Kelly Rimmer has done it again! The diversity in the writing genres she tackles knows no bounds. This month she has released, The Midnight Estate, a story within a story that is faultless and flawless and demonstrates the breadth of her writing skills.

After a difficult year, Fiona rediscovers the love of her once childhood home on the rambling family estate in Forbes, NSW. She discovers a box of books amongst her late uncle’s possessions by an author she had not heard of or can locate. In reading the book she becomes immersed in the tale as so much of it seems familiar …. is it? Does she know this story? This house? Initially she dismisses the coincidences but the further she reads the more she is drawn into the events and the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur.

The dual timelines are sublimely smooth, the emotions are raw and riveting as the historical mystery slowly unfurls itself to a fitting conclusion. Readers may guess the final outcome but fear not! Kelly’s prose of engaging locations and characters will be sure to resonate with her fans and new readers alike.

I loved the story within a story aspect. It was cleverly done and took me a while to figure out how the stories were going to collide. Both stories had me equally hooked.

This book really highlights the profound impact our actions can have on others (both good and bad), and that a little kindness can go a very long way to changing someone's life. There is one scene in particular that although very hard to read will live rent free in my head for a while. It was both heartbreaking and uplifting.

I would have loved to see how the ending played out with other characters, especially Jon and childhood friends.

I’m a long time reader and lover of Kelly Rimmer’s work, and The Midnight Estate was a little bit different than any of her other books I’ve read. While themes of family, secrets, love and betrayal are common in her writing, I don’t remember her using a story inside a story in her previous writing. I loved the present day story as well as the story within the story. I loved how mystery and memories intertwine, the nostalgia evoked with Fiona’s return to Wurimbirra, and how you’re almost at the end before you realise this families darkest secret is about to be uncovered and you’re not totally sure what will happened!

I requested this eARC from NetGalley based solely on two things: my appreciation for Kelly Rimmer’s previous work (The Warsaw Orphan deeply moved me), and the striking cover art. I didn’t read the blurb—which I now realize was part of the magic. The Midnight Estate surprised me in the best ways.

The dual narrative unfolds between Fiona, living in the present, and the embedded “story” attributed to a mysterious author by the name of Charity Wilkie. "The Midnight Estate" is actually a book Fiona finds in the estate she has bought off her cousin after the passing of her Uncle Tad, a famous and somewhat reclusive author. This layered structure (a book within a book) creates haunting echoes between past and present that ripple with emotional depth. Rimmer’s portrayal of coercive control was especially impactful. As someone who has walked away from a psychologically abusive marriage, I felt deeply seen. The way she renders this type of trauma with nuance and care is vital, and it’s high time we stop treating such suffering as “private matters.” Her message—that we must reach out, even when help isn’t explicitly asked for—is one I wholeheartedly embrace.

The prose was engaging, the characters resonated, and I found myself fully immersed. The estranged relationship between Fiona and her mother added dimension, with generational silence pulsing beneath every exchange. I especially loved the community’s “silent reading” sessions—an unexpected balm that brought warmth and a sense of belonging. I would love to find a real life book club like that!


Justice, when it came, felt earned and quietly satisfying— like sunlight piercing through a locked room after years in the dark. So what haunts the estate? Who is the mysterious author Charity Wilkie? And why is Fiona's mum so vehemently against Fiona taking on any rennovation works? You must pick up your copy of The Midnight Estate to find out and unravel the mysteries! Publication date: July 30, 2025.

Huge thank you to the team at Hachette Australia and Kelly Rimmer for this eARC approval from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been meaning to read something by Kelly Rimmer for quite some time, and I’m so glad The Midnight Estate was my first. From the very first chapter, I was completely drawn in by its atmosphere, mystery, and layered storytelling.

Set in a crumbling estate on the east coast of Australia, the novel follows Fiona Winslow as she returns to Wurimbirra, her once-grand childhood home. What begins as an attempt to restore the house quickly turns into an exploration of long-buried family secrets. These secrets have been revealed in a mysterious, long-forgotten book also titled The Midnight Estate. I absolutely loved this book-within-a-book element, which became one of my favourite parts of the novel. It added such a rich, immersive depth and created a fascinating interplay between fiction and reality.

The gothic tone, the multiple timelines, and the emotional complexity of the characters all worked beautifully. I found Fiona’s story compelling and relatable, and I especially adored Tad the quirky uncle who brought a lovely warmth to the narrative.

A gripping, atmospheric read that blends mystery, literary puzzle, and family drama—I’ll definitely be reading more from Kelly Rimmer in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Fiona Winslow arrived back in Forbes, NSW, to the only place she'd ever called "home" - Wurimbirra - the mansion which had been in her family for generations. Since her Uncle Tad, a well known author, had died, he'd left it to Fiona's cousin, Jon, who had then sold it to Fiona. Wurimbirra was long neglected, filled with dust and rubbish plus supposedly haunted - Fiona knew it would take her a long time to clean it all up. And as she was doing so, a box of books which had been ignored for years, was found. Inside were books written by an author she'd not heard of, the title being The Midnight Estate. Fiona was intrigued and before long she was lost in the story.

