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.

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