Welcome to the Pacific Northwest town of Soap Lake, home to the world's largest lava lamp (maybe?) and to a quirky cast of characters, including TreeTop, a mysterious specter who both haunts the town and serves as its unofficial mascot. The novel alternates between two narrators and spans multiple years. In the present, Abigail has moved to Soap Lake with her scientist husband Eli, so that Eli can study the lake. In the past, Esme, a teenage resident of the town, navigates both normal high school life as well as terrible tragedy. In the present, the two women's lives are connected by George, Esme's young son. What happened to Esme? Are Abigail and George in danger? And to what lengths will Abigail go to uncover the town's secrets and confront its sinister underbelly and terrifying history? Past and present will collide, and shocking truths will be revealed - but will every question be answered? Midnight in Soap Lake is definitely a rich novel that touches multiple genes, including mystery, thriller, crime, romance, history, etc. I found myself rooting for (some of!) the characters and eagerly turning the pages in search of answers right alongside Abigail and others that she enlists to help along the way.

TreeTop Kills.

In Midnight in Soap Lake by Mathew Sullivan, which I received early from Net Galley, a local legend haunts a small town with a magical lake and a deadly past. A mystery springs up when a local woman who moved away comes back only to get killed and leave behind her son. Abigail, who just moved into town, finds the boy and then gets curious about who killed his mother. She finds out more than she bargained for…

The mystery at the forefront of Midnight in Soap Lake is interesting, though the book itself takes forever to get going. The pieces of the puzzles are slow laid out, with a ton of flashbacks and current day stuff that doesn’t add up till much later. It took me awhile to get into this book. I even stopped reading it for awhile and read something else. Finally I went back to Midnight and kept reading. Till I got to about 60 or 70% complete on this book, Midnight At Soap Lake was a real slog.

The pacing in this book felt very off. The writing was good, the characters were interesting, but the mystery took forever to grab me and not let go. Once the book finally had me, I couldn’t stop reading.

Midnight At Soap Lake is a good book. You just have to be patient with this one.

It was also interesting to read that Soap Lake and its magical lake are real. Even the Lava Lamp that never came to be is real. TreeTop, however, is not real. Well, we hope he isn’t.

Midnight at Soap Lake comes out on April 15, 2025. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an early digital copy of this book for review.

This was a wonderful book that did the multiple POV concept correctly. The characters were great and the writing was well polished. The mystery element kept me guessing throughout the book. Great job!

I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book was. The story was unique and interesting. Tree Top is such a cool, and spooky, idea. The dual POV I loved, despite at first thinking I wouldn’t care about Esme’s story, I quickly changed my mind and loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Matthew Sullivan. #MidnightinSoapLake

Title confusing? Two names,Midnight in Soap Lake and Midnight in the Orchard by the Lake. Well,whatever. Thank you NetGalley,Hanover Sq. Press and author,Matthew Sullivan for the opportunity to read this ebook. It felt like a combo of mystery,horror and sy-fi.It all fit together and had its moments but it wasn’t that interesting and too repetitive for me. I did want to finish and have the pieces fit together therefore rated it three instead of two stars. One last thing,the story moves back and forth in time which was ok but some might find it confusing to follow if you don’t enjoy that type of novel overall. Book on sale April 15,2025

Midnight in Soap Lake is a mesmerizing read that plunges you into the eerie and enigmatic town of Soap Lake, Washington. Abigail’s move to this town, originally for her husband’s research, quickly takes a turn for the unexpected, leaving her to navigate a place steeped in mystery and haunted by urban legends.

The author masterfully blends elements of suspense, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, creating a modern-day Twin Peaks that’s impossible to put down. Abigail’s journey becomes deeply entwined with that of a young boy and the secrets surrounding his mother’s death. The narrative pulls you in as Abigail, alongside a cast of quirky and deeply flawed characters—a recovering addict turned librarian, a grieving brother, a broken motel owner, and a mentally shattered conspiracy theorist—delves into the town’s dark history and the magical secrets of the lake.

The characters are richly developed and relatable, each bringing their unique perspective and adding depth to the story. The town of Soap Lake itself becomes a character, its secrets unfolding in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The mysterious figure of TreeTop, the rubber-suited orchard stalker, adds an extra layer of tension and intrigue, lurking in every shadow and around every corner.

