Beyond Midnight is a gripping and fast-paced mystery that pulls you in from the very first chapter. Though it’s the fifth installment in the Ashe Cayne series, I jumped in without having read the earlier books and still felt completely engaged. Ian K. Smith wrote a layered detective story that had me playing detective alongside the private investigator, questioning every clue and suspect.

The plot centers on the suspicious death of Juaquin Escobar which has been ruled an accidental drowning. However, his nephew insists he neither drank nor swam. What follows is a sharp, suspenseful investigation that untangles a deeper web of political secrets, corruption, and deception in Chicago’s underbelly. The pacing never lags and the ending genuinely surprised me which is something rare in detective fiction.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Ashe Cayne or a newcomer like me, Beyond Midnight delivers a satisfying and twisty ride. I’m now curious to explore the earlier books in the series.