What do you think?
Rate this book
Midnight
When she's gifted a once-in-a-lifetime Antarctic cruise, Olivia has never been anywhere so spectacular.
Huge cliffs of ice loom up to the sky.
The sun never sets over the sparkling sea.
And there's a killer on board...
Unable to sleep in the endless eerie daylight, Olivia has no idea who she can trust. And if she can't figure it out soon, she won't make it back alive...
Huge cliffs of ice loom up to the sky.
The sun never sets over the sparkling sea.
And there's a killer on board...
Unable to sleep in the endless eerie daylight, Olivia has no idea who she can trust. And if she can't figure it out soon, she won't make it back alive...
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2023
174 people are currently reading
4177 people want to read
About the author
Amy McCulloch
13 books830 followersAmy McCulloch is a Chinese-White author, born in the UK, raised in Ottawa, Canada, now based in London, UK. She has written several novels for children and young adults, and been published in over fifteen different languages. Her debut adult novel, BREATHLESS, releases in 2022.
Before becoming a full-time writer, she was editorial director for Penguin Random House Children’s Books. In 2013, she was named one of The Bookseller‘s Rising Stars of publishing.
When not writing, she loves travelling, hiking and mountaineering. In September 2019, she became the youngest Canadian woman to climb Mt Manaslu in Nepal – the world’s eighth highest mountain at 8,163m (26,781ft). Other addictions include coffee, ramen and really great books.
Before becoming a full-time writer, she was editorial director for Penguin Random House Children’s Books. In 2013, she was named one of The Bookseller‘s Rising Stars of publishing.
When not writing, she loves travelling, hiking and mountaineering. In September 2019, she became the youngest Canadian woman to climb Mt Manaslu in Nepal – the world’s eighth highest mountain at 8,163m (26,781ft). Other addictions include coffee, ramen and really great books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 466 reviews
January 26, 2024
Mannnn I was so excited to read this one, but it ultimately let me down.
Midnight is an adult thriller that follows main character Olivia who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Antartica on behalf of her art investor boyfriend. After securing a client who unfortunately has an untimely death, he decides to "honor" his artwork (which primarily focuses on Antartica landscapes) by hosting a cruise where there will be an auction for his art. Well, he never makes it to the ship, and they set sell with Olivia having to take the lead on the event. As they set off on the cruise, people begin to die, and Olivia begins to wonder whether she might be next.
What Worked: The descriptions of Antartica were marvelous. Amy McCulloch is a world traveler and spent time in Antartica. Her knowledge of the area and the risks that come with traveling there are described so perfectly and really perked in interest in adding a visit to my bucket list.
What Didn't Work: Outside of the Antartica descriptions, this novel was a HOT ASS MESS. I knew who the killer was about 20% into the book. The pacing was completely off, and it took about 150 pages for anything of consequence to really happen. Olivia is dealing with some pretty significant trauma related to her father and being on ships, but she has the personality of a wet rag. I never really connected to her as a reader, and I couldn't figure out why she decided to put herself in this situation when she's so deathly afraid of being on boats. Also, this book leans heavily into the world of art dealing so if that's not your thing it will bore the hell out of you. I found aspects of it to be intriguing, but then some of it began to feel repetitive as the McCulloch attempts to hold the hand of the reader to remind them of the significance of the death of the artist. This had so much potential especially it's a close environment where people are getting murdered, but it doesn't add anything new or interesting to the genre.
Overall, a disappointing read that had some great potential.
Midnight is an adult thriller that follows main character Olivia who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Antartica on behalf of her art investor boyfriend. After securing a client who unfortunately has an untimely death, he decides to "honor" his artwork (which primarily focuses on Antartica landscapes) by hosting a cruise where there will be an auction for his art. Well, he never makes it to the ship, and they set sell with Olivia having to take the lead on the event. As they set off on the cruise, people begin to die, and Olivia begins to wonder whether she might be next.
What Worked: The descriptions of Antartica were marvelous. Amy McCulloch is a world traveler and spent time in Antartica. Her knowledge of the area and the risks that come with traveling there are described so perfectly and really perked in interest in adding a visit to my bucket list.
What Didn't Work: Outside of the Antartica descriptions, this novel was a HOT ASS MESS. I knew who the killer was about 20% into the book. The pacing was completely off, and it took about 150 pages for anything of consequence to really happen. Olivia is dealing with some pretty significant trauma related to her father and being on ships, but she has the personality of a wet rag. I never really connected to her as a reader, and I couldn't figure out why she decided to put herself in this situation when she's so deathly afraid of being on boats. Also, this book leans heavily into the world of art dealing so if that's not your thing it will bore the hell out of you. I found aspects of it to be intriguing, but then some of it began to feel repetitive as the McCulloch attempts to hold the hand of the reader to remind them of the significance of the death of the artist. This had so much potential especially it's a close environment where people are getting murdered, but it doesn't add anything new or interesting to the genre.
Overall, a disappointing read that had some great potential.
January 14, 2024
A couple of nice moments describing short excursions during an Antarctic cruise, though not nearly enough of them. You don't get enough sense of the vastness and isolation and snowiness of the setting, though a curious penguin does make an appearance. Mystery and characterization are underwhelming, the heroine is unremarkable, and the art element felt shoe-horned in.
Why can't we get a good cruise ship mystery? I guess The Woman in Cabin 10 renewed interest in this subcategory, but this is the third one I've tried in a few months and each one has been lacking. It's not much different from isolated house mysteries, except with more expansive buffets, no?
2.5 stars Not terrible, but I'm not feeling all that generous. It doesn't bring nearly enough to the genre.
Why can't we get a good cruise ship mystery? I guess The Woman in Cabin 10 renewed interest in this subcategory, but this is the third one I've tried in a few months and each one has been lacking. It's not much different from isolated house mysteries, except with more expansive buffets, no?
2.5 stars Not terrible, but I'm not feeling all that generous. It doesn't bring nearly enough to the genre.
August 23, 2023
3.5 ⭐
‘Breathless’ was a five-star read for me and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book set in Antarctica - especially since we were sailing there this past Spring!
Although it didn’t measure up to the atmospheric and tense plot of Breathless, it was still a compelling, and chilling, locked-room thriller. I think it will be memorable simply due to my recent visit rather than the plot. Basically, I wanted to love this one, but ended up simply liking it. The success of this book is due to the fact that McCulloch took the same trip and could rely on experience.
I struggled to identify with the characters. Olivia seemed wishy-washy to me and Aaron just as boring. I also think I just wasn’t into the art scene referenced. Regardless, those disappointments aside, the mystery of the attacks, the memory issues and the dead bodies kept me flipping pages. I felt the panic and tension.
I struggled with the pace. There seemed to be too much fluff before the ship set sail and before the first major incident. In this genre, that’s not good.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t hold a candle to the author’s debut but it won’t stop me from reading anything else she writes. I love how her ideas come from her experiences - it adds to the authenticity.
I was gifted this copy by Vintage Anchor and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
‘Breathless’ was a five-star read for me and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book set in Antarctica - especially since we were sailing there this past Spring!
Although it didn’t measure up to the atmospheric and tense plot of Breathless, it was still a compelling, and chilling, locked-room thriller. I think it will be memorable simply due to my recent visit rather than the plot. Basically, I wanted to love this one, but ended up simply liking it. The success of this book is due to the fact that McCulloch took the same trip and could rely on experience.
I struggled to identify with the characters. Olivia seemed wishy-washy to me and Aaron just as boring. I also think I just wasn’t into the art scene referenced. Regardless, those disappointments aside, the mystery of the attacks, the memory issues and the dead bodies kept me flipping pages. I felt the panic and tension.
