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The Midnight Saga #1
Either Side of Midnight
Review
“Either Side of Midnight is a must-read book for all mystery and/or suspense lovers. I rate this book as a ten-star and expect to see it as number one on the best selling list for many, many weeks.” Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers'Favorite.
WHAT IF THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE TURNED INTO YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE?
When nineteen-year-old Naomi Stone is snatched from her husband at knifepoint on the night of their wedding and taken to a deserted cemetery, she knows her life is finished. Drugged and disorientated, she loses consciousness as she lies in an open grave with a gun to her head. But the following day, she mysteriously awakes to find herself unharmed and secured to a bed. She's in a beautiful bedroom in a secluded cottage in open countryside. Only one person knows she’s there – the man in the balaclava who’s holding her, feeding her, revealing nothing. Naomi senses the unfolding of a plan. She should be on honeymoon in the Caribbean. Instead, she’s trapped with an emotionless psycho with no hope of escape . . . And his voice is chillingly familiar.
Who is he? What does he want? What's happened to her husband? Where is she? Will anyone find her before it's too late?
“Either Side of Midnight is a must-read book for all mystery and/or suspense lovers. I rate this book as a ten-star and expect to see it as number one on the best selling list for many, many weeks.” Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers'Favorite.
WHAT IF THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE TURNED INTO YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE?
When nineteen-year-old Naomi Stone is snatched from her husband at knifepoint on the night of their wedding and taken to a deserted cemetery, she knows her life is finished. Drugged and disorientated, she loses consciousness as she lies in an open grave with a gun to her head. But the following day, she mysteriously awakes to find herself unharmed and secured to a bed. She's in a beautiful bedroom in a secluded cottage in open countryside. Only one person knows she’s there – the man in the balaclava who’s holding her, feeding her, revealing nothing. Naomi senses the unfolding of a plan. She should be on honeymoon in the Caribbean. Instead, she’s trapped with an emotionless psycho with no hope of escape . . . And his voice is chillingly familiar.
Who is he? What does he want? What's happened to her husband? Where is she? Will anyone find her before it's too late?
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
1971 people are currently reading
2954 people want to read
About the author
Tori de Clare
5 books117 followersTori de Clare is UK author of The Midnight Saga, mystery/suspense/thriller series set in Manchester.
#1 Either Side of Midnight
#2 The Darkness Visible
#3 Shadows to Ashes
Tori's career has been in music. She has privately taught piano and theory of music since 1987 and, ready for a challenge and believing she had a story to tell, began writing in 2009. Despite the classical music background, Ms de Clare is very grounded and loves nothing better than a good laugh. Mum of four and one of seven children, Tori finds little time for hobbies outside of family, reading, writing and teaching. Her very busy life gives her the perfect excuse to opt out of ironing and all forms of keep-fit. The only working out she now does is how to avoid accompanying her husband to the gym. Permanently. Daughter of two pianists, music was destined to be her career (sigh! Cursed fate). Her dad died when she was just 18 and always aspired to being a writer. Either Side of Midnight is dedicated to him, and to her mum who taught her to play the piano.
#1 Either Side of Midnight
#2 The Darkness Visible
#3 Shadows to Ashes
Tori's career has been in music. She has privately taught piano and theory of music since 1987 and, ready for a challenge and believing she had a story to tell, began writing in 2009. Despite the classical music background, Ms de Clare is very grounded and loves nothing better than a good laugh. Mum of four and one of seven children, Tori finds little time for hobbies outside of family, reading, writing and teaching. Her very busy life gives her the perfect excuse to opt out of ironing and all forms of keep-fit. The only working out she now does is how to avoid accompanying her husband to the gym. Permanently. Daughter of two pianists, music was destined to be her career (sigh! Cursed fate). Her dad died when she was just 18 and always aspired to being a writer. Either Side of Midnight is dedicated to him, and to her mum who taught her to play the piano.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 386 reviews
March 5, 2019
This is an excellent book written by one of my wonderful goodreads (and Twitter) friends, Tori de Clare. I would have finished it much sooner (it's a page turner) except for the fact that I've been reading several other books at the same time. Anyway, this is a wonderful, suspenseful book with some twists and turns. I will write more soon but I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this book and to recommend it highly!
March 20, 2014
3 Stars for Me...4 Stars for Others???
Confusing bold words up there, I know. I had a hard time deciding what to rate this book and how to review it due to the fact that it is not what I would typically call "my cup of tea."
I found this book via one of my group's deal boards (shout out to deal guru Victoria). It was free and the premise sounded interesting: chick gets kidnapped on her wedding night and held captive...or does she? Being that I have been on a bit of a smutty kidnapping/captivity bent, I thought, hell yes.
So I started...and felt like this:
Because this was not turning out to be the dark smutty romance I was expecting people. Once I accepted that and decided to forge ahead, I felt like this:
I was confused and (and slightly bored I must say), but then I kind of got into it. And finished the book like this:
All in all, it was a decent read. I don't want to talk much about the story line because I feel like any comments I might make would involve spoilers; however, I will say it was well - if circuitously - written. I felt like there were some unnecessary descriptions (I don't care if there was a rabbit running across the yard that had NO purpose)as well as some unnecessary scenes period; however, it turned out to be a decent mystery with some good twists and turns.
Due to my expectations and personal reading preferences, I thought this book was an okay read, but I think that someone more into standard mysteries or psychological thrillers (I use this term VERY loosely) might really enjoy it.
Long story short, if you are a smutty romance whore like me, this might not be your bag. But if you are a mystery lover or a smutty reader who also likes mysteries, this might be right up your alley.
Confusing bold words up there, I know. I had a hard time deciding what to rate this book and how to review it due to the fact that it is not what I would typically call "my cup of tea."
I found this book via one of my group's deal boards (shout out to deal guru Victoria). It was free and the premise sounded interesting: chick gets kidnapped on her wedding night and held captive...or does she? Being that I have been on a bit of a smutty kidnapping/captivity bent, I thought, hell yes.
