, I found it hard to put down. Between Ruth’s dreams and hopes and her father’s control, she’s lived a sheltered life and to see her try to push back was a wonderful thing. I would definitely read more from this author.

I finished this one merely minutes ago and I am already trying to write all my thoughts down because boy do I have a ton!!

First, I loved how fast paced this was. The pacing never wavered and I felt entertained and on suspense throughout. I also thought the concept was amazing and the times we got little snippets and hints were perfectly timed.

There was only one part I didn't love and although I know where my girl Ashley Winstead was going, it threw me off and made me take down .5 :/ The whole "I know what you are" and the main character really thinking Ever was a supernatural creature just....didn't fit in at all. I also think that there were some parts that were drawn on for too long and ended up not being relevant that felt forced.

But the ending?! I thought it connected everything all together and explained it all perfectly. I kept thinking "why did X care about helping Y" or so be it, and all of my questions were answered by the end.

And the ending!?! I think I'm still confused in the best way possible. Am I supposed to know what happened to them?? Regardless of the ending whether one or the other happened, I think I'm okay with it?? It was the perfect ending for Ever and Ruth and I loved how Ruth found her agency at the end.

Yet again, another win from Ashley Winstead!!

first off, in many ways, Midnight is nothing like The Last Housewife. I had to remind myself of this several times. The fact that the two books are wildly different is a good thing, so bear with me.

Housewife started off at a 10 and just kept ramping up from there. Midnight, I would say, is a slower burn. and it fits what Winstead is trying to achieve. The story of Ruth and her best friend Everett is doled out in pieces and in flashbacks to important parts of Ruth's life. It comes in waves and then it crashes down on you. Its incredibly nuanced and tackles many different topics, but the greatest thing Midnight does is question justice.

There are many forms of justice throughout this novel, whether it be justice of the actual law or religious justice or simply what is right in a bad situation. Ruth is an interesting character to view all of this justice through because she is trapped by her own version of justice, her own deal with the devil, in a place where very little justice actually sees the light of day.

together, ruth and everett are the window through which the reader can witness a different type of justice, the kind that most people are afraid of, or at least afraid to admit might be the right thing. the town of bottom spring, the entire establishment, is actually on the side of preventing justice, whether they know it or not.

Winstead weaves in moral and religious sentiment into each beat of her novel and its very easy to think that everything she lays out is black or its white. but what we actually see through ruth and everett is that its all varying shades of gray. those shades of gray can make the story feel impossible at times because ruth is fighting to break free of her bonds and therefore operates on a very black and white scale, while also seeing those shades of gray. but when you've been raised with certain beliefs, it can be very hard to take the next step from SEEING shades of gray to BELIEVING those shades of gray.

I would have liked a little more information on the occult stuff that was floating around, but i understand it wasn't actually the central point of the story so, dont waste time on it, but i love that stuff and it just added to a very cool atmosphere.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Midnight is the Darkest Hour releases October 3, 2023

This story is set in a small town in Louisiana called Bottom Springs, and is told in a then/now narrative.
The opening scene had us learning about a human skull that was pulled out of Starry Swamp by a trapper. With evidence of blunt force trauma, it’s clear that this was a murder.

Our main character, Ruth, is the daughter of the parishes pastor. Her acts of rebellion include working at the local library, where she’s able to find the few pieces of illicit material that manage to slip through by way of donations — among those, a copy of <I>Twilight</I>.
(of all the books in the world to significantly reference, why Twilight… *shudders* It’s 2023, are we that incapable of moving on from this series?)

The idea of a compelling murder mystery hooked me, but I was dumbfounded when at just 6% into the story, the entire murder was explained — who the victim was, how they were impaled on the head, and the identity of who did it.
I reluctantly read the remainder of the book, but I truly believe this early reveal ruined all the suspense and build up for me.

This story was definitely too religion heavy for me to fully like it, and I don’t like the sentiment that was shared in the ‘conversation with an author’ section at the back of the book in relation to the ambiguous ending, where she says “In that moment, the reader becomes God.”
Yeahhhh thanks but no thanks. Just make it plain or simple, do they live or do they die?! Don’t turn it into this whole higher power thing when the whole point was for her to get out of this fundamentally religious and toxic household.

cw: <u>very</u> religious, ableism: side character has Tourette's, physical abuse, substance abuse, sexual violence, wiccans/cults/gangs/drug rings

This is being comped to Verity and I think that’s wildly inaccurate.