I struggled with the pace. There seemed to be too much fluff before the ship set sail and before the first major incident. In this genre, that’s not good.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t hold a candle to the author’s debut but it won’t stop me from reading anything else she writes. I love how her ideas come from her experiences - it adds to the authenticity.
I was gifted this copy by Vintage Anchor and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
January 17, 2024
✰ 2.25 stars ✰
“They’d paid for the privilege of visiting one of the most remote places in the world.
But Antarctica was wild. Untamed. It was the ultimate leveler.”
When I accompanied Olivia aboard the MS Village as it embarked on its maiden voyage across the Drake Passage, 'one of the world’s most perilous bodies of water' to the final continent, I was expected to treat myself to a deliciously satisfying whodunit meal that would not only make it painfully difficult to figure out who exactly the culprit was, but to also FEEL the intense chilling grip of how isolated one is from the world amongst the icy treacherous glaciers and freezing chills.
I didn't get any of that.
The sad thing is I could see the attempts the author was making to capture those emotions. With everything going preposterously wrong for Olivia right from the start, I kept waiting for the momentum to pick up - some break-away that would present me with the inclination to care about what was happening or become invested and intrigued about the cast of supporting characters that were alongside us on this journey... But, it never came. 😮💨 The suspense alluding to the mystery, itself, was severely underwhelming and not at all appealing.
“Hard work, suffering and, yes, sometimes fear, were the price you paid to see the world’s hidden wonders. She wished she could sit back and enjoy it.”
I feel mainly the fault lay in how focused the story was on the character, Olivia, herself and the personal growth that she needed from this trip, to overcome the mental and emotional trauma that has so severely plagued her in the past. 😥 The narrative was so character-driven in that aspect that in all moments where there would be an unexpected twist or reveal, the attention would immediately divert to a glimpse of Olivia's past and how she's been so painfully distraught about these conflicting thoughts that I couldn't bring myself to care.
What pains me even more that it did start off with a very compelling pull - a big showcase auction so that guests could 'experience the phenomenon known as the “midnight sun” – a sun that never sets during the exact moment when it would happen - a moment so elusive that it would only illuminate the incredible feat that Olivia and her boyfriend had pushed the extra boundaries to bring this once in a lifetime opportunity for some of the world's most elusive and exclusive bidders. Sounds like such a catch, right??? 🥺 But, in the deteriorating events that transpired, all those moments were eclipsed by some very weak and underwhelming twists that didn't make me rise to attention and be curious to want to know who was the culprit.
“‘Ushuaia: el fin del mundo.’ Aaron read the sign aloud.
Olivia gave herself a shake. The end of the world.
And, hopefully, the start of a new chapter.”
It's a difficult task to keep the readers' attention till the very end, one where enough clues have been scattered around and we are now on the brink of discovering the truth. I did like the messages the author was trying to convey; how money and greed can lead to sinister actions, how deception and baseless fraud persists everywhere, how one wrong action can alter the entire scope of perception - driving others to manic or emptiness. There were many attempts to keep the momentum going, offering unexpected revelations for Olivia and difficult challenges that she had to overcome.
The mystery, while generally unappealing, was there, I just couldn't work myself to care enough to figure it out! That's never a good sign! And I really wish writers wouldn't be so glaringly obvious in their attempts to lead the readers and the protagonist towards the culprit. 🫤 Here, it was so distastefully done to the point where I felt that the author became bored with the storyline and realized they had no choice now but to wrap things up! *cries* And to make it even worse it was such a cliché of a reason why that I got even more annoyed by it all! 🙄
“All day she stared at problems that could be fixed by money – moving it, counting it, acquiring it, giving it away, storing it, investing it – anything but losing it. But out here it was so much more elemental.
A place where money couldn’t solve problems.”
As I mentioned earlier, it did strongly feel more like a character growth story than a mystery-thriller. Olivia's relationship with Aaron was tantamount to why she even opted to board the ship, considering her own emotional state, but it was definitely an interesting dynamic that they shared - one that served as a catalyst for many of her decisions, past and present. 😟 'There was so much she didn’t know. Hadn’t been bothered to know. She’d just been a passenger in her own life. She had to step up and take control.' She grappled with her own insecurities and insincerities that made it difficult for her to believe that she was capable of standing up for herself and making the tough choices.
And yet, though her past has been paved with struggles and regret, this treacherous expedition did give her the chance to not only reflect on past decisions, but to also learn from it and move on from it. She's carrying a heavy burden, one which she was able to shed through the difficult tasks she was confronted with, and I did appreciate how she applied her own nautical expertise to good use, while navigating the treacherous waters. It's just a shame that the way it was executed was not one that I could have appreciated as much as I would have liked to, making for a rather disappointing read, instead. 😔
“They’d paid for the privilege of visiting one of the most remote places in the world.
But Antarctica was wild. Untamed. It was the ultimate leveler.”
When I accompanied Olivia aboard the MS Village as it embarked on its maiden voyage across the Drake Passage, 'one of the world’s most perilous bodies of water' to the final continent, I was expected to treat myself to a deliciously satisfying whodunit meal that would not only make it painfully difficult to figure out who exactly the culprit was, but to also FEEL the intense chilling grip of how isolated one is from the world amongst the icy treacherous glaciers and freezing chills.
I didn't get any of that.
The sad thing is I could see the attempts the author was making to capture those emotions. With everything going preposterously wrong for Olivia right from the start, I kept waiting for the momentum to pick up - some break-away that would present me with the inclination to care about what was happening or become invested and intrigued about the cast of supporting characters that were alongside us on this journey... But, it never came. 😮💨 The suspense alluding to the mystery, itself, was severely underwhelming and not at all appealing.
“Hard work, suffering and, yes, sometimes fear, were the price you paid to see the world’s hidden wonders. She wished she could sit back and enjoy it.”
I feel mainly the fault lay in how focused the story was on the character, Olivia, herself and the personal growth that she needed from this trip, to overcome the mental and emotional trauma that has so severely plagued her in the past. 😥 The narrative was so character-driven in that aspect that in all moments where there would be an unexpected twist or reveal, the attention would immediately divert to a glimpse of Olivia's past and how she's been so painfully distraught about these conflicting thoughts that I couldn't bring myself to care.
What pains me even more that it did start off with a very compelling pull - a big showcase auction so that guests could 'experience the phenomenon known as the “midnight sun” – a sun that never sets during the exact moment when it would happen - a moment so elusive that it would only illuminate the incredible feat that Olivia and her boyfriend had pushed the extra boundaries to bring this once in a lifetime opportunity for some of the world's most elusive and exclusive bidders. Sounds like such a catch, right??? 🥺 But, in the deteriorating events that transpired, all those moments were eclipsed by some very weak and underwhelming twists that didn't make me rise to attention and be curious to want to know who was the culprit.
“‘Ushuaia: el fin del mundo.’ Aaron read the sign aloud.
Olivia gave herself a shake. The end of the world.
And, hopefully, the start of a new chapter.”
It's a difficult task to keep the readers' attention till the very end, one where enough clues have been scattered around and we are now on the brink of discovering the truth. I did like the messages the author was trying to convey; how money and greed can lead to sinister actions, how deception and baseless fraud persists everywhere, how one wrong action can alter the entire scope of perception - driving others to manic or emptiness. There were many attempts to keep the momentum going, offering unexpected revelations for Olivia and difficult challenges that she had to overcome.
