Midnight in Soap Lake by Matthew J. Sullivan is the book I'm recommending to everyone. I didn't quite know what to expect from it, but it's a mystery in a small town that will keep you turning the page chapter after chapter.

Essentially, after finding a lost little boy and then his murdered mother, outsider Abigail becomes involved in a police investigation and starts to learn more about the town's past - the magic of the lake that her scientist husband is there to study, the troubled teen who killed Esme's boyfriend when they were in high school, and the super creepy mascot of apple orchards, Tree Top. Along with her former drug addict neighbor, Abigail begins to uncover what the town has been keeping secret all these years.

I really enjoyed this debut. The somewhat creepy, sinister small town, the mystery, the romance, everything about it just hooked me.

Soap Lake, Washington is a real place. Everything else in this book is fictional. (or is it????)

A twisty tale, a quirky community, a campfire horror creature on the loose, and bodies dropping like flies. Oh, and a lake that is filled with more minerals than you, dear Reader, can shake a stick at! Not only that, but it has the neverendingness to stand next to such worthies as Lost, Northern Exposure and Twin Peaks.

And the beat goes on.

*A sincere thank you to Matthew Sullivan, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #MidnightintheOrchardbytheLake #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: This would was amazing. There was so much I loved about it. A fully developed cast of characters, interesting and atmospheric setting, folklore, small town history, unique plot, it just had so much going for it. I have no complaints about the writing or pacing, I don't really have any complaints about the book at all. I think if you like Blake Crouch you will enjoy this. If you like mystery, thriller, very light sci-fi, very light horror, and strong character stories, pick this up. There is a lot to discover about Soap Lake, it's mysteries, the town and the people who do and have inhabited over generations. Once you've read the book, check out the authors note!

One of the standout features of the book is its exploration of themes such as healing, the search for identity, and the interplay between reality and the supernatural. The lake itself becomes a character, symbolizing both refuge and danger. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of tension interspersed with reflective passages that allow readers to connect deeply with the characters' journeys.

DNF at about 20% in. The writing was great, but the story wasn't getting to me enough to stick around. interesting premise though, so I may revisit in the future.

I was so excited to read a book that takes place in Eastern Washington, and even more excited that it was a mystery. Abigail has just moved to Soap Lake with her husband, Eli, when he takes another job in Poland. Shortly after being left to her own devices she goes on a walk only to find George, a little boy whose mother has just been killed. With not much else to do, Abigail quickly becomes entangled in the mystery and trying to find the murderer.

I love when novels flip through different timelines, and we get this in Midnight in Soap Lake as well. We have the present day timeline as well as flashbacks to Esme's childhood that shed some light on events that may have led to her death in the present day. My only complaint is that the ending didn't tie up everything as nicely as I would have preferred, but I still thought this was a really fun and engaging read that kept me guessing up until the end.

So, the moment I saw this I immediately knew I had to read it because Soap Lake is indeed a real place, and its only about two hours from me!

There is a lot going on in this book. There is a lot of science-y stuff that sometimes felt like it was a bit of a slog, but there is also folklore, mystery and a good whodunit. I also really enjoyed learning about some of the cool properties of the lake, and while some of it is just for the story, a lot of it is true - and so cool to know that I have such an awesome natural resource just hours from me!

There are a lot of characters and it jumps between POVs and timelines, so I sometimes found myself confused for a minute, but I was definitely invested enough that I wanted to see where it ended up.

It was really neat that this was set near me and to see all the references to places I know, and in the end, I really enjoyed the story. Also, the cover is so fun!

I don't know if this one is for everyone, but I do think a lot of slow burn, dual timeline lovers will enjoy this one!

Thank you to Matthew Sullivan, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

WOW! This book had be guessing from chapter 1 - the twists and turns! As a lover of twin peaks this book was oozing with those vibes, I can see why some readers have struggled to enjoy it but I however was not one of those people! There was something cerebral about this book that kept me wanting to read more and more!

Can't wait to recommend this book to everyone at my book club!

This book was so much more than I expected. On the surface, it’s a fast-paced mystery with some eerie, sci-fi vibes—but underneath, it’s packed with character growth, conspiracy, and some seriously strange small-town energy.

Abigail moves to Soap Lake to support her husband, but while he’s off traveling for work, she’s left to her own devices. Out of boredom, she starts exploring—and that’s when she stumbles across a strange young boy running through the desert. Things only get weirder from there.

Then there’s Esme, a local with one foot out the door—until life pulls her right back in. She’s fascinated by the town’s legend of Treetop, and that curiosity ends up dragging her deeper into the mystery than she ever planned.

