“𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦.”

Thank you Atria Books for an advanced readers copy last year via Netgalley. I’m still playing catch up on galley approvals.

While atmospheric I felt it was a slow burn, and I don’t mean that negatively, just don’t expect it to be super suspenseful and intense. It’s likened to other small town setting mysteries like Where the Crawdads Sing. Personally I liked it better than Crawdads but it still isn’t a favorite. We have characters who have secrets, are unreliable, some are shady, some are unlikeable, and I had a theory of what happened that while it ended up not being correct the actual conclusion/climax itself fell a little flat. The writing was good and though the story itself didn’t hit for me I would be willing to read more from Crouch should she publish more in the future. Content includes non-detailed descriptions of murder scenes and tragic loss of loved ones.

Middletide completely drew me in with its moody, small-town atmosphere and slow-burning mystery. Sarah Crouch’s writing is so rich and immersive—I could practically feel the mist rolling in off the water. The characters are layered and complex, and the tension builds beautifully. If you like literary thrillers with emotional depth, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

Strong setting and interesting mystery. I liked the blending of multiple timelines to tell the story. This book has a little something for everyone and is a quick read.

I was really excited to read this book but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. There were parts of this book that were interesting but there were parts that just took forever to get through. There was a lot of repetitive descriptions that we could have done without. I also felt like the murder and the investigation just missed it. I did think that some of the writing was beautifully done and it felt atmospheric. Overall, this wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't the one for me. Thank you to Atria books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book captivated me from the start. It was mysterious, atmospheric, and a satisfyingly slow burn debut novel. I will definitely read more of this author’s books in the future.

I liked the drama and mystery mix a lot, but I felt like it was a little too obvious at times. I wish the author would have trusted the reader more to figure out things for themselves.

This was such an atmospheric read. The setting pulled me in and the mystery kept me guessing. Loved the small-town vibes. I would say it had some slow parts but overall such a solid read.

Middletide is a deeply satisfying slow-burn debut, rich in atmosphere, tinged with loss, grief, and an intriguing mystery. I’ll admit, slow burns don’t usually hook me, and there were moments early when I found myself wishing I could nudge the pace forward. But trust me—the latter half more than makes up for the measured start, delivering a story that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

In short, this book has it all: murder mystery, romance, courtroom drama, small-town vibes, complex family dynamics, and no explicit language or steamy scenes. It’s the perfect pick for gifting!

This book kind of seemed like a romance/mystery. Definitely a slow burn. It didn’t really keep my attention.

I loved everything about this book. It held my interest from the beginning and all the way through. The characters were fully fleshed out, the story was unique, and it was completely engaging. The ending was slightly rushed and unrealistic, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I'm excited to see what she comes out with next.

The mood was atmospheric and it reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing. But the plot was slow and the ending felt rushed and slightly inconclusive ? I kept waiting for the actual ending and was surprised when it was over. It did keep me intrigued enough to finish but there wasn’t much to it.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Really awesome book. Loved the setting. It gave the book an eerie and creepy feel to it. Well written.

I enjoyed this book so much! The plot was very intriguing. There is a small town atmosphere, a death, mystery, and lots of suspense.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of Middletide. I really enjoyed this story. It was definitely more of a slower moving mystery but it was great. My only negative feedback would be the timelines were a bit much. I found myself going back and forth make to make sure what time frame I was in. But overall a really good book. I will read more from Sarah Crouch for sure. 3 1/2 stars for me.

thanks again.

I enjoyed the premise of this novel and the hunt for the killer. It is just a bit slow in spots and it is a bit long. All in all a good read.

This book catches your attention right away with a death/potential murder at the very beginning. This is a slow burn mystery that creates a great sense of place. Overall, I had a hard time feeling connected to the story. The young love, second chance romance, and mystery didn't quite keep me invested and then it felt like a rushed wrap up at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the gifted e-ARC.

Middletide was a mystery novel that will have you captivated from the first page and have you turning pages until the end. This one was well written and all of the characters in this were great. I look forward to reading other books from the author. The book is one where I enjoyed the scenery and I loved that it took place in a small town. Overall, this is one that I highly enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who loves mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this read in exchange of my honest review of Middletide by Sarah Crouch.

On a rainy morning in Point Orchards, a tiny town in the Pacific Northwest, the body of the town doctor, Erin Landry, is found hanging from a tree in a quiet inlet. Although it seems to be a suicide, suspicion grows as police realize the only way to access the tree is through the property of Elijah Leith, a recluse and failed writer just recently returned to town to restore his family's old cabin. The scene seems to be a bit too staged, and as they dig further, investigators notice the death seems to be taken straight from the pages of Elijah's novel. As the town turns against him, Elijah is forced to fight for his innocence and prove he is being framed.

I absolutely loved the setting in this book (I am obsessed with almost anything set in the Pacific Northwest). I found the pacing of the novel lovely, and enjoyed the snapshots and interweaving of Elijah's love for a local girl living on the reservation. The chapters were short and easy to get through, and I especially liked the ones focusing on the police investigation. However, I did find the plot to lose steam as the book went on, and I have to admit I wasn't as invested in the characters at the end. Elijah could be quite unlikeable at times, which really put me off. Nonetheless, this is a beautiful literary thriller I would recommend to anyone with an interest in crime procedurals.

I'm having "Where the Crawdads Sing" vibes with this one. I just didn't feel as though it gave "enough" to make this book its own.

Sarah Crouch’s Middletide is a haunting and suspenseful debut that perfectly blends mystery, literary fiction, and psychological drama. Set in the brooding coastal town of Point Orchards, the novel follows failed writer Elijah Leith, who returns home only to become the prime suspect in the apparent suicide—or possible murder—of Dr. Erin Landry. When eerie parallels between her death and his own writing emerge, the lines between guilt and innocence blur, and Elijah must unravel a dark web of secrets before it’s too late.

Crouch’s writing is richly atmospheric, painting Point Orchards as both beautiful and claustrophobic, a town where whispers travel fast and grudges last forever. The novel’s tension builds slowly, balancing Elijah’s personal reckoning with the deepening mystery of Erin’s death. The romantic thread with Nakita adds emotional weight, giving the story a layered exploration of love, betrayal, and redemption.

While the novel’s pacing lags slightly in the middle, the sharp prose and well-crafted suspense keep the reader engaged. The final twists are satisfying and unexpected, making for a compelling conclusion.