Read if you like:
- Twilight
- outcasts
- religion
- serial killers
- ambiguous endings

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this thriller. It really got under my skin with its level of tension and suspense. I loved the elements of toxic religion, the Louisiana swamp and local folklore that tied the story together.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Normally, I'm not a fan of small town novels, especially thrillers, but this one totally delivers. Like Ashley Winstead's other thrillers, this one has more than meets the eye. Check your idea of morality at the door, and get ready for a ride!

DNF at 30%.

I really enjoyed In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, but I DNFed The Last Housewife. I was intrigued by the title of this new Winstead book, so I decided to give it a try (and I'm grateful for the ARC!). However, reading this book was an absolute slog. I was interested at the beginning especially because of the religious fundamentalist themes (I was raised in a religious fundamentalist community so that really hit home), but the book became really repetitive and boring. It also felt so so long. I felt like by 30% that I had read about 500 pages because it was so slow and tedious, but really I wasn't even one third of the way through the book. I thought the characters were flat and there was no twisty, turny action like I'd expect from a "thriller."

That being said, I don't think this book should be marketed as a thriller. It is indeed dark, but it is very slow-paced which does not meet the criteria for "thriller" branding in my opinion. It is more of a case study of a small, religious fundamentalist town full of some pretty terrible people.

Unfortunately, I won't be finishing this book or recommending it to my bookstagram audience.

I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review.

I want more! Please tell me there will be a sequel. I admit I fell a tiny bit in love with Everett and I could have read another 500 pages easily. I adored this book. The small town vibes, the religious at its core, the occult. Ruth was a wonderful character to follow and I loved watching as her strength grew. I did think this story was going to take a certain path and was surprised by what happened. The ending has me reeling and like I've already said I want more of Ruth and Everett, more of their story. Absolutely awesome book that I highly recommend.

This book is a mix of so many things that it's hard to sum up. Suffice it to say that growing up in the backwoods of Louisiana with an evil preacher for a father makes for a really good read.

I want to start by saying THANK YOU NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Ashley Winstead for allowing me to read this book early! I absolutely loved In My Dreams I Hold A Knife & The Last Housewife. Like loveddddd. But this one, ugh. I wanted to love it so much more but it just hit the “meh” mark for me. Definitely much different writing then I’m used to from AW. The heavy Twilight and religious aspects were particularly not my thing and since that is the essence of the book, it makes sense why it didn’t appeal to me very much. I love a dark thriller but this one just didn’t do it for me. Still love Ashley and will always support her books regardless.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.25 rating

“It’s the moment you realize the family who raised you—the people who witnessed you in every moment of tender vulnerability growing up, who saw your small scraped knees, your spilled tears, your young eyes wide in wonder—don’t love you back. At least not the same way. Your love is, and will always be, unrequited.”

Ashley Winstead is by far one of my favorite authors and she DID IT AGAIN! This is the perfect book for the Fall and Halloween season! I loved the small town feel and really appreciated how realistic she made it especially with the church aspect! I was always on my seat wanting more and wondering what was going to happen next. The ending was something that will leave you stunned and wanting more and it was absolute perfection!

I am honestly mind blown at how surprised I am by the depth and intensity of this novel. I am lucky enough to get to read an advanced reader's copy, this book publishes on October 3, and I have been SO EXCITED to get to this as the author's last thriller, The Last Housewife, is my favorite book of 2023 so far (this is book #99!) This story is a complex crime novel set among a religious cult in Louisiana. Ruth is the daughter of the town preacher of Holy Fire Baptist Church. She has always been a good girl and survived in this world of strict morality and obedience, until she meets Everett. When a skull is found in the swamp, surrounded by mysterious symbols, Ruth and Everett are aligned in order to search within the community for where the true evil lies.

I truly feel like my review of the complexities and conversations that can result from this novel will not give it justice. There are some dark themes to pay attention to including religious abuse, mentions of violence, sexual assault, physical abuse, and child abuse. However, it felt less graphic and dark than her previous work. What really made this book stand out for me were the almost dystopian-like themes. There were so many different characters--those standing for moral justice, those that were outright corrupt, those who were blindfully submissive, and characters like Ruth and Ever, who developed their own definitions of law and order outside of the narratives created for them. I was reminded so much of characters like June in The Handmaid's Tale and Walter White in Breaking Bad. I highly recommend reading the author's note and questions at the end of the book for the full experience and understanding of the characters.

