After reading and devouring her two previous novels (and being unable to think about anything else for days after finishing them), I was so excited to win an e-ARC of Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead. I confidently went into her latest novel believing Winstead could write anything.

Sure enough, I was pleased to be proven correct. But rather than tackling a dark academia murder mystery or a sex cult psychological thriller, Winstead takes on southern gothic horror in Midnight is the Darkest Hour. Teeming with religious zealotry, occult influences, and satanic ritualism, Midnight tells a compulsive tale following the daughter of the small town’s preacher as she uncovers the dark secrets hidden within her seemingly innocent small town.

Winstead creates such a rich, sinister world in Midnight. Filled to the brim with foreboding, I found it almost impossible to put down while reading it – and thoroughly unable to predict what was going to happen next. I was on the edge of my seat throughout its entirety, right until that jaw-dropping finale.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, for sending me an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This one didn't work for me and I almost can't really tell you why except I just didn't like the characters. It could have definitely partly been the religious aspect that irked me to start and then it was slower than I liked and I found the female main character a little whiny at some points. Decent story just not the style that works for me.

I received this as an arc before it was published and have just gotten to finishing it now. I chose to listen to it, as it did not hold my attention while attempting to read it. All I can really say is, I was not a fan unfortunately. I wish i enjoyed it as much as others did. But it was just one that I struggled to get through.

A creepy spooky thriller! This wasn't my favourite book, but it was undeniably well written and tense. It's hard not to compare to In My Dreams I Hold A Knife & The Last Housewife, some of my fav thriller masterpieces, but I still think this one is worth the read if you're looking for another thriller to fill the void.

Thanks to Harper Collins Canada for the ARC! I will read anything Ashley Winstead writes.

I guess I liked this? Idk I didn’t hate it but it felt like a big let down compared to the last housewife; i also really didn't care for any of the characters at all despite being interested in the religious guilt it brought up

I find Ashley Winstead's writing to push the limits and almost become unbearable at times, and Midnight Is The Darkest Hour is that way as well. I love reading the message and themes represented within this book, so it's really no surprise that it worked so well for me!

Let me start by saying The Last Housewife did not work for me at all... but I made a rule for myself awhile ago to never write off an author when one book doesn't work for me - and I'm so glad that's my rule! (Although now looking back after finishing this one, that books plot makes a lot more sense!)

Books that push the envelope, keep me on my toes and make me feel so many emotions are always standouts. I am a BIG fan of genre blurring books, and Midnight Is The Darkest Hour banged at the door of romance in addition to thriller, and encompassed some big cult-y nods along the way! This is the closest vibe that I have found to Hour Of The Witch (I'm talking backward religious thinking, misogyny and the response to this oppression), and I ATE IT UP! Verity kept popping into my mind as well. I long for and love all the dark and disturbing vibes in books, and that's just what Winstead does, and she does it well.

I honestly think this is one that you need to read all over again once finished to completely understand all the slight nuances. There are bread crumbs scattered throughout the entire book, and it made for a read that kept me on my toes.

As the ending sped towards the finale, all I could think about was how incredible this book would be to see on the big screen; it's beyond cinematic, and I clapped at the conclusion!

Bonus points to this book for including "rat bastard" - my second favourite swear!

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Canada and HarperCollins Publishers for the complimentary copy to read and review.

Ruth Collier has always sensed her outsider status, especially as her father delivers fiery sermons from the church pulpit in Bottom Springs, where his words hold the weight of law.

Despite the town's apparent devotion to God, a darker fear lurks—the Low Man, a vampiric figure rumored to prey on sinners during moonless nights, evoking terror among the townspeople.

The discovery of a skull in the swamp triggers a hunt for the Low Man, with suspicion falling on Everett, Ruth's oldest friend with a shadowy past. As Ruth and Everett's connection deepens, Ruth becomes determined to uncover the town's concealed secrets and reveal the truth.

This atmospheric novel evokes the essence of Bonnie and Clyde, infused with a hint of horror. While Bottom Springs outwardly presents itself as a devout, God-fearing community, a closer look exposes the pervasive influence of evil. The conclusion delivers a twist that will either captivate or divide readers.
I wasn't a fan of the ending but that's just me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ashley Winstead has been officially written down on my list of favourite authors.
If she writes it, I WILL read it.

This is so Where The Crawdads Sing coded but a little more light in the sense that there's a lot of Twilight mention and Bonnie and Clyde feelings involved.

A must read for 2023.

Talk about an atmospheric read, Winstead really nailed the setting of this book, I truly felt transported to the swamps of Louisiana while reading this one. This was such a unique book, unlike anything Ive ever read before. I don't think it can be called a thriller, but it's also not a romance or a mystery. The truth of the genre probably lies somewhere between a romantic vampire lit fic, mixed with the suspense and vibes of a thriller/mystery.

I didn't know what to expect going into this one but I ended up absolutely loving the story that Ashley wove together. I will continue picking up her books for a long time to come.

The story is set in a small town called Bottom Springs and the main character is the reverends daughter, Ruth, and she has a dark secret from when she was 17.

Right at the start Ruth mentions her forbidden love with the Twilight series and vampires and werewolves. When I first started reading, I also loved the Twilight series and a series called “House of Nights” which is also vampire themed 🧛🏻‍♀️

I’m usually not one to read books that have a religious theme or tone, but there was just something about this one that made me so invested!

