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The Midnight Knock: A Novel
For fans of Stuart Turton and Blake Crouch, a mind-bending locked-room thriller about eight strangers trapped in a remote Texas motel as they race against time to save their lives—from the acclaimed author of the “compelling, thought-provoking, page-turning” (Paul Tremblay, author of
The Cabin at the End of the World
)
No Road Home
.
In the frigid west Texas desert, seven weary travelers converge on a lonely motel at the foot of a massive mountain. Ethan and Hunter have left behind a corpse, an arson, and a horrific act of violence. Kyla and Fernanda are making a desperate escape to the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are on their way back from Mexico with a mysterious man pursuing them on a motorcycle. All of them are on the run from something. All of them have something to hide.
And somehow, they’re all connected to the motel’s eighth guest, an enigmatic woman named Sarah Powers.
Within hours, Sarah is dead. The strange twins who run the motel inform the surviving guests that her murder demands justice. The guests are given an bring proof of who killed Sarah Powers by midnight or die when the protective lights around the motel go out.
Because something very old and very dangerous lurks in this corner of the desert. And it’s hungry.
But nothing at the Brake Inn Motel is quite as it seems. As time ticks away, alliances fracture, and secrets unravel, the guests will have to confront not just the violence of the past—they will need to face the darkness within themselves.
A masterful blend of psychological tension, supernatural horror, and intricate storytelling, The Midnight Knock pushes the boundaries of what a mystery can be. And with its unforgettable climax, this novel cements John Fram as a contemporary master of thrillers.
In the frigid west Texas desert, seven weary travelers converge on a lonely motel at the foot of a massive mountain. Ethan and Hunter have left behind a corpse, an arson, and a horrific act of violence. Kyla and Fernanda are making a desperate escape to the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are on their way back from Mexico with a mysterious man pursuing them on a motorcycle. All of them are on the run from something. All of them have something to hide.
And somehow, they’re all connected to the motel’s eighth guest, an enigmatic woman named Sarah Powers.
Within hours, Sarah is dead. The strange twins who run the motel inform the surviving guests that her murder demands justice. The guests are given an bring proof of who killed Sarah Powers by midnight or die when the protective lights around the motel go out.
Because something very old and very dangerous lurks in this corner of the desert. And it’s hungry.
But nothing at the Brake Inn Motel is quite as it seems. As time ticks away, alliances fracture, and secrets unravel, the guests will have to confront not just the violence of the past—they will need to face the darkness within themselves.
A masterful blend of psychological tension, supernatural horror, and intricate storytelling, The Midnight Knock pushes the boundaries of what a mystery can be. And with its unforgettable climax, this novel cements John Fram as a contemporary master of thrillers.
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First published October 21, 2025
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About the author
John Fram
3 books429 followersI'm John, author of the queer supernatural thriller THE BRIGHT LANDS, which was named a best a debut of 2020 by CrimeReads and BookPage, was called a great summer read by Rolling Stone and is that one thriller with the messed-up ending that got your mom's book club canceled.
My new Gothic chiller, NO ROAD HOME, has been named a notable book by the Washington Post, a most anticipated book by Cosmopolitan and is pulling a way more positive Goodreads score. It's available now wherever books are sold.
Check out my website where you can sign up for my newsletter, WHY IS THIS SO SCARY, a biweekly deep dive into my favorite works of horror in all its forms. You can also keep up with all my upcoming events and check out previous appearances and podcasts. And speaking of appearances, I love talking to book clubs. If you'd like to talk about NO ROAD HOME, shoot me an email from the contact form on my site.
A native of Texas, I bounce between Waco and Austin.
My new Gothic chiller, NO ROAD HOME, has been named a notable book by the Washington Post, a most anticipated book by Cosmopolitan and is pulling a way more positive Goodreads score. It's available now wherever books are sold.
Check out my website where you can sign up for my newsletter, WHY IS THIS SO SCARY, a biweekly deep dive into my favorite works of horror in all its forms. You can also keep up with all my upcoming events and check out previous appearances and podcasts. And speaking of appearances, I love talking to book clubs. If you'd like to talk about NO ROAD HOME, shoot me an email from the contact form on my site.
A native of Texas, I bounce between Waco and Austin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 536 reviews
August 13, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Have you ever had a significant other who had so much potential that you were certain they were the one? But after years and years of perseverance and relational fortitude they failed to live up to that potential and you were forced to make the age old decision about whether to stay or go.
That was like this book for me.