So I started...and felt like this:
Because this was not turning out to be the dark smutty romance I was expecting people. Once I accepted that and decided to forge ahead, I felt like this:
I was confused and (and slightly bored I must say), but then I kind of got into it. And finished the book like this:
All in all, it was a decent read. I don't want to talk much about the story line because I feel like any comments I might make would involve spoilers; however, I will say it was well - if circuitously - written. I felt like there were some unnecessary descriptions (I don't care if there was a rabbit running across the yard that had NO purpose)as well as some unnecessary scenes period; however, it turned out to be a decent mystery with some good twists and turns.
Due to my expectations and personal reading preferences, I thought this book was an okay read, but I think that someone more into standard mysteries or psychological thrillers (I use this term VERY loosely) might really enjoy it.
Long story short, if you are a smutty romance whore like me, this might not be your bag. But if you are a mystery lover or a smutty reader who also likes mysteries, this might be right up your alley.
December 14, 2023
We first meet Naomi Hamilton Stone six hours after her wedding. It's then that she discovers her special cross necklace is missing...the one she’d never taken off her neck except to replace it with a family heirloom for the wedding. She searches her room and realizes that in all the confusion after the reception and travel, it must have fallen out of the travel bag and been left behind in the car. Naomi tells Nathan that she's going to the car to look for her necklace and will then be back. He asks her to wait for him to dress and go with her, but she is already out the door. He has not yet caught up with her, and she is obviously enjoying playing chase with him. They talk to one another on their cells as she runs to the car while he is still trying to dress. They continue to tease each other as he tries to catch up. That's the last time Nathan hears his new wife's voice. A figure appears at the car and kidnaps Naomi and the nightmare begins. From that point the story gets more exciting, with some really well-done twists and turns. Naomi nightmare begins when she thinks she is being buried alive in an old open grave...but then the story suddenly flashes back to her parents, driving home from the wedding. Naomi’s mother is complaining about Nathan, convinced that Naomi has ruined her life by marrying him. Her mother had her own plans for Naomi's future, and it didn't include Nathan, or anyone else. Now we learn that Naomi has a twin sister, Annabel, who is a "social butterfly" The book continues to jump from Naomi’s current predicament to the events leading up to it. We clearly see the dysfunction of the Hamilton family and the competition between the twins, as well as some of the secrets Naomi has told Nathan. We meet Lorie, the employee that is responsible for keeping the Hamilton household running, but who has also become Naomi’s friend and confidant. Then there is Tom, the ex-boyfriend who badly hurt Naomi. We meet more people than I could keep straight. I wish the author had made more obvious breaks when moving from one scene to another. I found it really very disorienting and difficult to remember who was who, and who did what. I would recommend this book to those who love suspense and are willing to work for the end results...but be prepared to do a lot of mental exercise trying to follow the abrupt changes in the setting and remember what has happened before the changes.
April 25, 2015
Either Side of Midnight: Tori de Clare.
This is a book that entertains and is filled with characters that are interesting and relatable. The writing is first rate, the pace excellent, and the delivery beautifully presented. Tori de Clare delivers her tale in a story that switches from the present to the past seamlessly, providing the reader with a fascinating back story to explain the present.
The quality of the work, and the entertainment value are worthy of a 5-Star rating. Highly recommended.
This is a book that entertains and is filled with characters that are interesting and relatable. The writing is first rate, the pace excellent, and the delivery beautifully presented. Tori de Clare delivers her tale in a story that switches from the present to the past seamlessly, providing the reader with a fascinating back story to explain the present.
The quality of the work, and the entertainment value are worthy of a 5-Star rating. Highly recommended.
July 12, 2017
This was quite an enjoyable freebie! The alternating timeline had me hooked, and I liked the character development. I can see that this might be a little slow-moving for some readers of mystery thrillers, but it was pretty interesting to me.
The formatting was a bit wonky and inconsistent, and countless times there was a comma where there shouldn't have been. But overall this was decent and I'm planning to read the sequel at some point.
The formatting was a bit wonky and inconsistent, and countless times there was a comma where there shouldn't have been. But overall this was decent and I'm planning to read the sequel at some point.
April 7, 2019
19 year old Naomi Hamilton falls in love with Nathan Stone and they get married. But on their wedding day, things go terribly wrong for Naomi. Follow Naomi as she struggles through this psychological thriller.
I really enjoyed this British psychological thriller set around Manchester and the Lake District. Right from the start you know things are not right and although Naomi blindly falls in love, the reader spots all the warning flags from the beginning. Naomi trusts a lot of people but this story is so well told well that you have big suspicions about ALL the characters.
I loved how this story developed, character development was very good and the plot was brilliant. I liked how Naomi was not a shallow lead character as her upbringing was explained together with her education and her piano playing. There were some lovely details about music, practice and performance with different piano’s.
I loved the quality dialogue between the characters and one witty line still makes me chuckle…
‘And I have a cat called Tess. Once I’d named her, my sister named her cat Tickles. She still finds it hilarious when my mum shouts the cats one after the other.’
… There is a lot of drama in this story and the ending is brilliant, leaving a tear in my eye. I found Either Side of Midnight a pleasure to read and it ticked all the boxes for me. I can find nothing wrong with this novel and it gets the top score of 5 stars from me.
I really enjoyed this British psychological thriller set around Manchester and the Lake District. Right from the start you know things are not right and although Naomi blindly falls in love, the reader spots all the warning flags from the beginning. Naomi trusts a lot of people but this story is so well told well that you have big suspicions about ALL the characters.
I loved how this story developed, character development was very good and the plot was brilliant. I liked how Naomi was not a shallow lead character as her upbringing was explained together with her education and her piano playing. There were some lovely details about music, practice and performance with different piano’s.
I loved the quality dialogue between the characters and one witty line still makes me chuckle…
‘And I have a cat called Tess. Once I’d named her, my sister named her cat Tickles. She still finds it hilarious when my mum shouts the cats one after the other.’
… There is a lot of drama in this story and the ending is brilliant, leaving a tear in my eye. I found Either Side of Midnight a pleasure to read and it ticked all the boxes for me. I can find nothing wrong with this novel and it gets the top score of 5 stars from me.
