I did enjoy this atmospheric mystery for the most part. Elijah, Nakita, Chitto, and the Reverend were well-developed and likable characters, and sorry was compelling. HOWEVER. I was super distracted trying to reconcile the fact that in this book, a medical doctor had written a dissertation, and this was an important plot point. I’ll come back and change my review if I’m wrong, but like, that’s not how it works, right?

I also love courtroom drama, and while this part of the book was entertaining and does the job as far as getting us to the climax, it was just not at all how trials work, and again, I found that distracting.

And that diary. Those entries sound like they were written by a teenager, not a highly educated woman, and I’d like to think that seasoned law enforcement officers might find that odd.

Once again, I think I need to quit this genre.

I don’t give a ton of one-star reviews. 1.5, 2, even 2.5, sure, but 1 star reviews, like 5, are reserved for books that are a little special. A little… unique. Middletide is one of those books. I wanted to wait until I was a little more clear-headed to write this review, but it’s been a few days and that’s not happening, so buckle in, folks.

There are a few things you need to understand about this book to understand why I’m so angry. Chief among them is that the author, Sarah Crouch, is, as far as I’m aware, a white woman. If this turns out to be incorrect, I sincerely apologize and I will update this review accordingly. I’m not holding my breath, though. You know why?

I just don’t see an author of color inventing an indigenous tribe.

I have no idea who in their right mind gave the author the go-ahead to do this. (Sensitivity readers who?) I especially don’t know why the leader of this tribe is also a Christian pastor who lives in a big, multi-story house. I don’t know why the author felt it was necessary to specify that a character who died in a hunting accident was part-owner of a casino (huh???)

I have no idea why the author decided to shoe-horn dozens upon dozens of passages about Christianity and the redemptive power of Christian marriage in a story that is, at least on the surface, about indigenous identity. I especially have no idea why, instead of doing any research into the many existing indigenous tribes the author decided to, again, make up one and to name that tribe the Squalomah which is dangerously close to a real-life anti-indigenous slur.

Without even getting into the actual plot of this book, there are already so many problems that I’m having trouble understanding how this book possibly made it past initial edits. This is a book that had to make it past multiple people and multiple rounds of edits to get to the version that I’m holding in my hands. This is an ARC, yes, but Book of the Month copies are already going out; I simply don’t foresee there being any substantial changes between this version of the book and the version that will be on shelves come June.

Beyond my anger, I have some other, more mundane problems. Characters were bland, uncharismatic, and unsympathetic. The plot was laughably ridiculous; the murder investigation was unrealistic to the point of farce. The central “romance” made me incredibly annoyed and downright uncomfortable at times given the author’s inability to avoid writing the most harmful, trope-filled version of an indigenous woman in Nakita. Could a character like Nakita exist in the real world as a real person? Maybe. I’d feel more confident in saying yes if I had any degree of confidence in the author’s ability to meaningfully capture the realities of indigenous cultures whatsoever.




Every book out there is someone’s favorite book. I try to be understanding with my reviews and frame my critiques as constructively as possible. If the author had not made up an indigenous culture for this book, I would be a lot more forgiving. In that case, this would be another bland mystery instead of the kind of fiction that is actively harmful to indigenous groups who are actively fighting for federal recognition.

There are so many thoughtful, nuanced, empathetic portrayals of indigenous people and indigenous culture coming out lately. Hell, if you’re looking for a procedural, Under the Bridge is on Hulu right now. Don’t waste your time with Middletide. I’m frustrated that something like this was able to be published. It’s a reminder of just how far the publishing industry still has to go.

Middletide is a murder mystery with Where the Crawdads Sing vibes.

The story begins with the death of a beautiful young doctor in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. She was found hung from a tree on Elijah Leith’s property. Initially assumed a suicide. But upon investigation, evidence points to possible murder staged to look like suicide. All evidence begins to point to Elijah Leith. Elijah left the small town after high school to pursue a career in writing in the big city. He returned back to his small town home in his 30’s after his first novel flops. He lives a very reclusive life living off of his land and pining after his high school girlfriend and first love. But it turns out that the novel he wrote depicts a murder much like the one discovered on his property…..

