This was a hard book to put down. I was enthralled by the story from the beginning and I loved all the twists. This author is new to me, but I absolutely loved the way the book was written. I fell in love with the characters and wanted to find out the answers to the mysteries with them.

Unfortunately, this was really not what I was expecting. It was way more horror than mystery. I feel like the blurb is a little misleading as this has fantasy aspects and unrealistic things which I am not the audience for. If I would've known this prior I would not have picked up this book. I had to DNF.

Wow! First time reading something from John Fram and I know it won't be my last! I love how twisty it was! I was not expecting that ending!

I have read a previous novel by this author so I requested this one, hoping for a similar experience. However I found that this novel fell flat. I didn't find it objectively bad but I was disengage from the story and not invested enough to see it through to the end because I honestly didn't care enough about the characters.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

What initially presents itself as a conventional locked-room thriller swiftly evolves into a complex and genre-blending narrative that defies easy categorization. The novel follows Ethan, a man mired in stagnation in a failing western town, burdened by the weight of familial loss and economic despair. The death of his mother has left him a struggling garage business, and his brother is grappling with substance abuse and severe depression. Into this bleak landscape enters Hunter, a mysterious drifter whose arrival catalyzes a series of events that lead Ethan away from his static existence and into a harrowing journey.

Following a family tragedy, Ethan and Hunter embark westward in pursuit of reinvention. A surreal and violent episode at a roadside diner, followed by a breakdown en route, strands them at a remote motel operated by the enigmatic twins Thomas and Tabitha. As additional guests arrive—each distinct in personality and backstory, including a child, a grieving woman, and several troubled strangers—the narrative shifts tone dramatically. The hotel quickly reveals itself as a locus of supernatural and existential menace. What began as a thriller becomes a tense, reality-bending mystery infused with cosmic horror and speculative elements.

The plot is notable for its structural unpredictability and tonal shifts, oscillating between psychological suspense, grotesque horror, and eerie science fiction. The pacing is brisk and unrelenting, with narrative developments that are both disorienting and deeply engaging. The author’s ability to sustain a sense of dread while introducing increasingly surreal developments is commendable. The thematic breadth is wide, encompassing not only traditional horror motifs such as murder and supernatural threats, but also contemporary issues such as drug addiction, human trafficking, and moral ambiguity.

Stylistically, the novel plays with genre conventions, using the locked-room setting not merely as a narrative constraint but as a crucible in which the characters’ true natures are revealed. The characters themselves are often morally compromised and emotionally fractured, yet rendered with enough nuance to evoke sympathy. Their backstories unfold organically, often in disturbing ways, contributing to an overarching sense of unease and inevitability.

The climactic revelations—while deliberately ambiguous—succeed in reinforcing the novel’s existential and cosmic themes. The resolution is neither neat nor entirely explicable, but it aligns with the novel’s larger ambitions: to unsettle, provoke, and disorient. The horror here is not only external but philosophical, raising questions about fate, agency, and the unknowable forces that govern existence.

Readers who prefer tightly constructed, linear narratives may find the novel’s shifting structure and thematic sprawl challenging. However, for those open to a more experimental approach, this work offers a rich and disturbing tapestry that rewards close reading. It is a novel that deliberately eschews comfort in favor of confrontation—both with the uncanny and with the darkest recesses of human behavior.

In sum, this is a clever, unsettling, and genre-subversive work that will appeal to fans of horror, speculative fiction, and psychological thrillers alike. Its darkness is unrelenting, but never gratuitous; its surprises are numerous, but never cheap. It is a bold and imaginative contribution to contemporary horror literature.

The author of The Midnight Knock, John Fram is new to me. I went into this book not knowing what was in store. I would give this a 3.5 / 4 stars at the most. Not because the storyline was bad. It was different in every way. Intriguing and a bit captivating. However, some of the dialog with the characters background was repetitive and lacking in some areas. Overall, not bad. Definitely different.

This book had me hooked from beginning to end! I was captivated by the plot, the characters, and the suspense. I loved the characters and how diverse their stories were, but it wasn't overkill. The suspense and twists and turns were very well done and didn't feel cliche whatsoever.

The one thing that got me was how gruesome and gory this book was. I wasn't expecting it to be, so it took a little while to get used to. However, for fans of true horror, this would be an interesting read!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this opportunity!

this was a really big anticipated release for me but i just didn't vibe with the deja vu aspect. the first 30% was so good. :/

This was a very clever book.

I'll say that it never quite goes where you expect. It's chilling, violent and very, very dark. Our characters have some unexpected backgrounds and are mostly rather unsavory. Yet, you still like to read them.

The truth behind everything is unexpected, somewhat nebulous, and rounds out a plot that is intelligent, yet horrific.

While I personally prefer a story that is more linear and concrete, the book pleased me.

* ARC via Publisher

From start to finish this book is absolutely captivating. The premise, the format, the style - all of it adds to the overall mystery and suspense which makes for an incredible reading experience. The twists and turns are not overly excessive and they tie together perfectly to make for a great read. While this story was heavier than I had anticipated, it was still pretty hard to put down and I found myself constantly thinking about it. Definitely worth the read.