March 21, 2014
Oh, I did enjoy this one! It is so hard to find a new twist on the small number of plots which are "available" for thrillers, but Ms De Clare did it :)
Carefully crafted characters and twists that I never saw coming ensured that this book is unique in the genre. The story is set in Manchester and the Lake District in England - and I love the Lake District.
I won't go into the plot, as other people have done so and I certainly don't want to even hint at what happens in this well-written and plotted thriller. I found myself wanting to skip pages as it became an urgent necessity to see what on earth happened - but I didn't, because that would mean I might miss out on something vital where I was.
I will only say that I didn't pick the twist or who was behind the crime and I didn't anticipate the great ending. I believe this is debut novel, so it's a fantastic writer we have coming out of the woodwork!
Highly highly recommended indeed :)
Carefully crafted characters and twists that I never saw coming ensured that this book is unique in the genre. The story is set in Manchester and the Lake District in England - and I love the Lake District.
I won't go into the plot, as other people have done so and I certainly don't want to even hint at what happens in this well-written and plotted thriller. I found myself wanting to skip pages as it became an urgent necessity to see what on earth happened - but I didn't, because that would mean I might miss out on something vital where I was.
I will only say that I didn't pick the twist or who was behind the crime and I didn't anticipate the great ending. I believe this is debut novel, so it's a fantastic writer we have coming out of the woodwork!
Highly highly recommended indeed :)
February 3, 2016
When I see all the five star reviews I am convinced that I have read a different book altogether. In my opinion it was poorly written with really bad sentence structure in places. The story line was average and really predictable.
January 10, 2018
It's wonderful when you start a story with no expectations, and you're a bit dubious but then surprised by the path it takes; then it grows on you despite your initial reservations.
I love it when little snippets of info are dribbled throughout the story, which flashes backwards and then returns to the present, and the reader tries to connect the dots. Just when I thought Id figured it out, I discovered that my dot-connecting skills are inadequate and that the connections had wider implications that wouldn't have crossed my mind.
My initial thoughts as the story progresses...
When Naomi meets the new guy, I asked myself: is the new guy for real? I did register an undeniable chemistry that cannot be forced, unless the protagonist is reading more into it than is really the case, or the new guy is very good at deception... so many possibilities...
I don't know why, but I have a funny feeling about the ex-nanny-turned-best-friend... but in what way?? Can't wait to see how that pans out...
After much deliberation, I'm convinced the boyfriend is genuine, especially after he handles the mother-in-law-to-be at Naomi's nineteenth birthday dinner... unless it was all a very good act... but he was so convincing and he was candid... to be honest, I'm a bit confused...
And how does the weird guy in the hoodie fit into this whole puzzle?
There's a major reveal the morning after the birthday dinner... wow!
Didn't see it coming in the manner it did! What a twist!
Read this story - great entertainment!
4 stars
I love it when little snippets of info are dribbled throughout the story, which flashes backwards and then returns to the present, and the reader tries to connect the dots. Just when I thought Id figured it out, I discovered that my dot-connecting skills are inadequate and that the connections had wider implications that wouldn't have crossed my mind.
My initial thoughts as the story progresses...
When Naomi meets the new guy, I asked myself: is the new guy for real? I did register an undeniable chemistry that cannot be forced, unless the protagonist is reading more into it than is really the case, or the new guy is very good at deception... so many possibilities...
I don't know why, but I have a funny feeling about the ex-nanny-turned-best-friend... but in what way?? Can't wait to see how that pans out...
After much deliberation, I'm convinced the boyfriend is genuine, especially after he handles the mother-in-law-to-be at Naomi's nineteenth birthday dinner... unless it was all a very good act... but he was so convincing and he was candid... to be honest, I'm a bit confused...
And how does the weird guy in the hoodie fit into this whole puzzle?
There's a major reveal the morning after the birthday dinner... wow!
Didn't see it coming in the manner it did! What a twist!
Read this story - great entertainment!
4 stars
August 2, 2014
This is not my normal genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The author has a bubbly and modern way of writing that I found very attractive. All the main characters are introduced in the first chapter and so is the action so it compelled me to turn the page. The author has the ability to convey strong emotion in just a few words and I found myself sympathising with the heroine, Naomi, and admiring her from the start.
I won't go into the story since I would recommend you read this book for yourself especially those who love a really good thriller with so many twists and turns it keeps you guessing and wondering right to the end. I will certainly recommend Either Side of Midnight to my friends.
I won't go into the story since I would recommend you read this book for yourself especially those who love a really good thriller with so many twists and turns it keeps you guessing and wondering right to the end. I will certainly recommend Either Side of Midnight to my friends.
July 30, 2016
This book was nerve wracking. For the first half of the book I kept turning pages wanting to know who held Naomi captive and why. The second half of the book I found myself skipping pages, just wanting it to end. For one thing the chapters were titled Liberty and Captivity. The ones labeled captivity are obvious. Naomi is in a house, chained to a wall in a bedroom. She's able to walk to the bathroom, sit on the toilet, and wash at the sink but not much else. She's there day after day with nothing to do and no one to talk to. She should have been going crazy. She seems too calm and accepting of her fate. She doesn't scream, she doesn't look for a means to free herself except for one flimsy attempt with a hair clip. She acts like she's punishing her captor by not talking to him when he obviously doesn't want to talk.
The Liberty chapters go back to the year before and go into great detail of how Naomi met Nathan, her husband, his pursuit of her, her mother's objections, and their subsequent marriage. This really bogged down the plot and I got bored very quickly. When I finally got to the end there were so many different characters and so many twists and turns, it was hard to keep all the details straight. This had the potential to be a fantastic thriller but in the end it just didn't deliver.
The Liberty chapters go back to the year before and go into great detail of how Naomi met Nathan, her husband, his pursuit of her, her mother's objections, and their subsequent marriage. This really bogged down the plot and I got bored very quickly. When I finally got to the end there were so many different characters and so many twists and turns, it was hard to keep all the details straight. This had the potential to be a fantastic thriller but in the end it just didn't deliver.
