I really enjoyed the authors first work but this was tiresome. The setting and atmosphere was vibrant and I was immersed in the beauty of Antarctica. However, the characters were too one dimensional and the main character was so annoying. The pacing was too slow burn for me and by the time I got to the end I simply didn't care who the killer was. Hopefully Amy McCulloch's next book will work better for me.

“Midnight” had many of the elements of a good story. But somehow it just did not pull me in. I wasn’t able to see the story in my mind’s eye as I read it. I would probably have enjoyed it more as a movie.

So this was a 3-star for me.

An expedition to remote Antarctica around an art sale turns into a killing fest as opposing rivals each bring their own business affairs onto the ship with deadly intent. The dangers of the landscape are nothing compared to the dangers onboard as passenger after passenger is attacked or killed without any connection. The artificial and unrealistic plot hides the characters’ secret connections until the end. The descriptions of the icebergs and the ocean life are the most captivating part of the novel.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

I read McCulloch's previous book and thought it was good - I'd put this as slightly better. McCulloch does another variation of the locked room scenario, since the characters are in a boat in near Antarctica and there's not many places to go. The characters were fine and the pacing was good.

Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere. A cruise ship headed for Antarctica and there’s a murderer on board. Also, Olivia’s fiancé is nowhere to be found. He left ship before it left and she can’t figure out why. It just keeps getting better and better as it goes. I enjoyed this fast paced thriller, but felt the ending had too many red herrings and was a bit rushed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. 3.5 stars

Midnight has an exciting premise and unique setting that is unfortunately bogged down by a dimwitted main character and lackluster mystery.

I felt similarly about McCulloch's earlier thriller, Breathless. She does an amazing job setting the scene and establishing initial tension, but I'd love to see a main character I can really root for instead of wanting to shake her for being a dingdong who gets herself into increasingly perilous situations because she can't figure *anything* out on her own. Climbing icy mountains and sailing Antarctic seas is not something I'll ever do, so I fully appreciate McCulloch sharing her experiences, and even though I didn't love this, I'd still read another thriller by her in the future.

Olivia has been suffering from severe career burnout since she failed the last portion of her actuarial exam; she’s also been working crazy hours, trying to make enough money to keep her mother in a care home and been trying to help her boyfriend Aaron with his fledgling art business. She’s even lost her relationship with her best friend Trish over her burnout and she’s been having an incredibly difficult time. Now she’s going to face one of her greatest fears, open water (stemming from an incident from her childhood during which her father was killed) as she accompanies Aaron on Pioneer Group’s inaugural Antarctic cruise/art auction featuring the work of a late artist whom Aaron represents.

The luxury cruise quickly begins to go wrong for Olivia. In fact, it seems her very life may be in jeopardy.

The setting of this book elevates what might have been a ho-hum mystery thriller. The author has clearly spent time in the Antarctic region and describes it beautifully, making me want to book a trip immediately (including all of Olivia’s cool excursions, with maybe 100% less murder and mayhem.) The mystery aspects of the book just didn’t do it for me, despite the fact that the twists weren’t obvious. So, read it for the atmosphere….it’s a delightful setting for a thriller!

2.5
I really liked Breathless, but I didn’t enjoy this one as much. The setting was fun (a cruise to Antarctica! isolated with limited connected to the outside world!) but the plot was a bit boring. There were too many characters and mini plots going on, so I didn’t ever get fully interested in any of them. The ending felt very sudden as well. I wish that I’d liked it more because the setting was so interesting. I’d recommend trying Breathless first if you want to read a thriller by this author!
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC to review.

3.5. "Midnight" is a good thriller that will keep you up reading late at night. So why did I give it a 3.5? Because McCulloch's book "Breathless" was a solid 5-star thriller, so I know what she can do. There have been a few thrillers set in Antarctica and certainly several set on cruises, which means I had books to compare to "Midnight." I also was not surprised by the villain, although there was a nice twist at the end. It is a good thriller that follows Olivia as she leaves on a cruise to Antarctica. There are lots of murders and no one can be above suspicion. I thought the descriptions of Antarctica were well done; McCulloch did make me want to see those towering icebergs.

Fantastic thriller. Midnight is my first read by Amy McCulloch and I'll definitely be seeking out another. Slow to get started, but once it does I was hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital edition.

This was a wild ride. Maybe too many elements but I was seriously on edge the entire time. The setting, a yacht on the way to Antarctica is such a great setting for a thriller - McCulloch seems to be great at these high stakes settings. Slightly confusing at times but thrilling

Thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for the ARC

Midnight by Amy McCulloch ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Antartica isn't the only danger in Midnight. Intrigue, mystery, self-discovery, murder, and adventure all wrapped up in a beautifully written thriller. McCulloch tells a nail-biting mystery set among the beautiful backdrop of the Antartica. When Olivia sets out on a cruise, facing her biggest fear, she doesn't realize that danger lurks along every corner. As Olivia faces painful memories she begins to learn about what it means to truly live, while being hunted by an unknown assailant and haunted by unanswered questions surrounding her boyfriend. Will Olivia find the answers she needs and shed light who is trying to kill her in time? Or will her death be another one on this cruise to the land of the midnight sun?