It started off great. We went out on a first date, met all the characters and established an intoxicating setting. We even shared a goodnight kiss when the supernatural creatures were introduced. Our second and third dates were equally magical. We learned about a time loop and met a mystical man.
We became exclusive at this point and shared an amazing first year together. We spent more time with the characters and learned more about their backstories. We tried to solve murders together. It was spectacular.
But then something happened. I realized that I was the only one growing and they were stuck in the same repetitive cycles. The time loop became grating rather than interesting. The deja vu became less captivating and more plotted and forced.
It was at this point that I started to watch the relationship clock thinking to myself “am I really only 51% of the way through this book?” How many times do I have to listen to the same story about a man in a gabardine suit? Is this really as good as this relationship will ever be?
But me being the stand-up person I am, I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. Let’s not give up just yet. Let’s see where this goes. But I quickly regretted my decision to stay. Our relationship experienced more of the same and I should have known not to expect someone to change who they are. Some things just aren’t meant to be.
The second half of this book played out just like a stagnant, forced and often unhinged relationship, and I didn’t like how it made me feel. I should have left way before I did, but I’m out now and I’m happy to be free.
Moral of the story… if you don’t like a book, stop reading it. Don’t be like me…
Have you ever had a significant other who had so much potential that you were certain they were the one? But after years and years of perseverance and relational fortitude they failed to live up to that potential and you were forced to make the age old decision about whether to stay or go.
That was like this book for me.
It started off great. We went out on a first date, met all the characters and established an intoxicating setting. We even shared a goodnight kiss when the supernatural creatures were introduced. Our second and third dates were equally magical. We learned about a time loop and met a mystical man.
We became exclusive at this point and shared an amazing first year together. We spent more time with the characters and learned more about their backstories. We tried to solve murders together. It was spectacular.
But then something happened. I realized that I was the only one growing and they were stuck in the same repetitive cycles. The time loop became grating rather than interesting. The deja vu became less captivating and more plotted and forced.
It was at this point that I started to watch the relationship clock thinking to myself “am I really only 51% of the way through this book?” How many times do I have to listen to the same story about a man in a gabardine suit? Is this really as good as this relationship will ever be?
But me being the stand-up person I am, I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. Let’s not give up just yet. Let’s see where this goes. But I quickly regretted my decision to stay. Our relationship experienced more of the same and I should have known not to expect someone to change who they are. Some things just aren’t meant to be.
The second half of this book played out just like a stagnant, forced and often unhinged relationship, and I didn’t like how it made me feel. I should have left way before I did, but I’m out now and I’m happy to be free.
Moral of the story… if you don’t like a book, stop reading it. Don’t be like me…
September 10, 2025
Mind-bending, complex, and just horrifying enough to chill you to the bone, The Midnight Knock took all of the best bits from several genres and delivered an out-and-out stunner. With a vibe straight out of The Twilight Zone yet showing plenty of Agatha Christie-esque flair, this locked-room mystery/thriller also brought a heavy dose of horror. You see, it was not only perfect for fans of Stuart Turton and Blake Crouch, but the chill-inducing Stephen King as well. From the gore-filled scenes to the nightmarish premise, the undercurrent of fear blanketed a storyline that was far deeper and more profound than I was ever expecting. After all, this plot was one of the twistiest ones that I’ve ever read, which is really saying something since I’ve read more than my share of jaw-dropping thrillers.
Taking an M. Night Shyamalan-type premise and giving it a murder mystery twist, it was high stakes, fast-paced, and beyond thrilling. As the plot unwound before my eyes in three interlinked parts, the tension and foreboding ratcheted higher and higher while the fear truly took over. Between the layers of dark secrets and the motley crew of morally gray characters, I didn’t know who or what to trust until the last couple of chapters. After all, there were quite a few personas that presented some script-flipping changes. And that conclusion! Seemingly evoking a completely different feel from the rest of the book, I could easily see it playing out on a screen. Cinematic, breathtaking, and complete with some vivid supernatural horror, it was everything I could want from a plot plus just a little bit more.
