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Midnight in Soap Lake
'A cracking read' Daily Mail'Midnight in Soap Lake made me fall in love with reading all over again' Stuart Turton
‘A fantastic, assured debut’ Elly Griffiths on Matthew Sullivan
The smallest towns hide the biggest secrets.
Abigail uprooted her life to move to Soap Lake, Washington. A once-popular tourist destination, the town is now home to a dwindling population and the menacing shadow of an urban legend.
With her husband away on a work trip, Abigail is alone when a young boy emerges from the desert scrub, catatonic and covered in blood. His mother, Esme, lies stabbed to death in a nearby car.
When Abigail discovers Esme was a local woman who moved away after a series of tragedies, she is compelled to find answers. Esme’s is not the only mysterious death this town has witnessed.
But her search attracts unwanted and dangerous attention. Drawn into a complex web of conspiracies and violence, Abigail will learn that the smallest towns can hide the biggest secrets.
Praise for Matthew Sullivan
‘Matthew Sullivan has written—with great panache and suspense—a smart, twisty crime novel filled with compelling characters set in a world that book-lovers will adore.’ Jess Walter, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins
‘An intriguingly dark, twisty story and eccentric characters make this book a standout.’ Kirkus Reviews
Readers are loving Midnight in Soap Lake…
‘I was completely immersed.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An atmospheric and immersive mystery that perfectly balances eerie folklore with a gripping investigation…if you love mysteries that keep you guessing, small-town secrets, and stories that feel like they could be real…a must-read!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I couldn’t put this book down!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I enjoyed the spooky energy and complex family histories.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘You can tell from the get-go how much effort, research and planning was involved in creating such a complex plot’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Sullivan lays this story out masterfully’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book was fantastic! I felt like I was THERE!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A fantastic, assured debut’ Elly Griffiths on Matthew Sullivan
The smallest towns hide the biggest secrets.
Abigail uprooted her life to move to Soap Lake, Washington. A once-popular tourist destination, the town is now home to a dwindling population and the menacing shadow of an urban legend.
With her husband away on a work trip, Abigail is alone when a young boy emerges from the desert scrub, catatonic and covered in blood. His mother, Esme, lies stabbed to death in a nearby car.
When Abigail discovers Esme was a local woman who moved away after a series of tragedies, she is compelled to find answers. Esme’s is not the only mysterious death this town has witnessed.
But her search attracts unwanted and dangerous attention. Drawn into a complex web of conspiracies and violence, Abigail will learn that the smallest towns can hide the biggest secrets.
Praise for Matthew Sullivan
‘Matthew Sullivan has written—with great panache and suspense—a smart, twisty crime novel filled with compelling characters set in a world that book-lovers will adore.’ Jess Walter, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins
‘An intriguingly dark, twisty story and eccentric characters make this book a standout.’ Kirkus Reviews
Readers are loving Midnight in Soap Lake…
‘I was completely immersed.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An atmospheric and immersive mystery that perfectly balances eerie folklore with a gripping investigation…if you love mysteries that keep you guessing, small-town secrets, and stories that feel like they could be real…a must-read!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I couldn’t put this book down!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I enjoyed the spooky energy and complex family histories.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘You can tell from the get-go how much effort, research and planning was involved in creating such a complex plot’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Sullivan lays this story out masterfully’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book was fantastic! I felt like I was THERE!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2025
207 people are currently reading
14974 people want to read
About the author
Matthew J. Sullivan
3 books824 followersMatthew Sullivan is the author of the novel Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, which was an IndieNext pick, a Barnes & Noble Discover Pick, a GoodReads Choice Award finalist, and winner of the Colorado Book Award. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Daily Beast, The Spokesman-Review, Sou’wester and elsewhere, and his stories have been awarded the Florida Review Editor’s Prize and the Robert Olen Butler Fiction Prize. He grew up in a family of eight raucous kids in Aurora, Colorado, and received his B.A. from the University of San Francisco and his M.F.A. from the University of Idaho. After working as a bookseller at Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver and at Brookline Booksmith in Boston, he spent 20 years teaching writing, literature and film at a rural HSI community college in the high desert of central Washington State. He is married to a librarian, Libby, and now lives in Anacortes, WA, along the Salish Sea. His new stand-alone novel, Midnight in Soap Lake, is now available from Harper Collins/Hanover Square Press. A new novel--also part of the stand-alone MIDNIGHT cycle--is deep in the works.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
July 24, 2024
Huh. I definitely have some mixed feelings about this one. I mean, it was an interesting read. I never found myself getting bored and the premise was intriguing. A murder mystery set in a town on a mystical lake? Heck yeah! I read through it pretty quickly (or at least as quickly as I manage these days) and it was decently suspenseful and had me invested in where the story was headed.
But …
Sweet baby kittens on a cracker, I never came close to understanding the reasoning behind everything that happened in this novel. It's hard to explain without spoilers, but let's just say that I never quite got the why of the murders. I mean, I understood the superficial why, but I never got the why behind the why. And I realize that makes absolutely no sense to anyone, so let me try to explain further. (Note: There are no major spoilers in this explanation, but I'm putting it behind a spoiler tag just in case you don't want to know even the vague details beforehand.) I mean, I have to be missing something here, right?
And then you get to the end and … nothing is resolved. The main characters start figuring things out and then it just ends. So many loose ends. So many questions.
But, still, I didn't dislike this book. As I said before, it's an entertaining read despite all of the muddlement surrounding the reason for the murder(s) (and the lack of a cohesive ending). There are urban legends and a mystical lake and murders and science-y bits, and it's all pretty interesting and unique.
My overall rating: 3.25 stars, rounded down. While Midnight in Soap Lake wasn't a perfect read, it was still decently enjoyable and I'd definitely consider reading future books by Matthew Sullivan.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is April 15, 2025.
But …
Sweet baby kittens on a cracker, I never came close to understanding the reasoning behind everything that happened in this novel. It's hard to explain without spoilers, but let's just say that I never quite got the why of the murders. I mean, I understood the superficial why, but I never got the why behind the why. And I realize that makes absolutely no sense to anyone, so let me try to explain further. (Note: There are no major spoilers in this explanation, but I'm putting it behind a spoiler tag just in case you don't want to know even the vague details beforehand.) I mean, I have to be missing something here, right?
And then you get to the end and … nothing is resolved. The main characters start figuring things out and then it just ends. So many loose ends. So many questions.
But, still, I didn't dislike this book. As I said before, it's an entertaining read despite all of the muddlement surrounding the reason for the murder(s) (and the lack of a cohesive ending). There are urban legends and a mystical lake and murders and science-y bits, and it's all pretty interesting and unique.
My overall rating: 3.25 stars, rounded down. While Midnight in Soap Lake wasn't a perfect read, it was still decently enjoyable and I'd definitely consider reading future books by Matthew Sullivan.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is April 15, 2025.
November 25, 2025
This author first entered my life with his book, “Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore.” I offered up a very simple 5-star review of my experience which can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
I didn’t share anything about that story, because some stories are best when readers can just walk in to it blindly and experience it on their own.
In many ways, the author is taking us here again with this midnight story setting at a lake. What mystery will unravel itself?
Especially when Soap Lake is REAL and located in Washington state. Tripadvisor shares…
“The lake gets its name from the water’s soapy feel and foamy appearance, boasting the highest diversity of minerals of any lake in the world.”