As Fiona spent her days cleaning the house, sorting out things like electricity, water and so on, as well as reading the book, she wondered where it was all going. Was it a parallel to her life and the past? Was it purely fiction? What were the answers that were sure to be at the end?

The Midnight Estate is a fascinating book by Aussie author Kelly Rimmer which took me a little to get into because of the fictional characters within the book that was within the book (!) but once I'd settled into the rhythm, it was excellent. I must say I enjoyed the "inside" book the most; the characters were more solid and realistic while Fiona and her fellow characters felt a little blurred around the edges! (Sorry, it's difficult to explain!!) Quite different from the author's usual fare, but it was definitely entertaining, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.

With thanks to NetGalley & Hachette AU for my digital ARC to read and review.

Atmospheric, haunting, and quietly devastating, The Midnight Estate is a gothic mystery that lingers long after the final page. Set in the crumbling halls of Wurimbirra, Kelly Rimmer crafts a compelling dual narrative, one told through Fiona’s present-day restoration and the other tucked inside the pages of a mysterious book she uncovers.

As Fiona is pulled deeper into the story-within-a-story, past and present blur in a beautifully layered exploration of family secrets, betrayal, and the longing to make peace with the past. The themes of generational trauma, coercion, and the cost of silence are handled with care and weight.

Even when the twists became clear, I couldn’t look away. Rimmer’s strength lies in her characters, flawed, aching, and utterly human, and in her ability to turn a fading estate into a living, breathing presence on the page.

Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and readers who love their mysteries steeped in melancholy, memory, and the ghosts we carry. A standout gothic tale from one of Australia’s finest.

A NOD TO THE GOTHIC: ‘THE MIDNIGHT ESTATE’ BY KELLY RIMMER

I’m a bit of a sucker for ‘book within a book’ stories. Done well, they can have you intruiged from the moment you realise there is a connection between the two seemingly unrelated narratives. Think Magpie Murders which added a delightful dual-timeline component as well as two murder mysteries to solve.

Australian author Kelly Rimmer writes excellent historical fiction, often weaving together legacies from the Second World War with modern-day protagonists in very moving ways. The Midnight Estate is a little different, although here, too, past events cast long shadows over the present.

Fiona Winslow moves back to country NSW after an emotionally exhausting year, planning on restoring the crumbling mansion that belonged to her beloved uncle and was once home to herself, her mother and her cousin. Since her uncle’s death it has stood empty and neglected and she is faced with a mammoth task, not helped by inexplicable opposition by her mother towards her plans – and rumours in the town that the house is haunted.

While cleaning and sorting her uncle’s old furniture and belongings, she comes across a box of books, sent by the publishers to her uncle, who had been a famous award-winning writer. As she begins to read The Midnight Estate, Fiona is puzzled, then intruiged by apparent similarities between her family’s story and the novel’s. Her uncle’s name is not on the book, but who wrote it? And why do some of the characters resemble people she knows?

The old mansion house, while a beautiful haven for Fiona as a child, begins to feel less welcoming, as she begins to piece together parts of a family story that go back a generation. There are dark secrets that must be uncovered before Fiona can reconcile what she thought she knew about herself and her family with what she learns, and finally feel that she has come home at last.

There are enough creaks in the night for The Midnight Estate to feel like an old-fashioned gothic mystery. However, the novel’s theme deals with an enduring and contemporary issue, that of coercive control and intimate partner violence; skillfully done and very believable.

The Midnight Estate is published by Hachette in July 2025.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a review copy.

As much as I enjoyed a good amount of this book, for the first 30-40% I found the reading of a book within a book confused the story. I think this was due to the second story not being a page or two (like a sample of another book) it was like two or three small chapters and as you jumped between the two you lost track somewhat of where the other storyline was going. Due to this i think a lot of interest in the original story is missed due to the chopping of storylines. Overall, an ok read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hatchette Australia for the arc of this book for review.

Set against the eerie backdrop of Wurimbirra, a decaying family estate on Australia’s east coast, this gothic mystery pulled me in from the first page. Fiona Winslow returns to restore the mansion she once called home, but what she uncovers is more than just decay—it’s a mystery locked away for generations.

Fiona is such a layered, compelling lead. Her quiet strength, resilience, and deep need for answers make her so easy to root for. And the supporting characters—especially those in the dual timelines—are full of hidden pain, secrets, and beautifully messy humanity.

The atmosphere is thick with suspense, and the mansion itself feels like a character—creaking floors, hidden rooms, and secrets waiting to be unearthed. The dual timelines, blending Fiona’s present-day journey with a story within a story, kept me fully engrossed.