The mystery, while generally unappealing, was there, I just couldn't work myself to care enough to figure it out! That's never a good sign! And I really wish writers wouldn't be so glaringly obvious in their attempts to lead the readers and the protagonist towards the culprit. 🫤 Here, it was so distastefully done to the point where I felt that the author became bored with the storyline and realized they had no choice now but to wrap things up! *cries* And to make it even worse it was such a cliché of a reason why that I got even more annoyed by it all! 🙄
“All day she stared at problems that could be fixed by money – moving it, counting it, acquiring it, giving it away, storing it, investing it – anything but losing it. But out here it was so much more elemental.
A place where money couldn’t solve problems.”
As I mentioned earlier, it did strongly feel more like a character growth story than a mystery-thriller. Olivia's relationship with Aaron was tantamount to why she even opted to board the ship, considering her own emotional state, but it was definitely an interesting dynamic that they shared - one that served as a catalyst for many of her decisions, past and present. 😟 'There was so much she didn’t know. Hadn’t been bothered to know. She’d just been a passenger in her own life. She had to step up and take control.' She grappled with her own insecurities and insincerities that made it difficult for her to believe that she was capable of standing up for herself and making the tough choices.
And yet, though her past has been paved with struggles and regret, this treacherous expedition did give her the chance to not only reflect on past decisions, but to also learn from it and move on from it. She's carrying a heavy burden, one which she was able to shed through the difficult tasks she was confronted with, and I did appreciate how she applied her own nautical expertise to good use, while navigating the treacherous waters. It's just a shame that the way it was executed was not one that I could have appreciated as much as I would have liked to, making for a rather disappointing read, instead. 😔
January 15, 2024
My first disappointment of 2024!!
I really, really loved this author's debut novel, Breathless, and was really looking forward to reading her follow up, however this one was a big letdown for me, unfortunately.
Why? Well, to begin with, it was so very SLOW, and I had to force myself to continue reading and not simply DNF this one on more than a couple occasions! The premise definitely appealed to me, as a cruise ship is one of those either you love it or you hate it experiences, and I myself went on a similar cruise 10 years ago, which I absolutely loved, and to choose this as a setting for another chiller of a thriller seemed like a perfect choice. Unfortunately the cruise ship itself was a very minuscule part of the plot, and instead the plot surrounded itself around high-end art, which is definitely not my favorite topic. In fact, anything to do with the art world, or even art heists would regularly be a huge turnoff, on account of how dry and uninteresting a topic it usually is, and this one was no exception. Without divulging too many details and spoiling, for some reason I couldn't really connect with our protagonist who, as a profession was an actuary, and any of the other characters weren't developed enough to even have an opinion. I also suppose I felt like I kept waiting for something significant to happen while reading this, and despite there being a couple murders and some action towards the very end I was still left wanting more and even felt like this one was actually left a bit open-ended or unresolved, but by that point I didn't really care anymore. Definitely not a great experience, to say the least.
While this one fell victim to being a 'sophomore slump' for this author I will still keep my eye on McCulloch's forthcoming work, as I believe everyone deserves a second chance...you can't win every time!
I really, really loved this author's debut novel, Breathless, and was really looking forward to reading her follow up, however this one was a big letdown for me, unfortunately.
Why? Well, to begin with, it was so very SLOW, and I had to force myself to continue reading and not simply DNF this one on more than a couple occasions! The premise definitely appealed to me, as a cruise ship is one of those either you love it or you hate it experiences, and I myself went on a similar cruise 10 years ago, which I absolutely loved, and to choose this as a setting for another chiller of a thriller seemed like a perfect choice. Unfortunately the cruise ship itself was a very minuscule part of the plot, and instead the plot surrounded itself around high-end art, which is definitely not my favorite topic. In fact, anything to do with the art world, or even art heists would regularly be a huge turnoff, on account of how dry and uninteresting a topic it usually is, and this one was no exception. Without divulging too many details and spoiling, for some reason I couldn't really connect with our protagonist who, as a profession was an actuary, and any of the other characters weren't developed enough to even have an opinion. I also suppose I felt like I kept waiting for something significant to happen while reading this, and despite there being a couple murders and some action towards the very end I was still left wanting more and even felt like this one was actually left a bit open-ended or unresolved, but by that point I didn't really care anymore. Definitely not a great experience, to say the least.
While this one fell victim to being a 'sophomore slump' for this author I will still keep my eye on McCulloch's forthcoming work, as I believe everyone deserves a second chance...you can't win every time!
February 5, 2024
3.25 Stars — For me, this book's strong point is the atmospheric setting. As an armchair traveler, the Antarctic cruise in MIDNIGHT was amazing. Sailing along with these characters as they cross the treacherous Drake Passage and camp on the frozen continent is about as close to Antarctica as I'll get. What a ride!
The mystery within the pages was just ok, though there were enough twists and tense moments to keep me reading. Olivia was a frustrating main character. There were times when she would discover something seemingly important, but then fail to follow up with simple inquiries. The pacing was on the slow side, and probably a few too many characters to keep track of.
Though I'm left with mixed feelings about this book, the incredible sense of place the author created made me want to keep reading. I'm curious about her previous novel, BREATHLESS, another cold weather/harsh elements thriller.
The mystery within the pages was just ok, though there were enough twists and tense moments to keep me reading. Olivia was a frustrating main character. There were times when she would discover something seemingly important, but then fail to follow up with simple inquiries. The pacing was on the slow side, and probably a few too many characters to keep track of.
Though I'm left with mixed feelings about this book, the incredible sense of place the author created made me want to keep reading. I'm curious about her previous novel, BREATHLESS, another cold weather/harsh elements thriller.
July 15, 2023
2.5 / 5
Meh, given how bad breathless the first book was I thought surely you can’t produce another book subpar to it. But nope this was just as a disappointment as the first book.
It’s that bad that I don’t really want to waste any of my brain cells remembering this plot. It was boring slow and sadly, predictable. I think I will pass on any books Amy will write in the future, I think it’s just me not connecting well with the subjects of her book. Again, it’s an adventure theme, Antarctic travel mixed with art this time. I felt this book was long winded and the reasonings behind the deaths really bland and pointless?
Overall, it’s a pass for me.
Meh, given how bad breathless the first book was I thought surely you can’t produce another book subpar to it. But nope this was just as a disappointment as the first book.
It’s that bad that I don’t really want to waste any of my brain cells remembering this plot. It was boring slow and sadly, predictable. I think I will pass on any books Amy will write in the future, I think it’s just me not connecting well with the subjects of her book. Again, it’s an adventure theme, Antarctic travel mixed with art this time. I felt this book was long winded and the reasonings behind the deaths really bland and pointless?
Overall, it’s a pass for me.
November 11, 2023
I loved Breathless by this author but, I just couldn't settle with this one. The story was so obvious from the start and Olivia was so lame. Set on a cruise ship was a good idea but the story just dragged for me. Hope her next one is better.
September 6, 2024
dnf @27%
May 4, 2023
A locked room mystery however instead of a room it's ship travelling to Antarctica. I love locked room novels; the claustrophobic feel, the suspicion of all characters as there are finite suspects and with this novel on the journey with amazing descriptions of the Antarctica I was gripped. A really engaging thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing; 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2024
deep disappointment - by the end I was rooting for the killer
Read
May 23, 2024I give this books high marks for great atmosphere and a really unusual setting. The author clearly did first-hand research, and it showed! All the Antarctic details were by far my favorite part of the story.
But a claustrophobic, locked room-style book should have ever-escalating suspense. To me, the plot for Midnight went around in circles, with the main character believing there were repeated attempts on life and no one believing her.
I always have mixed feelings about a gaslighting plot. Olivia was supposed to have significant mental health issues that were extensively explained. It was hard to understand why, given her backstory, she was on the trip at all. Except that she was pressured into it by her boyfriend, which made me annoyed at her for not standing up for herself and for him for being such a thoughtless bully.
