It begins with a suicide: Joey, a young man in his twenties who is a regular bookstore patron, hangs himself from a shelf in the Bright Ideas Bookstore—which is where this novel's main character, Lydia, is an employee. Joey leaves behind messages meant only for Lydia; it is from there this suspenseful novel unfolds.

There is so much I want to say about this novel, but I'm finding myself at a loss for words—that's how you know it was good. That, and the fact that I finished this in a single day: something that almost never happens. This novel is populated with some of the most fully drawn characters I've come across in some time: Lydia's friends and families and the bookstore itself are all unique and divine creations and will surely stick with the reader for a long time.

How would I classify this novel? It is certainly a mystery, and maybe horror, too? Sullivan certainly isn't afraid to go to dark places, and there are several scenes herein that gave me the certifiable creeps. Yeah, a horrific mystery sums it up well!

Simultaneously a thrill ride and love letter to book lovers, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is not to be missed. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy, which was given in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I saw it floating around Goodreads for a while, and then it popped up on Netgalley's most-requested and I decided to go for it--and I'm SO happy I did!

The premise sucked me in immediately, death in a bookstore and all the secret mystery surrounding the event! The setting was perfect for any book nerd like myself, and I thought the opening scene was masterfully done. The pace meandered a little bit after that BANG of a start, but I still found myself turning the pages into the early hours of the night because every time I even thought of stopping, a new clue popped up to keep me intrigued.

I'm not sure I ever really connected to any of the characters (actually, my favorite character was the one who dies in the first scene lol), but I'm also not sure if that mattered. I was drawn into the back story, and some of the flashbacks scenes were my favorite in the book. I wish a few things were explained further because they felt a little like plot devices (why her relationship with her father changed so much, for one). The ending was a little abrupt for me, and was written in an odd way (most of the action happens off screen, and you are sort of told about it and then the story wraps up a few pages later). But the fact that I wanted more shows how sucked into the book I was.

I definitely recommend for fans of great writing, suspense, and mystery! A fun summer beach read with more depth than I expected!

Lydia Smith loves working at the Bright Ideas Bookstore. She can talk books all day and spend time with the BookFrogs, a group of misfits who wander the aisles and find a sort of home there. But one night, she makes the terrible discovery that Joey has committed suicide in the bookstore. Lydia learns that he left her everything he owned, including a puzzle hidden inside his books. The messages he left encourage her to revisit the darkest moments of her childhood that she has spent a lifetime trying to forget. Did Joey know who was behind the crime that terrorized a community and destroyed Lydia's family?

Readers love books that are about bookstores and fellow readers. But this is not your grandma's cozy mystery about a bookseller who solves crimes in a small town when she's not knitting sweaters for her cat. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is dark and a bit creepy and delves deeply into the consequences of suppressing the difficult things in our lives. It's also about the relationships we have and the ones we choose, and about knowing when to leave and when to give people another chance. It's about loneliness and finding the people who will accept you, even with all the scars of your past.

This book is one that seems to play before your eyes as you read. It's easy to picture Lydia shelving books at Bright Ideas Bookstore or spending an afternoon long ago with her childhood friends in the local donut shop. This is also a really well-written mystery. We know early on that the central question is about the crime committed in Lydia's childhood. But Matthew Sullivan has added so many layers that it's impossible to tell who might be responsible or why. As the reader, you are working just like Lydia is to uncover another clue about Joey or remember one pivotal moment from her past. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is a great choice for book lovers who like their mysteries dark and twisty.


Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
By Matthew J. Sullivan
Scribner June 2017
336 pages

Very unique mystery novel that was really well written. I really enjoyed the story and the twists with it. I highly recommend it.

My Review: 4 stars

Click her to buy on Amazon

Midnight At The Bright Ideas Bookstore is a mystery, a family drama and thriller all in one. I was immediately attracted to it from its cover and title. I try and hit most books that are about or take place in bookstores. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, The Little Paris Bookshop and Goodnight June are among a few of my favorites. This one definitely had me hooked from the start.

With a third person narration, we learn a lot about the characters, however I wanted more information about the main protagonist, Lydia. Although there was enough about her to enjoy the book, I did find myself wondering why she and her father had such a big break and why she left at eighteen. Maybe I missed something. There were a lot of trusts broken, secrets concealed and puzzles to unravel, which I appreciated as a reader.

There were two plot lines and two time periods running through the same narrative and thankfully they were not broken up by now/then. This author gave the reader the benefit of the doubt that we could figure it out on our own. The code breaking as a suicide note was particularly interesting to me as this character really lived and died within the books. His history was tragic at best and he too could’ve benefited being a little more fleshed out as well.

I must say there is a gruesome scene in the book that read right and was important to the storyline, however I know there are some readers who may not agree as they avoid all macabre scenes in literature. For me, it was absolutely necessary so we could fully understand why this event took such a toll on Lydia. I look forward to seeing what this author brings us next.

