Welcome to Soap Lake. A town to rival Twin Peaks and Stephen King's Castle Rock.

This is a really unique story with quirky characters, a mysterious lake, and a mystery to solve. I really liked the use of dual times to tell this story! I definitely connected with Esme and Abigail. I recommend going into this one blind and avoiding spoilers. This isn’t one of those books where everything will be perfectly be tied up at the end…but if you like a little extra mystery in your life, I would give this a read!

✨What to Expect:
🏡Small Town
🌊Lake With Mysterious Properties
🔍Mystery
⁉️Thriller Vibes
⏰Dual Timelines
🔪Urban Legends
🧩Puzzle Hunt Scenarios
💖Quirky Characters

I definitely love the quirky small town and the inclusion of elusive urban legends. It definitely helped move the story especially when the plot got slow. It was paced well most of the time but there were some times that dragged with the characters. That could have been a me thing, but I didn’t feel overly attached to the characters. I did love the relatability of the monotonous vibe of the small town until it was upended by tragedy. It was a slower thriller read for me, but I still enjoyed it. Plus the cover is absolutely too notch for me. I love the randomness of it and that’s what drew me in.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

3.5 stars. This started out as a really interesting premise but ended up a little confusing and long. It was hard to understand the motivations of any of the characters - particularly Abigail. But it was well written and an interesting story. I loved Matthew J. Sullivan's last book but this one didn't pull me in in the same way. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

3.5 stars - overall I liked this book. I liked the different POVs and timelines intersecting. I was scared of Treetop!! Initially I was drawn to the cover because I was curious what this would be about, but putting treetop on the cover would sell as horror!! There was a lot of scientific jargon about the lake that I didn’t really understand.

A really interesting mystery/thrilling that had me questioning everything. The eerie atmosphere, the creepy town, the juxtaposition of the desert and the lake, the third person point of views, and the multiple time periods created an immersive and unforgettable read. I thought it was extremely well written but at times a bit slow. I also wanted a bit more at the end to wrap everything up, I felt I had to work just a little too hard to understand it all. But once I did, I was really impressed and I would definitely recommend this to fans of the mystery genre!

Thriller / Mysteries are not my usual go to read, but I couldn’t help but find myself sucked into this one as it progressed. I remember being at the last maybe 10% and telling my husband to wait on dinner because I need to find out who the murderer was.

I really don’t know the best way to put my thoughts together on this one. Jumping back and forth from the perspective of two women as the course of events unfold, this story tells the tale of a Soap Lake and the urban legends that surround it. But as we all know, urban legends are sometimes steeped in truth.

Vibes: Eerie
Murder: Lots
Mystery Solved: Sort of
Characters: Interesting enough

It ends sort of opened. We don’t know how the future is going to look for Soap Lake or if history will repeat itself.

This book was so interesting and had a creepiness that lasted through the whole book. I could feel the dread in the pages as Abigail was left alone (her first encounter seeing Treetop was creepy!). The book had a lot of mysterious things happening and the town itself was a character much like my favorite show Twin Peaks. I can see how this book is similar in a lot of ways. I actually didn’t mind that the book ended with some things left unresolved. I enjoy an open ended ending to where I can continue to think on the book and discover for myself the answers I think are correct and not be spoon fed everything. This was enjoyable and can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.

This moves back and forth in time and between Abagail (in the present) and Esme (in the past) to tell the story of a creepy town and its secrets. While this wasn't for me (I got a bit confused), I'm certain that others will appreciate the worldbuilding and characters. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Over to others.

The description of this book compares the setting to Twin Peaks or to Stephen King's Castle Rock. I think the Twin Peaks comparison is especially accurate. The story in this unique book unfolds through a dual timeline and alternates points-of-view between two young women living in the small town of Soap Lake, Washington. Esme grew up in the town, but flees suddenly, only to return with a small child that nobody in her family knew she had. That boy, George, connects her with Abigail, who moved to Soap Lake with her husband, a scientist who is studying the unique properties of the lake. 