October 31, 2018
I wanted to like this book, but in the end silly coincidence and a manufactured denoument scene did it for me. Even then, I'd possibly have given it 3 stars but for the poor editing. This book clearly didn't get an outside professional review. Tenses jump about the place, sometimes in the same sentence. It's written in the third person, but at one point the prose describes flowers sprawled out near "my" feet. There were also some typos. But the worst offender is the misuse of commas. Constant and consistent placement of commas where they just aren't needed kept jerking me out of the narrative, irritating me. As an author, that's the last thing you want to be doing to your reader.
June 18, 2017
Wow! More please!
I have to give this rating,although the editing isn't perfect,because it is so exciting! The story is well researched about places, and the characters and plot were strange but very convincing. I really enjoyed it.
I have to give this rating,although the editing isn't perfect,because it is so exciting! The story is well researched about places, and the characters and plot were strange but very convincing. I really enjoyed it.
July 7, 2015
This is the first book of Tori de Clare's I've ever read. We get a bit of romance, danger, suspense, and the ever important HEA in the end. There were plenty of plot twists that were completely unexpected. The story is told in an interesting way, alternating from the past to the present until events converge. The past and the future helped explain what was going on with each, really in a way that kept you on the edge of your seat trying to put it all together in your mind.
Twins Naomi and Annabelle were born 15 minutes apart, on different dates, either side of midnight. Maybe that's what made these two so different or perhaps there were other reasons like their overbearing mother Camilla. Annabelle was blonde, blue-eyed and a free spirit, as opposed to Naomi, who was dark haired, dark eyes, reserved and musically talented.
Naomi meets Nathan and a quick romance of sorts ensues. An unexpected engagement follows as well and Naomi's Mother Camilla grills Nathan at a dinner that just plain turns bizarro. Nathan does open up about his brother Dan who has a mental disorder, how he spends every other weekend with him and the rift between he and his parents. At least Nathan finds and ally with Naomi's father Henry.
That bizarre dinner is just the start of the hair-raising things to come. There's the bulky guy in the gray hoody with his cryptic messages to Naomi and Nathan's secretive ways. She wants to trust Nathan, she wants to marry him right? What she isn't sure she sees, others like her Mom, her roommate and her sister Annie warn her about. Something is just not right with Nathan or are there explanations for everything?
Twins Naomi and Annabelle were born 15 minutes apart, on different dates, either side of midnight. Maybe that's what made these two so different or perhaps there were other reasons like their overbearing mother Camilla. Annabelle was blonde, blue-eyed and a free spirit, as opposed to Naomi, who was dark haired, dark eyes, reserved and musically talented.
Naomi meets Nathan and a quick romance of sorts ensues. An unexpected engagement follows as well and Naomi's Mother Camilla grills Nathan at a dinner that just plain turns bizarro. Nathan does open up about his brother Dan who has a mental disorder, how he spends every other weekend with him and the rift between he and his parents. At least Nathan finds and ally with Naomi's father Henry.
That bizarre dinner is just the start of the hair-raising things to come. There's the bulky guy in the gray hoody with his cryptic messages to Naomi and Nathan's secretive ways. She wants to trust Nathan, she wants to marry him right? What she isn't sure she sees, others like her Mom, her roommate and her sister Annie warn her about. Something is just not right with Nathan or are there explanations for everything?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2013
Received a copy from the author for an honest review
Firstly this book suprised me. The whole story line was just WOW!!! WTH, did that really happen, how did that happen, why did that happen.
It just takes you completely by surprise. Things happening that you would'nt expect at all, people involved that you just want to smack up the head and say 'what were you thinking' or 'seriously'...
This was a psychological thriller/mystery that just keeps you guessing and makes you just want to read it to see where the author is going to take you next.
Sibling rivalry, doting dad and what seems to be an over protective mother, (but you know how your parents always tell you that they know best, well......)
What I liked about this book is that you would think its just a normal kidnapping for ransom or something. But its a whole lot of twists and drama and something good that comes out of the whole story.
What I would have liked in the book a bit more at the end was the reunion between mother/sister and Naomi and also what happens between her and Dan.
I would recommend this book to friends and I would say its a definite yes for me.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and can't wait to read the next one.
Firstly this book suprised me. The whole story line was just WOW!!! WTH, did that really happen, how did that happen, why did that happen.
It just takes you completely by surprise. Things happening that you would'nt expect at all, people involved that you just want to smack up the head and say 'what were you thinking' or 'seriously'...
This was a psychological thriller/mystery that just keeps you guessing and makes you just want to read it to see where the author is going to take you next.
Sibling rivalry, doting dad and what seems to be an over protective mother, (but you know how your parents always tell you that they know best, well......)
What I liked about this book is that you would think its just a normal kidnapping for ransom or something. But its a whole lot of twists and drama and something good that comes out of the whole story.
What I would have liked in the book a bit more at the end was the reunion between mother/sister and Naomi and also what happens between her and Dan.
I would recommend this book to friends and I would say its a definite yes for me.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and can't wait to read the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2013
I have to start out by saying that I was very intrigued when I read the synopsis of this book. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it! I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and kept trying to figure out the events and had a few clues here and there, but once you get to that twist, WOW! From that point on it was such a wild roller coaster ride, because I kept wondering what would happen next. Your feelings about some of the characters definitely change, some for good reasons, others because they begin to inspire a strong dislike toward them. I highly recommend this book! The writing is flawless and the plot is superb!
January 16, 2014
Really enjoyed this thriller despite my initial misgivings. I normally like my thrillers more graphic, whereas this tends to concentrate on relationships but felt a little coy. Nonetheless, I did enjoy it. The evocative descriptions of Manchester and the joys of music came through and also the pressure parents put onto their children to fulfil the parent's dream added to the tension.
Some nice twists to catch out the reader just when the book looked like it was going nowhere. At first I did not buy the lead female character but in the end I was routing for her.
Strongly recommended
Some nice twists to catch out the reader just when the book looked like it was going nowhere. At first I did not buy the lead female character but in the end I was routing for her.
Strongly recommended
March 17, 2014
Although the story started with the kidnapping of Naolmi on her wedding day, I found the first half of the book to be slow reading.