It all felt very "damsel in distress" and not in a great way.
You can find all my thoughts and observations, including protected spoilers where I analyze the ending, on my Website review of Midnight on Jen Ryland Reviews
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
But a claustrophobic, locked room-style book should have ever-escalating suspense. To me, the plot for Midnight went around in circles, with the main character believing there were repeated attempts on life and no one believing her.
I always have mixed feelings about a gaslighting plot. Olivia was supposed to have significant mental health issues that were extensively explained. It was hard to understand why, given her backstory, she was on the trip at all. Except that she was pressured into it by her boyfriend, which made me annoyed at her for not standing up for herself and for him for being such a thoughtless bully.
It all felt very "damsel in distress" and not in a great way.
You can find all my thoughts and observations, including protected spoilers where I analyze the ending, on my Website review of Midnight on Jen Ryland Reviews
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
June 17, 2023
After loving Breathless last year I’ve been crazy excited for Amy’s next book, and boy oh boy it didn’t disappoint. Amy’s books are absolutely amazing and my gods do I love a locked room mystery, even better it’s on a ship that’s set sail and there’s no getting off. With numerous twists and turns that had my head spinning I never ended up guessing the final one, and it actually made me pause for a second.
The pacing was perfect for me and I really liked Olivia’s character, there was just the right amount of tension in this one had that me on the edge of my seat refusing to put it down.
Definitely add this one to your summer TBR pile.
Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me a proof of this one.
The pacing was perfect for me and I really liked Olivia’s character, there was just the right amount of tension in this one had that me on the edge of my seat refusing to put it down.
Definitely add this one to your summer TBR pile.
Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me a proof of this one.
January 23, 2024
3.5 stars. Olivia is delighted to get an invitation to join an exclusive cruise to Antarctica with her art representative boyfriend Aaron. He’s arranging an installation of work by his star artist on board the ship, it’s really going to be something special.
But when Aaron doesn’t make it on board Olivia is left to travel to Antarctica without him. Then strange events start occurring, a dead body is found and Olivia keeps seeing a man watching her. She has no idea who to trust, but she quickly realises that this journey is going to be a long one.
I’m absolutely fascinated by Antarctica so this one hugely appealed to me. Sadly it didn’t quite hit the spot as the majority of the story is set on board the ship. It also involved quite a few different characters, a lot of whom I kept getting mixed up with. A lot of the plot also seemed to be related to the art business, whereas I was way more interested in Antarctica.
Saying that though, the last part of the story was interesting and pretty thrilling, so I’ll definitely give this author another chance.
But when Aaron doesn’t make it on board Olivia is left to travel to Antarctica without him. Then strange events start occurring, a dead body is found and Olivia keeps seeing a man watching her. She has no idea who to trust, but she quickly realises that this journey is going to be a long one.
I’m absolutely fascinated by Antarctica so this one hugely appealed to me. Sadly it didn’t quite hit the spot as the majority of the story is set on board the ship. It also involved quite a few different characters, a lot of whom I kept getting mixed up with. A lot of the plot also seemed to be related to the art business, whereas I was way more interested in Antarctica.
Saying that though, the last part of the story was interesting and pretty thrilling, so I’ll definitely give this author another chance.
January 22, 2025
Yes, it's a page turner, but nothing is truly original or mind-blowing here.
Olivia is in a funk, burning out at work and an ill mother to support. she's in need of a break.
When a trip on an art auction on an expedition cruise to Antarctica is organised by her new boyfriend, she's ready to set sail, but then he misses the boat, and she's alone and something doesn't feel right, and then the deaths begin.
Like I said, this book will pass the time but won't have you gasping in amazement.
Olivia is in a funk, burning out at work and an ill mother to support. she's in need of a break.
When a trip on an art auction on an expedition cruise to Antarctica is organised by her new boyfriend, she's ready to set sail, but then he misses the boat, and she's alone and something doesn't feel right, and then the deaths begin.
Like I said, this book will pass the time but won't have you gasping in amazement.
December 23, 2023
A twisty, multilayered thriller that sees a social media influencer stuck on an Antarctic cruise where people keep turning up dead and she can't escape the fact that she may be the intended target. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like Will Dean's The last one or Louise Candish's The other passenger. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Read
June 14, 2024DNF at 30%
September 27, 2023
"Nature was soothing."
I would never, ever, go to Antartica but I feel such a great fascination for books and tv shows set there. If it was possible, I even would gladly spend a morning or afternoon there, but not going by ship/boat. Oh, if only teletransportation was possible😁...
I loved everything related to the voyage and Antartica. I loved the mystery and the suspense.
But the ending: I'm a bit disappointed. It seemed so weak and lame and for partly wrong reasons.
I would never, ever, go to Antartica but I feel such a great fascination for books and tv shows set there. If it was possible, I even would gladly spend a morning or afternoon there, but not going by ship/boat. Oh, if only teletransportation was possible😁...
I loved everything related to the voyage and Antartica. I loved the mystery and the suspense.
But the ending: I'm a bit disappointed. It seemed so weak and lame and for partly wrong reasons.
February 22, 2024
Amy McCulloch w swoim najnowszym thrillerze "Słońce o północy" zaprasza czytelników na wyprawę pełną tajemnic i zagadek, która rozgrywa się na lodowatych wodach Antarktydy. Książka, w której zamknięte grono podejrzanych stanowi fascynujące połączenie z elementami psychologicznego thrillera oraz bardzo plastycznymi opisami lodowej krainy. McCulloch z wirtuozerią wykorzystuje luksusowy rejs statkiem, aby stworzyć gęstą, niepokojącą atmosferę, w której każdy z pasażerów może być podejrzany, a zawiła sieć intryg przyprawia o zawrót głowy.
Amy McCulloch stworzyła fabułę, której akcja jest ograniczona do powierzchni statku - uwielbiam motyw "locked room", więc z pasją śledziłam dalsze losy Olivii w tej zamkniętej przestrzeni praktycznie odciętej od świata zewnętrzngo. Choć akcja nie pędzi spektakularnie, to nadrabia samą atmosferą oraz przepięknymi, bardzo plastycznymi opisami pokrytego lodem kontynentu. Majestatyczne, spokojne lodowce kontrastują z bardzo napiętą i podszytą niebezpieczeństwem atmosferą na statku. Gdy dochodzi do tajemniczych zgonów, ta jeszcze bardziej się zagęszcza, a Olivia znajdująca się w centrum wydarzeń musi zadbać o swoje bezpieczeństwo i odkryć prawdę. Czy jej się uda?
Od samego początku ten rejs nie idzie zgodnie z planem, a paranoidalna pętla niedopowiedzeń zaczyna osaczać czytelnika.
Na fabułę bardzo silnie oddziałowuje trauma oraz wypalenie zawodowe Olivii - utrudniały jej czerpanie pełnej przyjemności rejsu, a coraz częstsze niepokojące wydarzenia z pewnością tego nie ułatwiały. Autorka z niezwykłą empatią przedstawia jej lęki i dążenie do zrozumienia otaczającej jej rzeczywistości. Młoda kobieta, będąca pod silną presją, stanowi łatwy cel. Czy Olivia pokona swój lęk? Czy pogodzi się z przeszłością? Ekstremalne temperatury, odcięcie od świata oraz coraz więcej niepokojących wydarzeń na zamkniętej przestrzeni sprawiają, że to powieść, od której nie można się oderwać. Początkowe zawirowania doprowadzają do nawarstwiania się podejrzeń Olivii, że nic nie jest tu dziełem przypadku.
