Beautifully written and atmospheric, this debut novel was an ambitious blend of a classic homecoming story + a murder mystery + a love letter to the natural world. And while the resolution didn’t stick the landing completely, the vibrant Pacific Northwest setting won me over.

What I loved most were the portions of the story dedicated to our MC, Elijah’s, return home to a rural town in Western Washington, where he worked through his grief by renovating the family cabin. With this came a personal challenge to live off the land, providing numerous descriptions of the local scenery, wildlife, and plant life throughout the seasons. As a lifelong PNW resident, I can happily say this part of the novel was evocative perfection!

Alongside the homecoming story, the book jumped back and forth between a murder investigation with ties to Elijah. This is where the plot got murky to me, mainly due to the extremely fast trial. Happening in just 2 days, it felt more like an episode of Law & Order than a well-paced novel plotline. And while the big reveal did surprise me, it ultimately fell flat since the villain’s motives were limited to only a few paragraphs with a “Gone Girl” vibe that felt unearned.

Despite one portion of this novel shining brighter for me than the other, I do think this is a strong debut and have high hopes for the author’s future books!

This review will be posted on June 11, 2024 to: https://instagram.com/amandas.bookshelf

I enjoyed parts of this book, but not all of it. I liked the mystery, but not necessarily the execution of it. The reveal of the "twist" felt too easy. I liked the love story element, but not that it came at the expense of the greater plot. At times, this felt like two separate novels and I don't know that this worked for me. What did work for me was the descriptions of nature, of the fulfillment of working the land, of the joy of yielding bounty from the land. Rating: somewhere between 😐 / meh, it was ok AND 🙂 / liked it
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This book is scheduled for publication on June 11, 2024. Thank you @atriabooks for providing me this digital ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Let's start with the positives: "Middletide" is described as "atmospheric," and that it is. There are parts of the novel that feel like a love letter from Sarah Crouch to the Pacific Northwest. She writes about the weather and the land with tenderness and honesty. There is no sugarcoating how brutal the cold can be, or how deadly the rain.

The plot moves quickly in this relatively short novel, which clocks in at 288 pages.

But that's where my appreciation ends.

The plot that moves quickly relies on a timeline that jumps back and forth over, at times, mere months. The setting in the 1990s seems a strange choice. There are no pop culture or other references that would make the timing relevant. As with other readers, I was confused about the author's choice to create a fictional indigenous tribe, which then was painted with a broad brush with no real attention given to the details of this supposed culture she created.

The lead male character is strongly unlikeable, which I think is intentional but done in such a way that instead of adding to the plot, it becomes a distraction. The two female characters feel more like caricatures, one of a native woman and the other of a woman driven mad by grief. They seem at times like women who were written by a man.

"Middletide" spends a great deal of time building atmosphere - but it also spends a great deal of time explaining the lead character's love of homesteading and his passion for working the land. While this might have a place in other novels, it sticks out like a sore thumb in a way that, again, is distracting. So much attention is paid to how this man works his land, and so little attention given to the Squalomah tribe the author created. It's a disparity that is noticeable.

While there were other smaller issues with the novel - some use of cliches, including polishing something "until it gleams" - I can't get past the trial, which seems slapdash in its telling.

The ending of the novel felt rushed. Overall, I think this would have served with another round of edits, perhaps from a pair of eyes that hadn't been involved in the process so far. There is a lot of promise in "Middletide," but the execution is lacking.

Middletide by Sarah Crouch is sort of a mystery, sort of a love story, and sort of a coming-of-age novel. The title is also the title of the novel that Elijah Leitch wrote in college and subsequently published. Unfortunately, no one bought it so now he was back home again, after refusing to return after so many years, even when his father needed him. He had to kick in the door to his cabin, his father’s cabin, as the key was too rusted to work. He would be a busy man, making this habitable, but he did. He cleaned and repaired; he tilled and planted; he honed his skills with a bow and arrow and hunted; he remembered how to fish. Eventually he was living off the land, but it wasn’t enough. His father’s friend, Chitto, had offered him a job in the garage. He held off as long as he could, but eventually he showed up and accepted the offer. And found his father had been working on a Camaro for him. Perfect outside but no motor. He had a project. He had another project: the girl he left behind, Nakita. So much more to tell.

A well-plotted book, involving a woman overcome with grief, well two really, and how differently they handled it all. Elijah was a good character, although the way the story unfolded, one wasn’t always sure of that. He was was a writer at heart and had crafted an excellent novel, earlier, one used against him now. People are always willing to believe the worst, and when he was accused of murder, they all jumped on board. All except Nakita and her father. The trial was a scary thing, especially from the viewpoint of a man who knew he was innocent but saw no way out. This is a truly wonderful book, a little different, but full of heart and promise. Thanks Sarah Crouch!