Leading readers to wonder if perhaps this description was inspiration for the author’s story.
Readers may also ponder, what really happened here, and do I ever want to actually visit this place?
The story is somewhat compelling, disturbing and intriguing with a colorful cast of characters. The short chapters lend itself to an atmospheric mystery that builds tension and suspense. But was it enough to capture readers?
I didn’t share anything about that story, because some stories are best when readers can just walk in to it blindly and experience it on their own.
In many ways, the author is taking us here again with this midnight story setting at a lake. What mystery will unravel itself?
Especially when Soap Lake is REAL and located in Washington state. Tripadvisor shares…
“The lake gets its name from the water’s soapy feel and foamy appearance, boasting the highest diversity of minerals of any lake in the world.”
Leading readers to wonder if perhaps this description was inspiration for the author’s story.
Readers may also ponder, what really happened here, and do I ever want to actually visit this place?
The story is somewhat compelling, disturbing and intriguing with a colorful cast of characters. The short chapters lend itself to an atmospheric mystery that builds tension and suspense. But was it enough to capture readers?
April 1, 2025
Matthew Sullivan is so underrated and I have no idea why and every time I read something by him, I leave baffled by his lack of following! This man should be known as one of the best thriller writers around, what gives??
Sullivan is constantly pushing boundaries in the genre by expertly weaving genres together to make an amalgamation of something new while also retaining what makes the thriller genre so good. He leads you into a curiousity as a reader which makes the entire experience so enjoyable and participatory. Is it supernatural? Is it just bad people? Who are the main players? What’s the outcome? What’s the secret that everyone else seems to know? These are all questions you will have reading any of his books but especially Midnight in Soap Lake.
I love that Sullivan spent time living in this town and it sparked the creative juices to create a whole story based on it and created a mythological, cult-esc urban legend that many small towns seem to collect. I was intrigued by the characters and their motives and also so curious about the actual scientific properties of the lake that brought our characters to the town. I loved that this was also imperative to the overall storytelling instead of a simple backdrop.
Every single aspect of this story was met with so much care and detail that everything mattered. No bit of dialogue, setting, or character was thrown away or there for the sake of being there. With a well rounded cast, mystery lurking around every corner, and an overarching villainous boogeyman lingering over you while reading, it begs the question, does TreeTop kill or do we need to band together to kill TreeTop??
Sullivan is constantly pushing boundaries in the genre by expertly weaving genres together to make an amalgamation of something new while also retaining what makes the thriller genre so good. He leads you into a curiousity as a reader which makes the entire experience so enjoyable and participatory. Is it supernatural? Is it just bad people? Who are the main players? What’s the outcome? What’s the secret that everyone else seems to know? These are all questions you will have reading any of his books but especially Midnight in Soap Lake.
I love that Sullivan spent time living in this town and it sparked the creative juices to create a whole story based on it and created a mythological, cult-esc urban legend that many small towns seem to collect. I was intrigued by the characters and their motives and also so curious about the actual scientific properties of the lake that brought our characters to the town. I loved that this was also imperative to the overall storytelling instead of a simple backdrop.
Every single aspect of this story was met with so much care and detail that everything mattered. No bit of dialogue, setting, or character was thrown away or there for the sake of being there. With a well rounded cast, mystery lurking around every corner, and an overarching villainous boogeyman lingering over you while reading, it begs the question, does TreeTop kill or do we need to band together to kill TreeTop??
June 15, 2025
“TreeTop kills.”
Inspired by the real small town of Soap Lake, Washington, where a giant lava lamp promises to attract visitors and the lake contains mystical properties, Matthew Sullivan creates a murder mystery surrounded by dark folklore and urban legends.
Esme believes her father was murdered by TreeTop, Soap Lake’s unofficial mascot, who is determined to frighten the townspeople in order to protect a secret. Then when her boyfriend Kevin is murdered after graduating high school, Esme flees town in search of safety. Upon returning to Soap Lake years later, she is brutally murdered. Who murdered Esme?
Years later, Abigail and Eli move to Soap Lake on a scientific grant, so that Eli can study the lake’s mystical properties. Believing that the giant lava lamp promises a great start to their new marriage, they are disappointed when it has yet to be built. Eli soon accepts another job out of the country, leaving Abigail alone in a a strange new town and in grave danger. TreeTop continues to frighten people in order to protect the town’s secret and won’t stop killing until it’s safe. Abigail is determined to solve the mystery surrounding TreeTop and get justice for Esme.
I was lured into reading this book by the fantastic Goodreads blurb which compared this mystery to Twin Peaks. I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla, which is read by Kristen Sieh. I really enjoyed this format and recommend it, despite the fact that she uses the same voice for Esme and Abigail. While it was somewhat confusing to remember whose chapter I was listening to, it was still effective.
Sullivan does an excellent job using misdirection by pointing to different suspects along the way. I was initially afraid this book would read more like a Scooby-Doo episode, but it is not the case. I enjoyed the mystery, but felt that a few too many loose threads were left lingering in the end to warrant a solid 4 star review. I am intrigued to read Sullivan’s first novel, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore.
3.75/5 stars rounded up
Inspired by the real small town of Soap Lake, Washington, where a giant lava lamp promises to attract visitors and the lake contains mystical properties, Matthew Sullivan creates a murder mystery surrounded by dark folklore and urban legends.
Esme believes her father was murdered by TreeTop, Soap Lake’s unofficial mascot, who is determined to frighten the townspeople in order to protect a secret. Then when her boyfriend Kevin is murdered after graduating high school, Esme flees town in search of safety. Upon returning to Soap Lake years later, she is brutally murdered. Who murdered Esme?
Years later, Abigail and Eli move to Soap Lake on a scientific grant, so that Eli can study the lake’s mystical properties. Believing that the giant lava lamp promises a great start to their new marriage, they are disappointed when it has yet to be built. Eli soon accepts another job out of the country, leaving Abigail alone in a a strange new town and in grave danger. TreeTop continues to frighten people in order to protect the town’s secret and won’t stop killing until it’s safe. Abigail is determined to solve the mystery surrounding TreeTop and get justice for Esme.
I was lured into reading this book by the fantastic Goodreads blurb which compared this mystery to Twin Peaks. I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla, which is read by Kristen Sieh. I really enjoyed this format and recommend it, despite the fact that she uses the same voice for Esme and Abigail. While it was somewhat confusing to remember whose chapter I was listening to, it was still effective.
Sullivan does an excellent job using misdirection by pointing to different suspects along the way. I was initially afraid this book would read more like a Scooby-Doo episode, but it is not the case. I enjoyed the mystery, but felt that a few too many loose threads were left lingering in the end to warrant a solid 4 star review. I am intrigued to read Sullivan’s first novel, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore.
3.75/5 stars rounded up
September 7, 2025
Abigail’s husband has just been awarded a grant to research the mysterious Soap Lake in Washington. It appears that there are certain types of amoebas that live in this lake that have healing properties and have been untouched for millions of years. That’s my abbreviated dumbed-down version of the sciency stuff. The town itself is also rather strange and has an urban legend surrounding a monster called Tree Top. To make matters even stranger, Abigail stumbles across a dead body during one of her walks through the desert. It’s definitely a lot of strangeness for one small town. I almost forgot there’s one more thing, the giant lava lamp. Now the strangeness is complete.