Ciekawym zabiegiem jest umieszczenie akcji na statku na wodach Antarktydy, gdzie połączenie się z cywilizacją staje się wręcz niemożliwe. Prawie całkowite odcięcie bohaterów od internetu i możliwości skontaktowania się z bliskimi tylko podkręca atmosferę, wprowadzając coraz większe poczucie zagrożenia i braku możliwości wołania o pomoc.
Ograniczona przestrzeń oraz brak sprawnej łączności stają się nie tylko tłem dla akcji, ale również metaforą wewnętrznych ograniczeń i lęków bohaterów. W tym odosobnieniu, relacje między postaciami nabierają szczególnego znaczenia, a tworzące się sojusze i nieufność dodają historii dodatkowej głębi. "Słońce o północy" to powieść, w której pozornie rządzą zbiegi okoliczności, ale czy na pewno wszystkie wydarzenia są dziełem przypadku? Od samego początku wszystko idzie nie tak...
Kreacja bohaterów mile zaskakuje. Olivia w odróżnieniu od klasycznych bohaterek thrillerów nie jest bezwolną istotną zdaną na los. Drąży, szuka wyjaśnienia, próbuje zrozumieć, mimo demonów, które zalęgły się w jej duszy. Luksusowy rejs statkiem miał być jej lekiem na całe zło, cudownym czasem spędzonym u boku mężczyzny, którego kocha, ale od samego początku wszystko szło nie tak.
"Słońce o północy" to bardzo kobiecy thriller, gdzie kobieta ze swoimi współlokatorkami z kajuty zawierają pakt, troszczą się o siebie nawzajem, a jednocześnie zachowują odrębność i nutę tajemniczości. Tylko czy główna bohaterka na pewno może zaufać swoim towarzyszkom?
"Słońcem o północy" to powieść, od której nie mogłam się oderwać, ale zauważyłam niedociągnięcie, jakim jest podejście Olivii do zawodowych zobowiązań, które musiała przejąć od swojego chłopaka. Choć może nie miało to wielkiego wpływu na fabułę, to jednak podkreślam, że nawet fascynująca powieść może mieć małe minusy, ale nie wpłynęło to na moją ocenę. Całokształt idei aukcji przeprowadzonej podczas podbiegunowej wyprawy jest ciekawym smaczkiem, z którym nie spotkałam się w żadnej innej książce, choć organizacja tego przedsięwzięcia została potraktowana lekko po macoszemu.
"Słońce o północy" to thriller psychologiczny, który skłania do refleksji na temat traum i wyrzutów sumienia, z jakimi zmaga się społeczeństwo. Nieśpieszna, choć pasjonująca fabuła sprawia, że ciężko było mi się oderwać od lektury. Fantastyczna kreacja bohaterów, motyw "locked room" oraz bajkowe opisy Antarktydy upewniały mnie, że mam w dłoniach świetną powieść. Doskonała lektura dla miłośników thrillerów psychologicznych, gdzie aura niebezpieczeństwa silnie oddziałowuje na wyobraźnię. Bardzo polecam.
Amy McCulloch stworzyła fabułę, której akcja jest ograniczona do powierzchni statku - uwielbiam motyw "locked room", więc z pasją śledziłam dalsze losy Olivii w tej zamkniętej przestrzeni praktycznie odciętej od świata zewnętrzngo. Choć akcja nie pędzi spektakularnie, to nadrabia samą atmosferą oraz przepięknymi, bardzo plastycznymi opisami pokrytego lodem kontynentu. Majestatyczne, spokojne lodowce kontrastują z bardzo napiętą i podszytą niebezpieczeństwem atmosferą na statku. Gdy dochodzi do tajemniczych zgonów, ta jeszcze bardziej się zagęszcza, a Olivia znajdująca się w centrum wydarzeń musi zadbać o swoje bezpieczeństwo i odkryć prawdę. Czy jej się uda?
Od samego początku ten rejs nie idzie zgodnie z planem, a paranoidalna pętla niedopowiedzeń zaczyna osaczać czytelnika.
Na fabułę bardzo silnie oddziałowuje trauma oraz wypalenie zawodowe Olivii - utrudniały jej czerpanie pełnej przyjemności rejsu, a coraz częstsze niepokojące wydarzenia z pewnością tego nie ułatwiały. Autorka z niezwykłą empatią przedstawia jej lęki i dążenie do zrozumienia otaczającej jej rzeczywistości. Młoda kobieta, będąca pod silną presją, stanowi łatwy cel. Czy Olivia pokona swój lęk? Czy pogodzi się z przeszłością? Ekstremalne temperatury, odcięcie od świata oraz coraz więcej niepokojących wydarzeń na zamkniętej przestrzeni sprawiają, że to powieść, od której nie można się oderwać. Początkowe zawirowania doprowadzają do nawarstwiania się podejrzeń Olivii, że nic nie jest tu dziełem przypadku.
Ciekawym zabiegiem jest umieszczenie akcji na statku na wodach Antarktydy, gdzie połączenie się z cywilizacją staje się wręcz niemożliwe. Prawie całkowite odcięcie bohaterów od internetu i możliwości skontaktowania się z bliskimi tylko podkręca atmosferę, wprowadzając coraz większe poczucie zagrożenia i braku możliwości wołania o pomoc.
Ograniczona przestrzeń oraz brak sprawnej łączności stają się nie tylko tłem dla akcji, ale również metaforą wewnętrznych ograniczeń i lęków bohaterów. W tym odosobnieniu, relacje między postaciami nabierają szczególnego znaczenia, a tworzące się sojusze i nieufność dodają historii dodatkowej głębi. "Słońce o północy" to powieść, w której pozornie rządzą zbiegi okoliczności, ale czy na pewno wszystkie wydarzenia są dziełem przypadku? Od samego początku wszystko idzie nie tak...
Kreacja bohaterów mile zaskakuje. Olivia w odróżnieniu od klasycznych bohaterek thrillerów nie jest bezwolną istotną zdaną na los. Drąży, szuka wyjaśnienia, próbuje zrozumieć, mimo demonów, które zalęgły się w jej duszy. Luksusowy rejs statkiem miał być jej lekiem na całe zło, cudownym czasem spędzonym u boku mężczyzny, którego kocha, ale od samego początku wszystko szło nie tak.
"Słońce o północy" to bardzo kobiecy thriller, gdzie kobieta ze swoimi współlokatorkami z kajuty zawierają pakt, troszczą się o siebie nawzajem, a jednocześnie zachowują odrębność i nutę tajemniczości. Tylko czy główna bohaterka na pewno może zaufać swoim towarzyszkom?
"Słońcem o północy" to powieść, od której nie mogłam się oderwać, ale zauważyłam niedociągnięcie, jakim jest podejście Olivii do zawodowych zobowiązań, które musiała przejąć od swojego chłopaka. Choć może nie miało to wielkiego wpływu na fabułę, to jednak podkreślam, że nawet fascynująca powieść może mieć małe minusy, ale nie wpłynęło to na moją ocenę. Całokształt idei aukcji przeprowadzonej podczas podbiegunowej wyprawy jest ciekawym smaczkiem, z którym nie spotkałam się w żadnej innej książce, choć organizacja tego przedsięwzięcia została potraktowana lekko po macoszemu.
"Słońce o północy" to thriller psychologiczny, który skłania do refleksji na temat traum i wyrzutów sumienia, z jakimi zmaga się społeczeństwo. Nieśpieszna, choć pasjonująca fabuła sprawia, że ciężko było mi się oderwać od lektury. Fantastyczna kreacja bohaterów, motyw "locked room" oraz bajkowe opisy Antarktydy upewniały mnie, że mam w dłoniach świetną powieść. Doskonała lektura dla miłośników thrillerów psychologicznych, gdzie aura niebezpieczeństwa silnie oddziałowuje na wyobraźnię. Bardzo polecam.