What starts out as a locked room thriller becomes something much, much more. Ethan has been stuck in a dead end western town his entife life. The garage business left to him after his mother died is failing and his brother is deep in addiction and depression. Then he meets Hunter, a mysterious young man looking for work and a place to stay. Ethan gives him a job and a bed to sleep in, Ethan's bed. When Ethan's brother ends his own life, Hunter figures out a way for he and Ethan to start a new life out west. After a violent and strange encounter at a diner, then running out of gas, Ethan and Hunter find themselves at a motel run by twins Thomas and Tabitha. Soon more travelers arrive including Kyla and Fernanda, Sarah, Ryan, Stanley and young Penelope. This hotel is not at all what it seems and as darkness falls, the rag-tag group of strangers have to solve a murder and try to stay alive.

This book became so much more than expected. Thrilling for sure, but also filled with cosmic horror and a little sci-fi for good measure. The story twists and turns and changes at a rapid pace and I loved evvery minute of it. I could never have predicted where the plot went and how attached I became to the characters.

This book has something for a large variety of horror/thriller fans. Cosmic horror, locked room murder mystery, supernatural beings, gruesome and gory kills, human trafficking, drug cartels, and twists galore. If any of this sounds interesting, definitely give this one a read.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review of Digital Galley

Ethan and Hunter are fleeing the tiny Texas town of Ellersby, leaving death and arson behind. Kyla and Fernanda are fleeing Frank O’Shea. Penelope and her grandfather, Stanley, are coming from Mexico, headed toward Fort Stockton. Somehow, they all end up in the middle of nowhere at the nine-room Brake Inn Motel, run by twins Tabitha and Thomas. Here the travelers can find rest, food, and gasoline for their vehicles.

Or can they?

=========

The diverse cast of characters in this gruesome horror mystery are well-drawn; all have trouble i their pasts and all are keeping secrets. They are also, without exception, unlikable. And when the unfolding story reveals that the “guests” in this out-of-the-way, creepy motel are challenged to identify a murderer before midnight or lose their own lives, the story might seem to be rather straightforward. But it is quite obvious that something malevolent awaits them.

The mystery is solid and sure to keep readers guessing. But be forewarned, this horror thriller has some extremely gruesome, gory passages and the overuse of a particularly offensive expletive is sure to offend many readers.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Atria Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#TheMidnightKnock #NetGalley

I am so sad that this book did not work for me. The Bright Lands and No Road Home are two of my favourite horror/thriller books. Fram was a two-time five-star author for me. With The Midnight Knock, I found that I never connected to any of the characters (many characters show up without any background, and my interest waned). The gore felt gratuitous, as though it was only intended for shock. The ending also felt too trippy for me. This will not be my last Fram as I have love their other work, but this one just did not work for me!

Gruesome to downright gory, past the point of an action packed whodunit thriller and closer to a horror/gothic mess. Also, this should have been advertised as a queer thriller like his other so those of us who are not interested can skip it. FYI

This is a weird one that took me a bit to get into, but it was surprisingly good once I did! The Brake Inn motel is an odd out-of-the-way spot for travelers so no one is really sure what's going on in the present as rumors have circulated. Unexplained vanishings, arson, and torture are just a few of the crazy things that happen here. It's a wild ride but fun if you can suspend disbelief and just enjoy!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I would describe this book as television's From meets Stuart Turton's The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle with some native folklore mixed in. The Midnight Knock was not quite what I was expecting but it was a very interesting story that I enjoyed. It was however rather slow and dense and took me a lot longer to read than a book this size normally would. The characters all have troubled pasts and aren't necessarily good people, but I still liked them all. I think it would be best to go into this book knowing as little as possible and I'm having trouble saying much without spoiling anything. I will say that I liked the way it was formatted, and I thought the ending was great although I could have used more clarity on a few things. Overall, I thought this was a fascinating genre-defying story, but it was a little slow and confusing at times. I would give this book 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of The Midnight Knock.

WOW!!!! Underdog of the year award right here! I almost skipped this book thinking it would be a run-of-the-mill locked room mystery, but I'm really happy I gave it a chance! Locked room mystery, horror, sci-fi, and native folklore all smashed together to create a genre-bending, mind-blowing, weird and wild ride. I'll be thinking back over this one for a long time.

5 stars

Thanks NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really struggled with this book. It is super fast-paced, but I was not expecting that level of horror and it’s far too disturbing for me. I feel badly rating it as I think this book was just not the right fit for me. Check it out for yourself when it comes out in October.

This was a DNF for me. I couldn't get into the book and I never end up liking those, so I have learned to just stop.

I was a huge fan of No Road Home and super excited to get to read an early copy of The Midnight Knock. Just in case you did not read the description, this story is not at all like the author’s last book (IMO).
The story is told by multiple characters. Each one running away from something or someone. Ethan, Kyla, Penelope, Hunter, Stanley, Ryan, Sarah, and Fernanda each tell part of the story, though some play a bigger role than others.
All of these people eventually wind up at the Brake Inn Motel. A place in the middle of nowhere that almost seems to be trapped in a time warp. Most of them have arrived, seeking shelter and gas for their vehicles. But the proprietors, twins Tabitha, and Thomas, say the tank is empty and will not be refilled until tomorrow. Those people desperate to move on have no choice but to stay for the night.
Things get very strange very quickly, and when someone is killed, the manager’s state everyone will die if they cannot solve this crime by midnight. With darkness surrounding the motel, eerie noises, creatures outside, and no way to leave, they band together to try to figure out whodunnit. Does not sound strange enough? Let me just tell you it is about to get much more bizarre.
I really cannot say more without falling through the Looking Glass into spoiler territory. However, I will say the journey was off the rails.