The prose was so atmospheric and I loved that aspect! The descriptions of the land and homesteading definitely had Crawdads vibes going into the story. Part mystery, part police procedural, I was sucked into the dual timeline of Elijah’s life.

I do think the characters were not fleshed out enough and we needed more in the end. More effort went into setting the scene rather than developing the characters. The story felt rushed and ultimately unconvincing. I was able to piece together where the author was heading very early on. While I loved the idea of the story, the resolution was lacking for me.

I do think if you love a good atmospheric mystery, you might enjoy this one because I have seen a lot of great reviews.

These are the types of books I really love: a quiet novel with slow burn suspense. This was not flashy or action-packed, but I became invested in the characters and intrigued by the plot very quickly.

Elijah moves back to his hometown after a failed writing career and shortly after, the body of his ex girlfriend is discovered. Elijah is the prime suspect, due to the murder scene closely resembling the murder in his failed novel.

The characters were unreliable and kept me guessing until close to the end when things started to take shape. Usually, the flip flopping timelines confuse me and throw me off, but it really worked for me here. This style left the reader with cliffhangers throughout and it was hard to put down!

I really loved the genre mashup: small town community crime, suspected murder, whodunnit, romance, unreliable narrators, second chance love, loss, grief, chosen family, etc. This book had a little bit of everything and I enjoyed it immensely! Hard to believe this was a debut author!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a bit drawn out without the magic of the setting to help engage the reader. A miss for me.

I love a debut that is well-written to swoop in and surprise me with a great twist. With multiple timelines, it slows down then picks up to see the background of the characters. Elijah is a reclusive author that is down on his luck. He moves back to his hometown to reunite with his high school sweetheart Nikita. Instead, he finds her gone and he falls in love with the beautiful Dr. Erin Landry. Two fishermen find her body hanging from a tree similar to Elijah's book. At first, it was determined she was grieving over her daughter's death, but then the investigation turns on Elijah. As he became the main suspect, I found pity in Elijah's luck and circumstance.
The undertone of the story is heavy with grief. It doesn't take long to become enthralled in the mystery. I had heard so much about this book that I could not wait to read it. It did not disappoint, especially the twist. The only problem with it I found it really slow getting me into the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Highly recommend this one!! This is my first time reading one of their books but it won't be the last! This book sucks you in from the get-go and you will find yourself thinking about the characters long after you finish it. Do yourself a favor and get this book!!

If you loved Where The Crawdads Sing, this is the book for you! It’s small town, crime, thriller fiction, with a light romance. In the small town of Point Orchards, Washington, the local Doctor is found hanging from a tree on the property of Elijah Leith. It looks like a suicide, but a closer look makes the town sheriff believe it’s a murder. After an anonymous tip, Elijah becomes the main (and only) suspect and must prove his innocence. Could he be a murderer or is it all a misunderstanding?

The story held my attention throughout its entirety. The only reason I gave this 4 stars, was because I was expecting a bigger plot twist at the end and was pretty sure what happened about half of the way through.

Thank you so much to the #netgalley team for allowing me to review this in advance! It was so good!!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Middletide by Sarah Crouch.

It's not often that I would call a murder mystery "lovely," but it's the first word that comes to mind when I think about this book. Crouch does such a great job making this coastal town it's own character, to the point that I began to long for it myself.

I read some of the reviews complain about the slow pace of this, and I can see this, however, I also understood the deliberateness of the slowness to help build tension. It never bothered me at all, the more I read, the more I needed to continue.

This book won't blow your mind, but it will stay with you. I really felt this story, and I look forward to reading more from Crouch.

I was really blown away by this debut novel, that took place in small town Pacific Northwest. I enjoyed that the story was told from different perspectives and in different timelines. This was a slower burn, suspenseful murder mystery with a love story element as well. I thought the characters were very well thought out and well written. The book kept me guessing the whole time, and I never anticipated the twist that came up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy to read and review.

Middletide

4.25 ⭐️

What a solid mystery! I was so happy to pick up a copy of this book on @netgalley when I saw more and more people talking about it. Very solid debut too!

Elijah is a failed writer trying to start his life over back in his small hometown in the pacific northwest. While he reconnects with his family roots, a mysterious death forces those around him to question whether he is what he seems.

Told from multiple timelines and multiple perspectives, it was very easy to be sucked into the story and follow along. While this wasn’t filled with crazy twists, I honestly enjoyed the slow mystery!

Middletide is a literary thriller about Elijah Leith, a failed author returning to his Pacific Northwest hometown. When the dead body of the town‘s doctor is found on his isolated property, Elijah finds himself under scrutiny. This book is a love letter to the Pacific Northwest, beautifully bringing its scenery to life, but that‘s where my praise ends.