All said and done, despite my newbie status with horror, I couldn’t find a thing not to love about this dynamite read. With a desolate setting, un-pin-down-able characters, and no lack of cat-and-mouse antics, I fell in love with every piece of this novel. You see, alongside of the traditional horror essentials, there was also plenty of native lore on top of a sci-fi feel. I do have to say, though, that I’m betting this one is going to be rather polarizing. Readers are either going to love it or hate it—especially that ending. While I fell on the “obsessed-with-it” side of the equation, I get that the wide variety of genres might throw some people off. In my opinion, though, it was a complete and utter slam dunk. Bravo, Mr. Fram, you’ve got yourself a brand-spanking-new fan! Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
In the frigid west Texas desert, weary travelers converge at a lonely roadside motel nestled at the foot of a massive mountain. Ethan and Hunter have left behind a corpse, a fire, and a horrific act of violence. Kyla and Fernanda are fleeing for the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are returning from Mexico with a mysterious man in hot pursuit. All of them are on the run from something. All of them are hiding something.
And somehow, they’re all connected to the motel’s other guest, an enigmatic woman named Sarah Powers.
Within hours, Sarah is dead. The strange twins who run the Brake Inn Motel inform the surviving guests that her murder demands justice. The guests are given an ultimatum: uncover the killer by midnight—or die when the protective lights around the motel go out.
Because something very old and very dangerous lurks in this corner of the desert. And it’s hungry.
But nothing at the Brake Inn Motel is quite as it seems. As time ticks away, alliances fracture, secrets unravel, and the guests will not only have to confront the violence of the past—they will need to face the darkness within themselves.
Thank you to John Fram and Atria Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 21, 2025
Content warning: violence, homophobia, gun and knife violence, suicide, trafficking, fire
Taking an M. Night Shyamalan-type premise and giving it a murder mystery twist, it was high stakes, fast-paced, and beyond thrilling. As the plot unwound before my eyes in three interlinked parts, the tension and foreboding ratcheted higher and higher while the fear truly took over. Between the layers of dark secrets and the motley crew of morally gray characters, I didn’t know who or what to trust until the last couple of chapters. After all, there were quite a few personas that presented some script-flipping changes. And that conclusion! Seemingly evoking a completely different feel from the rest of the book, I could easily see it playing out on a screen. Cinematic, breathtaking, and complete with some vivid supernatural horror, it was everything I could want from a plot plus just a little bit more.
All said and done, despite my newbie status with horror, I couldn’t find a thing not to love about this dynamite read. With a desolate setting, un-pin-down-able characters, and no lack of cat-and-mouse antics, I fell in love with every piece of this novel. You see, alongside of the traditional horror essentials, there was also plenty of native lore on top of a sci-fi feel. I do have to say, though, that I’m betting this one is going to be rather polarizing. Readers are either going to love it or hate it—especially that ending. While I fell on the “obsessed-with-it” side of the equation, I get that the wide variety of genres might throw some people off. In my opinion, though, it was a complete and utter slam dunk. Bravo, Mr. Fram, you’ve got yourself a brand-spanking-new fan! Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
In the frigid west Texas desert, weary travelers converge at a lonely roadside motel nestled at the foot of a massive mountain. Ethan and Hunter have left behind a corpse, a fire, and a horrific act of violence. Kyla and Fernanda are fleeing for the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are returning from Mexico with a mysterious man in hot pursuit. All of them are on the run from something. All of them are hiding something.
And somehow, they’re all connected to the motel’s other guest, an enigmatic woman named Sarah Powers.
Within hours, Sarah is dead. The strange twins who run the Brake Inn Motel inform the surviving guests that her murder demands justice. The guests are given an ultimatum: uncover the killer by midnight—or die when the protective lights around the motel go out.
Because something very old and very dangerous lurks in this corner of the desert. And it’s hungry.
But nothing at the Brake Inn Motel is quite as it seems. As time ticks away, alliances fracture, secrets unravel, and the guests will not only have to confront the violence of the past—they will need to face the darkness within themselves.
Thank you to John Fram and Atria Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 21, 2025
Content warning: violence, homophobia, gun and knife violence, suicide, trafficking, fire
September 2, 2025
This novel was dark, tense, mysterious and adventurous! I found it to be addictive and hard to put down. It kept me entertained for most of the book. What kind of threw me off were the plot hole jumps this book had. It comes with a diverse cast of characters, who were strongly developed. This is a supernatural horror that came with vivid imagery! The location is at a hotel room in Texas.
Strangers get locked in a hotel room and it brings out the darkness within each of them and things begin to get tense and chaotic. This novel came with a lot of suspense to it and is very character driven! All of them being in one room really made me feel claustrophobic, while reading this book. This is definitely a multi genre read that will keep you guessing what is going to happen next! It comes with a twist, that I did not see coming! Overall, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars!