What can I say? I liked it. It held my attention and had me trying to work through the mystery alongside an eclectic group of characters. Some of the theories presented specifically through Preston’s work intrigued me. Now for my quibble, as I always seem to have one! The why seemed a bit too simple, maybe? I think I expected a more drawn out complex resolution. Just seemed like a lot of subterfuge for nothing. But the path leading up to the resolution was definitely intriguing and it was one that I didn’t wanna put down once I started reading.
I think I’m definitely going to see what else this author has out there.
What can I say? I liked it. It held my attention and had me trying to work through the mystery alongside an eclectic group of characters. Some of the theories presented specifically through Preston’s work intrigued me. Now for my quibble, as I always seem to have one! The why seemed a bit too simple, maybe? I think I expected a more drawn out complex resolution. Just seemed like a lot of subterfuge for nothing. But the path leading up to the resolution was definitely intriguing and it was one that I didn’t wanna put down once I started reading.
I think I’m definitely going to see what else this author has out there.
May 14, 2024
Well the beginning already had me VERY intrigued. WTF is going to happen. I was thinking monsters, aliens, ghosts, the people from the hills have eyes. The possibilities were endless at this point. That was chapter 1. As I moseyed into the next few chapters that just intensified…
Another book that was read during a distracted time but SO intriguing! Every time I picked it up I was completely engrossed in the story, I never wanted to put it down. I really don’t want to say much because it contains such a crazy path, but this book was fantastic! I felt like I was THERE! You have no idea where this book is going the entire time. The possibilities stay endless with this story! I cant wait to see what everyone thinks about this story!!! I would go into this one as blind as possible and just dive into this story about a town with a special lake!
Another book that was read during a distracted time but SO intriguing! Every time I picked it up I was completely engrossed in the story, I never wanted to put it down. I really don’t want to say much because it contains such a crazy path, but this book was fantastic! I felt like I was THERE! You have no idea where this book is going the entire time. The possibilities stay endless with this story! I cant wait to see what everyone thinks about this story!!! I would go into this one as blind as possible and just dive into this story about a town with a special lake!
July 22, 2025
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
They say the past influences the present; in this case rightfully so. Just as much so as these fleeting but assuredly true thoughts passed through Abigail's mind, once she found herself newly married when her limnologist husband, Eli had deserted her in this place-outside-of-time, the small town of Soap Lake, Washington, to pursue a more promising venture in the Polish waters - loneliness: it felt sometimes like it possessed you. 😟
For it was also this very reason why Esme returned to her home she herself had abandoned in a way to escape her demons, hoping to outrun her enemies, hoping to bury her untold secrets, only to face her tragic end, that ultimately led Abigail right into the heart of a most insidious and treacherous conspiracy that inadvertently tied human lives together in the most unsuspecting and tragic of ways. 💔
It was a slow-moving mystery, but still a very immersive experience, one which -- it's long. It's long because we have to say the pivotal crucial moments of Esme's life that parallel Abigail unearthing the correlation between her own findings and have it connect. 🪢 But, one complaint is that the author makes it quite apparent how the events of Esme's pasts led to her demise, with a glaringly obvious observation that makes it not at all difficult to piece it together.
“This is the most magical place on the planet, Esme.”
However, it was watching Abigail figure it out and see the evidence and draw her own realization to it, to make her own judgment calls and act rightfully so is what made it compelling. 🕵🏻♀️ But treachery came in many forms, and the ever-present question of knowing was what made it interesting. Even though in the back of my mind, I knew which way it pointed. It's tragic that the police put very little effort into finding out the suspect, but with due time, we do get to see why.
I felt like I'm not smart enough to fully explain the rich scientific details of Soap Lake's wondrous charm; however, it was nicely imbued into Esme's storyline. 👍🏻 It draws on the intrigue and this elusive if not mysterious and quite disturbing cabal of powerful forces at play; monstrous and invisible, surreptitiously hidden in the shadows that makes it difficult to put any particular finger at one individual.
The relationships were definitely the stronghold of the story; the friendships, if not alliances Abigail forged upon encountering Esme's forsaken son is what propelled the story, enriched further by encountering those who shaped Esme's history and allowed Abigail to play detective and sympathizer. ❤️🩹 And it worked.
It worked because even Esme made questionable choices that often felt self-serving; it made her appear at times a bit selfish, but sadly, she tried in vain, always to make up for it. 😟 It's the desperation that clings to the innocent that also gnaws at you; robbed from those who did not deserve to be caught in the fire; it was sad to see how much of the challenges she faced whilst living in Soap Lake, were simply due to being in the wrong place, wrong time, and yet, still pay the price dearly.
“Down deep,” he said, “there are miracles.”
Midnight in Soap Lake, itself? The cartoonish cover (other than highlighting the critical moments in Esme's life) felt a bit of a disservice to the serious subject matter. It also never really quite rung true for real-time events, but actually relates to the sinister works at play - on a larger scale. 🤔 Yet the descriptive vivid imagery of the lake's presence, itself: haunting and cryptic; but also oddly innocent.
It's not its fault that mankind has ripped away the beauty of its natural elements, ones which are at risk of being endangered the further it's in the hands of those who are contaminating its waters. ☠️ The myth surrounding its waters was a bit of a stretch, tbh; but it showed how far gone humans can behave to protect themselves.
The ending took kind of a leap that felt - not rushed, but not wholly and fully explored, as much as it deserved; which I felt mainly lay in part for how much time was already spent. 😕 That any longer would have exceeded the reader's tolerance ie me. I liked that it was resolved and the reveal was done well, but I wish we could have got a closing scene to feel more fulfilled. Eli - I feel bad for Eli; he was the lynchpin that brought Abigail here, and yet, we didn't get to much of his further endeavors or discoveries in detail... 😔
Honestly, I feel like this could make for a good movie; it was a cinematic read - visually, because the tie-in between Esme and Abigail was what made it necessary to know so much so of how and why certain events took place. 🍿 I'd go into detail about Esme's past, but the thrill I think was watching it happen - in time. Then to see it land into Abigail's present and see then how the next step would proceed is really what had me invested, despite how lengthy a read it is. And that does make for a good read. ❇️
“Sometimes the story has no end. Sometimes it just keeps going.”
They say the past influences the present; in this case rightfully so. Just as much so as these fleeting but assuredly true thoughts passed through Abigail's mind, once she found herself newly married when her limnologist husband, Eli had deserted her in this place-outside-of-time, the small town of Soap Lake, Washington, to pursue a more promising venture in the Polish waters - loneliness: it felt sometimes like it possessed you. 😟
For it was also this very reason why Esme returned to her home she herself had abandoned in a way to escape her demons, hoping to outrun her enemies, hoping to bury her untold secrets, only to face her tragic end, that ultimately led Abigail right into the heart of a most insidious and treacherous conspiracy that inadvertently tied human lives together in the most unsuspecting and tragic of ways. 💔
It was a slow-moving mystery, but still a very immersive experience, one which -- it's long. It's long because we have to say the pivotal crucial moments of Esme's life that parallel Abigail unearthing the correlation between her own findings and have it connect. 🪢 But, one complaint is that the author makes it quite apparent how the events of Esme's pasts led to her demise, with a glaringly obvious observation that makes it not at all difficult to piece it together.
“This is the most magical place on the planet, Esme.”
