It Ends at Midnight by Harriet Tyce ~ a Review

by MK French

Sylvie and Tess committed a crime decades ago, but both buried it and kept the secret. Sylvie has a promising career and a chance at being a judge, as well as a loving relationship. Tess is diagnosed with cancer and her marriage is on the rocks, so she wants to make amends for past wrongs. She wants a New Year's Eve party to be the backdrop for her dramatic confessions, but someone doesn't want that midnight confession.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

February 2023; Sourcebooks Landmark; 978-1728263847
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); thriller

It Ends at Midnight opens with a fox's perspective as a body is found, and we get snippets of other POVs. Gradually, we realize that there are three separate timelines to this story, with the main one being the present-day Sylvie applying for the judgeship and Tess's cancer revelation. Split between London and Edinburgh, we get interesting glimpses into the English legal system, as well as the friendship and secrets that bind Sylvie and Tess together. The varying POVs gave us different glimpses into the crime scene, and the novel as a whole is as much a psychological thriller as it is a legal one.

Sylvie and Tess have a complicated relationship, where Sylvie is focused on her career and image, and Tess is determined to control her life and the people around her. Sylvie once was a lonely and friendless girl, and both were willing to be whatever the boys in their lives wanted to be to stay relevant. Lying about the night one of those boys died sets up the connection between them years later, the friendship one of tension as well as affection. Neither is really ready to face the truth of their actions until the midnight party and the final truth is revealed for everyone. It's such a compelling read, and you can't help but get drawn to the story and trying to figure out what happened and who died. It's a fascinating story and one that sucked me right in.

Buy It Ends at Midnight at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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