March 1, 2024
This was enjoyable but predictable. Tbh I read this more for the Antartica parts and the Drake Passage then the mystery aspect. I enjoyed the story but there was no real twist
February 14, 2024
A great premise, but an epic failure.
June 25, 2023
Olivia is due to join her boyfriend, Aaron, on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise to the Antarctic. Aaron is due to host an onboard auction of works by an up & coming artist who was recently tragically killed on the cusp of stardom. The night before they embark on the trip, they attend a dinner with some of the exclusive guests & Olivia sees her boyfriend arguing with a man she has never seen before. The next day, after just boarding the luxurious ship Aaron says that he has received bad news about another project & needs to nip quickly back ashore to sort it out. Olivia remains onboard & when the ship sets sail she is looking forward to relaxing with her boyfriend, but Aaron is nowhere to be found. After making desperate enquiries, it seems that Aaron has been left behind & Olivia now faces a two week cruise on her own.
She graciously swaps cabins with a newly wed couple & bunks in with three other women: Patty, Annaliese, & Janine. She tries to contact Aaron by email as his phone is going to voicemail only but the wifi signal is poor. Suddenly Olivia thinks she sees the strange man from the night before who was arguing with Aaron, he seems to be a staff member onboard the ship, but she feels uneasy about him. A trip to the ship's medical bay following a fall in bad weather conditions sees Olivia overhear the doctors talking about a poisoning onboard the ship & it seems the unlucky ones were the newly wed couple that Olivia swapped cabins with. Other incidents also start to happen & Olivia wonders if there is a killer onboard & if she is the target.
This was rather slow to get going & I never really felt a sense of unease or menace, in fact the plot seemed to drag on. Olivia as the main character was okay but she was rather 'beige' with nothing about her really standing out & she seemed a bit lacklustre at times. There were also a lot of minor or incidental characters who became a distraction from the main plot & not in a good way. Overall, I was rather disappointed with it compared to how much I enjoyed one of the author's previous books 'Breathless'. Verdict: the slow pace, a distinct lack of tension, & a rather boring main character make this one a miss for me I'm afraid.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House/Michael Joseph, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
She graciously swaps cabins with a newly wed couple & bunks in with three other women: Patty, Annaliese, & Janine. She tries to contact Aaron by email as his phone is going to voicemail only but the wifi signal is poor. Suddenly Olivia thinks she sees the strange man from the night before who was arguing with Aaron, he seems to be a staff member onboard the ship, but she feels uneasy about him. A trip to the ship's medical bay following a fall in bad weather conditions sees Olivia overhear the doctors talking about a poisoning onboard the ship & it seems the unlucky ones were the newly wed couple that Olivia swapped cabins with. Other incidents also start to happen & Olivia wonders if there is a killer onboard & if she is the target.
This was rather slow to get going & I never really felt a sense of unease or menace, in fact the plot seemed to drag on. Olivia as the main character was okay but she was rather 'beige' with nothing about her really standing out & she seemed a bit lacklustre at times. There were also a lot of minor or incidental characters who became a distraction from the main plot & not in a good way. Overall, I was rather disappointed with it compared to how much I enjoyed one of the author's previous books 'Breathless'. Verdict: the slow pace, a distinct lack of tension, & a rather boring main character make this one a miss for me I'm afraid.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House/Michael Joseph, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
October 7, 2023
ARC for review. TBP January 2, 2024
Olivia has been suffering from severe career burnout and panic attacks since failing the last part of her actuary exam, on top of working crazy hours and trying to pay for her mother’s care home bills as well as trying to help out boyfriend Aaron with his foray in to world of art sales. She has even broken ties with her best friend Trish over her burnout and she’s strongly feeling the effects of all the stress. Now, add to that, she’s facing one of her greatest fears, open water (stemming from a boating accident when she was young which claimed her father’s life), as she heads off on the maiden voyage of Pioneer Group’s Antarctic trips, which will include a very exclusive art auction of art by an artist who was inspired by the area, an artist managed by Aaron who died suddenly.
However the luxury trip isn’t all that Olivia expected, for many reasons. And it begins to seem that she might be in peril.
This was a rather ho-hum mystery thriller elevated by its setting. The author has clearly traveled in the Antarctic region and describes it beautifully….now I’m longing for a trip, and I want all the excursions that Olivia had (without all the drama, please.) Unfortunately, even though the twists in the story weren’t totally obvious, I just didn’t warm to the tale….can’t really put my finger on why, but it just didn’t do anything for me. So read it for the atmosphere if you are especially interested in Antarctica, but maybe not for the thrills.
Olivia has been suffering from severe career burnout and panic attacks since failing the last part of her actuary exam, on top of working crazy hours and trying to pay for her mother’s care home bills as well as trying to help out boyfriend Aaron with his foray in to world of art sales. She has even broken ties with her best friend Trish over her burnout and she’s strongly feeling the effects of all the stress. Now, add to that, she’s facing one of her greatest fears, open water (stemming from a boating accident when she was young which claimed her father’s life), as she heads off on the maiden voyage of Pioneer Group’s Antarctic trips, which will include a very exclusive art auction of art by an artist who was inspired by the area, an artist managed by Aaron who died suddenly.
However the luxury trip isn’t all that Olivia expected, for many reasons. And it begins to seem that she might be in peril.
This was a rather ho-hum mystery thriller elevated by its setting. The author has clearly traveled in the Antarctic region and describes it beautifully….now I’m longing for a trip, and I want all the excursions that Olivia had (without all the drama, please.) Unfortunately, even though the twists in the story weren’t totally obvious, I just didn’t warm to the tale….can’t really put my finger on why, but it just didn’t do anything for me. So read it for the atmosphere if you are especially interested in Antarctica, but maybe not for the thrills.
October 12, 2023
Midnight has an exciting premise and unique setting that is unfortunately bogged down by a dimwitted main character and lackluster mystery.
I felt similarly about McCulloch's earlier thriller, Breathless. She does an amazing job setting the scene and establishing initial tension, but I'd love to see a main character I can really root for instead of wanting to shake her for being a dingdong who gets herself into increasingly perilous situations because she can't figure *anything* out on her own.
Climbing icy mountains and sailing Antarctic seas is not something I'll ever do, so I fully appreciate McCulloch sharing her experiences, and even though I didn't love this, I'd still read another thriller by her in the future.
* thank you to Vintage Anchor / Doubleday for the NetGalley review copy. Midnight publishes January 2, 2024.
I felt similarly about McCulloch's earlier thriller, Breathless. She does an amazing job setting the scene and establishing initial tension, but I'd love to see a main character I can really root for instead of wanting to shake her for being a dingdong who gets herself into increasingly perilous situations because she can't figure *anything* out on her own.
Climbing icy mountains and sailing Antarctic seas is not something I'll ever do, so I fully appreciate McCulloch sharing her experiences, and even though I didn't love this, I'd still read another thriller by her in the future.
* thank you to Vintage Anchor / Doubleday for the NetGalley review copy. Midnight publishes January 2, 2024.
March 5, 2024
Twórczość Amy McCulloch poznałam w ubiegłym roku pochłaniając mrożący krew w żyłach i naprzemiennie rozpalający thriller „Bez tchu”, którego burzliwa akcja rozgrywa się podczas wspinaczki na jeden z najwyższych szczytów świata. Tym razem ze „Słońcem o północy” Autorka zabiera nas w równie nieprzyjazne i surowe miejsce, bo na Antarktydę w czasie dnia polarnego. Jednak znając Autorkę, to nie nieprzewidywalne żywioły okażą się największym wrogiem człowieka, a inny człowiek skrywający swą mroczną naturę.