This book gave me the movies “Vacancy” and “House” vibes! Content warnings include violence, death, murder, gore and supernatural horror.
Thank you NetGalley, author John Fram and Atria Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on October 21, 2025!
Strangers get locked in a hotel room and it brings out the darkness within each of them and things begin to get tense and chaotic. This novel came with a lot of suspense to it and is very character driven! All of them being in one room really made me feel claustrophobic, while reading this book. This is definitely a multi genre read that will keep you guessing what is going to happen next! It comes with a twist, that I did not see coming! Overall, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars!
This book gave me the movies “Vacancy” and “House” vibes! Content warnings include violence, death, murder, gore and supernatural horror.
Thank you NetGalley, author John Fram and Atria Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on October 21, 2025!
October 22, 2025
Holy Shooty Balls!! Inventive horror, eerie tension, & relentless suspense!
The Midnight Knock by John Fram was such a wild, nerve tingling ride, part locked room mystery, part fever dream, and totally my kind of twisted fun!
I went into this one completely blind, not knowing a thing about it other than it had mixed reactions. People either loved it or did not. And I loved it. I think going in that way absolutely enhanced my experience. I was caught up right from the start and just let the story unfold however it wanted to, which made it all the more unpredictable and exciting.
Fram delivers a story that is as creative as it is unsettling, a white knuckle blend of supernatural horror and psychological suspense where no one is safe and nothing is ever quite what it seems. The eerie, isolated motel setting pulled me right in, and the deeper I got, the more addicted I became. I was completely immersed in the atmosphere, the unease, and the constant sense that something was waiting just out of sight.
There is a clever structural twist to how the story is told that I did not see coming, and I think it is best discovered that way. It kept me guessing, and I loved how it played with time, fear, and perspective in such an inventive way.
✨ Key thoughts
🩶 I love when a story dares to be different, and this one absolutely does.
🕰 The sense of time slipping and looping was so eerie and original.
🌵 The desert motel setting was chilling and perfectly captured that feeling of isolation.
🔥 The tension never let up and the atmosphere was constant goosebumps.
💭 I finished this one feeling both thrilled and oddly haunted in the best way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A bold, creative, and addictive read that completely wowed me. Definitely a holy shooty balls book for this reader!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital review copy. I found it smart, cinematic, and filled with that perfect edge of the unexpected that I love. I am so glad I went in without knowing a thing.
The Midnight Knock by John Fram was such a wild, nerve tingling ride, part locked room mystery, part fever dream, and totally my kind of twisted fun!
I went into this one completely blind, not knowing a thing about it other than it had mixed reactions. People either loved it or did not. And I loved it. I think going in that way absolutely enhanced my experience. I was caught up right from the start and just let the story unfold however it wanted to, which made it all the more unpredictable and exciting.
Fram delivers a story that is as creative as it is unsettling, a white knuckle blend of supernatural horror and psychological suspense where no one is safe and nothing is ever quite what it seems. The eerie, isolated motel setting pulled me right in, and the deeper I got, the more addicted I became. I was completely immersed in the atmosphere, the unease, and the constant sense that something was waiting just out of sight.
There is a clever structural twist to how the story is told that I did not see coming, and I think it is best discovered that way. It kept me guessing, and I loved how it played with time, fear, and perspective in such an inventive way.
✨ Key thoughts
🩶 I love when a story dares to be different, and this one absolutely does.
🕰 The sense of time slipping and looping was so eerie and original.
🌵 The desert motel setting was chilling and perfectly captured that feeling of isolation.
🔥 The tension never let up and the atmosphere was constant goosebumps.
💭 I finished this one feeling both thrilled and oddly haunted in the best way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A bold, creative, and addictive read that completely wowed me. Definitely a holy shooty balls book for this reader!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital review copy. I found it smart, cinematic, and filled with that perfect edge of the unexpected that I love. I am so glad I went in without knowing a thing.
August 7, 2025
The Midnight Knock is a genre-bending, fast-paced story that kept me entertained throughout. It’s a blend of supernatural horror, psychological thriller, and science fiction. Filled with monsters, supernatural villains, and native lore, The Midnight Knock is the perfect book for spooky season!
From page one until the very end, I found myself completely engrossed in each of the characters' complex stories. I absolutely loved this suspenseful and atmospheric tale! Days after finishing it, I still had it on my mind.
It was great to see John Fram back in horror with The Midnight Knock! Even though I liked his sophomore novel, No Road Home, which was mostly thriller, The Midnight Knock reminded me so much of his brilliant horror debut, The Bright Lands.
