ARC ebook review: The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer

Wow. About 20% in, this story gripped me, and I could not put it down. Historical fiction, family drama, a creepy, spooky mansion all told through a story within a story. What a fresh take on story-telling.

The ending made me cry quietly (or try to) on a crowded flight. Kelly Rimmer is quite the story-teller. Check your trigger warnings, especially if domestic abuse is a hard topic for you. This story explores the complicated dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship and what happens when long-buried secrets come to life. If you love watching dateline mysteries, I think you’ll really enjoy this book. I sure did.

After the passing of her Uncle Tad, architect Fiona Winslow retreats home to the east coast of Australia and finds herself in possession of her uncle's Wurimbirra estate. Still recovering from the betrayal of her husband and the end of her marriage, she's determined to focus on cleaning and restoring what she can of the dated home and lands, but can't shake the legacy of ghosts and spirits rumored to haunt the house, as well as the many memories and people she thought she left, including her own mother Virginia. As she goes through the many belongings of her uncle, an esteemed writer who amassed a large collection of books and writings, she stumbles across a box of books containing copies of "The Midnight Estate" by FJ Wilkie, a title and author she's never heard of before.

The story rotates between Fiona's perspectives and the storyline in "The Midnight Estate", which tells the story of Silas, who returns to his home in California upon hearing the news of his ailing mother, and is immediately confronted with both her death and the unexpected passing of his sister, Maeve. As Silas tries to get in order his family's items, he meets Marie, a young wife who appears to live a picture-perfect life, but is harboring a terrifying secret that puts her life at risk. Upon finding out, Silas makes an impulsive and risky decision that changes all of their lives forever...

As a whole, I did enjoy the plot of "The Midnight Estate", including the premise to weave in a "story within a story" over the course of the novel. My favorite sections were actually the storyline within the fictional novel, as Silas's and Marie's situation was so engaging and unexpected, and brought to light some of the less obvious forms of domestic abuse and how dangerous those situations can be. I struggled with Fiona's sections; it was hard to get a grasp of her as a person even with her passages being told from a first-person perspective, and much of her character felt flat. There wasn't that much context or build up for her and the characters surrounding her, and I felt that details about the house, the architecture, etc. were noticeably missing, especially given Fiona's career as an architect. The pacing felt quite slow at times, especially in the first half of the novel and while the ending was somewhat predictable, but I did find the unraveling of the truth to be a satisfying conclusion.

This is my first novel of Kelly Rimmer's that I've read and I think for those who are fans of her writing, it's well worth the read! Her writing style isn't my personal favorite however, so I wouldn't readily recommend to all readers.

A mansion that has been left to crumble and deteriorate is the key to secrets from past generations. Fiona Winslow is about to discover a book in the library. “The Midnight Estate” book will take her on a personal journey which seemingly measures her past.
Told in three timelines. Grab your favorite beverage and enjoy this gothic historical fiction. I have loved her historical fiction, but this gothic turn was unexpectedly a delight to my senses.

A breathtakingly beautiful read. A very important fictional topic that could help save a life. The switching from story to story made a very well paced read, it was about half way through that two and two were put together.

I got a chance to read the Midnight Estate. At first I was not sure how I felt about the book, I was a little confused about the different story lines, but I stuck with it! I am glad I stuck with it, the story was truly beautiful. It felt so real, and it had a very emotional ending. About halfway through the book, I felt like I could tell what was going to happen, and I was partly right. I love the way the author painted thw whole picture through Fiona's experience and the novel she read! It just felt so perfect!

The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer

I was so excited to be selected for an ARC copy of this book. I’ve read one other book by Kelly Rimmer (The Warsaw Orphan) which I thoroughly enjoyed, plus the cover is beautiful. I had high hopes and the book was everything I had hoped it would be.

A strong heroine female character, the bonds of family and friendship, mystery and intrigue set in a glorious historic home which carried its own “ghosts.”

Thank you to the author Kelly Rimmer and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this wonderful book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

4⭐️

I really liked The Midnight Estate. It had that perfect mix of family drama, secrets, and a bit of mystery that kept me hooked. What stood out most to me was how layered the characters were—no one felt one-dimensional, and I found myself caring about what would happen to them. The story moved at a good pace, and there were just enough twists to keep things interesting without feeling overdone. It’s the kind of book that’s easy to sink into and hard to put down once you’re in. Definitely a solid read.