However, it was watching Abigail figure it out and see the evidence and draw her own realization to it, to make her own judgment calls and act rightfully so is what made it compelling. 🕵🏻♀️ But treachery came in many forms, and the ever-present question of knowing was what made it interesting. Even though in the back of my mind, I knew which way it pointed. It's tragic that the police put very little effort into finding out the suspect, but with due time, we do get to see why.
I felt like I'm not smart enough to fully explain the rich scientific details of Soap Lake's wondrous charm; however, it was nicely imbued into Esme's storyline. 👍🏻 It draws on the intrigue and this elusive if not mysterious and quite disturbing cabal of powerful forces at play; monstrous and invisible, surreptitiously hidden in the shadows that makes it difficult to put any particular finger at one individual.
The relationships were definitely the stronghold of the story; the friendships, if not alliances Abigail forged upon encountering Esme's forsaken son is what propelled the story, enriched further by encountering those who shaped Esme's history and allowed Abigail to play detective and sympathizer. ❤️🩹 And it worked.
It worked because even Esme made questionable choices that often felt self-serving; it made her appear at times a bit selfish, but sadly, she tried in vain, always to make up for it. 😟 It's the desperation that clings to the innocent that also gnaws at you; robbed from those who did not deserve to be caught in the fire; it was sad to see how much of the challenges she faced whilst living in Soap Lake, were simply due to being in the wrong place, wrong time, and yet, still pay the price dearly.
“Down deep,” he said, “there are miracles.”
Midnight in Soap Lake, itself? The cartoonish cover (other than highlighting the critical moments in Esme's life) felt a bit of a disservice to the serious subject matter. It also never really quite rung true for real-time events, but actually relates to the sinister works at play - on a larger scale. 🤔 Yet the descriptive vivid imagery of the lake's presence, itself: haunting and cryptic; but also oddly innocent.
It's not its fault that mankind has ripped away the beauty of its natural elements, ones which are at risk of being endangered the further it's in the hands of those who are contaminating its waters. ☠️ The myth surrounding its waters was a bit of a stretch, tbh; but it showed how far gone humans can behave to protect themselves.
The ending took kind of a leap that felt - not rushed, but not wholly and fully explored, as much as it deserved; which I felt mainly lay in part for how much time was already spent. 😕 That any longer would have exceeded the reader's tolerance ie me. I liked that it was resolved and the reveal was done well, but I wish we could have got a closing scene to feel more fulfilled. Eli - I feel bad for Eli; he was the lynchpin that brought Abigail here, and yet, we didn't get to much of his further endeavors or discoveries in detail... 😔
Honestly, I feel like this could make for a good movie; it was a cinematic read - visually, because the tie-in between Esme and Abigail was what made it necessary to know so much so of how and why certain events took place. 🍿 I'd go into detail about Esme's past, but the thrill I think was watching it happen - in time. Then to see it land into Abigail's present and see then how the next step would proceed is really what had me invested, despite how lengthy a read it is. And that does make for a good read. ❇️
June 26, 2025
A dreamlike book with a mysterious and somewhat mystical lake in a small town in Washington state. The characters are quirky, dysfunctional, and there is a resident boogeyman in the form of TreeTop. Abigail, along with her husband, come to Soap Lake which he is going to research. In a last-minute change of plans, he ends up going to Poland for research and she is left there among a very strange cast of characters. She finds a young boy alone, and soon discovers his mother, who is from Soap Lake, has been murdered. She works to help solve this with helpful and not so helpful townspeople.
There were some things I wasn't so sure about such as exactly why the murders kept happening, but I enjoyed this, and it is a really fun read. It is also well-written and though provoking.
There were some things I wasn't so sure about such as exactly why the murders kept happening, but I enjoyed this, and it is a really fun read. It is also well-written and though provoking.
February 27, 2025
Well color me impressed! This book is captivating, well written, and full of interest featuring a small town with big secrets.
Do you ever choose a book out of curiosity and don’t expect much of it? That was this book for me. I chose this book because the setting is Soap Lake, about a 2 hour drive west of where I live. We drive through this town every time we’re headed to or through the mountains and it is not a place to stop for any reason. When we see the lake, we have driven a few hours through farm and scrub land with no rest stops so Soap lake is a bit of a relief to see. However, there is only one place to stop, a really nice outhouse type structure, on the outskirts of the gated RV park on the lake. There is a mini mart but it is not inviting to travelers. There are no fast food places or visible stores or coffee shops. It’s safe to say that Soap Lake is a place to quickly drive through toward your destination. Never in my wildest imagination did I think a whole book could be written about this little blip on the map of my great state! But boy was I wrong!
This author not only brought Soap Lake to life, he created colorful and quirky characters that I cared about, some I disliked, and a few I rooted for. This book is written with two storylines, side by side, past and present, intertwining until they masterfully come together with all the reveals.
This is a great book with a compelling story. This book touched my soul and I won’t ever forget it. I can assure you that I will see Soap Lake with new eyes the next time we’re passing through!
If you love books about small town life where a tragic and mysterious murder takes place and a lake that has ancient healing powers, then put this one on your TBR. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on April 15, 2025
Do you ever choose a book out of curiosity and don’t expect much of it? That was this book for me. I chose this book because the setting is Soap Lake, about a 2 hour drive west of where I live. We drive through this town every time we’re headed to or through the mountains and it is not a place to stop for any reason. When we see the lake, we have driven a few hours through farm and scrub land with no rest stops so Soap lake is a bit of a relief to see. However, there is only one place to stop, a really nice outhouse type structure, on the outskirts of the gated RV park on the lake. There is a mini mart but it is not inviting to travelers. There are no fast food places or visible stores or coffee shops. It’s safe to say that Soap Lake is a place to quickly drive through toward your destination. Never in my wildest imagination did I think a whole book could be written about this little blip on the map of my great state! But boy was I wrong!
This author not only brought Soap Lake to life, he created colorful and quirky characters that I cared about, some I disliked, and a few I rooted for. This book is written with two storylines, side by side, past and present, intertwining until they masterfully come together with all the reveals.
This is a great book with a compelling story. This book touched my soul and I won’t ever forget it. I can assure you that I will see Soap Lake with new eyes the next time we’re passing through!
If you love books about small town life where a tragic and mysterious murder takes place and a lake that has ancient healing powers, then put this one on your TBR. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on April 15, 2025
July 17, 2024
“Midnight in the Orchard by the Lake” is a thriller packed with urban legends, eco horror and recommended for fans of “twin peaks” and “castle rock”.
The plot follows two women whose lives intersect; and offers multiple POV and timeline cross overs through alternate chapters.
Abigail has moved to Soap Lake in support of her husband. She is left alone when he is away travelling for work and out of boredom she begins to explore, leading her to find a mysterious young boy running through the desert. She is intrigued enough to investigate the history and secrets of this unusual town.
Esme is a Soap Lake local who is obsessed with the legend of Treetop, she intends to leave the town in her rear view mirror but events lead to her return.
There is mystery, conspiracy, legends, paranormal feel. This is definitely a book outside of my usual genre that offered lots of intrigue.
Thank you to HTP, Matthew Sullivan and NetGalley for the EARC!
Publish date: April 15th 2025
The plot follows two women whose lives intersect; and offers multiple POV and timeline cross overs through alternate chapters.