This story has murder, mystery, suspense, romance, some 90’s nostalgia and is written in dual timelines. In my opinion, the story was a little slow in the beginning, picked up in the middle and then felt a little rushed at the end. Overall, it was a like, not a love, for me. If you are someone who loved Where the Crawdads Sing, then this book is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC copy of Middletide in exchange for my honest review.

Very Movie-ish! The characters and setting are extremely relatable. I felt like I was a member of the small town and living the story as it unfolded. Elijah goes back to hometown after some years. He takes over his dad’s property and creates a homestead. His old high school love is here, so the underlying romance them is present throughout this mystery. A beautiful doctor ends up being found dead on his property. Here is where a beautiful thrilling mystery starts to unravel. I could not put this down!! An old manuscript is uncovered implicating Elijah as a murderer! It was a race to the last page to come to the verdict!! I powered through this book in two days, despite my very busy schedule. I have already recommended it to everyone I know!! I would love to see more from crouch and possibly even this small town!

Middletide by Sarah Crouch
Publishing date - 06/11/24
Rating (4/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BOTM pick

Received this one through Netgalley & was one of my Book of The Month pick for May.

Synopsis - This book is centered around the death of a young doctor in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. The town sheriff is trying to decide if the doctor’s death is suicide or foul play. All signs point to Elijah Leith, a young man who had returned home to fix up his Dad’s old cabin.

I really enjoyed this one! It had everything - suspense, mystery, true love, characters that you could connect with and characters you despised, an interesting plot…

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC. I look forward to reading Sarah Crouch’s next book.

This book was well written with an interesting storyline, but sadly the first two thirds of the book were just too slow burning for me. Although I struggled, I’m glad I pushed through to see how the author pieced it all together. I appreciated the who dunnit twists along with emphasis on the natural land. Totally agree with the book’s description- definitely had a “Where the Crawdads Sing” vibe, but just a bit slower.

Publication date: June 11, 2024

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read a digital ARC copy in return for my honest review.

This book is a debut and I do look forward to seeing what else Crouch comes out with! I had a hard time working through this one though. There were times I found it exciting and then other times it was way too descriptive and I just wanted to get back to the story. I think this one was more of a me problem since I don’t love atmospheric novels but I do find her to be a promising author!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Middletide is a surprising gem that sneaks up on you with its depth and intricacy. Initially off my radar, I found myself immersed in its pages thanks to Netgalley, and I'm glad I gave it a chance.

The narrative's nonlinear structure initially posed a challenge, but soon became a captivating aspect of the storytelling. Elijah's journey, from failed writer to retreat at his father's cabin, is both relatable and compelling. His reconnection with his father's friend and his quest to win back his lost love form the emotional core of the tale.

However, Middletide transcends mere romance; it's a gripping mystery surrounding the untimely demise of the town doctor. All signs point to Elijah as the culprit, adding layers of tension and intrigue. The resolution of this mystery is skillfully executed, keeping readers on the edge until the very end.

The characters are the heart of this novel, each crafted with depth and nuance. Their struggles and relationships are intricately woven into the fabric of the story, making them feel incredibly real and compelling.

Overall, Middletide is a captivating read that defies expectations. I'm grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to experience this gripping tale ahead of its release.

This book captivated me from the start. This book is centered around the death of a young doctor in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. The town sheriff is trying to decide if the doctor’s death is suicide or foul play. All signs point to Elijah Leith, a young man who had returned home to fix up his Dad’s old cabin. While at home, Elijah tries to restore his relationship with Nakita. Nakita is a girl he had a former relationship with when he was younger who lives at a nearby reservation. This book touches on the upd and downs of Elijah and Nakita’s relationship. It also focuses on Elijah trying to prove his innocence to the local
police. I enjoyed the combination of romance and suspense and would highly recommend this one. Thanks NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced copy of this book.