W thrillerach uwielbiam zabieg, w którym czytelnik już od pierwszych stron jest świadomy zbliżającego się niebezpieczeństwa. Wiedza, że na pokładzie statku, gdzie w trakcie rejsu ma odbyć się aukcja prac malarza specjalizującego się w krajobrazach polarnej krainy pojawia się morderca budzi narastające uczucie niecierpliwego wyczekiwania na to, co przyniosą kolejne rozdziały. I oczywiste jest, że widzimy jedynie wierzchołek góry lodowej, podczas gdy jej prawdziwy ogrom skrywają lodowate wody oceanu.
Dla głównej bohaterki, Oliwii, ta podróż miała być formą odskoczni od problemów i formą wsparcia jej chłopaka Aarona, który jest głównym organizatorem wystawy połączonej z licytacją. Nie spodziewa się, że samotnie przyjdzie jej się zmierzyć nie tylko z dramatycznymi wydarzeniami, których stanie się uczestniczką, ale i własnymi traumami z przeszłości.
Fabuła powieści przewija się pomiędzy teraźniejszością a przeszłością, ukazując tragiczne momenty z życia Oliwii, które kładą się cieniem na jej obecnej sytuacji. Równie fascynujące, jak stopniowe odkrywanie kolejnych elementów układanki są klimatyczne opisy lodowych krajobrazów, nagłe zmiany nieprzyjaznej aury i poczucie izolacji od świata, które składają się na idealne tło mrocznych wydarzeń.
Autorka nie ułatwia zadania rzucając podejrzenia na kolejne postaci, co utrzymuje czytelnika w stanie nieustającego napięcia i oczekiwania na kolejny zaskakujący zwrot akcji. Poczucie nieprzewidywalności zarówno ze strony natury, jak i człowieka nie pozwala oderwać się od lektury. I choć osobę sprawcy udało mi się odgadnąć tuż przed rozwiązaniem, to nie odebrało mi to w najmniejszym stopniu przyjemności z lektury, a wręcz przyniosło satysfakcję.
Jeśli lubicie powieści pełne napięcia i emocji osadzone w warunkach wymagających od człowieka wytrwałości i odwagi w starciu z nieprzyjazną naturą, to „Słońce o północy” będzie strzałem w dziesiątkę. Wspomnę jeszcze, że opisując krajobraz Antarktydy Autorka opiera się na własnych doświadczeniach i uwierzcie mi, potrafi przelać swój zachwyt, ale i szacunek dla tej lodowej krainy.
W thrillerach uwielbiam zabieg, w którym czytelnik już od pierwszych stron jest świadomy zbliżającego się niebezpieczeństwa. Wiedza, że na pokładzie statku, gdzie w trakcie rejsu ma odbyć się aukcja prac malarza specjalizującego się w krajobrazach polarnej krainy pojawia się morderca budzi narastające uczucie niecierpliwego wyczekiwania na to, co przyniosą kolejne rozdziały. I oczywiste jest, że widzimy jedynie wierzchołek góry lodowej, podczas gdy jej prawdziwy ogrom skrywają lodowate wody oceanu.
Dla głównej bohaterki, Oliwii, ta podróż miała być formą odskoczni od problemów i formą wsparcia jej chłopaka Aarona, który jest głównym organizatorem wystawy połączonej z licytacją. Nie spodziewa się, że samotnie przyjdzie jej się zmierzyć nie tylko z dramatycznymi wydarzeniami, których stanie się uczestniczką, ale i własnymi traumami z przeszłości.
Fabuła powieści przewija się pomiędzy teraźniejszością a przeszłością, ukazując tragiczne momenty z życia Oliwii, które kładą się cieniem na jej obecnej sytuacji. Równie fascynujące, jak stopniowe odkrywanie kolejnych elementów układanki są klimatyczne opisy lodowych krajobrazów, nagłe zmiany nieprzyjaznej aury i poczucie izolacji od świata, które składają się na idealne tło mrocznych wydarzeń.
Autorka nie ułatwia zadania rzucając podejrzenia na kolejne postaci, co utrzymuje czytelnika w stanie nieustającego napięcia i oczekiwania na kolejny zaskakujący zwrot akcji. Poczucie nieprzewidywalności zarówno ze strony natury, jak i człowieka nie pozwala oderwać się od lektury. I choć osobę sprawcy udało mi się odgadnąć tuż przed rozwiązaniem, to nie odebrało mi to w najmniejszym stopniu przyjemności z lektury, a wręcz przyniosło satysfakcję.
Jeśli lubicie powieści pełne napięcia i emocji osadzone w warunkach wymagających od człowieka wytrwałości i odwagi w starciu z nieprzyjazną naturą, to „Słońce o północy” będzie strzałem w dziesiątkę. Wspomnę jeszcze, że opisując krajobraz Antarktydy Autorka opiera się na własnych doświadczeniach i uwierzcie mi, potrafi przelać swój zachwyt, ale i szacunek dla tej lodowej krainy.
April 21, 2023
I was underwhelmed by McCulloch's debut thriller, Breathless, but I can't resist thrillers with icy settings - especially when that setting is Antarctica - and I also love a good cruise ship novel, so I had to read Midnight. And actually I would say that this is a notch up from Breathless, if still a bit forgettable and very predictable. Olivia boards an Antarctic cruise with her art dealer boyfriend, Aaron, who has negotiated an exhibition for his most famous client on board the ship. But then Aaron disappears, and Olivia starts to feel as if someone is stalking her. When other passengers turn up dead, Olivia has cause to think her life might be in danger - but with no access to the outside world, and no way to get off the ship, how can she escape?
This thriller rattles along nicely enough, and I found Olivia a more convincing protagonist than Breathless's Cecily, if still a bit dim . And while I didn't feel McCulloch fully exploited the atmospheric potential of her setting, it was enough to keep me going. Still, most of Midnight feels like a series of isolated, if concerning, incidents - for some reason, the tension never really ratchets up as it should. I also guessed the twist at the end easily - not a huge problem for me as a reader, but a bit disappointing. Maybe worth a try, but I'd recommend Ruth Ware's The Woman in Cabin 10 more warmly. 3.5 stars.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
This thriller rattles along nicely enough, and I found Olivia a more convincing protagonist than Breathless's Cecily, if still a bit dim . And while I didn't feel McCulloch fully exploited the atmospheric potential of her setting, it was enough to keep me going. Still, most of Midnight feels like a series of isolated, if concerning, incidents - for some reason, the tension never really ratchets up as it should. I also guessed the twist at the end easily - not a huge problem for me as a reader, but a bit disappointing. Maybe worth a try, but I'd recommend Ruth Ware's The Woman in Cabin 10 more warmly. 3.5 stars.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
February 27, 2024
This book is decent. The writing makes you want to visit Antarctica and I had no idea who the murderer was until the end. However, this book is the exact same as Breathless. It felt like the author couldn’t come up with a second idea so just repackaged the first novel in a different setting. Both also have a rushed ending with too much happening and too much being revealed too quickly, and I ended up strongly disliking the main character. If you’ve read Breathless, don’t bother reading Midnight
December 1, 2023
Alleen al deze uitnodigende, intrigerende en onheilspellende cover, maakt me erg nieuwsgierig naar het boek. Op de cover zien we een vrouw in een kajak in een landschap van ijsbergen bij een zonsondergang in rood/roze tinten. Het roept een onheilspellend gevoel op. De titel past op prachtige wijze bij het beeld. Het is het eerste boek van Amy McCulloch, maar ik heb goede verwachtingen.