Abigail has moved to Soap Lake in support of her husband. She is left alone when he is away travelling for work and out of boredom she begins to explore, leading her to find a mysterious young boy running through the desert. She is intrigued enough to investigate the history and secrets of this unusual town.
Esme is a Soap Lake local who is obsessed with the legend of Treetop, she intends to leave the town in her rear view mirror but events lead to her return.
There is mystery, conspiracy, legends, paranormal feel. This is definitely a book outside of my usual genre that offered lots of intrigue.
Thank you to HTP, Matthew Sullivan and NetGalley for the EARC!
Publish date: April 15th 2025
December 7, 2024
Don’t pick up “Midnight in Soap Lake” a new thriller by Matthew Sullivan unless you have time to be immediately and completely captivated. I was just going to read the first short chapter before bed and…not possible.
Newlywed Abigail has found herself alone in desolate Soap Lake, Washington (a real town and a real meromictic lake), after her husband Eli flies off to Poland for work studying microbes.
One day as she is out walking in the desert, a very young boy appears at a run and hurls himself at her. He is covered in blood. It’s not his.
Abigail is then thrown into a mystery that involves a young woman named Esme, a local Urban Myth-type Boogeyman called TreeTop, and a handsome local cop named Krunk.
The characters are all unique and fascinating, and the plot is absolutely riveting. I hope the real denizens of Soap Lake are amused by the way Sullivan turned their small town into such a grotesque and creepy burg, because it was so much fun to be there in this story.
Sullivan had me enthralled all the way, and I’m happy to say I did NOT figure out the murderer, though I tried. I love it when an author fools and surprises me and I think: “Oh! Of course!”
“Midnight in Soap Lake” comes out in April 2025, you’ll want to pre-order this one for you and your book clubs!
Many thanks to Harper Collins/Hanover Square Press for an ARC of this entertaining mystery!
Newlywed Abigail has found herself alone in desolate Soap Lake, Washington (a real town and a real meromictic lake), after her husband Eli flies off to Poland for work studying microbes.
One day as she is out walking in the desert, a very young boy appears at a run and hurls himself at her. He is covered in blood. It’s not his.
Abigail is then thrown into a mystery that involves a young woman named Esme, a local Urban Myth-type Boogeyman called TreeTop, and a handsome local cop named Krunk.
The characters are all unique and fascinating, and the plot is absolutely riveting. I hope the real denizens of Soap Lake are amused by the way Sullivan turned their small town into such a grotesque and creepy burg, because it was so much fun to be there in this story.
Sullivan had me enthralled all the way, and I’m happy to say I did NOT figure out the murderer, though I tried. I love it when an author fools and surprises me and I think: “Oh! Of course!”
“Midnight in Soap Lake” comes out in April 2025, you’ll want to pre-order this one for you and your book clubs!
Many thanks to Harper Collins/Hanover Square Press for an ARC of this entertaining mystery!
Read
April 21, 2025DNF @ 54% - 4/21/25
April 13, 2025
The description of this book compares the setting to Twin Peaks or to Stephen King's Castle Rock. I think the Twin Peaks comparison is especially accurate. The story in this unique book unfolds through a dual timeline and alternates points-of-view between two young women living in the small town of Soap Lake, Washington. Esme grew up in the town, but flees suddenly, only to return with a small child that nobody in her family knew she had. That boy, George, connects her with Abigail, who moved to Soap Lake with her husband, a scientist who is studying the unique properties of the lake.
Abigail wants to learn more about Esme and some of the strange happenings in the town, including the urban legend of TreeTop, who stalks the town from the apple orchards. I enjoyed the character of Abigail as she digs for information and finds new purpose in her life, separate from her husband. Her connection with little George is touching and I liked her friendship with George's uncle, Daniel. I couldn't really connect with most of the other characters who range from evil to quirky to dull. However, the book is very engaging, and I was invested to find out the reasons behind the curious events, including some deaths, in the town and the lake itself. The book's ending was a bit more ambiguous than I prefer, but I am glad I read this book by new-to-me author, Sullivan.
I received an advance copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing and The Hive for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
Abigail wants to learn more about Esme and some of the strange happenings in the town, including the urban legend of TreeTop, who stalks the town from the apple orchards. I enjoyed the character of Abigail as she digs for information and finds new purpose in her life, separate from her husband. Her connection with little George is touching and I liked her friendship with George's uncle, Daniel. I couldn't really connect with most of the other characters who range from evil to quirky to dull. However, the book is very engaging, and I was invested to find out the reasons behind the curious events, including some deaths, in the town and the lake itself. The book's ending was a bit more ambiguous than I prefer, but I am glad I read this book by new-to-me author, Sullivan.
I received an advance copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing and The Hive for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
January 19, 2025
I loved this book so much! Being a resident of Soap Lake definitely is the reason I read it, but honestly, I think anyone anywhere would love this story.
The characters are very deep and he really nails small town life and what it’s like to live in the middle of nowhere in a town with more closed stores than open ones! Also the very real struggle between the haves and the have nots.
He also gives a very accurate telling about what it’s like to have such a rare and precious gift to protect that the powers that be can NOT allow it to be saved and keep their own gift. Soap Lake is in need of protection and it really does offer the possibility of offering something to all of humanity.
The writing is very well done and he creates an entire community and shows their interactions with skill. I don’t usually read anything scary at all, and this is why! I was so scared last night I closed all my shades! and, thank you for bringing our Lava Lamp to life again. I BELIEVE!
The characters are very deep and he really nails small town life and what it’s like to live in the middle of nowhere in a town with more closed stores than open ones! Also the very real struggle between the haves and the have nots.
He also gives a very accurate telling about what it’s like to have such a rare and precious gift to protect that the powers that be can NOT allow it to be saved and keep their own gift. Soap Lake is in need of protection and it really does offer the possibility of offering something to all of humanity.
The writing is very well done and he creates an entire community and shows their interactions with skill. I don’t usually read anything scary at all, and this is why! I was so scared last night I closed all my shades! and, thank you for bringing our Lava Lamp to life again. I BELIEVE!
November 4, 2025
If you’ve been following me a while, it shouldn’t be surprising that I’m a big fan of Matthew Sullivan. His debut novel, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, was one of my favorite books of 2017. There was a lot that it had going for it, and I never shied away from talking about it to my wife and mother-in-law. If I could, I would have literally shouted its merits from the world’s largest rooftops. Obviously, that wasn’t happening, so I did the thing I’m know for; the thing I’m passionate about. I reviewed it. Years passed. I waited patiently for his sophomore effort to be published. That finally happened earlier this year, and I couldn’t contain my anticipation. I was particularly intrigued because the setting is familiar territory: Soap Lake, Washington. Approximately thirty minutes from my hometown, I’d visited many times. I’d walked along the sandy beach, gazing at the beautiful lake of its namesake. As a child, I probably played at the little playground there with my siblings. Going into Matt’s novel, however, I had no idea that reading it would serve as an educational journey into the interesting history of the town, let alone the remarkable facets about the lake itself.
If you’re interested, here’s my review of Bright Ideas:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Similar to its predecessor, Midnight in Soap Lake started off simply. The opposite of slow, Sullivan set the foundation of the plot to come, and found a nice balance between his characters and setting. The pacing was sufficient, and he made it fun to get to know one of the two main characters, which is quite the feat, given the mundane life Abigail shared with her husband, Eli. Prior to the catalyst of the novel, her life could even be described as “boring.” In retrospect, I think that was part of the appeal of her choices later on. I suspect she was, to some degree, drowning in boredom. She needed excitement. Not that she wouldn’t have made the same choice either way, but her mental state did play a part.