4.5 stars…….Sarah Crouch’s debut novel Middletide captured my attention from page one. It had everything, suspense, mystery, a great plot, true love, characters that you could connect with and characters you despised, an interesting plot and description of the land that made you feel like you were there. The only reason I am not giving this 5 solid stars is because I feel like the timelines jumped back and forth making it a little bit confusing at times. I feel like the book would have been just as good, if not better, if the story was told in sequence from beginning to end.

My typical read is historical fiction but lately I am enjoying mystery’s, more fun reads that take me away and let me escape. This book did that. I also must add that I loved the cover.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading Sarah Crouch’s next book.

Honestly this book could've been 100x better if the ending was different. This review will be full of spoilers because I cannot explain my criticisms without talking about important plot points, so do not continue if you don't want to be spoiled. How the book ended: it turns out Erin was insane and frames Elijah for her murder/suicide but turns out he's innocent. How it should have ended: there should have been a certain point in the book where we see a major narrative change and start to learn that Elijah is actually insane and dangerously obsessed with his idea of what his life should be. I think this would have worked so well because of how Elijah was written as a character and the tension that we see built up throughout the book. This man was written to be so perfect and just such a gentlemen that could do almost nothing wrong. He didn't seem like a very realistic person, almost to the point where I was actually getting really suspicious of him. The author was also so focused on him and his daily life when there was this murder mystery in the background that is almost never touched on until the end. There were also a few moments in which the author chooses to focus on his explosive outbursts of anger that are almost uncontrollable. All of this, along with his obsession with finding love (and with Nakita) in general, was really pointing to the ending being that Elijah was actually the killer. I think Erin's diary entries should have been how the story actually played out, and the author could have done such a good job of slowly building that dread to learning the dark truth. I don't know why she didn't go for this, when she had all of the groundwork right there.
There was also this really weird conservative/fundamentalist thread throughout the whole book. All of the main characters, specifically Elijah, were so focused on finding a wife/husband, settling down, and having kids. It got really weird at points and kind of made me a little uncomfortable. Some of the conversations these characters had made it seem like romantic relationships and creating a family were the only fulfilling callings that anyone could have in their lives.
Overall, I think that the ending that the author decided on was a mistake, and due to some other weird aspects of this book, this just wasn't for me.

Set in the forest along the Puget Sound, a disillusioned author is accused of killing a local female physician because the crime scene resembles a fictional murder in his failed novel. Elijah Leith left Point Orchards (and his girlfriend, Nakita) in 1973 to attend college and seek his fortune as a writer in the big city. He returns in 1988, after the death of his father, to live in the abandoned homestead and scrape by as a mechanic.

Elijah attempts to rekindle a relationship with now-widowed Nakita, while she seeks to reignite his writing. When Dr. Erin Landry’s body is found on a remote edge of Elijah’s property -- accessible by boat only during mid-tide – the sheriff arrests Elijah. The investigation suggests that someone may be framing Elijah, but who? I liked the atmospheric setting, elements of an indigenous culture, courtroom scenes, and a second-chance romance. A propulsive debut novel with a gorgeous cover.

3.5 stars for really good writing. I never really liked Elijah as a character and i felt the story moved a little slowly. Setting was beautiful. "Twist" wasn't really twisty.

Middletide was not on my radar and a book I almost skipped reading. But thanks to Netgalley I gave it a shot and ended up liking the story so much more than I thought I would. The story jumps around time a lot and that took a bit to get used to but after I did I found myself invested in the story. Elijah just wanted to be a writer, so when his novel was not successful and he runs out of options he decides to return home to his father’s cabin to reset. He lives off the land, fixes up the cabin and reconnects with his father’s best friend. Eventually he runs into his one true love and spends the story trying to win back her love and trust.

This is not a love story though, but a story of the death of a town doctor that all signs point to Elijah being the one who killed her. I loved how the end played out and the characters in this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy!!