It oicked up in the second half with much more action. At the end it was good to see Naomi getting a backbone.
I understand there is going to be a sequel and I look forward to that.
It oicked up in the second half with much more action. At the end it was good to see Naomi getting a backbone.
I understand there is going to be a sequel and I look forward to that.
May 9, 2014
One of the best thrillers I've read. Started a bit slow but halfway through the book, the twist in the plot twisted my gut . I couldn't put this book down. Author Tori de Clare did a great job and I hope there is a sequel to this. I am impressed! Although it ended abruptly this is not a cliffhanger. I still would like to know what happens next to the twins and the brother.
February 5, 2014
The story starts with a bride getting kidnapped on her wedding day. The book Is full of suspense and surprises. A definite page turner that will keep you up at night as you won't want to put it down. I really enjoyed it.
March 27, 2017
Great book!!
Very cleverly written. Twists and turns, love and deceit, thrilling and sad....the descriptions I could give easily stretch a mile long. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It's clean and still quite a thriller. I had difficulties putting it down and forced myself back to reality.
Very cleverly written. Twists and turns, love and deceit, thrilling and sad....the descriptions I could give easily stretch a mile long. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It's clean and still quite a thriller. I had difficulties putting it down and forced myself back to reality.
March 29, 2017
Twists and Turns
Twins born on either side of midnight are totally engaging characters. The plot had some expected twists and some that are certainly not expected. This story of the lives of these two ladies is enthralling!
Twins born on either side of midnight are totally engaging characters. The plot had some expected twists and some that are certainly not expected. This story of the lives of these two ladies is enthralling!
April 1, 2017
Clever suspense
Tori de Flare creates a clever plot that keeps the reader in suspense right to the end. Looking forward to the sequel.
Tori de Flare creates a clever plot that keeps the reader in suspense right to the end. Looking forward to the sequel.
September 18, 2017
Excellent book. Exciting to the end. Easy to figure out the main plot line, but how things will resolve at the end remains for speculation. I did not want to put it down!
May 9, 2021
Wasn't impressed by this, I found the writing quite weak so almost didn't continue but a twist in the story redeemed it a bit and it was an an easy light read which was what I wanted after some heavier books.
December 2, 2013
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Verdict: 4.5 Brilliant Mind-bending Stars!
Either Side of Midnight is instant insanity, an intricately worked and woven plot that comes together perfectly. Written in a way that goes back and forth between Liberty (past) and Captivity (present), I found it brilliant and intriguing. At first I was fascinated with Captivity but quickly grew to love the Liberty aspect which gave the background story on Naomi’s family and the way her and Nathan’s relationship quickly progressed.
What should have been Naomi’s happiest day of her life and most memorable evening quickly turned dreadfully traumatizing. While trying to retrieve her trademark keepsake necklace from the car outside her hotel, she’s abducted by a masked man. The events that follow are quite intense and edge of your seat thrilling. Worst of all, her masked man’s voice sounds vaguely familiar. The week that follows consists of her fantasizing of escape plans from her chained captivity in a beautiful home in the English countryside.
Naomi Hamilton is a 19 year old privileged pianist who enrolls into a prestigious music academy, solely to please her mother (Camilla). Straight-laced and forever the good twin, she’s too afraid to go against her mother’s wishes out of fear of disappointing her. Her sister Annie is a rebel and everything Naomi wishes she could be. Wild and free, she lives her life to please no one but herself, regardless of whether or not she has her parents’ approval. While at a school function, Naomi meets Nathan Stone, the embodiment of the man of her dreams and 7 years her senior. She quickly becomes smitten and lost in all things and thoughts of the charming devil in disguise. Ignoring her mother’s warning to end things with Nathan…fast forward a few months later and we have wedding bells followed by a kidnapping that same night.
Ironically enough, Naomi started out like a stone, rough around the edges, but with the right amount of pressure…turned into a pretty spectacular shiny rock. In the beginning she was rather infuriating with her naïveté, then again…present me with my dream guy and I’d be losing sleep and drooling over him too. So what if he was 7 years her senior, so was Christian Grey and that turned out pretty great. Unfortunately, Nathaniel Stone is far from our dear Mr. Grey. About a quarter into the book I was ready to crawl into my phone and slap some sense into Naomi. I don’t care how swoon-worthy the guy is; if he’s professing his love for you on the second date…you should definitely run for the fricken hills!
Nathaniel Stone is a 25 year old beautiful compulsive liar with a gambling problem. He owes money to everyone including the mob and has been concocting a twisted plan to cut ties and gain freedom along with a small fortune. He preys on Naomi’s insecurities and kind hearted nature to ensnare her in his ploy without any care for the lives he’ll destroy. Nobody, not even his own family is safe from his maniacal ways; he even goes as far as demonizing his brother (Schizophrenic Dan) and parents.
I may have fallen in love with Tori de Clare’s writing style. Each character was very well developed and written in such a way that gave them their own unique tone and voice. I especially enjoyed reading about Camilla Hamilton, she was my favorite character. I loved her inherently British snooty-pinky-up tone. What can I say, mother knows best.
This book was the equivalent of a literary treat that I devoured and I can’t wait for my next fix. The ending wrapped everything up nicely but left me wanting more of Naomi and
Verdict: 4.5 Brilliant Mind-bending Stars!
Either Side of Midnight is instant insanity, an intricately worked and woven plot that comes together perfectly. Written in a way that goes back and forth between Liberty (past) and Captivity (present), I found it brilliant and intriguing. At first I was fascinated with Captivity but quickly grew to love the Liberty aspect which gave the background story on Naomi’s family and the way her and Nathan’s relationship quickly progressed.
What should have been Naomi’s happiest day of her life and most memorable evening quickly turned dreadfully traumatizing. While trying to retrieve her trademark keepsake necklace from the car outside her hotel, she’s abducted by a masked man. The events that follow are quite intense and edge of your seat thrilling. Worst of all, her masked man’s voice sounds vaguely familiar. The week that follows consists of her fantasizing of escape plans from her chained captivity in a beautiful home in the English countryside.