I won’t be talking too much more about the synopsis or what happens. My reviews are intentionally
spoiler-free.
The prose was exquisite and it flowed with ease. I loved the way it beckoned from the opening sentence, like a stranger leading me astray with vibrant body language to destinations unknown. Sullivan’s word choice throughout was fantastic. Its precision left little ambiguity, while simultaneously maintaining its eerie mysteriousness and dread. Not just mystery pertaining to the genre, either. There was so much more going on. The following isn’t a critique, but worth noting, as it relates to the aforementioned word choices: “chaw.” There were a few instances where I had to stop because I was unfamiliar, and if you know me, I had to look it up. “Chaw” really sticks out, though. It’s different, maybe even a bit odd, but it felt authentic to him, like I can imagine him using such terms. Despite his flaws, I liked him. That probably says more about my tastes than anything, but I loved reading about him. I think he had his share of demons that he kept hidden behind that grizzly exterior. I wish we could’ve gotten to know him better, but doing so would’ve taken away the clinical harshness that he wore like armor.
There was great duality about the book, too. Told in alternating chapters from Abigail’s and Esme’s POV, it almost felt like two different stories, except the way he executed the timelines. The correlating characters never felt clunky or disjointed. It was fascinating to know these very different women, and to watch the locale unfold in similar and different capacities. Even though their worldviews couldn’t have more different, there were similarities, too. In another world or timeline, I can see them being inseparable, best friends.
For me, the beauty of Midnight in Soap Lake wasn’t just the impressive character development of Esme and Abigail. Like Stephen King and others before him, Sullivan took joy in populating a town whose population was less than two thousand, and imbued them with personalities, life stories, and autonomy their own. You really get to know characters like Silas, Mr. and Mrs. Polk, Sophia, Abe Krunk, and others. They had values, attitudes, and objectives. And then there was the lake itself (historically, believed to heal the injured,) and of course, “The World’s Largest Lava Lamp.”
There was a really well-executed lore about Soap Lake, emanating from it in unbelievably complex ways. Not unlike King’s Castle Rock, or David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, the lore surrounding it was steeped heavily in sordid history, and many times throughout the novel, it almost felt claustrophobic. On more than one occasion, it was impossible not to question if the horrors of the past was all Soap Lake had to offer. Did it have more control over its denizens than they wanted to believe? Worse yet, that the lore (cryptically known as TreeTop,) might just survive the test of time. Was it even human? Was the explanation as clear-cut as the story suggested? Or perhaps there was something supernatural about it all. Like many questions in life, the author left many unanswered. The ones he did give, however, were enough to satisfy me. Now, would I have preferred a little more explanation? Of course. But doing so would diminish the mysterious allure of the town, and the story itself.
Highly recommended. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
If you’re interested, here’s my review of Bright Ideas:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Similar to its predecessor, Midnight in Soap Lake started off simply. The opposite of slow, Sullivan set the foundation of the plot to come, and found a nice balance between his characters and setting. The pacing was sufficient, and he made it fun to get to know one of the two main characters, which is quite the feat, given the mundane life Abigail shared with her husband, Eli. Prior to the catalyst of the novel, her life could even be described as “boring.” In retrospect, I think that was part of the appeal of her choices later on. I suspect she was, to some degree, drowning in boredom. She needed excitement. Not that she wouldn’t have made the same choice either way, but her mental state did play a part.
I won’t be talking too much more about the synopsis or what happens. My reviews are intentionally
spoiler-free.
Yesterday, while walking along this desolate irrigation road, she’d spotted a cow skull between tumbleweeds, straight out of a tattoo parlor, but when she ran toward it, bracing to take a picture and send it to Eli across the planet—proof, perhaps, that she ever left the house—she discovered it was just a white plastic grocery bag snagged on a curl of sage bark.
Somehow. Way out here.
The desert was scabby with dark basalt, bristled with the husks of flowers, and nothing was ever there.
The prose was exquisite and it flowed with ease. I loved the way it beckoned from the opening sentence, like a stranger leading me astray with vibrant body language to destinations unknown. Sullivan’s word choice throughout was fantastic. Its precision left little ambiguity, while simultaneously maintaining its eerie mysteriousness and dread. Not just mystery pertaining to the genre, either. There was so much more going on. The following isn’t a critique, but worth noting, as it relates to the aforementioned word choices: “chaw.” There were a few instances where I had to stop because I was unfamiliar, and if you know me, I had to look it up. “Chaw” really sticks out, though. It’s different, maybe even a bit odd, but it felt authentic to him, like I can imagine him using such terms. Despite his flaws, I liked him. That probably says more about my tastes than anything, but I loved reading about him. I think he had his share of demons that he kept hidden behind that grizzly exterior. I wish we could’ve gotten to know him better, but doing so would’ve taken away the clinical harshness that he wore like armor.
There was great duality about the book, too. Told in alternating chapters from Abigail’s and Esme’s POV, it almost felt like two different stories, except the way he executed the timelines. The correlating characters never felt clunky or disjointed. It was fascinating to know these very different women, and to watch the locale unfold in similar and different capacities. Even though their worldviews couldn’t have more different, there were similarities, too. In another world or timeline, I can see them being inseparable, best friends.
For me, the beauty of Midnight in Soap Lake wasn’t just the impressive character development of Esme and Abigail. Like Stephen King and others before him, Sullivan took joy in populating a town whose population was less than two thousand, and imbued them with personalities, life stories, and autonomy their own. You really get to know characters like Silas, Mr. and Mrs. Polk, Sophia, Abe Krunk, and others. They had values, attitudes, and objectives. And then there was the lake itself (historically, believed to heal the injured,) and of course, “The World’s Largest Lava Lamp.”
Dr. Carla was clearly shaken and Esme needed to get home, so she walked at Dr. Carla’s side to Main Street. A horned owl bobbed on a light post above the barbershop, and some coyotes yipped on the cliffs above the water, but otherwise the town was quiet.
“Remember this moment, Esme…. Tells you everything you need to know about men.”
There was a really well-executed lore about Soap Lake, emanating from it in unbelievably complex ways. Not unlike King’s Castle Rock, or David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, the lore surrounding it was steeped heavily in sordid history, and many times throughout the novel, it almost felt claustrophobic. On more than one occasion, it was impossible not to question if the horrors of the past was all Soap Lake had to offer. Did it have more control over its denizens than they wanted to believe? Worse yet, that the lore (cryptically known as TreeTop,) might just survive the test of time. Was it even human? Was the explanation as clear-cut as the story suggested? Or perhaps there was something supernatural about it all. Like many questions in life, the author left many unanswered. The ones he did give, however, were enough to satisfy me. Now, would I have preferred a little more explanation? Of course. But doing so would diminish the mysterious allure of the town, and the story itself.
Highly recommended. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
March 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Midnight in Soap Lake.
** Spoilers ahead **
Abigail has moved to the small town of Soap Lake, WA for her husband's research.
When he leaves for Poland for a temporary assignment, she finds herself alone haunted by its local legends and secrets.
After a young boy literally stumbles into her life, Abigail discovers a long simmering mystery that goes back decades.
But will it jeopardize her safety?