There’s murder, local lore, a mysterious lake, corruption, and this undercurrent of something not quite natural. I loved how quirky the characters were and how the story blended genres—mystery, sci-fi, even a little folklore—without feeling chaotic.

Totally unique and genuinely gripping. If you like stories that are a little strange in the best way, this one’s worth the trip to Soap Lake.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance copy!

"Midnight at Soap Lake" is a dual POV novel featuring two characters: Abigail, who is set in the present, and Esme, whose story takes place in the past. I found it challenging to immerse myself in the book, and I was left wondering about the actual events and who was truly responsible for what occurred. This story leans more towards a conspiracy thriller, requiring readers to connect various dots, and I’m still left trying to piece everything together. While I enjoyed certain aspects, I’m unsure if I would want to reread it, except perhaps to discover any details I might have missed. It’s unclear whether the cliffhanger was intentional, given that there will be a second book, or if it was meant to leave readers in suspense. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

⛓️ ARC REVIEW ⛓️

Thank you so much @netgalley the author for my early copy of Midnight in Soap Lake that I FINALLY had a chance to get to 😅

I loved this story!! It was odd, it was eerie and it always had you thinking. The dual timeline and dual POV was an awesome addition, but hearing Esme’s story was so heartbreaking and tragic. What a series of events.

Honourable mention to the authors note at the end, I LOVED hearing true facts about the real Soap Lake 😈

Midnight in Soap Lake was released on April 15!

A newlywed new to town and alone after her husband suddenly decamps to a country on the other side of the world for a job becomes embroiled in a murder-mystery after happening upon a toddler while walking in the desert near her home.

An offbeat mystery whodunit set alongside Soap Lake, a real life body of water in the desert of Washington state, one of the most unique lakes on the planet containing deep layers undisturbed for millennia inhabited by special microorganisms scientists believe might hold information about extraterrestrials among other things—the setting is fascinating! As one might expect, this fictionalized small town is inhabited by quirky characters and strange history, there’s also spooky mythology, and layers of mystery. Though I’ve never watched Twin Peaks I think it’s probably a good comp to the vibe of this book based upon what I understand and that offbeat, suspenseful vibe is definitely the feature here.

I didn't love Midnight in Soap Lake, it's more plot forward than I typically prefer, but I found plenty to like for an overall enjoyable read. The hot, desert setting is perfect for summer and I like that Matthew Sullivan is offering something unique to the mystery-suspense genre.

Unfortunately, this book did not resonate with me. While the story was decent, it lacked important elements, such as character development. The twist at the end could have been surprising, but it felt formulaic, as I've encountered it in other books of the same genre. I have decided not to share my review on my social media profiles.

I feel like I missed something here. Maybe the mysticism is beyond me, or I wasn't in the right mood. This felt slow and confusing. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I started physically reading this and just was not a fan. So, I got it on audio. I enjoyed it much better in this format. I did enjoy the setting of Soap Lake. There is a little bit of science in this because of Soap Lake and that is always a plus for me. But, This story is about quite a few murders. But the ending will leave you hanging. There is no reasoning behind these murders. This is just an ok read for me. I wanted a bit more!

An entertaining read with a nebulous ending, Midnight in Soap Lake focuses on a woman who has followed her mad scientist husband to his dream research assignment, only for him to be pulled away by another irresistible mystery out of the country. With her career in flux and without knowing anyone in town, Abigail starts taking long walks on her own, where she eventually stumbles across a heartbreaking mystery that will take a complement of town misfits to mostly solve. Read this if you are looking for books about found family or strange towns, or urban legends.

What a weird and quirky delight! I loved this book and got into quickly and easily. I was invested in Abigail's journey, the community of Soap Lake, and the mystery of Tree Top. Hard to out down. This is definitely one of those times where an ARC just won't do...planning on getting a copy to keep!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this one.

This was an okay read. The writing style had some nice moments, and a few scenes stood out, but overall it didn’t leave a strong impression. I liked some of the characters, though I didn’t feel very invested in what happened to them. As a piece of fiction, it had potential, but it didn’t quite come together for me. Not a bad book by any means—just not one that stuck with me after finishing.

3.5* rounded to 4. This is a classic case of don't judge a book by its cover! Once you start reading the book, the cover becomes an amazing visual for the story. Abigail finds herself following her husband's dream of moving to soap lake to conduct research on the strange properties of the water found there- ancient water that as been undisturbed since it's inception. Soon Abigail finds herself alone in the town and begins to connect with some locals, diving into a long unresolved string of crimes, deaths and mysteries that feel related. This book kept me guessing until the last minute, and its ending is plausible and mysterious at the same time. Thank you to #Netgalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing for the arc.