Het leven van Olivia lijkt in te storten, wanneer ze dan ook wordt uitgenodigd voor een cruise met haar vriend naar Antarctica kan ze haar geluk niet op. Het lijkt haar zo'n spectaculaire plek: enorme ijskliffen, een prachtig schip, pinguïns spotten, genieten van diepblauwe golven en de zon die nooit onder gaat. Alleen dan verdwijnt Aaron spoorloos. Aan boord wordt een lichaam gevonden. Olivia is omringd door vreemden, wie kan ze vertrouwen? De tijd dringt, anders zal ze niet levend terugkeren.
Het verhaal begint met een enorm spannend proloog. Hiermee weet Amy McCulloch je nieuwsgierig te maken en op scherp te zetten. Hierna wil ik hoe dan ook weten waar dit naar leidt.
Amy McCulloch heeft een enorm levendige en vlotte schrijfstijl. Daarbij zit er een vrij hoog tempo in de verhaallijn en zitten er enorm veel wendingen en gebeurtenissen in het verhaal die je als lezer geboeid houden. Amy McCulloch weet op sterke wijze de spanning steeds verder op te laten lopen. Daarbij brengt ze verrassende wendingen in het verhaal en laat ze je als lezer echt mee puzzelen, naar hoe het verhaal in elkaar zit en wie al deze dingen op zijn of haar geweten heeft. Het verhaal liet me echt op het puntje van mijn stoel zitten en ik heb het boek ook in één avond uitgelezen, omdat ik moest weten wie er achter alle gebeurtenissen zat.
De personages, en met name Olivia, zijn goed neergezet en uitgediept. Aangezien het verhaal vanuit Olivia geschreven is en zij een slachtoffer/aanschouwer is weet Amy McCulloch ook goed haar angsten en emoties te verwoorden. Daarbij is het sterk dat Olivia niet een doorsnee personage is, maar er ook een flink verleden aan Olivia hangt die later in het verhaal meespeelt. Ook de andere personages zijn intrigerend. Zo weet je als lezer, net als Olivia, op een gegeven moment niet meer wie je nog wel kan vertrouwen. Dit heeft Amy McCulloch erg goed gedaan.
Middernacht is een verrassende, originele en spannende pageturner. Ik werd als lezer echt meegezogen in het verhaal. Het verhaal heeft een vrij hoog tempo en de wendingen en gebeurtenissen volgen elkaar snel op, daarbij zijn er verrassende wendingen. Tot aan het einde puzzel je als lezer mee hoe de vork in de steel zit en wie de dader is. Erg goed!
Het leven van Olivia lijkt in te storten, wanneer ze dan ook wordt uitgenodigd voor een cruise met haar vriend naar Antarctica kan ze haar geluk niet op. Het lijkt haar zo'n spectaculaire plek: enorme ijskliffen, een prachtig schip, pinguïns spotten, genieten van diepblauwe golven en de zon die nooit onder gaat. Alleen dan verdwijnt Aaron spoorloos. Aan boord wordt een lichaam gevonden. Olivia is omringd door vreemden, wie kan ze vertrouwen? De tijd dringt, anders zal ze niet levend terugkeren.
Het verhaal begint met een enorm spannend proloog. Hiermee weet Amy McCulloch je nieuwsgierig te maken en op scherp te zetten. Hierna wil ik hoe dan ook weten waar dit naar leidt.
Amy McCulloch heeft een enorm levendige en vlotte schrijfstijl. Daarbij zit er een vrij hoog tempo in de verhaallijn en zitten er enorm veel wendingen en gebeurtenissen in het verhaal die je als lezer geboeid houden. Amy McCulloch weet op sterke wijze de spanning steeds verder op te laten lopen. Daarbij brengt ze verrassende wendingen in het verhaal en laat ze je als lezer echt mee puzzelen, naar hoe het verhaal in elkaar zit en wie al deze dingen op zijn of haar geweten heeft. Het verhaal liet me echt op het puntje van mijn stoel zitten en ik heb het boek ook in één avond uitgelezen, omdat ik moest weten wie er achter alle gebeurtenissen zat.
De personages, en met name Olivia, zijn goed neergezet en uitgediept. Aangezien het verhaal vanuit Olivia geschreven is en zij een slachtoffer/aanschouwer is weet Amy McCulloch ook goed haar angsten en emoties te verwoorden. Daarbij is het sterk dat Olivia niet een doorsnee personage is, maar er ook een flink verleden aan Olivia hangt die later in het verhaal meespeelt. Ook de andere personages zijn intrigerend. Zo weet je als lezer, net als Olivia, op een gegeven moment niet meer wie je nog wel kan vertrouwen. Dit heeft Amy McCulloch erg goed gedaan.
Middernacht is een verrassende, originele en spannende pageturner. Ik werd als lezer echt meegezogen in het verhaal. Het verhaal heeft een vrij hoog tempo en de wendingen en gebeurtenissen volgen elkaar snel op, daarbij zijn er verrassende wendingen. Tot aan het einde puzzel je als lezer mee hoe de vork in de steel zit en wie de dader is. Erg goed!
July 31, 2023
Olivia is offered a second shot at her career when she meets high flying Aaron. He has big dreams as an art dealer and has put together a one-of-a-kind show on a cruise to the Antarctic. Olivia wants to support him in every way she can, especially after the mistake she made a few months ago, but her fear of boats and water after a childhood tragedy make it difficult. When the cruise sets sail, multiple things go wrong almost immediately. Olivia has to face her fears and try to determine if someone is out to get her and why.
Amy McCulloch is the author of Breathless, an all-time favorite snow-horror story. I think she made a concerted effort to hold back in this story and keep it more mainstream. There were certainly enough moments that could have been incredibly scary but instead stayed in the lite-thriller genre. The pieces of the story didn't come together as easily as I would have hoped and I think more detail in some cases might have helped to persuade me. All in all, I enjoyed this cruise to the end of the world and I know you will too! If you like a cruise-gone-wrong, a locked-room style story or are just ready to take a trip to Antarctica, Midnight is for you!
#vintageanchor #Vintage #netgalley #Midnight #Amymcculloch #Breathless
Amy McCulloch is the author of Breathless, an all-time favorite snow-horror story. I think she made a concerted effort to hold back in this story and keep it more mainstream. There were certainly enough moments that could have been incredibly scary but instead stayed in the lite-thriller genre. The pieces of the story didn't come together as easily as I would have hoped and I think more detail in some cases might have helped to persuade me. All in all, I enjoyed this cruise to the end of the world and I know you will too! If you like a cruise-gone-wrong, a locked-room style story or are just ready to take a trip to Antarctica, Midnight is for you!
#vintageanchor #Vintage #netgalley #Midnight #Amymcculloch #Breathless
April 14, 2024
Een heel goed boek. Je merkt dat de auteur weet waarover ze schrijft als het gaat om het onherbergzame Antarctica, ze heeft duidelijk een grondige prospectie gedaan.
Olivia organiseert samen met haar vriend een kunstveiling op een cruiseschip dat naar Antarctica vaart. Wanneer het schip vertrekt is haar vriend niet aan boord en staat ze er alleen voor. Iemand heeft het op haar leven gemunt. Wanneer mensen om haar heen sterven kan ze niet anders dan haar trauma te overwinnen. Gestaag opgebouwde spanning met vooral mooie beschrijving van het ruige landschap en aandacht voor het veranderende klimaat en het smelten van de ijskappen.
Een verrassend plot en einde.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 466 reviews