I was invited to read Middletide by Atria Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AtriaBooks #SarahCrouch #Middletide

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for this title! I was very interested in reading when I saw it was a BOTM selection. The setting was very atmospheric and I thought it was a great debut novel overall. The premise of the murder was a little unbelievable, and it would have been better for the author to use research on a real indigenous tribe instead of creating one for the novel.

Happy Publishing Day!
This is an atmospheric read thrilling read. I went into this book not knowing much but immediately swept up into the setting. The plot of this book was beautifully done and the timeline layer was impeccable. This book is the Folklore album in a book. (I am serious, all songs relate to scenes in this book)
If you are a folklore fan or a fan of atmospheric love stories and thrillers this genre-bending novel is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a copy of this novel. I am ordering my physical edition now!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read. It was good read but I found that it was a bit slow for me. As well, the romance in the book was missing something. I think more detail was needed but it was still good.

Setting is in the Pacific Northwest, small town of Port Orchard. I have lived there the majority of my life so very excited to read this book.

This book was a very interesting read for me and loved that it's a debut novel.

When Dr. Erin Landry is found deceased hanging from a tree, there seems to be questions surrounding the death and Elijah Leith an Author that just returned to town seems to be of interest. There is so much more to this story that, brings it all together and I would recommend this book to anyone that just wants to take their time and enjoy this read as it's not face paced.

I found this a slow read but I loved the story line. As a debut novel this was really good, and I can only imagine the next read from Sarah Crouch will be even better.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital read in exchange for my honest review.

Always a big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.
If you love a slow-paced, moody mystery set in the Pacific Northwest this book is for you.
I was curious regarding the suicide/murder and whodunnit plot of the book so that really drove me to the end.
However, the romance and character relationships in the book left me wanting. I felt the main character and his relationships were portrayed very superficially.
Overall, it was an easy read but left me wanting more.

A light, easy to read mystery novel debut from Sarah Crouch. Elijah Leith has returned to the small Puget Sound town of Point Orchards, following the death of his father and his failed writing career. He is still single, still holding flame for his teenage sweetheart, Nakita, who lives on the nearby reservation. He finds himself implicated in the murder of a young doctor, Erin Landry. Erin is found hanging from a tree near Elijah's cottage and the circumstantial evidence suggests she died in the exact manner detailed in Elijah's novel. With atmospheric descriptions of life in the wilderness to a bit of romance and mystery and courtroom drama thrown in, this book has all the elements for an entertaining, quick summer beach read.

Thank You NetGalley, Atria Books and Sarah Crouch for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

Sigh. I hate to give such a low rating but I really really did not like this one. First, the prologue was great. It was a really wonderful start to this mystery and I’m sad it was all downhill from there. This was so slow. I found it really hard to pick back up.
The main character Elijah was a very entitled guy who refused to take no for an answer. He had no understanding of or respect for the women he interacted with. Really disliked him. I didn’t believe or care for the love story.
I find the woman is crazy/went crazy is a problematic trope and also… don’t do your character dirty like that. Was not fair.
I don’t mind suspending belief for a lot of things, but I just did not like this story and what happened in it. So it was harder not to pick at all the unbelievable things about it.

This was a great debut but unfortunately I'm not sure if i was quite the right fit for this book. The first half moved pretty slowly for me but it definitely picked up in the end. Middletide has been likened to Where the Crawdad's Sing which is where it sort of left me since I wasn't the biggest fan of that one.

I am also unsure how I feel about a made-up Indeginious tribe- it seems a bit callous or insensitive, perhaps. The character arcs were (usually) bland and was missing some "umph". The descriptions of the PNW were written beautifully but it was difficult for me to overlook the lackluster of everything else.

I'm sure many people will love this but it wasn't for me. Many thanks to Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review :)

Middletide releases tomorrow and I think it’s going to be a hit!

If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing you will love Middletide. This was a solid mystery for me, keeping me engaged and wondering how the author was going to twist it in the end. I was impressed! Extra impressed to learn this is her debut novel!!

I will say that I thought the timelines were a little confusing. We go from a few POVs within a few years, and I kept flipping back being like wait, what year are we in now? But honestly, that was not a gamechanger for me in the grand scheme!

This had a little thriller, a little recluse living, love lost, love found, family dynamics, living off the land, novel writing, and a little law and order. And I thought it all worked!!

Definitely recommend!!

Thank you to Atria, NetGalley, and Sarah Crouch for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Middletide by Sarah Crouch is an intriguing debut that centers around part coming of age and part murder mystery.

In the quiet town of Point Orchards, Dr. Erin Landry’s body is found hanging from a tree on the property of Elijah Leith, a failed writer. Initially deemed a suicide, Sheriff Jim Godbout soon suspects foul play, noticing eerie similarities to a scene from Elijah’s novel.

Elijah returns to his childhood home, disheartened by his failed career, and begins renovating his father's old cabin. He also tries to reconnect with Nakita, the girl from the nearby reservation he never forgot. As the town turns against him, Elijah must prove his innocence and uncover the true culprit framing him for murder, in a gripping tale of love, loss, and revenge.