For some reason, I thought this book would be more of a ghost story, but ended up being a mystery tied into the history of the mansion that Fiona moves into. There are two stories going on, Fiona's story and the story within the book that she's reading. I became invested with both plots and was trying to figure out what happened. I was invested in the characters and wanting to know what happened to them.

This book was excellent and I really enjoyed it. Fiona is recently divorced and buys her childhood home, a massive and infamous manse in small town Australia. The former owner was her uncle Tad, a famous author who passed ten years previously.

While undertaking a massive home clean up Fiona uncovers a box containing multiple copies of a book called The Midnight Estate, but doesn’t recognize the author. As she reads the book, we read it as well, and as the mystery unfolds, Fiona is dealing with real life- her challenging mother, returning home after her upheaval, and her spooky house playing tricks on her.

What I expected would happen with the mystery is what happened, but not in a cliched or trite way. The story really drew me in, and I found it hard to put down. I’ll be recommending this to customers at my bookshop as soon as it’s released!

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA
for the ARC!

“The Midnight Estate” is a novel by Kelly Rimmer. This book has two timelines, in the form of a book within a book. In the present day (which is in the early 2010s), the reader follows Fiona, who restores houses, as she decides to restore her uncle’s (basically) abandoned manor. There are rumors that the house is haunted, something Fiona doesn’t believe, though most of the people in the surrounding area do believe. While cleaning the manor, some strange things occur - things breaking, strange creaks, windows left often - but Fiona is determined to figure out what is going on - and knows it’s not supernatural (she hopes). While cleaning, Fiona comes across a book by an unfamiliar author (there are a dozen copies of the book, so her uncle must’ve ordered them) and starts reading the book. This is where the other timeline comes in - following a man, Silas, from California. While Fiona’s a bit slow in putting the puzzle pieces together about a few things, the reader is left with many clues to unravel at least one of the mysteries (which I, at least, didn’t know WAS a mystery at the beginning of the book). Ms. Rimmer did a good job covering the reason for the strange things happening, so that was good. In some ways I really liked this book - the atmospheric descriptions of the manor were great, but I never felt other I knew Fiona or her cousin more than surface things. Overall, this was a good and enjoyable read - and I’m glad I read it - and I’d recommend it to others, but I don’t think it was Ms. Rimmer’s strongest book.

Historical fiction isn’t usually my first choice of genre. After reading The Midnight Estate I began searching got another Kelly Rimmer novel. The book was an easy read and wove seamlessly the book within a book literary device. The transitions were smooth and revealing just enough in small increments that made me want to keep reading. The complexities of the characters were well developed and relatable. Writing about domestic violence can be a tricky task but this was handled well and left no room for sympathy for the abuser. The fallout did affect all the characters lives. I found myself recommending this story In social situations and look forward to exploring more of Rimmer’s stories.

3.5 stars rounded down. First, I'll just say that I would sell my soul to read The Things We Cannot Say for the first time again so my hopes for Kelly Rimmer's newest novel were HIGH. The story itself is good, the concept was really interesting to me and I appreciated the book within the book. Overall, though, the pacing made the novel difficult to enjoy and the twist felt very predictable early on.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Different than other Kelly Rimmer books I have read. Fiona's marriage has just unraveled, and she talks her cousin into selling her uncle's house to her, which she grew up in. Both her mother and her cousin aren't happy about her living in the home by herself, because of things that happened in the past. The house is also rumored to be haunted, which Fiona starts experiencing as soon as she moves in. Fiona also finds out that her crush from high school is back to living just down the road. Fiona finds a box of books in the kitchen and starts reading, it's then that she starts to notice parallels to her own life.

Coming off of a tumultuous divorce, Fiona heads back to her childhood home of Wurimburra in New South Wales Australia where she lived during childhood with her (now deceased) uncle and her mother. She now owns the home and begins to deep clean, discovering a book entitled The Midnight Estate in a package that arrived just after her uncle's recent death.

Her curiosity wins out and she immerses herself in the story that she soon realizes mirrors her own life. With creepy happenings in her new home and a community that believes the estate is haunted, will she make it out unharmed?