The novel’s pacing is excellent, with past and present crimes colliding in a thrilling crescendo. The puzzle-hunt scenarios and the decade-spanning mystery are crafted with such skill that readers will find themselves fully immersed in this rich, expansive universe.

Midnight in Soap Lake is a captivating blend of suspense and supernatural elements, a true page-turner that will stay with you long after the final page. If you’re a fan of atmospheric, character-driven mysteries, this book is an absolute must-read.

The twists and turns?! I couldn't put it down!
I absolutely loved the duel pov and timelines. This story was riveting at ever turn.

“Midnight in the Orchard by the Lake” (Midnight In Soap Lake) is a book best to go in blind. It’s hard to review without spoiling, but if you like quirky characters and a good mystery, you’ll love this! The “Twin Peaks” comparison is definitely accurate. I was completely immersed. I’m looking forward to recommending at publication next year.

Thanks for the opportunity and to read!

Huh. I definitely have some mixed feelings about this one. I mean, it was an interesting read. I never found myself getting bored and the premise was intriguing. A murder mystery set in a town on a mystical lake? Heck yeah! I read through it pretty quickly (or at least as quickly as I manage these days) and it was decently suspenseful and had me invested in where the story was headed.

But …

Sweet baby kittens on a cracker, I never came close to understanding the reasoning behind everything that happened in this novel. It's hard to explain without spoilers, but let's just say that I never quite got the why of the murders. I mean, I understood the superficial why, but I never got the why behind the why. And I realize that makes absolutely no sense to anyone, so let me try to explain further. (Note: There are no major spoilers in this explanation, but I'm putting it behind a spoiler tag just in case you don't want to know even the vague details beforehand.) <spoiler>Strange deaths have happened in Soap Lake, including the murder of (local girl recently returned home) Esme that's the main focus of this story. You find out that the murder(s) happened to prevent something from being revealed (the first “why”), but I absolutely for the life of me could not figure out why it was so important that it never be revealed (the second “why”). Maybe I missed a critical detail somewhere, but as far as I can tell, having the thing revealed wouldn't have affected anyone involved other than maybe some people saying “ooh, that sucks” and then going on about their day.</spoiler> I mean, I have to be missing something here, right?

And then you get to the end and … nothing is resolved. The main characters start figuring things out and then it just ends. So many loose ends. So many questions.

But, still, I didn't dislike this book. As I said before, it's an entertaining read despite all of the muddlement surrounding the reason for the murder(s) (and the lack of a cohesive ending). There are urban legends and a mystical lake and murders and science-y bits, and it's all pretty interesting and unique.

My overall rating: 3.25 stars, rounded down. While Midnight in Soap Lake wasn't a perfect read, it was still decently enjoyable and I'd definitely consider reading future books by Matthew Sullivan.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is April 15, 2025.

4.5 ⭐️! This story had me sucked in from the very beginning and had me engaged throughout the whole story. The author built a complex story with many creative ties and characters.

Thank you #Netgalley for the #ARC of this book. I’m excited for this be released and others to read!

“Midnight in the Orchard by the Lake” is a thriller packed with urban legends, eco horror and recommended for fans of “twin peaks” and “castle rock”.

The plot follows two women whose lives intersect; and offers multiple POV and timeline cross overs through alternate chapters.

Abigail has moved to Soap Lake in support of her husband. She is left alone when he is away travelling for work and out of boredom she begins to explore, leading her to find a mysterious young boy running through the desert. She is intrigued enough to investigate the history and secrets of this unusual town.

Esme is a Soap Lake local who is obsessed with the legend of Treetop, she intends to leave the town in her rear view mirror but events lead to her return.

There is mystery, conspiracy, legends, paranormal feel. This is definitely a book outside of my usual genre that offered lots of intrigue.

Thank you to HTP, Matthew Sullivan and NetGalley for the EARC!