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for an eARC. My opinion is just that…an opinion.
3.5⭐ Elijah Leith returns to his hometown of Point Orchards, Washington, after a failed writing career. Following a few dates with the town's beautiful doctor, he is arrested for her murder when her body is found on his property… in a scene straight out of his failed novel. While Erin Landry's death adds narrative tension, the story is more about love and loss. Each central character has experienced significant loss: Elijah lost his father and his friend, Nakita lost her husband, and Erin lost her family, which influences their choices/behavior. Overall, the story was good. The descriptions of the Pacific Northwest were beautiful. I would have liked to know Nakita’s character better, and I feel the ending short-changed the story.

“Home is where the heart is.” Middletide explores what it’s like to return to the place you know best, the place you grew up, the place that shaped you. It answers the questions some of have as we grow into our adult lives—What is home? And where is it? Is it a place? Or is it a feeling?

Elijah had dreams of becoming a writer. He moved to San Francisco to escape his small town, just outside of Seattle. However, his father’s passing has brought him back home. He must face his past, his decisions, and his biggest regret—not being with the love of his life.

As Elijah navigates his new life in his father’s old cabin, he begins to understand what he wants in life. The novel follows a non-linear timeline that helps you move between Elijah’s life and a murder investigation. Eventually these timelines match up and the mystery is solved.

The setting is an important part of the plot, and that is part of what lost me in the novel. I am not interested in extensive descriptions of nature or homesteading. I found the main character to be immature and the relationships hard to believe.

Overall, I enjoyed the story but I got lost in the exaggerative descriptions and setting.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

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A slow burn that delivers!! The way Sarah Crouch kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure this one out. Elijah’s character was so difficult to figure out, but in a very good way. The suspense of the trial was too good. I was turning page after page waiting for the Nikita reveal. She delivered!!! I wish I could read this one again for the first time to see what I missed.

If you can make it over the slow burn hump, you won’t be able to put it down! A must read.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC.

Elijah and Nikita meet as teens and it feels like they’re meant to be. They are devoted to each other even when Elijah heads away to college. Promises were made and sadly, promises were then broken. But now Elijah has returned. Will Nakita take him back?

Two fisherman find the body of Erin Landry, a prominent doctor in town. Since the death is suspicious, they look to Elijah who owns the property where she was discovered.

The story takes us back and forth through timelines of the investigation and leading up to the death. We get to know Elijah who lives in his father’s run-down house but is loving the simple life after his writing career fails. We briefly get to know Nakita and her father who are Native Americans living on the reservation nearby. As the investigation continues, a clue surfaces that points the killer as Elijah. The murder has been mimicked from his failed novel, Middletide, that the sheriff was anonymously given. The trials he endures and the people that stand beside him were admirable and touching.

The mystery is a slow build that jumps back and forth in the timeline, giving bits of clues as it continues. This became a small frustration for me when I had a hard time remembering facts from each timeline and where those facts fit into the bigger story. There was little dialogue throughout the book but that led to rich descriptions of the land and people, including their thoughts and actions. This became a positive attribute especially for the ending.

That ending was definitely the best part. It was full of shocking information that turned the entire story upside-down. I would have loved more in-depth details to savor during this time but it was a great end to that build-up. It is a solid debut and I’m excited to see what Crouch does next! I recommend this to those that love a slow build mystery with a big bang at the end.

Thank you to Sarah Crouch, Atria Books and NetGalley for the copies!

The book releases June 11, 2024.

I had a hard time seeing this book through. The story is clever - a woman has died by what appears to be suicide but may be murder. As the story advances, it begins to be clear that it may actually be a suicide made to look like a murder. The problem is that the idea begins to dawn a little too early. I realized what was happening and then slogged through the book, waiting for the characters to catch up. The reason why the main character was being framed is just too much of a stretch for me. I liked the characters, the setting, and the idea of the plot. I think it was just the pacing that was off for me.

Short synopsis: In a small town, the Dr is found dead. Everyone assumes it’s suicide until close point to the reclusive young man who just returned.

My thoughts: The writing was beautiful in this. Very atmospheric. But it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I struggle usually with police procedurals and this was too much of a slow burn for me. I’m sure lots will love it, just not for me.