The Midnight Knock
A Novel
by John Fram
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Pub Date Oct 21 2025 | Archive Date Nov 04 2025
Description
In the frigid west Texas desert, weary travelers converge at a lonely roadside motel nestled at the foot of a massive mountain. Ethan and Hunter have left behind a corpse, a fire, and a horrific act of violence. Kyla and Fernanda are fleeing for the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are returning from Mexico with a mysterious man in hot pursuit. All of them are on the run from something. All of them are hiding something.
And somehow, they’re all connected to the motel’s other guest, an enigmatic woman named Sarah Powers.
Within hours, Sarah is dead. The strange twins who run the Brake Inn Motel inform the surviving guests that her murder demands justice. The guests are given an ultimatum: uncover the killer by midnight—or die when the protective lights around the motel go out.
Because something very old and very dangerous lurks in this corner of the desert. And it’s hungry.
But nothing at the Brake Inn Motel is quite as it seems. As time ticks away, alliances fracture, secrets unravel, and the guests will not only have to confront the violence of the past—they will need to face the darkness within themselves.
A masterful blend of psychological tension, supernatural horror, and layered storytelling, The Midnight Knock pushes the boundaries of what a mystery can be. And with its unforgettable climax, this novel cements John Fram as a contemporary master of the genre.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781668069424 |
| PRICE | $30.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 320 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Moira F, Reviewer
The Midnight Knock got under my skin in the best way—it’s haunting, propulsive, and deeply atmospheric, with a sense of dread that builds like a storm you can feel coming but can’t escape. John Fram has a gift for blending true crime unease with intimate, emotional storytelling, and this one had me reading long past midnight.
From the moment the knock comes, you know something is wrong. But Fram doesn’t rush. He lets the fear simmer, letting the small-town secrets unravel with a slow, suffocating intensity. What hit me hardest wasn’t just the mystery—it was the emotional weight behind it. The characters feel fully lived-in, carrying histories that are messy, painful, and deeply human.
Fram plays with themes of justice, perception, and identity in a way that feels quietly radical. The story asks hard questions—about guilt, power, and what it means to be safe in a world that picks and chooses who gets to be believed. And the writing? Taut, lyrical, and sharp where it needs to be.
If you like your thrillers with heart, nuance, and a steady, creeping terror that doesn’t let up, The Midnight Knock is a must-read. It chilled me—and it made me think. That’s my favorite kind of horror.
Sarah H, Reviewer
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
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