Naomi Hamilton is a 19 year old privileged pianist who enrolls into a prestigious music academy, solely to please her mother (Camilla). Straight-laced and forever the good twin, she’s too afraid to go against her mother’s wishes out of fear of disappointing her. Her sister Annie is a rebel and everything Naomi wishes she could be. Wild and free, she lives her life to please no one but herself, regardless of whether or not she has her parents’ approval. While at a school function, Naomi meets Nathan Stone, the embodiment of the man of her dreams and 7 years her senior. She quickly becomes smitten and lost in all things and thoughts of the charming devil in disguise. Ignoring her mother’s warning to end things with Nathan…fast forward a few months later and we have wedding bells followed by a kidnapping that same night.
Ironically enough, Naomi started out like a stone, rough around the edges, but with the right amount of pressure…turned into a pretty spectacular shiny rock. In the beginning she was rather infuriating with her naïveté, then again…present me with my dream guy and I’d be losing sleep and drooling over him too. So what if he was 7 years her senior, so was Christian Grey and that turned out pretty great. Unfortunately, Nathaniel Stone is far from our dear Mr. Grey. About a quarter into the book I was ready to crawl into my phone and slap some sense into Naomi. I don’t care how swoon-worthy the guy is; if he’s professing his love for you on the second date…you should definitely run for the fricken hills!
Nathaniel Stone is a 25 year old beautiful compulsive liar with a gambling problem. He owes money to everyone including the mob and has been concocting a twisted plan to cut ties and gain freedom along with a small fortune. He preys on Naomi’s insecurities and kind hearted nature to ensnare her in his ploy without any care for the lives he’ll destroy. Nobody, not even his own family is safe from his maniacal ways; he even goes as far as demonizing his brother (Schizophrenic Dan) and parents.
I may have fallen in love with Tori de Clare’s writing style. Each character was very well developed and written in such a way that gave them their own unique tone and voice. I especially enjoyed reading about Camilla Hamilton, she was my favorite character. I loved her inherently British snooty-pinky-up tone. What can I say, mother knows best.
This book was the equivalent of a literary treat that I devoured and I can’t wait for my next fix. The ending wrapped everything up nicely but left me wanting more of Naomi and
January 22, 2018
~ Like a crescendo, this story escalates beautiful. Twists until the end. Well done!
“The man who acquired the ability to take possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else.” That’s what happened to Naomi on the eve of her wedding. As everyone went home and she checked in to the quant hotel with her husband, Nathan. Taken. Her life would take a sharp turn. Not the typical life of a new bride; bound, chained, and held against her will by a madman, instead. Who would do something so savage? She had to stay strong and hope Nathan will find her. But what she doesn’t know can literally kill her.
“The man who acquired the ability to take possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else.” That’s what happened to Naomi on the eve of her wedding. As everyone went home and she checked in to the quant hotel with her husband, Nathan. Taken. Her life would take a sharp turn. Not the typical life of a new bride; bound, chained, and held against her will by a madman, instead. Who would do something so savage? She had to stay strong and hope Nathan will find her. But what she doesn’t know can literally kill her.
September 9, 2017
It took me quite a while and involved a bit of pushing to finish this book. I love thrillers and bought it based on the summary while it was on sale. This is the self-published debut of Troi de Clare, and it reads as one; I mean that in all of the positive ways as well as some of the implied negative ways.
Due to the nature of the book, I'm going to write this review without any spoilers. I also recommend avoiding reviews with spoilers before you take the dive into this book since the pay-off is definitely worth it. It's the kind of book that I was sure I had figured out, until I thought I was wrong and had it actually figured out, only to go back and think I was right in the first place. I enjoy books that keep me on my toes, keep me guessing up until the final page. Either Side of Midnight is partially successful in that aspect, enough so that I did find myself enjoying the journey regardless of the rough start.
The story introduces us to Naomi Hamilton, the wealthy daughter of Camilla and Henry, starting her first year of music school in Manchester. Naomi has a fraternal twin, Annabel, and they are different as night and day. The title of the book (which I absolutely love) is a twofold reference; the first referring to Naomi and Annabel who, while twins, were born between the night and the morning on two different days or rather, on either side of midnight. The title also draws its meaning from the final climax of the book that occurs during that same transformative timeframe.
While attending school, Naomi meets Nathan Stone, a handsome man about six years her senior who sweeps her off her feet. The night of their wedding, however, Naomi is kidnapped and awakens chained to a bed in a house with only her masked assailant as company. The narrative exists in the present as Naomi tries to puzzle out what has happened to her, and uses flashbacks to introduce her family, her courtship with Nathan and the events that lead up to the kidnapping that opens the book. It's a system that works for the book sometimes and works against it in others.
I found the first half of the book extremely difficult to get into. The book opens with the kidnapping, setting the stage for the thrilling terror that Naomi is about to experience. The excitement dies down as we are launched into flashbacks filled with exposition, introducing us to Naomi's family, friends, and university life, interspersed with her being held captive in the room. I'm not a fan of flashbacks in general, and I wasn't fond of how it was executed as a framing device in this story. The flashbacks had no bearing on Naomi's thoughts or experiences in captivity and were instead used to tell the story of her meeting Nathan and the events leading up to the wedding in parallel with the events that occur after her kidnapping. Sometimes, the flashbacks would just plod on, offering almost too much information. Even with the use of flashbacks, we learn more about the characters' backgrounds through Naomi and Nathan lying around and talking about themselves. It was boring. I kept coming back to the book, though, because I wanted to find out what was going to happen and hoped if I kept fighting my way through, I'd break out into something interesting.
Luckily, that happened at almost exactly the halfway mark of the book. The first twist is revealed, things start to fall together and the action picks up. The flashbacks are still there, though, and instead of building tension, I just found them frustrating as I pushed through in order to find out more about what is happening in "present" time. I felt there was one great use of the flashback mechanism when another twist is revealed within a flashback that gives meaning to the events occurring during Naomi's captivity. It was a great moment and helped to further solidify why I didn't like the flashbacks. I felt, for the most part, they added little to the story besides being an easy way to introduce characters and backgrounds.