I found Middletide to be not what I was expecting. I was expecting a heavier focus on the murder mystery portion of the story but the true focus is on the characters and their lives as they grow up and change. This style is more reminiscent of "Where the Crawdads Sing" and had a bit of a slow pace for about 60% of the book.

I did enjoy the plot twists in the murder mystery but I did feel the other parts of the story were more dragged out than they needed to be. I also personally found the creation of a fake native American tribe to be odd, as its set in the PNW where there are many tribes and the author could have interviewed/discussed/researched with someone from a local tribe to make Nakita and the others more authentic (the reservation and the way it worked just seemed off to me). It made the fiction, truly fictional rather than making the story real.

Overall Middletide is an interesting debut with a thoughtful premise but not the best execution.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for my gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review and NetGalley for my e-arc.

What an incredible debut! I can always appreciate a mystery with depth. Middletide starts when two fishermen discover the body of the local attractive doctor hanging from a tree on the property of Elijah Leith. From here we bounce between timelines of the present and the past all leading to the mind boggling end.

From the cover to the last line, I enjoyed every word. Crouch offers beautiful prose with richly developed characters reminding me of William Kent Krueger. I would not classify this as a "thriller" but more a slow burn mystery. While it lagged at times, I was invested in the outcome for Elijah.

My only complaint was the obsession or "pining" that our MC had for his high school girlfriend that he hasn't seen or spoken to in 20 years. That felt off to me but did not detract too much from the story.

The audiobook is short and easy to listen to at only 6 hours long. Our narrator, Kaleo Griffin does an exceptional job of keeping the pace going. He swiftly transitioned to make each voice distinct based on the character. It was an enjoyable listen and i would highly recommend the audio experience.

Nicely done for a debut!

The isolated, moody atmosphere definitely comes across in this whodunnit with multiple timelines. I could imagine myself in the woods near where I grew up with the cool summer air on my skin. However, the storyline fell flat for me. The reveal felt unrealistic and was ultimately a let down. Other parts of the plot were rather depressing and characters were not likable.

This was an enjoyable, slow burn thriller. The twist was a bit predictable but I enjoyed the story as it developed and the writing was beautiful. I really wanted to be at Elijah's cabin, it sounded so peaceful and calming.

3.5*
This is a strong mystery/thriller by a debut author. This review will remain a little vague because I believe the story is best if the reader goes in blind.
What I loved:
- the Pacific Northwest setting
- the twist idea

What I think could have been stronger:
- the Native American reservation connection (other than it was near Port Orchards and where Nakita lived)
- the dual timelines were sometimes a little confusing, so close together that I often wasn't sure which timeline I was entering
- lots of the plot points seemed unrealistic (the last-minute attorney, the found witness, the actual motive, Elijah's talking with the sheriff and deputy during the trial ). One or two of these may have worked, but not all of them.

I think this would make a great book club choice because I definitely wanted to talk to others after reading it. There are so many parts of the story to hash out.
Many thanks to #AtriaBooks and #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

MIDDLETIDE is Sarah Crouch’s debut novel. It is a riveting story of love, loss and revenge that kept me guessing right up until the surprising conclusion. It is set in the small Puget Sound town of Point Orchard and told in multiple timelines. The community is shocked when the body of Dr. Erin Landry, is found hanging from a tree with a suicide note nearby. She was found on the property of Elijah Leith, who had recently returned to his childhood home after his writing career failed to launch. However, as the investigation progresses, there are clues that suggest that the doctor’s death may not be by suicide after all. The details bear an uncanny similarity to those from Elijah’s novel, instantly making him the prime suspect. Elijah claims to be innocent. Did someone frame Elijah for the murder using the words from his own book? As Elijah races to prove his innocence, he is also fighting to regain the trust of his high school sweetheart, Nakita. The story is atmospheric and full of twists and turns that keep the tension high. I enjoyed this intriguing murder mystery and look forward to reading more from Sarah Crouch. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Middletide is the debut novel from Sarah Crouch.

"33-year-old Elijah Leith returns to his hometown, trying to pick up the pieces of his failed writing career. And hoping to connect with the woman he still loves but betrayed. When a young doctor is found hanged to death on his property, he becomes the main suspect. Now Elijah must fight for his innocence."

What a fantastic debut from Crouch. The story resolves around Elijah - his guilt over abandoning the love of his life - his family - thinking that the town and its residents weren't big enough for his dreams. It's nice to see him start to find his way back.
There is tragedy and a death that on the surface looks like a suicide, but is really something else. Crouch does a good job keeping us guessing.
This book has been called atmospheric. Crouch's writing takes you to the PNW and to the depths of these characters.

"Just as in winter, when the ground needed to be tilled and the dead trees pruned, the hopeless seasons of life were a chance to grapple with the hard soil of his heart and let the sadness hit him like the sharp edge of a hoe, breaking apart the unyielding ground there."

Surprising ending from Crouch. Don't miss this wonderful book this year.