Publish date: April 15th 2025

Midnight in the Orchard by the Lake was such a fun thriller/eco horror book! Abigail moves to Soap Lake with her husband, who quickly leaves on a work trip, leaving Abigail alone in a new town, which she is less than thrilled by. (I mean, the lava lamp is only a base, and that was the most exciting thing Soap Lake had to offer!) When Abigail finds a young boy running through the desert, she quickly becomes wrapped up in town secrets and the mystery of TreeTop. Esme was just trying to escape Soap Lake, but when life kept beating her down, she decided to return with her son, which resulted in her death.

This book has eco horror revolving around Soap Lake and it's micro-organisms, it's got a menacing character who lurks around every corner dressed in a rubber suit and mask, it's got murder - what else could you ask for?

I loved this book and rated it 4.5 stars!

I couldn’t put this book down!! It kept me on my toes and the plot was very intriguing. Sullivan does a great job at keeping you guessing through the whole story. I loved the characters. Very well written all together.

This was pleasantly surprising how addictive this was! After watching the latest True Detective and thinking about all that is untapped out there that we do not know, there are so many mysteries left. I enjoyed the spooky energy and complex family histories.

This just wasn't the book for me. While the writing was good and I was invested in the story, I found it hard to follow at times and my attention wandering. It definitely keeps you on your toes, wondering what the heck is actually going on, but the subject matter of lakes and science just isn't my thing and makes my eyes glaze over. I will say that the Tree Top Kills thing had me pretty spooked. I think many will really enjoy this one.

4.5/5 stars

I won't lie to you, when I started this I mistakenly thought I was reading a romance novel because it's literally a Harlequin novel. I figured it out a few chapters in and I was not sad when I realized it was something much different, especially when the story gets its groove a quarter of the way through.

Once I figured out the flow of chapter hopping (what decade is it, who are all these names again?) I was enthralled. I don't usually read thrillers but I do read a lot of Stephen King and I honestly enjoyed this way more than most of his books. The town was so interesting and the characters I honestly cared about and wanted to know what would happen. The first scene of Abigail being peeped on by "TreeTop" was the most skeeved out I've been while reading in a long time. I only wish the end was wrapped up a bit more but I'm not too heartbroken about it, many of the storylines were insinuated to have ended in certain ways before it ended, you just have to guess that it all happened that way (How did George end up, how were Eli's and Abigail's marriage, the cop??)

I will gladly read the first in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me with an ARC of Sullivan's novel in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I ended up liking the dual POV, even though i originally though that I wouldnt care for Esmes POV, it was necessary.
I initially thought that the "something" was paranormal, but ended up being very much human. I will definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me with an ARC of Sullivan's novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a huge surprise, as I wasn't sure if I was going to love it as I read the first few chapters...but then I read 3/4 of it in a single sitting and immediately had to talk about it.

Brief spoiler-free synopsis:
When Abigail follows her husband and his job to a tiny desert town only for him to be called to Poland for other work, she's left alone. On a walk one morning, a small, blood-covered child runs into her arms from the desert, laying the groundwork for a mystery Abigail feels compelled to solve - even if it puts her in danger.
Esme, a teen in Soap Lake is equal parts obsessed with and terrified by the local legend of TreeTop. Leading a difficult life, all she can think of is escaping the town and finding freedom from her fears and the oppressive judgment of the people around her. But TreeTop isn't just legend and there is good reason for her fear.

Review:
Sullivan lays this story out masterfully, leaving you guessing at what is actually going on. Early on, it seems like a book that is leaning into the paranormal but it doesn't take long to realize the truly scary thing in Soap Lake is incredibly human. You will start forming theories about halfway through but Sullivan's reveal is better than you might expect, even if you thibk youve got it figured out. I caught hints of where the story might end up, but how it got there was surprising and really, really well done. The characters are strong (minus one, but he's minor so I guess that doesn't matter too much), the plot is well-paced, and the threads that come together are masterfully woven. This is a murder/ thriller/mystery/conspiracy that somehow manages to be greater than the sum of those parts.

Can't wait to see the cover and other reviews when this hits shelves. Make sure you grab it!

I enjoyed reading Midnight in Soap Lake ,the plots and twists of the story line kept me intrigued even with the many typos. There were a few surprises of who done what that I hadn't expected. The ending left me hanging, I am not a fan of that style of writing. This book is for those who enjoy a who done it story.

Obsessed...This book hooks you and does not let you go! It makes you what could possibly happen next and it still surprises you!