Flashes back and forth between the past and the present to help put together some of the mysterious pieces of this town

This book was so addicting from the start and so hard to put down! So unique and like nothing I’ve ever read before, I feel like Ashley has that gift!

I loved the Bonnie and Clyde vibes between Ruth and Everett and I need to discuss the ending with anyone who has read it! #iykyk and I have so many thoughts!

This truly is the perfect read for spooky season, so you need to grab a copy now!!
🧛🏻‍♀️🍂🌳🐺👻✨🌙

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wanted to love Midnight Is the Darkest Hour so badly, but unfortunately it just didn’t do it for me. I had a very hard time connecting to any of the characters and it was hard for me to become immersed in the story.

I unfortunately didn’t enjoy a lot of the plot points, which makes me so sad!

If you like her other books then definitely give this one a try!

Thank you so much Harper Collins!!

To review MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR, I need to make a confession: although I went through a vampire book phase, I somehow never read or watched anything Twilight related. I know, I know... I must have been living under a rock, but here we are.

It's no secret I've *loved* Ashley Winstead's previous thrillers and that The Last Housewife - in particular - is one of my most recommended thrillers. I had high high hopes for MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR but unfortunately, for me, it didn’t live up to Winstead’s previous books.

Not to say it was all bad. The small-town, super religious Louisiana setting makes for a dark and moody atmosphere which I loved. The dynamics of Ruth's super religious upbringing and the influence her parents and the town have on her vs. her relationship with Everett and her struggle to find herself had a lot of potential. Likewise, when the ending started to come together, it was compelling and had some unexpected elements.

That said, most of the book was rather slow and plodding to the extent that, had it been written by another author, I may have considered DNF'ing it. Ruth's character is understandably naive, but it was a bit much for me at times as were all the Twilight references (but this could be in part because I’m not a fan🤷‍♀️). While the ending had some high points, it also felt a bit rushed and a few things were a bit too convenient.

Does everyone remember the whole dark, romantic plight of Twilight? I sure do, this is adult forbidden love reminiscent of that! The angst, the tension, the will they/ won’t they be together before her religious scary dad tears them apart? Read this one! Edge of your seat hood!!

Thank you Harper Collins Canada for the ARC. If you like Twilight, you'll love this. Very atmospheric. It's incredible that she can write in such distinctly different styles for her thriller and romcom books.

[It was okay] The writing and characters were great but this story was just not for me. I felt like it was dragging at times and I didn’t become invested in this book like I have in this author’s previous work. Overall it was just ok for me.

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this ebook and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I had a great time reading Midnight is the Darkest Hour and it has cemented Ashley Winstead as a thriller author that I will always keep on my radar and be interested in anything she releases! My longer review can be found in the goodreads link attached.

This one was so good! it was exactly what I’d suspected in an Ashley winstead thriller and I ate it it up!!! I loved the down south in the summer setting somehow to me that just makes it feel even darker! Especially with a swamp involved no idea why but im here for it! I loved the religious trauma of this one to and how it can really make some people act! I also loved how the paranormal aspect of the lowman was tied together with it as well! Definitely added an extra element to the story line! the romantic aspect of this one with Everett and Ruth it was just enough to make me want more! And the dual time line worked so well I really felt that helped show Ruth’s growth and I loved how her character struggled with what she wanted to be right and what she was raised to believe was right.I read this one in pretty much one setting and it is perfect for this stormy dark nights!

Loved: The overall vibes in this book were great - it's swampy, creepy and cultish. Very similar in style to A Flicker in the Dark! I also loved a story when you hear about the villian right from the start and then the reader works backwards.

Liked: I enjoyed the morally gray characters and the dual timelines. I was guessing through a good majority of the book about how things would play out! And I will say that the ending leaves your jaw dropped.

Lukewarm: There is a number of Twilight references and a bit of related subplot. As someone who hasn't read that book, that element was lost on me. Overall, I'm not the target reader for that portion so take this review with that in mind.

Ashley Winstead knows how to “give me pumpkin to talk about,” and this was my first eerie and thrilling encounter with her stories. The story weaves together a tapestry of eeriness, cleverness, and layers of exciting twisted twists. The pacing is spot on, building tension steadily to the story’s climax, and I was turning the pages as fast as I could as the danger increased for our main characters. Even if my room was filled with vampires thirsting for my blood—nothing could deter me from finishing this read.

“The church bells toll, and secrets whisper in the shadows.”

Ashley Winstead takes the familiar small-town, God-fearing community trope and spins it into a clever, exciting narrative that delves into themes of feminism and religious oppression. She weaves in themes of friendship, love, and vengeance, giving the story an exciting, unique feel.

Throughout the story, I experienced and enjoyed a variety of vibes from other books and movies that added depth and intrigue, with one minor exception—the references to Twilight felt a bit overdone. It sometimes verged on the cheesy, leaving me uncertain about the author’s direction. Nonetheless, Ashley Winstead masterfully weaves it all together, culminating in a heart-stopping and gratifying ending. It’s in the conclusion that this story truly pays off.

I read this with my Traveling Witches, and we had a wickedly good time reading this one!

Bonny and Clide meet a horror story.
A great thriller with so many levels.
A story that depicts how your role in society can make or break. The more powerful you are shows how much power you hold. But be careful cause one wrong move can change everything