I could not put this novel down. McCulloch wove a beautiful story of self-discovery intertwined with a thriller. Her word choice was perfection and kept the reader locked in. Pacing and plot was well thought out. Can't get enough of this novel!

Quick synopsis: Olivia and her boyfriend, Aaron, a high-powered art dealer, are invited to join a once-in-a-lifetime cruise to Antarctica. However, while setting sail, Olivia realizes that Aaron is not onboard - and things just become more and more mysterious.

A thriller taking place on an Antarctica cruise? I could not wait to pick this up (and was so excited to receive it as an ARC!). It was atmospheric and it was super informative about the art industry, Antarctica and everything in between.

Unfortunately, it was not the fast-paced, nail-biting thrilling I was hoping for. The first 70% dragged very slowly and was a little to predictable - and when ‘thrilling’ things took place, it felt like the characters just moved on from the event without too much worry/thought.

I must say - I really enjoyed the last 10% of the book! I like the way things wrapped up; it felt like a warm hug after a cold cold book.

Thank you Net Galley and Vintage Anchor for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

**Publish date: January 2, 2024**

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Breathless was a 5-star read for me, but Midnights didn’t hold up. I absolutely loved the setting but felt like this novel could have taken place anywhere and had the same plot, which really took away from my enjoyment. I also felt like most of the characters felt 2-dimensional and could have used more development.

The main thing that lowered my rating was the lack of true action until the end. It felt like the whole book was slow until about 80%. I am still a big fan of this author but felt like she strayed from the formula that worked so well in Breathless.

I was so excited when I was approved for this book because I am an Amy McCulloch fan ever since Breathless. This book was just perfect cross between One by One and Death on the Nile and I could not put it down. It kept me on the edge of my seat with countless suspects and I did not see the end coming. I will never not love a book by her.

I had high hopes for this thriller and was hoping it would be atmospheric thrilling read but I found this to be more of mystery vibe and a bit hard to follow. This novel is a locked room mystery so if you like those types of book this might be worth the read for you.

Amy McCulloch does it again in this thriller novel, it had a strong start and had everything that I was expecting from the description. I enjoyed the idea of the setting is being used in Antarctica. I enjoyed everything that was happening and it had a suspenseful feel to it.

3.5 ⭐

‘Breathless’ was a five-star read for me and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book set in Antarctica - especially since we were sailing there this past Spring!

Although it didn’t measure up to the atmospheric and tense plot of Breathless, it was still a compelling, and chilling, locked-room thriller. I think it will be memorable simply due to my recent visit rather than the plot. Basically, I wanted to love this one, but ended up simply liking it. The success of this book is due to the fact that McCulloch took the same trip and could rely on experience.

I struggled to identify with the characters. Olivia seemed wishy-washy to me and Aaron just as boring. I also think I just wasn’t into the art scene referenced. Regardless, those disappointments aside, the mystery of the attacks, the memory issues and the dead bodies kept me flipping pages. I felt the panic and tension.

I struggled with the pace. There seemed to be too much fluff before the ship set sail and before the first major incident. In this genre, that’s not good.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t hold a candle to the author’s debut but it won’t stop me from reading anything else she writes. I love how her ideas come from her experiences - it adds to the authenticity.

I was gifted this copy by Vintage Anchor and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I loved Ms. McCulloch’s debut thriller, Breathless, so was thrilled to read her newest book. The plot takes a once in a lifetime voyage to end of the earth In Antarctica. An unbeatable location for a mystery, there’s literally no where or means to escape. It’s summer swelter here as I’m reading about icebergs. What a perfect way to chill!
Olivia works for an actuarial firm (I wasn’t very familiar with that business) and her boyfriend, Aaron, is a curator. The art world is fascinating and my appreciation is high, my wallet isn’t, which is why I can only read about it. The plot concept was great with a wide ranging group of passengers. The luxurious ship made me wish I didn’t get seasick just walking on the beach. Everything goes wrong for Olivia when Aaron doesn’t board the ship before they sail off without him. He was in charge of the art installation to be auctioned exclusively on this trip. Olivia is left to cover the event with no help from him. She can’t reach him and suspicious events begin to happen on the ship. There is more to be frightened about than rough seas and storms, someone doesn’t want Olivia to succeed, she’s in danger. All the while she’s dealing with quite the guilt complex, blaming herself for her father’s death. Her concerns about her missing boyfriend and strange occurrences are met with skepticism from the Captain and crew. Who can she really trust? She is totally isolated in an inhospitable environment.
I had various cabin mates and crew on my suspect list, the twists and turns still took me by surprise. In my quest to figure out ‘who did it’ I had narrowed down the who, not the why. Lots of action blew the ending out of the water!
A digital advance reader copy of “Midnight” by Amy McCulloch, published by Vintage Anchor Books, was provided by NetGalley. These are always my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.