Abigail wants to learn more about Esme and some of the strange happenings in the town, including the urban legend of TreeTop, who stalks the town from the apple orchards. I enjoyed the character of Abigail as she digs for information and finds new purpose in her life, separate from her husband. Her connection with little George is touching and I liked her friendship with George's uncle, Daniel. I couldn't really connect with most of the other characters who range from evil to quirky to dull. However, the book is very engaging, and I was invested to find out the reasons behind the curious events, including some deaths, in the town and the lake itself. The book's ending was a bit more ambiguous than I prefer, but I am glad I read this book by new-to-me author, Sullivan.

I received an advance copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing and The Hive for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

I really had a hard time getting into this book. It goes back and forth between two characters and I found that confusing at times. I do think the book was well written. However it was just a little too long and drawn out. I’m sure others will enjoy it but it just wasn’t for me.

I was excited to read this book because the premise sounded really intriguing, and I really liked the cover. This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I did enjoy his writing. The beginning of this book was really interesting, and I was curious about the mysteries in the town.

The story is told in two timelines. In the present, we follow the main character as she moves to a small town with her husband. The past timeline follows a girl who grew up in the same town.

This is mainly a mystery with some fantastical elements; there’s a mysterious figure known as TreeTop and a lake believed to have healing powers. I liked the strange vibes of the book, but I felt like the story was a little too long and drawn out. As it went on, I started to lose interest. The ending was okay, but a little underwhelming.

This is a very intriguing story about a small eastern Washington state town that borders the desert. The lake that the town surrounds is an ecological wealth of information is you are the right scientist. There are many strange happenings in the small town. A young, newly married couple, Eli and Abigail, move to this little town. Eli is there as a scientist with a grant to discover the secrets of the lake. Abigail is left to her own devices and tends to walk the outskirts of town. She doesn't know what to do with herself. Eli is called away for a few months to Europe to help with another project. Abigail is then thrust into the mysteries of Soap Lake when a young child comes running to her out of the desert.

This is such a well written story. The characters are all well developed. I really enjoyed it.

This book ended up giving me many mixed feelings by the time I finished reading it. The synopsis had me intrigued when I first read it. I loved the odd town, the buried secrets, and the overall mysterious vibes. While there was so much potential for the story, I did feel like it didn’t live up to expectations. Even after finishing the book, I felt like we didn’t get a clear explanation for the reasoning for what happened. There was a superficial answer for some things as characters slowly put puzzle pieces together, but not a solid answer for the murders and everything surrounding the TreeTop lore. I mostly enjoyed the read, just was disappointed to be left hanging with many questions.

I enjoyed the way that this author wrote--I found their narrative voice to be compelling and unique. However, I do think that while I enjoyed the writing style and the premise, in actuality, there was a lot going on in this book. That doesn't necessarily make it bad, but at times it was a bit hard to follow/keep everything straight. The story didn't quite hit the mark on the atmosphere it appeared to be going for, and that coupled with the pacing made this sort of a middle-of-the-road read for me. I did like the characters, though, and they were what really carried me through to the end of this story. Do I think this is bad? Not at all. Do I think that this maybe needs a bit more editing/polishing to really smooth out the pacing and the dual timelines? Yes.

Welcome to Soap Lake—home of mysterious deaths, creepy mascots in rubber suits, magical water, and yes, the world’s largest lava lamp (stand). And I would like to visit immediately.

Midnight in Soap Lake is the kind of book that grabs you by the ponytail and drags you face-first into a desert town full of conspiracy theorists, librarians with baggage, grief-stricken motel owners, and rubber-suited stalkers who should definitely NOT be handing out candy to children. It’s like if Twin Peaks, Castle Rock, and your favorite small-town Facebook group had a very weird, very dramatic baby.