Even though I had a sense of where the story was heading, it didn’t take away from the emotional depth and the unraveling of family secrets.

If you’re a fan of gothic tales, haunted mansions, and a blend of historical fiction and mysteries that tug at your heartstrings, this one’s for you. If you enjoy a book within a book, this one is also for you.

Thank you to @hachetteaus and @netgalley for the ARC.

This will be one of my best books this year. Kelly Rimmer had me captivated from the first page. This one is slightly different to her other WW2 books and might be my new favourite . I love that it was easy to read and incredibly clever.. Only a skilled writer can carry off a book in a book and even when the connection between the worlds becomes obvious, can carry the story and still propel the reader forward. Loved the house, the characters, especially Tad and the set up of the haunted house. Never wanted it to end

A book set in an old house in a quintessential Australian town….an inheritance, a ghostly legend and a mysterious novel found within just waiting for the new owner (and us) to read and conjecture on the characters and events described therein.
I love a good mystery and Kelly Rimmer poses enough questions at the outset that we feel invested to discover the background and motives of characters both in the present and the past, in Australia now….ish and America in the 1960’s.
After some life upheaval, Fiona Winslow is starting afresh, becoming the owner of her childhood home and looking to renovate while rekindling her relationship with her mother and former friends.
But the house is shrouded by spooky stories and all is not as it seems. When Fiona finds a box of novels entitled “The Midnight Estate” she starts to read about Silas and Marie, battling their own demons and challenges. When the proverbial hits the fan, Silas makes a decision that A book set in an old house in a quintessential Australian town….an inheritance, a ghostly legend and a mysterious novel found within just waiting for the new owner (and us) to read and conjecture on the characters and events described therein.
I love a good mystery and Kelly Rimmer poses enough questions at the outset that we feel invested to discover the background and motives of characters both in the present and the past, in Australia now….ish
and America in the 1960’s.
After some life upheaval, Fiona Winslow is starting afresh, becoming the owner of her childhood home and looking to renovate while rekindling her relationship with her mother and former friends.
But the house is shrouded by spooky stories and all is not as it seems. When Fiona finds a box of novels entitled “The Midnight Estate” she starts to read about Silas and Marie, battling their own demons and challenges. When the proverbial hits the fan, Silas makes a decision that will change both their lives forever and perhaps even that of Fiona separated by time and distance.
The clues are there and pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fall into place.
The ending ties up loose ends and I was left satisfied that all would be well.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am a huge fan of Kelly Rimmer and her historical fiction but I wasn’t too sure about the synopsis on this one….. an old house that carries family secrets and book inside a book…. The early reviews were 4 & 5 starts and I’ve never been let down by this author before so I’m glad I decided to read it.

In usual Kelly Rimmer style, I could easily visualise the location of Wurimbirra, feel the bitter cold and taste the dust that covered every surface of the old dilapidated mansion just like Fiona did when she moved back to her family home in Forbes in country NSW Australia.

The circumstances that led to Fiona to leave her successful business, family and home in Sydney’s were sad and on her first night alone in the old eerie mansion Fiona reflects her circumstances that lead her here. Her raw and honest self reflection really struck a cord with me and on these pages alone I would rate this book 5 stars.

As a child we used the travel quite regularly to Forbes and the surrounding area or Orange and it was nice to read about this area. I loved how the town welcomed Fiona back, and how close knit and genuine a country community is.

I thought the pacing was a bit slow and the “haunted house” over done but I was surprised at how invested I was on the story inside the story! Just like Fiona, I looked forward to Silas and Marie story.

I guessed where it was going but it no way detracted me from reading and I wanted to see how it would all unfold. Fans of Ms Rimmer will love this one too!

A huge thank you to NetGalley Hatchette Australia and Ms Rimmer for an early copy for review.

I was lucky to get a sneak peek at The Midnight Estate before its release in late July, and after absolutely loving (and crying through) Kelly’s novel The Things We Cannot Say, I had high hopes and it absolutely delivered.

At first read this seemed to be a story about a big, crumbling old house in country NSW. But like all good stories, it’s really about so much more. From grief, healing, community, family dynamics and escape through to the quiet power of human connection.

The story is layered beautifully with a ‘book within a book’ structure that I won’t spoil, but it was clever, well executed and kept me hooked.

The small town setting was gorgeous, the characters were raw and real and can I just say that the readers group mentioned… well I want one in my life immediately.

I did have a few moments where I worried it might veer into the supernatural (ghosts are not my jam 👻😅) but the mystery stays grounded and the emotional stakes are what really shine.

This book is not a thriller, but the mystery had layers that unfolded gently with a few surprises along the way. Kelly Rimmer knows how to write with heart and this one doesn’t shy away from heavy themes either so a trigger warning to all for content around domestic violence.

