Day Shift [Dramatized Adaptation]

Midnight, Texas [Dramatized Adaptation] #2

by Charlaine Harris, Ken Jackson (Narrator), Tracy Lynn Olivera (Narrator)

There is no such thing as bad publicity, except in Midnight, where the residents like to keep to themselves. When psychic Manfred Bernardo finds himself embroiled in a scandal and hounded by the press after one of his regular clients dies during a reading, he turns to enigmatic, beautiful, and dangerous Olivia Charity for help. Somehow he knows that the mysterious Olivia can get things back to normal. As normal as things get in Midnight.

Genres: Magic, Vampires, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Audiobook, Paranormal

1 pages, Audio CD

Published March 1, 2023

About the author

Charlaine Harris has been a published writer for over forty years. Her first two books were standalones, followed by a long sabbatical when she was having children. Then she began the Aurora Teagarden book, mysteries featuring a short librarian (eventually adapted for Hallmark movies). The darker Lily Bard books came next, about a house cleaner with a dark past and considerable fighting skills.

Tired of abiding by the mystery rules, Harris wrote a novel about a telepathic barmaid that took at least two years to sell. When the book was published, it turned into a best seller, and DEAD UNTIL DARK and the subsequent Sookie books were adapted in Alan Ball's "True Blood" series. At the same time, Harris began the Harper Connelly books. Harper can find the bones of the dead and see their last minute.

When those two series wound to a close, the next three books were about a mysterious town in Texas, called Midnight.

A change in publisher and editor led to Harris's novels about a female gunslinger in an alternate America, Lizbeth Rose. The Gunnie Rose books concluded with the sixth novel.

She's thinking about what to write next.

Reviews

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

August 2024 update:

This time I listened to the Graphic Audio version of the book. It was excellent. Its been a long time since I read the Sookie Stackhouse series so it was nice to be reminded of her and hear the references to Barry the mind reader and Quinn the were-tiger.

May 2019:
Charlaine Harris doesn’t disappoint. I like her quirky characters and the mysterious town of Midnight Texas.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been revisiting the Midnight, Texas series on audio in the fabulous Graphic Audio all-star cast (including sound effects) format. It had been a while since I read the series so in some ways it was practically a new book to me. I forgot the specific events and even some of the reveals so it was an entertaining time getting all the mysteries and surprising background development of some of the characters.

Definitely a fantastic experience with book and Graphic Audio format!


Original Review:
All the elements that sizzled in the first book for me carried forward into this second installation of the series. The first book had the job of introduction to the world of Midnight, Texas and its characters and it was all so unique and quirky that I was curious to see if the author would hold my attention now that everything is established. Not a problem! This one jumped right in with the murder and ensuing mayhem, brought a few more ticklish mysteries to the town and in rather an exciting fashion revealed a few town secrets.

I suppose the reader could get by reading this out of order, but I seriously wouldn't recommend it. All the introductions are made in the previous book and though this one presents new mysteries and the such, the reader would feel off balance from being dropped into the middle of something.

The story opens with Manfred, a psychic, heading off to Dallas to do some face to face readings with a few clients, the Reverend receiving a mysterious visit and the responsibility of caring for a strange child, the old hotel bought and renovated by an unknown owner, Lemuel is away and researching the newly discovered books on magic, and everyone else uneasy about the changes coming to town.

Manfred's trip to Dallas was an utter disaster and brings even more trouble to the folks at Midnight. Manfred bumps into Olivia who is with a couple shortly before they are found dead the next day. Manfred doesn't know what to make of this, but then he is distracted by something much worse. His own client dies under mysterious circumstances. Manfred is pegged for that crime and the media descends. Everyone pulls together to help Manfred and figure out what to do about the other issues going on at the same time.

This book kept things busy for the residents of Midnight and I enjoyed all the story threads going on as well as the continued character and relationship development. The murder mystery was an exciting part, but the other little mysteries like what the new boy is, what's going on at the hotel and the rough customers that are actively seeking Olivia. The reveals about the Reverend, Joe and Chuy were great and I was thrilled to see that I guessed right. There was a bit more progress in the little romance brewing in town. I love that everyone comes together to help each other prove Manfred's innocence and solve the case.

And like the first book, this one had crossover characters with one of her other series. Sookie Stackhhouse series fans will recognize the people. I'll say no more about that so it will be a delightful surprise when they come up.

All in all, I was thrilled to see the second book was as fantastic as the first book. I really look forward to what comes next in the series. I would recommend this for those who enjoy a blend of mystery, paranormal and a pinch of romance.

[MELISSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brief visit to Midnight, Texas, the slightly not normal town somewhere in Texas full of people with unusual gifts or talents or abilities or ??? What delightful characters who remain honorable keeping their silence and secrets within the town. Well, it is silence until a bit of a hullabaloo hits Midnight after a client of Manfred's dies while in a psychic session with him. The town rallies helping Manfred out of the mess. GraphicAudio makes really good writing even better with their production. The town was already alive in my head when reading yet GraphicAudio creates a different experience with their cinematic presentation. Truly unique and satisfying.

[Amanda Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the cast of narrators for this series.