I absolutely could not put this book down and greatly enjoyed author Rimmer's descriptions and mellifluous prose. The characters of Fiona, and The Midnight Estate's Silas and Marie are so well depicted they feel like real people with all of their foibles. All of them pop off of the page.

The estate of Wurimburra could be its own character with how it is written, the foreboding mansion comes alive as a creepy, hulking presence under the author's guidance. If it were real, it might even end up on a bucket list to visit. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, 4.75 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Midnight Estate is an unforgettable novel that completely pulled me in from the very first page. Kelly Rimmer delivers a powerful, emotional story with rich historical detail, layered characters, and a beautifully woven dual timeline.

One of the things I loved most was the deep connection to the past—especially through the home that Fiona is so strongly drawn to. The way the history of the estate unfolds alongside Fiona’s own journey adds so much depth and meaning to the story. It’s a beautiful reminder of how places can carry memories, and how understanding the past can shape our future.

Rimmer’s writing is elegant and immersive, and the way she ties the storylines together is both moving and satisfying. This is a book that lingers in your mind long after you turn the final page. Highly recommended for anyone who loves emotional, character-driven historical fiction with a strong sense of place and legacy.

My first Rimmer novel, and based on all the other reviews I will absolutely be checking out more,
I absolutely love her work!

Good writing and an intriguing premise but this novel does not take the reader to any new places. Just an enjoyable and thoughtful read.

Thank you #NetGalley for the eARC of #TheMidnightEstate by Kelly Rimmer

Kelly Rimmer has done it again—she’s layered her signature emotional depth into a haunting, gothic mystery that’s equal parts family drama, literary puzzle, and reckoning with history.

The Midnight Estate follows Fiona Winslow, whose life is in tatters as she returns to Wurimbirra, her crumbling childhood estate in rural Australia. The house is rumored to be haunted, her relationship with her mother is strained, and she’s grieving the loss of her uncle. But when Fiona stumbles across an old book—titled The Midnight Estate—she’s pulled into a story that feels eerily personal. What starts as mild curiosity becomes obsession as the novel begins to echo the themes, traumas, and secrets of her own life.

The dual narrative—Fiona’s present-day unraveling alongside the fictional manuscript—works beautifully. Both timelines are equally compelling, and Rimmer does a great job of making the transitions seamless.

This book is more than just a mystery. It’s a meditation on how the stories we tell—and the ones we bury—shape our identities. It tackles everything from domestic violence and generational trauma to First Nations history, with an unflinching honesty that’s both heartbreaking and necessary.

I absolutely loved this book!!!! I read it in 1 day could not put it down. The characters were perfect and so real to me. From the very first page I knew right away that this was going to be a Great story and I was not disappointed. I love all of Kelly Rimmer's books. The Midnight Estate keeps you guessing what will happen next..I love flipping back and forth from timelines I think that is what kept me absolutely glued to this book. The history of old homes and all the stories that the walls can tell is fascinating to me . I am so glad I was able to read this before it is shared with the whole world! Thank you!

After discovering that her husband is having an affair with her best friend and their business co-owner, Fiona is not only dumped from her marriage but also forced to sell her third of their architecture firm! Devastated, she moves into her late uncle’s estate, hoping to restore it—much to her mother's anger. While there, Fiona uncovers a manuscript set in the 1960s, which sparks a meandering dual-timeline story that unravels deep-rooted family mysteries!

The book starts off slow, with much of the action unfolding in the last 25%. While I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue, I found the plot pretty predictable overall. The story-within-a-story aspect was a highlight for me, and I found myself preferring the chapters set in the past over Fiona's current-day timeline. Overall, it's cozy and atmospheric.

This story follows a niece, Fiona, buying her uncle’s beloved house and just going through the memories and trying to keep it the way it was and how her uncle loved it. But there is a catch. Not everyone in the family is happy about that. Struggling to keep it from crumbling, secrets and history start to resurface and it’s up to Fiona to try and make things right. Just like the author, mentioned in her reader letter, I too have been fascinated with homes ever since I was young. Always wondering the history of who lived there to the layout and where materials came from. This story also touches on deeper subjects as well that were deeply profound.