Quotes I liked:

I’ve begun to think of it as more graveyard than library. End of the line, you know. Where book-of-the-month club comes to die.”

-“I guess it just bugs me to be paying so little. Something’s wrong in the air, you know, when a book costs less than a bullet. Or a Coke.”

– “It wasn’t me. I mean I did it, I’m responsible, but I was just a teenager, so it wasn’t really me.”

-“Seriously, I like your whole book thing. Just having them around makes me feel smarter.”

-“She could hear Raj sniff next to her and then exhale a long gust, the kind intended to clear cobwebs from the soul, to pry out its nails.”

This was a crazy ride that kept me guessing til the end. Book books are always my favorite and this one definitely did not disappoint. I think it would make a great movie too! The characters were 3 dimensional and the plot was interesting. Well written

Highly original mystery, with an urban noir kind of gritty vibe. Lydia Smith is a bookseller at the Bright Ideas Bookstore in Denver, a haven for lost souls and fringe dwellers. Lydia herself is a bit like that. She was involved as a child in a spectacular murder case, and her father's subsequent efforts to whisk her away resulted in a very odd and abnormal childhood. She connects with the Book Frogs, as she calls them, who frequent the bookstore, especially Joey. So, when she finds Joey's body, an apparent suicide, with a childhood picture of her clutched in his hand, she begins searching to find long-buried truths.

A strong and distinct new voice and a riveting read. I received an ARC via Net Galley in return for my honest review.

Good attempt at a first novel. Book needed editorial help.

I’m always immediately intrigued by books that deal with libraries, bookshops, or readers in general. As someone who has been a lifelong bookworm, this type of setting or character is obviously something that connects with me. I’m also a fan of mysteries, so Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore was certainly a book I was excited to read. On Goodreads, I rated this 5 stars. No, it’s not completely perfect and I did guess an aspect of the mystery before it was revealed, but that doesn’t matter. I found myself eager to read this one and was always very engrossed while doing so.

Lydia Smith has a past history with violence and a murderer dubbed the Hammerman. This person was never caught, but they’ve haunted Lydia’s life ever since. In the present time, she is working at a bookstore called Bright Ideas. A young man who frequented the shop often is found dead by Lydia one night. This discovery leads Lydia on a quest of sorts to learn more about Joey. She finds herself digging further into her past at the same time too, delving into secrets and wondering if the Hammerman is still nearby.

Like I said, there is one aspect of the mystery that I guessed before it was ever revealed, but there was still plenty for me to be surprised by. It didn’t take away my enjoyment of the book. The book follows Lydia in the present, but it also gives some perspectives from the past when the Hammerman terrorizes a small town. Both timelines are easy to follow and just add more suspense and intrigue to the mysteries Lydia hopes to unravel.

I didn't know how highly addicting this book was going to be when I started it. Once I started reading, I didn't stop till I was finished. I wouldn't say that this is a great mystery but it did have a certain way of keeping you entertained. It begins with a death in the first few pages that happens at the bookstore that Lydia works at. You soon find out that there's more to Lydia than you first realize. The young man that dies, leaves clues in books for Lydia to figure out. So the book goes back and forth between the mystery of the young man and something that happened in Lydia's past. Will the two mysteries converge? You'll have to read it to find out!

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel is a 5 star and deserves 100 more stars. It is a fantastic read ! For Bibliophile's like me nothing is better then a mystery set in a old bookstore with mysterious characters.
This book has every element that makes it a great mystery. The author has a wonderful fast pace writing style, a very intricate plot, great location, and the perfect sleuth with many clues to please every seasoned mystery reader. The characters all add to the plot in the perfect blend of suspects and bookstore lovers.
In fact its such a enjoyable read I will not give away the book here. Every reader must enjoy this for yourself. Clear your schedule for the day as you will not put it down .
Its by far one of my favorite mysteries of the year. I was entranced by every page of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore. I read it in one sitting. Not only is it an excellent, mystery its the authors debut novel.
Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my personal opinion

As a book lover this book cover spoke to me! I needed to read it, so I was uber excited when I got it. I dove right into this book and was SHOCKED! Each page in this book was filled with intense content that kept me glued to my kindle!
Lydia is amazing she is a bookseller with a haunted past. She loves everyone who patrons The Bright Ideas Bookstore and when tragedy hits her she is trying to solve a mystery.
I will not speak ( or type) another word about Midnight At The Bright Ideas Bookstore's storyline you can go into this wonderful book blindly! But I will continue to gush about the writing! Matthew J. Sullivan writes an amazingly addictive book with just as amazing characters. After I finished this book I went straight to amazon to one click another book by Matthew and was SHOCKED to see that this is his first book! Mr. Sullivan you have my attention and I can not wait to see what else you write!