The literary aspect of the story falls down on the job because the characters simply don't come to life. Elijah, who should be compelling and sympathetic, is, at best, wooden. At worst, he is annoyingly selfish, eagerly leaving behind the love of his life with unkept promises to follow his dreams. This wouldn't be so bothersome if he didn't follow it up by returning many years later to badger her back into a relationship too quickly after the loss of her husband.

The thriller aspect is poorly executed. While one might not expect top notch investigational prowess from a small-town police chief and his green deputy, their sloppy police work and easy willingness to buy into obviously leading evidence truly tests suspension of disbelief. The tension expected in a thriller isn't there, and the resolution is simplistic to the point of being unsatisfying.

Absolutely wonderful novel. Although it has a completely different plot, it reminds me of Mercury and The Berry Pickers - both 5 star reads for me. Sarah Crouch has a great talent for stringing words together to create depth. I’ll be thinking of this for years to come.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

When a woman’s death is ruled a homicide, suspicion falls on Elijah, who owns the land she was found on. He must try to prove his innocence.

I wanted to like this one, but I didn’t like the time jumps. I felt like they were inconsistent. I almost wish it had been present day Elijah reflecting on his past within chapters. I think that would’ve made it a little easier. I also thought the twist at the end was just ok for me.

This was a very intriguing murder mystery. The plot was very unique.
I loved the setting of the Pacific Northwest. The atmospheric prose was just beautiful. Full of suspense and action!

A dual timeline atmospheric mystery that was both inventive and immersive. A small town doctor is found dead, hanging in the woods. All eyes point to Elijah, the small town creative recluse. A slow burn of a mystery.

Middletide delivered on mystery and romance. I enjoyed following the lives of two young kids in a small town in the northwest. The story was often confusing and disquieting, but that is fine with most readers.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book, which will be published in June.

4 🌟

Where were the twists or 🎢 ride?

When I saw this book compared to Where the Crawdad's Sing, I couldn't get my hands on it quick enough. I really enjoyed the premise of this book, the execution fell a little short. I did enjoy it, I just wish the ride had a little more 😳😳 moments.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Traditional format (digitial) 📕. This book is a slow burn romance, character study and a little mystery all rolled into one. Elijah and Nakita are high school sweethearts. Elijah, an inspiring writer, leaves their small town to pursue his dreams and returns many years later to his family cabin. The town Doctor is found hanging in a tree on Elijah’s land and the mystery unfolds

What I liked:
🌲The setting: I’m always a fan of homesteading and this book had plenty of it
🌲The chemistry btwn the two main characters
🌲 great character development
🌲the book was just the right length. Sometimes I find books like this go on and on but this one was perfect in pacing and length

What could have been better
🌲The plot twist ending was pretty anti-climatic and a little disappointing.
🌲 The plot of the book was super predictable right from the get go. It didn’t take away from the book for me though.
🌲 I was a little puzzled on the context of Indian reserved in the book. That area of the plot/setting was not developed well and seemed irreverent

If you enjoy slow burn type book that are well written I would recommend this book. Overall I really enjoyed this book despite the list of areas for improvement. I give this debut novel a solid 4/5.

Thank you to Atria books and Net Galley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for a review.

🌲 murder mystery
🌲 off the grid-ish living
🌲 a little bit of romance with zero spicy scenes
🌲 cabin by the woods
🌲 small town

If these are your vibes, this is the book for you! I absolutely loved it. I loved how the author described the scene perfectly. It really painted a picture of what the area looked like and the atmosphere. I enjoyed all of the characters. The chapters were told in alternate timelines and then eventually at the end it goes into present day. This book reminds me of Where The Crawdads Sing and Stillwater Girls. All different stories but that off the grid vibe with a little mystery added in is there, which I love!

I absolutely adored this book! From the captivating cover to the atmospheric setting in the woods, "MIDDLETIDE" had me hooked from the start. The dual timeline format and the intertwining of the main character's book with the real-life mystery added an extra layer of intrigue that kept me engaged throughout. I appreciated the balance of romance, drama, and suspense, all woven together with realistic characters navigating traumas and redemption. Even when I wasn't reading, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I could easily envision this story on the big screen with stunning visuals and a compelling soundtrack. However, my only gripe was the use of a diary as a narrative device, which felt a bit unrealistic for the character's age. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and would highly recommend this book to fans of slow-paced mystery tales set in the wilderness. Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC of this captivating novel.

Wonderful debut book for Sarah Crouch! The plot had some interesting twists to keep the reader engaged.. The book was well written and easy to read. The descriptions of the weather and the scenery made the reader feel as if they were there. Well done!