The premise was intriguing and yes, it takes some time for the pacing to ramp up.
There were parts I liked:
The restorative properties of the lake
Varied cast of characters
Descriptions of the small town
But the narrative got too bogged down in the 'science' of it.
Second, Abigail is not a compelling main character.
She's a typical trope; not ambitious or interesting, just tagging along with her husband because she's got nothing else going on.
I did like Esme and her flashbacks provided necessary exposition to her fate.
Third, I was confused to the purpose of TreeTop.
At first, I hoped he was a supernatural deity, like Pennywise but when he turned out to be nothing more than redneck losers dressed up as an urban legend committing sanctioned murder, that left a bad taste in my mouth.
The scientific elements of the story combined with TreeTop made the narrative messy to read.
It was like the author wasn't sure what he wanted the story to be about; a flat-out mystery with mysterious murders or eco-horror.
The ending is ambiguous, not that I mind, but there are a lot of loose ends in regards to TreeTop and its real purpose.
The writing was good, but the plot was uneven and it could have easily been a straightforward mystery without TreeTop. I would have preferred it that way.
** Spoilers ahead **
Abigail has moved to the small town of Soap Lake, WA for her husband's research.
When he leaves for Poland for a temporary assignment, she finds herself alone haunted by its local legends and secrets.
After a young boy literally stumbles into her life, Abigail discovers a long simmering mystery that goes back decades.
But will it jeopardize her safety?
The premise was intriguing and yes, it takes some time for the pacing to ramp up.
There were parts I liked:
The restorative properties of the lake
Varied cast of characters
Descriptions of the small town
But the narrative got too bogged down in the 'science' of it.
Second, Abigail is not a compelling main character.
She's a typical trope; not ambitious or interesting, just tagging along with her husband because she's got nothing else going on.
I did like Esme and her flashbacks provided necessary exposition to her fate.
Third, I was confused to the purpose of TreeTop.
At first, I hoped he was a supernatural deity, like Pennywise but when he turned out to be nothing more than redneck losers dressed up as an urban legend committing sanctioned murder, that left a bad taste in my mouth.
The scientific elements of the story combined with TreeTop made the narrative messy to read.
It was like the author wasn't sure what he wanted the story to be about; a flat-out mystery with mysterious murders or eco-horror.
The ending is ambiguous, not that I mind, but there are a lot of loose ends in regards to TreeTop and its real purpose.
The writing was good, but the plot was uneven and it could have easily been a straightforward mystery without TreeTop. I would have preferred it that way.
October 21, 2024
Oh boy, I was so sure I was going to give this a five star review, but I ended the book feeling betrayed.
I liked the setting of this story, really liked the characters and how nuanced they all are. I liked the premise and how multiple questions arise throughout the book and how most of them get solved too.
Spoilers start here:
My main issue with this book was the ending. I feel like I needed a decent epilogue and that was not it. I invested a lot of time in this plot, going back and forth, reading the same event told from different perspectives, which got a bit tiring at some point, but ok, still interesting. To get to the end of the last chapter and not find out what happened to these characters I cared about? I really dislike when authors do that: “leaving it open for interpretation”, especially in such a long book. Speaking of long book, I think this work could have used more editing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2025
This was well written and intriguing, but I have no clue what this book wants to be. Horror? Mystery? And from this title/cover, I get neither of those things. I have a feeling this will struggle to find the right audience. The ending did not feel satisfying, either.
June 10, 2025
Midnight in Soap Lake gives me Twin Peaks vibes. Although the plot is not similar, the small town quirky characters, an underlying and unrushed mystery and the Washington state location evoke Twin Peaks.
Soap Lake is a real town In Washington with an ancient lake that has an extremely high mineral count and microbes that haven't been found elsewhere. The sciency bits are quite interesting. The story meanders a bit and there isn't much of a resolution; however, Matthew Sullivan's writing is engaging and you will feel you've taken a trip to Soap Lake by the end of the novel.
Soap Lake is a real town In Washington with an ancient lake that has an extremely high mineral count and microbes that haven't been found elsewhere. The sciency bits are quite interesting. The story meanders a bit and there isn't much of a resolution; however, Matthew Sullivan's writing is engaging and you will feel you've taken a trip to Soap Lake by the end of the novel.
May 12, 2025
Abigail has moved to Soap Lake, Washington, for her husband’s research of the town lake which supposedly has healing properties. After he leaves to Poland for a research trip, she finds herself alone, in a town surrounded by sand and haunted by its own urban legends.
When a young boy runs through the desert into Abigail’s arms, she becomes involved with the town and its mysteries, one of which is the death of the little boy's mother, Esme. Abigail finds herself becoming invested in learning about Esme's life. And what does the mysterious, eerie figure called Treetop have to do with it all?
I listened to the audiobook. The narrator matched the tone of the novel but I wasn't a fan of some of the voices used for the characters. Otherwise I think the audiobook made the book a better reading experience than the physical book would have. This is partly because the book is quite long. I wasn't a fan of the writing style. At first I enjoyed it because the author does a good job of setting the scenes, but then I eventually found everything overly detailed. It just became a lot to take in and slowed the pace down.
It takes a long time for anything to begin happening. It was past the halfway point and I still felt like I was being eased into the story. Overall the story is still a little confusing even at the end. I didn't care for any of the characters and I feel like I was supposed to. I can't say what I think about Esme's character without spoilers but there are things that are brought up concerning her and never properly discussed.
#hiveinfluencer #htpbooks #htp_hive
When a young boy runs through the desert into Abigail’s arms, she becomes involved with the town and its mysteries, one of which is the death of the little boy's mother, Esme. Abigail finds herself becoming invested in learning about Esme's life. And what does the mysterious, eerie figure called Treetop have to do with it all?
I listened to the audiobook. The narrator matched the tone of the novel but I wasn't a fan of some of the voices used for the characters. Otherwise I think the audiobook made the book a better reading experience than the physical book would have. This is partly because the book is quite long. I wasn't a fan of the writing style. At first I enjoyed it because the author does a good job of setting the scenes, but then I eventually found everything overly detailed. It just became a lot to take in and slowed the pace down.
It takes a long time for anything to begin happening. It was past the halfway point and I still felt like I was being eased into the story. Overall the story is still a little confusing even at the end. I didn't care for any of the characters and I feel like I was supposed to. I can't say what I think about Esme's character without spoilers but there are things that are brought up concerning her and never properly discussed.
#hiveinfluencer #htpbooks #htp_hive
April 27, 2025
2.5 Stars
September 8, 2025
I saw this book at Barns and fell in love with the cover so you know I had to pick it up! We start the book with a couple, Abigail and Eli, moving to Soap Lake, Washington to do research on this magical lake. We get this incredible world building in this strange place, and I love how all the characters on the cover gets introduced. And there’s this creepy myth that goes around the town named TreeTop which stalks and kill’s people around the town. The first half was so much fun!
During the second half, Eli leaves town and starts a new project overseas, and Abigail finds herself in a pickle. Where this picks loses me is what once was a a cult-horror esk book becomes a detective thriller/murder mystery which I’m not a fan of. It also goes too far into the science of the lake, why everybody is obsessed with it and what exactly the lake does. There was a lot of questions I was left with, but upon further reading I’m pretty sure this is gonna end up being a series which the questions I have will probably end up being answered.