Which brings me to another problem - the characters. I didn't particularly like any of them. I found Naomi to be the personification of a wet noodle, which was the point, but it's hard to follow a protagonist who spends most of her time being neurotic and terrified without any kind of forward motion. Annabel basically served to be the opposite of Naomi, annoyingly so. Whenever she shows up, she comes off as a spoiled teenager, and her behavior towards her parents and Naomi continue to portray her as such, giving her little depth. The parents are a different story; Camillia, the mother, is waspy and cold, though at least we are given insight into her behavior, subtly. However, she is so over the top I often felt like I was lost in a book about Victorian aristocracy. Henry, the father, was warm and likable, but not particularly fleshed out in any meaningful way. There is finally Nathan, of course, who seems like the only level headed character in the bunch, although he comes off occasionally as smarmy, trying a little too hard. All of the characters see some progression, of course; Naomi starts to kick some ass part way through the book, her traumatic experiences shaking some sense into her. We get a very nice scene where her family comes together in the wake of her disappearance. The problem is, we don't really get the chance to witness this slow development. We don't get to see when the switch goes off for Naomi, when she turns from kitten to tiger; it just kind of happens and although it is satisfying, it's hard to buy without witness any progression. I would have loved more opportunities to see the family struggle with the choices they had made and cruelties they subjected each other to in the wake of Naomi's disappearance. None of this process feels organic, in the same way the character relationships didn't feel organic. They felt rushed, put in when needed to service the action instead of letting the action service the characters.
My main problem with the book is that I feel it was too long, and not for the right reasons. There's too much meandering character background and not enough dynamic character progression. The book clocks in at 367 pages, I feel far too much for a story of this kind. I would have liked to have seen less exposition in the flashbacks and more scenes that mirror was is happening to Naomi in captivity. Fewer scenes about conflicts that occurred and more about how those conflicts shape who the characters become at the end of the book.
All of that said, I still really enjoyed this book. I love to support debut authors and for its faults, Ms de Clare told an interesting story that, while it took me a while to get in to, kept me hooked for the last half of the book. The last few pages feel rushed and rough; there are more typos, as if the author was just trying to get this monster of a novel finished, but it's still a pretty good ending that shows the kind of woman these experiences has made Naomi into. I know there is a sequel, which I feel bad about just because I think Naomi has paid her dues and deserves a break! That said, I'll probably read it. Although I have a number of criticisms, Ms de Clare was successful in writing a book with an interesting plot, good twists and characters who I eventually started to care about. I think as she hones her craft she has the potential to work out the kinks and get some really great books out there.
If you enjoy longer books with different types of characters, a few good twists, and a good heaping of romance, this is a good pick for you.
Due to the nature of the book, I'm going to write this review without any spoilers. I also recommend avoiding reviews with spoilers before you take the dive into this book since the pay-off is definitely worth it. It's the kind of book that I was sure I had figured out, until I thought I was wrong and had it actually figured out, only to go back and think I was right in the first place. I enjoy books that keep me on my toes, keep me guessing up until the final page. Either Side of Midnight is partially successful in that aspect, enough so that I did find myself enjoying the journey regardless of the rough start.
The story introduces us to Naomi Hamilton, the wealthy daughter of Camilla and Henry, starting her first year of music school in Manchester. Naomi has a fraternal twin, Annabel, and they are different as night and day. The title of the book (which I absolutely love) is a twofold reference; the first referring to Naomi and Annabel who, while twins, were born between the night and the morning on two different days or rather, on either side of midnight. The title also draws its meaning from the final climax of the book that occurs during that same transformative timeframe.
While attending school, Naomi meets Nathan Stone, a handsome man about six years her senior who sweeps her off her feet. The night of their wedding, however, Naomi is kidnapped and awakens chained to a bed in a house with only her masked assailant as company. The narrative exists in the present as Naomi tries to puzzle out what has happened to her, and uses flashbacks to introduce her family, her courtship with Nathan and the events that lead up to the kidnapping that opens the book. It's a system that works for the book sometimes and works against it in others.
I found the first half of the book extremely difficult to get into. The book opens with the kidnapping, setting the stage for the thrilling terror that Naomi is about to experience. The excitement dies down as we are launched into flashbacks filled with exposition, introducing us to Naomi's family, friends, and university life, interspersed with her being held captive in the room. I'm not a fan of flashbacks in general, and I wasn't fond of how it was executed as a framing device in this story. The flashbacks had no bearing on Naomi's thoughts or experiences in captivity and were instead used to tell the story of her meeting Nathan and the events leading up to the wedding in parallel with the events that occur after her kidnapping. Sometimes, the flashbacks would just plod on, offering almost too much information. Even with the use of flashbacks, we learn more about the characters' backgrounds through Naomi and Nathan lying around and talking about themselves. It was boring. I kept coming back to the book, though, because I wanted to find out what was going to happen and hoped if I kept fighting my way through, I'd break out into something interesting.
Luckily, that happened at almost exactly the halfway mark of the book. The first twist is revealed, things start to fall together and the action picks up. The flashbacks are still there, though, and instead of building tension, I just found them frustrating as I pushed through in order to find out more about what is happening in "present" time. I felt there was one great use of the flashback mechanism when another twist is revealed within a flashback that gives meaning to the events occurring during Naomi's captivity. It was a great moment and helped to further solidify why I didn't like the flashbacks. I felt, for the most part, they added little to the story besides being an easy way to introduce characters and backgrounds.