The Midnight Knock will be available on October 21. Many thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the gifted galley!
From page one until the very end, I found myself completely engrossed in each of the characters' complex stories. I absolutely loved this suspenseful and atmospheric tale! Days after finishing it, I still had it on my mind.
It was great to see John Fram back in horror with The Midnight Knock! Even though I liked his sophomore novel, No Road Home, which was mostly thriller, The Midnight Knock reminded me so much of his brilliant horror debut, The Bright Lands.
The Midnight Knock will be available on October 21. Many thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the gifted galley!
January 2, 2026
"In the frigid west Texas desert, weary travelers converge at a lonely roadside motel nestled at the foot of a massive mountain. Ethan and Hunter have left behind a corpse, a fire, and a horrific act of violence. Kyla and Fernanda are fleeing for the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are returning from Mexico with a mysterious man in hot pursuit. All of them are on the run from something. All of them are hiding something. And somehow, they’re all connected to the motel’s other guest, an enigmatic woman named Sarah Powers." Then Sarah ends up dead....
The story is creepy in itself being in a desolate hotel in the desert, but the strange twins that run it are terrifying. They give the guests an ultimatum either they give them the murderer or suffer the consequences. These characters are morally gray running from their own crimes. When they are locked in with their own secrets, relationships will crumble and the body count will grow. This is creepy and mind boggling with an ever-changing view of the story. I wasn't quite sure on some of the plots, but make no mistake it was creepy. There is some Sci-Fi, which I'm not a fan of, but making it more chaotic and intense. The scene and plot reminded me of a 2003 movie Identity, which kept me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The story is creepy in itself being in a desolate hotel in the desert, but the strange twins that run it are terrifying. They give the guests an ultimatum either they give them the murderer or suffer the consequences. These characters are morally gray running from their own crimes. When they are locked in with their own secrets, relationships will crumble and the body count will grow. This is creepy and mind boggling with an ever-changing view of the story. I wasn't quite sure on some of the plots, but make no mistake it was creepy. There is some Sci-Fi, which I'm not a fan of, but making it more chaotic and intense. The scene and plot reminded me of a 2003 movie Identity, which kept me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
October 21, 2025
Publishes Today!
The Brake Inn Motel makes the Bates Motel look like a five star accommodation!
Eight strangers find themselves checking in to a desolate motel at the foot of a very large mountain, run by two very strange twins. When one guest dies the twins informed the remaining group that they must solve the mystery by midnight or else. At this point I’m hooked. You have a very weird hotel with some strange happenings going on and an ultimatum with serious consequences. I’m flipping pages as fast as possible only to find out there is even more weirdness than what I thought. The mystery aspect and how it kept evolving was fantastic. I thought how the physical parts of the book were broken out was also a very nice touch and made me chuckle a bit. Déjà vu is something that you’ll experience for sure.
As with any novel, when the buildup is done so fantastically, the bar is even higher to stick the landing/ending. For the most part, the why of the mystery is explained, but I can’t say I fully enjoyed the explanation. The reasoning and conclusion seemed too simplistic after the complicated buildup. I also had a few lingering questions that would’ve liked to have been tied up. But it was still good and it was the only thing that dropped this from being a five star read.
This is now the second novel I’ve read by this author, and have enjoyed both of them to the point I can’t wait to see what he brings to the table next.
4.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
The Brake Inn Motel makes the Bates Motel look like a five star accommodation!
Eight strangers find themselves checking in to a desolate motel at the foot of a very large mountain, run by two very strange twins. When one guest dies the twins informed the remaining group that they must solve the mystery by midnight or else. At this point I’m hooked. You have a very weird hotel with some strange happenings going on and an ultimatum with serious consequences. I’m flipping pages as fast as possible only to find out there is even more weirdness than what I thought. The mystery aspect and how it kept evolving was fantastic. I thought how the physical parts of the book were broken out was also a very nice touch and made me chuckle a bit. Déjà vu is something that you’ll experience for sure.
As with any novel, when the buildup is done so fantastically, the bar is even higher to stick the landing/ending. For the most part, the why of the mystery is explained, but I can’t say I fully enjoyed the explanation. The reasoning and conclusion seemed too simplistic after the complicated buildup. I also had a few lingering questions that would’ve liked to have been tied up. But it was still good and it was the only thing that dropped this from being a five star read.
This is now the second novel I’ve read by this author, and have enjoyed both of them to the point I can’t wait to see what he brings to the table next.