The suicide scene in the beginning of the book is almost too gruesome. It was like a horrible wreck. You don't want to read on, you know it can't be good, but you are drawn to take in every detail. At first, I stopped reading, thinking this may not be the book for me. But then, I had to see what the effects of the suicide were on those involved in the story. Pages kept being turned to reveal a bit more and soon, the book was over. I will admit, I did choose this book because I kept coming back to the cover which doesn't really hint at what is within, other than books. There is so much more. I am really glad I didn't pass this one by or stop with the initial shock of the suicide.

4.5 stars. The missing half star is because of the epilogue. I could have lived without that unnecessary bit.

Otherwise this is a book that grips you and does not let you go. It starts with a hanging at the Bright Ideas Bookstore. One of the regulars, Joey, hangs himself. a few days later his favorite clerk finds out that he has left clues for her. Clues that will explain his motivation and open up old wounds. Readers will be swept along with by both stories and will not be disappointed with either the climax or the resolution... sans the epilogue, of course.

This is not at all what I expected from a novel set in and around a bookstore. Often books about books are a little twee and cute but Sullivan throws you into a mystery right from the very beginning. I am a huge mystery and crime fan and this did not disappoint. I must admit, I do a lot of reading during the night and one scene in particular (where we meet the Hammerman) gave me chills.

Who is Joey? Is he just a simple BookFrog like all the others or does his connection to Lydia go far deeper than she could ever realise?

A skillfully told story that slowly unfurls its clues and keeps the reader hooked. I look forward to more from Matthew Sullivan after this!

OK, I admit it. I read this book because of the cover. And because a bookstore was the setting. Actually, when I read the description I did not want to read the book. But the cover image kept showing up on various literary websites. So, I gave in...After all, I love debut fiction and am a fan of mysteries.

The time the author has spent working in bookstores comes across and lends an extra layer to the texture of his story. The quality of the writing reflects the skill justifying the various forms of recognition he has achieved.

All that aside, was it worth the risk of judging a book by its cover?

Yes! It was a richly wrought and intriguing story. Easily meriting five stars.

The Bright Ideas Bookstore, located in a rather unsavory section of 1990’s Denver, seems to double as the public library for many of its unconventional patrons. One of these patrons is Joey Molina, a young ex-con, has chosen the bookstore as the scene of his suicide. Front and center in the story is bookseller Lydia Smith who, as a young girl, survived a murderous attack by a perpetrator known as the Hammerman. Joeys suicide presents the reader with a profusion of questions to be answered - - why the bookstore, why was there a picture of Lydia taken at her 10th birthday party in his pocket when he died, why did he leave Lydia all of his meager collection of worldly goods and finally what really happened to Lydia all those years ago. Most of the narrative jumps back and forth in time and is told in the past tense by a third person.

Author Matthew Sullivan demonstrates his ability to mine deep, rich avenues of homelessness, suicide, the resurrection of memories, failed relationships, loneliness and survival presenting the reader with a tale that is a rare combination of depressing and hopeful.

Well this wasn't what I was expecting. I mean, I will always read a story set in a bookstore without hesitation. It's like the best fairy tale to me. But I wasn't prepared for the dark subject matter found in this one. It's not gory. The plot is actually kinda interesting. A bookseller finds a frequent customer dead, hanging in the History section with a childhood photo of her in his pocket. She then finds out he has left all his belongings to her. What she finds are books with cut out ciphers in them, the keys for them hidden in the bookstore. As she's trying to figure out the meaning behind all of it, a friend from her past walks back into her life and brings back traumatic memories of a past she's tried to bury. As she is grieving for the lost man and trying to figure out what led him to take his own life she also has her own emerging demons to deal with.

The book contains more than just a mystery. We see the dynamics of an arranged Indian marriage, single parenting, homelessness, and the aftermath of failed foster care and adoption. All that combined with the fascinating addition of a cipher made with books. I was engaged from start to finish. It's one of those stories that, if the content weren't so dark, I'd want to live in real life. Who hasn't dreamed of being a code breaker? No? Just me? Oh well. It was entertaining anyway.

This book is difficult to categorize ... it has elements of so many things - thriller, suspense and even literary fiction. It has it all and yet its not exactly any of those things. It was dark and depressing and yet hopeful and uplifting ... all at the same time. AND IT TAKES PLACE IN A BOOKSTORE (well, partly in a bookstore)! I really enjoyed this one! Overall, this was quite a clever novel. It's nuanced and layered. Well written and interesting. It's so much more than I expected going in. I honestly cannot believe that it is a debut novel. It's just fantastic! And it's a really effective mystery - I didn't figure everything out long before it was revealed which was nice! It is well plotted and had just the right level of suspense. The characters are well drawn and the story itself is strong. It kept me turning the pages despite being tired. It's all around a good read! Really good book - I highly recommend it!