~3.5 stars

Engaging and dark, though I found some of the legends to be a bit too many side stories. Ultimately a great thriller for fall reading, though.

CWs: religious fundamentalism, substance abuse, ableism, colonialism, familial violence, sexual violence, child abuse, murder, use of word "c*bal" in association with evil group

I usually enjoy Winstead's books, but this one was a miss for me. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the story line at all.

Midnight Is the Darkest Hour
By Ashley Winstead
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Ashley Winstead is the queen of dark and twisted thrillers and no one can convince me otherwise!

This one has it all. Cult vibes, romance, magic/witchy vibes, murder, action, literally everything. All my twilight girls, this one is for you!!!

Ruth and Everett have been friends for many years. But now these friends find themselves in trouble. The two are keeping a big secret and the truth cannot come to light. If Ruth were to find herself in the middle of a scandal, it would be devastating for many reasons. You see, Ruth is the daughter of fire and brimstone preacher, Pastor James Cornier. But he’s more than a pastor. He’d the one all the people of Bottom Springs, Louisiana look to for leadership. When a skull is found in the swamp, the people of Bottom Springs are desperate for answers. The town has always feared a mysterious man known as the Low Man and with the discovery of the skull, the town is on the hunt for the Low Man who must be the culprit. As for Everett…. Let’s just say he’s definitely not Bottom Springs favorite and they’ve always had suspicions about him. Many think he may be the Low Man. How far will Ruth go to protect her best friend?

Y’all I’m not kidding when I say that the end of this book had my jaw on the floor. Even thinking about the ending days later still leaves me in shock!

This one is definitely heavy and I recommend looking up trigger warnings before starting, but this is a great thriller to add to your TBR!

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I want to start by saying thank you very much for this eARC that was generously provided by the publisher and author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I cannot review this book as I could not get into it and dnf’d it a little before halfway.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

Ashley Winstead's "Midnight is the Darkest Hour" is a captivating gothic thriller that seamlessly blends Southern charm with chilling suspense. Set in the small Louisiana town of Bottom Springs, the story revolves around Ruth Cornier, the preacher's daughter, and Everett, a troubled outcast. Winstead skillfully creates an eerie atmosphere, weaving together elements of folklore, religion, and the supernatural. The Low Man, a vampiric figure said to kill sinners, adds a layer of fear and intrigue to the narrative. The discovery of a skull in the swamp sets off a chain of events that exposes the dark underbelly of the seemingly peaceful town. Ruth and Everett's complex relationship is at the heart of the story. Their shared outsider status draws them together, and their bond deepens as they investigate the town's secrets. Winstead's character development is nuanced, revealing the vulnerabilities and strengths of both protagonists. The plot is well-paced, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. Winstead's prose is evocative, painting vivid pictures of the Louisiana landscape and the oppressive atmosphere of the town. The ending is satisfying, tying up loose ends while leaving room for interpretation. Overall, this is a well-crafted thriller. I enjoyed Winstead's ability to create a sense of dread and her exploration of complex themes make this book a must-read.

I loved Winstead's previous novels, "In My Dreams I Hold A Knife" and "The Last Housewife," but this book didn’t resonate with me. It felt targeted towards a younger audience, perhaps YA, with numerous Twilight references that were off-putting.

The story follows Ruth Cornier, raised in a strict religious household, whose father controls the town with his church. Ruth befriends the outcast Everett, and they vow to stay together forever. When a skull surfaces in the swamp, their secret about a night in the woods is threatened, challenging their fight against the judgmental community, including Ruth's father.

Overall, I was disappointed and couldn't get into this book. I hope Winstead's next work reconnects with me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Whew! This is an incredibly difficult book to review. On the one hand, Ashley Winstead is a talented author who writes engaging fiction that is easily devoured. Each of her books are unique in their own way, and I look forward to seeing how each one holds up in its own light. Midnight is the Darkest Hour isn’t my favorite book by this author, mostly because I found the plot predictable and couldn’t fully appreciate the meta nature of the references to many pop culture favorites. If you’re a fan of dark suspense novels full of religious fundamentalism and Twilight references, this will be your cup of tea.

It was an okay read that needed more twists and a deeper plot. The pacing at times was slow and hard to get into.

I wanted so badly to love this book as I've adored everything else that Ashley Winstead has written. I thought the concept was creative and the setting totally lent itself to a thriller with cult undertones. The characters were fascinating and layered; no one was innocent and there was an interesting play on the importance of reliance on religion in small towns in the south that I was intrigued by. I do think this would make a really good book club book- there's so much to talk about and I'd love to connect with others to hear their thoughts (especially about the ending)!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had to try think twice before I made it through. I just couldn’t get into the storyline. Ruth was so immature and backward. Some of it seemed so far fetched. I thought it was kind of predictable and I couldn’t really root for any of the characters. Also, the ending was so abrupt and unresolved.

Had a great time reading this book. It was a little slow at first but worth pushing through because it picks up and the ending was great.

I recently had the pleasure of diving into Midnight Is The Darkest Hour, a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The author's skillful storytelling and ability to create tension and suspense had me hooked from the very first page. The characters were well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations, adding depth to the plot.

What I particularly enjoyed about Midnight Is The Darkest Hour was the unpredictable twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was perfect, making it hard to put the book down once I started reading. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a thrilling ride filled with mystery and unexpected surprises. It's a must-read for fans of the genre!

Thank you SO much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I absolutely loved this!! Such great characters and a great storyline.

My full review is to follow in a few days.....

An atmospheric allegory, full of fire and brimstone., Midnight Is The Darkest Hour made me a believer in fan fic. I was immersed in the story to the point of actual, vivid nightmares!

I thought this was just okay. This is not a fast-paced book. It’s meandering. sometimes interesting, sometimes not. There is a lot of darkness in this book which I usually enjoy, but not this time. By the last third of the book where it could have gotten exciting and suspenseful, I was becoming bored and wishing it was all just over. The ending was just okay.

I think this is a great example of a title that is made for adults but would work well in a high school classroom. Nothing about it was too much, and I think that the romance aspect would definitely appeal to high schoolers! It wasn't my personal favorite, but I can definitely see how it would land well with some.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Receiving an advanced copy was a delightful surprise. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.