If you love emotional mysteries that combine meaningful character journeys with a touch of old house intrigue, this one should absolutely be on your list. You might finish it in tears like I did!

In this story we meet Fiona, recently separated from her husband, and whom has moved home to Forbes and purchased her beloved childhood home from her cousin. The house which is a character in itself, harbours many family secrets and is thought to be ‘haunted’ by the local townsfolk. Fiona’s mum in particular would rather she not move into the house at all. Whilst cleaning out the house in preparation for restoration works (Fiona’s is an architect), she finds a book by an unknown author, and she turns the pages she discovers her own family secrets connected to this very house. Overall, a highly enjoyable read. I adored the ‘book within a book’ idea, and was engrossed in piecing together the ‘puzzle’ of how Fiona was linked to the family history story surrounding the house. The author also raises some issues in family violence, particularly coercive control.

A wonderful story within a story which kept me reading till late into the night.
This is an emotionally charged historical/gothic family drama mystery that is set in dual time lines.
We have the present day in 2010 when Fiona Winslow returns to Forbes, NSW after her marriage breakdown and the loss of her architectural heritage firm which she co founded with her now ex husband. She returns to what she considers is her family home, Wurimbirra, which was built in 1886. A mansion which she hopes to restore and which the towns people believe is haunted. Fiona discovers a book entitled ‘The Midnight Estate’, which eerily feels like it is telling her life story.
In alternate chapters we are taken to Fiona’s current life and then to chapters from ‘The Midnight Estate’..
There are long buried family secrets that cast a shadow over generations of the family.
I really enjoyed this book; despite the mystery becoming evident to me early in reading, I still found it an engaging read.

Thank you NetGalley Hachette Australia & New Zealand & Good Reading for the ARC.

I really enjoyed reading this book! 
The history of the estate makes it hauntingly tragic, and the  story of the book within a book is mysteriously engaging.  It got me spooked and hooked!
I loved the characters and  the twists and the tension that is building throughout the story was done beautifully. 

My first book of this author and it won’t be my last. Another book that I can recommend to our library members.

The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer
I was so excited to be given the opportunity to read Kelly Rimmer’s latest book.

Fiona is fifty years old and her twenty-five-year marriage has just ended, she decides to move back from Sydney to her childhood home in Forbes NSW which is a mansion built in 1886 left by her uncle who died ten years ago.

While cleaning the mansion Fiona comes across an unopened box of books, twelve copies of The Midnight Estate by Charity Wilkie. Her Uncle used to often buy books to share with the whole family so they can all read the same book together. Fiona starts reading The Midnight Estate and finds that it’s written about the very same mansion her uncle owned telling a story of Silas who went back home to California to bury his mother only to end up saving his “sister” from an abusive husband.

This is a book with in a book.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand Publishers for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review

A sweeping family saga, creatively told through an intriguing book-within-a-book mystery. I enjoyed the characterization of the Wurimbirra estate with the airy, dilapidated, potentially haunted mansion, including discussion of its dark history.

I personally found the unravelling of the mystery predictable and slower paced; however, I feel that this was purposeful to allow the reader to explore the emotional impacts and frightening realities, all the way through to the satisfying and emotionally impactful conclusion.

Kelly Rimmer’s storytelling gets me deep in my feelings, in fact I was weeping several times throughout this powerfully written tale.

I really enjoyed being immersed in this absorbing, beautifully layered and memorable tale. I appreciate how domestic abuse and coercive control were explored and handled with nuance and care. The author letter at the back of the book offers additional insight into the creation of this story.

If you enjoy a story that will stay with you long after you have finished reading, then please do yourself a favour and give this latest story from Australian author Kelly Rimmer a read!

There is so much to like about this book.

A majestic house. A secret book. Family secrets.

Fiona moves back to her childhood hometown of Forbes from Sydney when her marriage falls apart. She moves into Wurimbirra, the stately mansion that was owned by her author Uncle, Tad Winslow. Her mother Ginny seems so against her moving back there, but why?

While she is getting used to the house again, there are times she feels she is not quite alone, and she worries that her Uncle's ghost stories told to her as a child may be more truth than fiction. She is inexplicably drawn to certain places in the house and when she discovers an old ring that weirdly matches the one in the book she has found amongst her Uncle's things, Fiona wonders what this book is really about.

The Midnight Estate is a lovely and heartwarming story about family, standing up for what is right, new beginnings and being there for those you love. This ticked so many boxes for me and is the type of story I like to read. There was a house as one of the main characters, there was a then and now storyline, there was a story within a story disguised as a book. Magical.

I really loved reading these characters and their stories. The relationships felt very real, the interactions were natural and that made for easy reading. The authors notes, which I always read, are so lovely and really add to this story. And just look at that cover - stunning indeed!