Our main girl Abigail just wanted to sip some craft beer and maybe admire a Douglas fir or two. Instead, her husband pulls a disappearing act to do “research” in Poland, and she ends up solo in a town where everyone has secrets, the lake may or may not be magical, and some creepy urban legend.

And then—BOOM—a traumatized kid shows up. And Abigail, who did not sign up for this kind of babysitting, finds herself unraveling the mystery of his mother’s death with a little help. She rallies the town weirdos like she’s building her own Scooby-Doo squad and starts unraveling Soap Lake’s deeply cursed history.

It’s atmospheric, haunting, funny in a “should I be laughing?” way, and so deliciously twisty I had to pause to gasp dramatically at least three times.

I’m not saying I’d risk being haunted by a lakeside cryptid to visit Soap Lake…but I am saying I’d at least Google flights.

I read it in one sitting. One. Sitting. I didn’t blink, breathe properly, or even refill my snack bowl because I was way too busy mentally unpacking the glorious weirdness that is this book.

Would recommend if you love found families, unsettling small towns, hidden magic, and solving decades-old mysteries with a flashlight and questionable judgment.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It felt like there was just too much going on and it was hard for me to follow.

I think the writing was good but the author just tried to fit too much into the story. I think some parts should’ve been left out.

I hope others love this one!

Was an interesting read, but not my favorite. The duel point of view and timeline shifts left me confused. 3 🌟

This book was trying to be more than it ended up being. As much as it tried to give that Castle Rock, Twin Peaks sort of vibe, it just didn't quite work for me. The mystery was fine, but the pace was a slow overall and the only characters I was truly invested in were George and Daniel. Not quite the book for me.

Whatever you are thinking this book is going to be, it isn't. This book includes the following: a lake with mysterious water, potentially the world's largest lava lamp, a murder or 5, an absent husband, small town drugs, oh and an urban legend named TreeTop who protects the apple orchards in the middle of the Washington desert. While the publisher blurb invokes Twin Peaks, there was nothing to do with anyone dancing backwards or pie, just some really good coffee and a lava lamp. I loved so many of the characters in this book, but we get to really know only a few of them. The plot led the progress of the book with multiple timelines and points of view. As always, I found one timeline more appealing, but in this case I think the book was set up to be that way. This was really close to a 5 star read for me. I was surprised in a wonderful way!

I want to thank @mickmatthew1 @htpbooks @htphive and @harlequinbooks for the #gifted book and audiobook.

This thriller is a gripping page-turner that captivated me from the very first chapter.

Set against the eerie backdrop of Soap Lake, Washington—a town steeped in dark urban legends—Abigail's life takes a frightening turn when she discovers a young boy covered in blood, shortly after his mother, Esme, is savagely murdered. As Abigail delves into the tragedy and investigates a series of mysterious deaths, she unwittingly draws the attention of dangerous forces and begins to unravel a complex web of conspiracies. She discovers there are deep secrets about the lake and the water that intertwine her with Esme. This chilling narrative reveals that even the smallest of towns can harbor unsettling secrets.

The story unfolds through the intertwined perspectives of Esme and Abigail, offering deep insights into their lives. As Esme’s past is uncovered, we learn about her reasons for leaving the town after high school, adding layers of intrigue that connect her to Abigail. With a blend of a sinister local legend, science fiction elements, and the nuanced dynamics of small-town life, the suspense in this novel is nothing short of extraordinary. Each twist and turn keeps readers on the edge of their seats, while the richly drawn characters breathe life into the narrative. The science of the lake and the potential possibilities provide the secrets of this small town.

The narrator’s outstanding performance brings the characters vividly to life, enhancing the already palpable eerie atmosphere of the town.

With its chilling ambiance, intricate mysteries, and unforgettable setting, this book is an essential read for anyone who enjoys unsettling thrillers and urban legends. Don’t miss out—mark your calendars for its release on April 15, 2025.