Overall the first half with so much fun which I’ll constantly think about along with this beautiful cover. Second half with meh. But was a good palate cleanser and I’m glad I stepped out of my usual comfort zone.
During the second half, Eli leaves town and starts a new project overseas, and Abigail finds herself in a pickle. Where this picks loses me is what once was a a cult-horror esk book becomes a detective thriller/murder mystery which I’m not a fan of. It also goes too far into the science of the lake, why everybody is obsessed with it and what exactly the lake does. There was a lot of questions I was left with, but upon further reading I’m pretty sure this is gonna end up being a series which the questions I have will probably end up being answered.
Overall the first half with so much fun which I’ll constantly think about along with this beautiful cover. Second half with meh. But was a good palate cleanser and I’m glad I stepped out of my usual comfort zone.
April 24, 2025
Midnight in Soap Lake weaves together a solid mystery with environmental themes. It is a fast-paced thriller with far more deaths than I expected. At times it feels like a "cozy" mystery, but it extends itself into unexpected and interesting territory to present a novel that is far more political and insightful than it might seem on first glance.
I appreciate Sullivan's prose, which drives the story consistently forward and does not get mired in self-admiration. The narrative is constructed elegantly, weaving together the events of the two main characters' lives. Details return at key moments to keep things tied together without feeling contrived. Much of the magic of the story is just the coincidental nature of things happening, and balancing those coincidences with events that are very much determined.
The details and structure of the mystery were satisfying, but unpredictable. There is a good amount of science both directly discussed and assumed/implied by the narrative, which added a super modern twist. With the events that wrap up the story in mind, it is easy to read this novel as a deceptively insightful portrayal of our late stage hypercapitalist dystopia / environmental catastrophe. To some extent that is made obvious by the plot, but Sullivan is clearly aware of deeper trends and issues in the areas of commercial agriculture, climate change, and modern environmentalism, which holds everything together within the bounds of believability.
In all, this is a very good read. It is enjoyable on many levels and rewards contemplation.
I appreciate Sullivan's prose, which drives the story consistently forward and does not get mired in self-admiration. The narrative is constructed elegantly, weaving together the events of the two main characters' lives. Details return at key moments to keep things tied together without feeling contrived. Much of the magic of the story is just the coincidental nature of things happening, and balancing those coincidences with events that are very much determined.
The details and structure of the mystery were satisfying, but unpredictable. There is a good amount of science both directly discussed and assumed/implied by the narrative, which added a super modern twist. With the events that wrap up the story in mind, it is easy to read this novel as a deceptively insightful portrayal of our late stage hypercapitalist dystopia / environmental catastrophe. To some extent that is made obvious by the plot, but Sullivan is clearly aware of deeper trends and issues in the areas of commercial agriculture, climate change, and modern environmentalism, which holds everything together within the bounds of believability.
In all, this is a very good read. It is enjoyable on many levels and rewards contemplation.
June 21, 2025
My mom, dad and my brother and I used to drive through Soap Lake on our way to Western Washington in the 50’s. I don’t remember much about it. I did not know the world’s biggest lava lamp was never finished. At one time my parents owned 2 lots there. Looks like it’s a good thing they sold them.
I was intrigued with this story but I did not feel that all the mysteries were resolved in the end. A good story, it held my interest, right up to the last page.
I was intrigued with this story but I did not feel that all the mysteries were resolved in the end. A good story, it held my interest, right up to the last page.
April 30, 2025
Midnight in Soap Lake by Matthew Sullivan is based on a fascinating actual lake! The story is part science fiction, part murder mystery, and part urban legend. I expected a more unusual ending based on the rest of the book. In addition, I finish unsure if I even understand the reasons why behind the mystery. Nevertheless, I am fascinated by the place.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025...
Reviewed for NetGalley and the Harlequin Trade Publishing's Winter 2025 Blog Tour Program.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025...
Reviewed for NetGalley and the Harlequin Trade Publishing's Winter 2025 Blog Tour Program.
April 22, 2025
The plot follows two women whose lives intersect and offers multiple points of view and timeline crossovers through alternate chapters. Abigail has moved to Soap Lake in support of her husband. She is left alone when he is away traveling for work, and out of boredom, she begins to explore, leading her to find a mysterious young boy running through the desert. She is intrigued enough to investigate the history and secrets of this unusual town. Esme is a Soap Lake local who is interested in the legend of Treetop. She intends to leave the town, but events lead to her return. The book contains elements of mystery, conspiracy, legends, and a paranormal aspect. It is not within the usual genre but provides lots of intrigue.
I had the honor of reading this EARC thanks to Netgalley!
I had the honor of reading this EARC thanks to Netgalley!
April 25, 2025
Disappointing. I was hoping this is as good as the Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore☹️
April 18, 2025
rounding down from 4.3 stars
When I started this book I expected an Erin Brockavich type scenario mixed with a Slenderman type lore.
This was so much more! There was murder, local lore, corruption, mystery, and serious character growth.
At times you are left wondering if you are just looking for conspiracies that don't exist or if you're actually onto something.
This was quite different from other suspense novels I've read. it kept me intrigued and I'm anxious to read another book by Matthew J. Sullivan
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When I started this book I expected an Erin Brockavich type scenario mixed with a Slenderman type lore.
This was so much more! There was murder, local lore, corruption, mystery, and serious character growth.
At times you are left wondering if you are just looking for conspiracies that don't exist or if you're actually onto something.
This was quite different from other suspense novels I've read. it kept me intrigued and I'm anxious to read another book by Matthew J. Sullivan
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 16, 2025
3.5⭐️
This is a really unique story with quirky characters, a mysterious lake, and a mystery to solve. I really liked the use of dual times to tell this story! I definitely connected with Esme and Abigail. I recommend going into this one blind and avoiding spoilers. This isn’t one of those books where everything will be perfectly be tied up at the end…but if you like a little extra mystery in your life, I would give this a read!
✨What to Expect:
🏡Small Town
🌊Lake With Mysterious Properties
🔍Mystery
⁉️Thriller Vibes
⏰Dual Timelines
🔪Urban Legends
🧩Puzzle Hunt Scenarios
💖Quirky Characters
This is a really unique story with quirky characters, a mysterious lake, and a mystery to solve. I really liked the use of dual times to tell this story! I definitely connected with Esme and Abigail. I recommend going into this one blind and avoiding spoilers. This isn’t one of those books where everything will be perfectly be tied up at the end…but if you like a little extra mystery in your life, I would give this a read!
✨What to Expect:
🏡Small Town
🌊Lake With Mysterious Properties
🔍Mystery
⁉️Thriller Vibes
⏰Dual Timelines
🔪Urban Legends
🧩Puzzle Hunt Scenarios
💖Quirky Characters
March 27, 2025
I wanted to like this more than I did. It had a great premise that promised to be original but it fell a little flat for me. The set up was good and I found myself sucked into the story very quickly but I felt the pacing was off and it lost me after the initial set up. I was hoping that it would pick back up in the third act and it did slightly pick up but unfortunately it was a bit too late.
I enjoyed following the 2 main characters through their alternating timelines but there were quite a few side characters that I found myself not really caring about.
I think there were just a few too many puzzle pieces and it lost me along the way.
I enjoyed following the 2 main characters through their alternating timelines but there were quite a few side characters that I found myself not really caring about.
I think there were just a few too many puzzle pieces and it lost me along the way.
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