While I am not a fantasy reader, there are many mentions and connections to Twilight in this book and I am sure that adds another layer of depth to the creation of the story and also to Ruth's overall experience as a woman inside a patriarchal system--a woman with longings for freedom, romance, and an escape. BUT LASTLY CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE ENDING?! I was so surprised and screamed when I got to the end because it is quite the cliffhanger. All I can say is that, even if this book is not for you, Ashley Winstead is a brilliant writer and I will write anything she chooses to grace us with.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and #Sourcebooks for my #ARC. Be sure to grab this one as the perfect, gripping fall thriller!

Pros: I was interested to read this book because I liked reading the author’s previous books In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and The Boyfriend Candidate. My favorite part of this book was its examination of religion and the power and corruption that come with it.

Cons: As someone who lives in Louisiana, I really wanted to like the Louisiana setting, but it didn’t feel accurate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book.

I rate this 4.5 and am rounding up for reviewing purposes. I really enjoyed this novel This is my first one by Ashley Winstead and I will be checking out the rest of her backlist.

In this we find the preachers daughter and a boy who ends up becoming her best friend, who are both considered outcasts, are caught up in a small town in Lousiana where a skull has been found in the local swamp.
Not only that but in the very religious small town that there are occult symbols showing up around the swamp as well. A killer is on the loose and let the mystery being.

I really did like this book. I did not find that anything was of surprise to me. I usually don’t end up surprised very often in most book sand found that i picked up the clues that were left for me as i went read along. Though even though I wasn’t surprised I ended up devouring it in around 4 hours and am really wanting to go and read the authors other works. I really enjoyed the authors style of writing and loved the twlight reference littered throughout the book. Would recommend and will be purchasing a phsyical copy

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the Louisiana setting. I think this book kept me intrigued because of the eeriness of the bayou and the cult like vibes. Religious cults are so fascinating to me, I just can’t believe the way people will follow leaders they way they do. This book was deep and touched on some pretty uncomfortable topics but it was done so nicely. I am a huge Ashley Winstead fan and if you are too, you won’t want to miss this one when it comes out October 3rd! Thank you so much Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the gifted copies!

Ruth has always felt like an outsider in her small southern town. Always the outcast because her father is the beloved reverend in town, Ruth finds herself a friend in an unlikely person. Everett has always made Ruth feel worthwhile and whole.

The town wholeheartedly follows her father’s fire-and-brimstone warnings and fear nothing more than the Devil and myths that haunt the area. The story of the Low Man has always brought fear to their hearts.

When a skull is found in the swamp next to mysterious symbols Ruth and Everett realize they need to figure out the town’s secrets to search out true evil.

Ah what a book! I have read all but one of Ashely Winstead’s books and thought she couldn’t do any better, but then she wrote this one and blew me out of the water. This book is just fantastic. I absolutely devoured it in one sitting, I did not want to get up for anything. This story draws you in and holds your attention in such a captivating way. This book is so atmospheric you will get sucked right in and never want to leave – even though it will creep you out. I was a bit unsure about some of the trigger warnings, but they were done so wonderfully I didn’t mind at all. They all perfectly fit the story and while there were twists and turns, the triggers weren’t surprising – just the plot! This book perfectly described when I think of a creepy small southern town. It has everything from the church run wild, to folklore.

If you are looking for a truly amazing gothic southern thriller, then do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Additional links will be added once posted closer to publication date.

loved every single minute of this! I think it will be my new fav by Winstead. I really liked the Louisiana setting, it reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing and all the Twilight references were so fun. Amazing!

For lovers of: Practical Magic & Beautiful Creatures.

The Deep South is deeply in love with their traditions, religion and values. When Ruth Cornier doesn't quite fit in, she has nowhere to turn but inwards. As she grows up and discovers freedom within the walls of her local library, she is allowed to believe.

Ruth has a chance encounter with the resident bad boy, Everett Duncan. Their fates become entwined and the two are inseparable.

There is something dark and deadly in the Louisiana swamp, and it is seeping into Bottom Springs...

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I Loved, capital L, no, uppercase word, LOVED, "In My Dreams I Hold A Knife" and "The Last Housewife". I was not prepared for a different style of writing. The last 1/3 of the book was more of what I expected from Ashley Winstead. and I am glad that I finished the book because it was well worth it!

Thank you to the publisher and the NetGalley for this ARC! It took me a little bit to get into this one but once I did I was invested. I enjoyed the twilight-esque landscape and the references didn't feel too heavy handed. I think the pacing was a little slow initially but overall a unique book!