Which brings me to another problem - the characters. I didn't particularly like any of them. I found Naomi to be the personification of a wet noodle, which was the point, but it's hard to follow a protagonist who spends most of her time being neurotic and terrified without any kind of forward motion. Annabel basically served to be the opposite of Naomi, annoyingly so. Whenever she shows up, she comes off as a spoiled teenager, and her behavior towards her parents and Naomi continue to portray her as such, giving her little depth. The parents are a different story; Camillia, the mother, is waspy and cold, though at least we are given insight into her behavior, subtly. However, she is so over the top I often felt like I was lost in a book about Victorian aristocracy. Henry, the father, was warm and likable, but not particularly fleshed out in any meaningful way. There is finally Nathan, of course, who seems like the only level headed character in the bunch, although he comes off occasionally as smarmy, trying a little too hard. All of the characters see some progression, of course; Naomi starts to kick some ass part way through the book, her traumatic experiences shaking some sense into her. We get a very nice scene where her family comes together in the wake of her disappearance. The problem is, we don't really get the chance to witness this slow development. We don't get to see when the switch goes off for Naomi, when she turns from kitten to tiger; it just kind of happens and although it is satisfying, it's hard to buy without witness any progression. I would have loved more opportunities to see the family struggle with the choices they had made and cruelties they subjected each other to in the wake of Naomi's disappearance. None of this process feels organic, in the same way the character relationships didn't feel organic. They felt rushed, put in when needed to service the action instead of letting the action service the characters.
My main problem with the book is that I feel it was too long, and not for the right reasons. There's too much meandering character background and not enough dynamic character progression. The book clocks in at 367 pages, I feel far too much for a story of this kind. I would have liked to have seen less exposition in the flashbacks and more scenes that mirror was is happening to Naomi in captivity. Fewer scenes about conflicts that occurred and more about how those conflicts shape who the characters become at the end of the book.
All of that said, I still really enjoyed this book. I love to support debut authors and for its faults, Ms de Clare told an interesting story that, while it took me a while to get in to, kept me hooked for the last half of the book. The last few pages feel rushed and rough; there are more typos, as if the author was just trying to get this monster of a novel finished, but it's still a pretty good ending that shows the kind of woman these experiences has made Naomi into. I know there is a sequel, which I feel bad about just because I think Naomi has paid her dues and deserves a break! That said, I'll probably read it. Although I have a number of criticisms, Ms de Clare was successful in writing a book with an interesting plot, good twists and characters who I eventually started to care about. I think as she hones her craft she has the potential to work out the kinks and get some really great books out there.
If you enjoy longer books with different types of characters, a few good twists, and a good heaping of romance, this is a good pick for you.
August 10, 2016
I thought this was a very good read but there were a few things that stopped me loving it. Firstly, a problem that is often apparent in self-published books - editing snags. There were a few typos (not nearly as many as in some books) and clunky sentences which jarred and got in the way of smooth reading. These are minor points.
More to the point, was anyone else confused by the ending?
I may have missed something (and I intend to go back and reread the last couple of chapters just in case) but I thought the end was a bit rushed and left me unsure what had happened.
*SPOILER ALERT*
My big problem was the whole thing with the gang. I think the book might have been better without them as they just seemed a bit cliched, unbelievable and over-complicated. The fortune that Naomi inherited and the life insurance would have been just as strong a motive as having to pay back a gang. Why would the gang want to kill her if she reappeared? Surely it would be Nathan who would suffer as he owed them money?
Secondly, what happened to make Dan and Naomi suddenly able to admit she was alive? All the way through, they had said that they couldn't just go to the police because Nathan would say she was a part of it (as well as that the gang would get her, which never really seemed to make sense to me). So what was stopping him now? What exactly did Solomon change, apart from the fact that the gang would not be after her any more? And why did he give the key to the rolls royce to Naomi yet report the car as sighted to the police?
Up to that point I really enjoyed this but was just left confused at the end. It stopped too abruptly. What would be the police reaction when Naomi reappeared - what about Dan's involvement?
A good book but I was dissatisfied with the ending.
More to the point, was anyone else confused by the ending?
I may have missed something (and I intend to go back and reread the last couple of chapters just in case) but I thought the end was a bit rushed and left me unsure what had happened.
*SPOILER ALERT*
My big problem was the whole thing with the gang. I think the book might have been better without them as they just seemed a bit cliched, unbelievable and over-complicated. The fortune that Naomi inherited and the life insurance would have been just as strong a motive as having to pay back a gang. Why would the gang want to kill her if she reappeared? Surely it would be Nathan who would suffer as he owed them money?
Secondly, what happened to make Dan and Naomi suddenly able to admit she was alive? All the way through, they had said that they couldn't just go to the police because Nathan would say she was a part of it (as well as that the gang would get her, which never really seemed to make sense to me). So what was stopping him now? What exactly did Solomon change, apart from the fact that the gang would not be after her any more? And why did he give the key to the rolls royce to Naomi yet report the car as sighted to the police?
Up to that point I really enjoyed this but was just left confused at the end. It stopped too abruptly. What would be the police reaction when Naomi reappeared - what about Dan's involvement?
A good book but I was dissatisfied with the ending.
September 4, 2016
This book was an amazing read. I never would have guessed who was involved with Naomi's kidnapping. I liked how the arthur started the book from the wedding night and the kidnapping and then went to the back story of how Naomi & Nathan became a couple. I think that the way she kept switching back & forth between the present when she was held captive & the past leading up to the wedding night were a good mix.
Spoiler alert: I loved how her captor kept himself hidden until he heard her calling for help during the storm. he started to care for her and stopped treating her as a prisoner. I loved how Naomi got the strength to fight back and get revenge on Nathan by teaming up with the group he was most afraid of. she didn't lie back & let Nathan win. I also liked how the author was realistic in the end and didn't have Naomi immediately fall in love and jump into a relationship with Dan, her captor & savior. Naomi needed to straighten up her life & learn to trust again after being betrayed by people she loved.
This book was amazing it says she is writing a sequel but I don't think its necessary she wrapped things up very well in this story. I will read the sequel of course because I love the strength Naomi gained.
Spoiler alert: I loved how her captor kept himself hidden until he heard her calling for help during the storm. he started to care for her and stopped treating her as a prisoner. I loved how Naomi got the strength to fight back and get revenge on Nathan by teaming up with the group he was most afraid of. she didn't lie back & let Nathan win. I also liked how the author was realistic in the end and didn't have Naomi immediately fall in love and jump into a relationship with Dan, her captor & savior. Naomi needed to straighten up her life & learn to trust again after being betrayed by people she loved.
This book was amazing it says she is writing a sequel but I don't think its necessary she wrapped things up very well in this story. I will read the sequel of course because I love the strength Naomi gained.
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