4.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
November 10, 2025
1.5 stars
Not for me…
A remote motel on a desolate two lane road. Several strangers find themselves with no other option than to stay the night. Strange noises and light patterns start haunting the surrounding darkness.
This novel started off strong! I enjoyed the locked room mystery vibe at the start with a bunch of strangers being stuck at an antiquated roadside motel. A murder is discovered and no one knows who to trust.
My interest and connection came to a halt by the midway point. I will not get into specifics as I don’t want to have any spoilers but there were several layers to this novel that are very far outside of my wheelhouse. These aspects and genres are not what I typically enjoy reading and this was the perfect example to solidify my preferences.
This will be a book that readers either love or hate — I don’t imagine there will be many in between. It was a miss for me, but I encourage you to read it if you enjoy horror and sci-fi.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
Not for me…
A remote motel on a desolate two lane road. Several strangers find themselves with no other option than to stay the night. Strange noises and light patterns start haunting the surrounding darkness.
This novel started off strong! I enjoyed the locked room mystery vibe at the start with a bunch of strangers being stuck at an antiquated roadside motel. A murder is discovered and no one knows who to trust.
My interest and connection came to a halt by the midway point. I will not get into specifics as I don’t want to have any spoilers but there were several layers to this novel that are very far outside of my wheelhouse. These aspects and genres are not what I typically enjoy reading and this was the perfect example to solidify my preferences.
This will be a book that readers either love or hate — I don’t imagine there will be many in between. It was a miss for me, but I encourage you to read it if you enjoy horror and sci-fi.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
December 19, 2025
**3.5-stars**
This was so gripping for me the majority of the way through. It was super intriguing. There's a mystery behind what is happening, and I was so desperate to get to the bottom of it.
However, I was disappointed by some of the concluding sections. It'll be hard to explain without spoilers, so I need to sleep on it. I hated the way the big bad was ultimately portrayed, let's just go with that for now.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
Original:
ARC received! Thank you, Atria!!
I'm stoked for this. I love any story featuring people trying to 'survive the night' and releasing in October!? Perfection!
This was so gripping for me the majority of the way through. It was super intriguing. There's a mystery behind what is happening, and I was so desperate to get to the bottom of it.
However, I was disappointed by some of the concluding sections. It'll be hard to explain without spoilers, so I need to sleep on it. I hated the way the big bad was ultimately portrayed, let's just go with that for now.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
Original:
ARC received! Thank you, Atria!!
I'm stoked for this. I love any story featuring people trying to 'survive the night' and releasing in October!? Perfection!
October 23, 2025
One thing about a Midnight Knock: nothing good waits on the other side. This knock will either hex you into obsession… or leave you wishing you’d never cracked that door.
Confession: I wasn’t fully hexed. But there were sparks that lit my mood.
I loved the premise: a few characters, big secrets, all running from something, all ending up at a remote Texas motel. And then there’s Sarah Powers, the woman who pulls it all together… until she’s dead, and that starts the chaos.
Fram really knows how to paint an atmosphere that lingers.
Where My Mood Flickered:
By the stars, things got wild. Convoluted. Mind-bending. And I wasn’t exactly in the mood to untangle all that chaos. The twists were plentiful, yes, but the ending wrapped up a little too easy for such a complex curse of a story. The characters, their madness, and all the secrets kept me hooked. By the climax, I was half wishing I hadn’t opened the door.
Witchy Mood Meter:
Almost Hexed: enough magic to keep me flipping pages, but the tangled web of events was a little too much for my mood cauldron.
Verdict:
If like twisty, mind-bending thrillers, with supernatural creepiness and unhinged characters add this to your altar, but only open the door when you’re ready for a midnight knock that leaves your thoughts spinning in the dark.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Confession: I wasn’t fully hexed. But there were sparks that lit my mood.
I loved the premise: a few characters, big secrets, all running from something, all ending up at a remote Texas motel. And then there’s Sarah Powers, the woman who pulls it all together… until she’s dead, and that starts the chaos.
Fram really knows how to paint an atmosphere that lingers.
Where My Mood Flickered:
By the stars, things got wild. Convoluted. Mind-bending. And I wasn’t exactly in the mood to untangle all that chaos. The twists were plentiful, yes, but the ending wrapped up a little too easy for such a complex curse of a story. The characters, their madness, and all the secrets kept me hooked. By the climax, I was half wishing I hadn’t opened the door.
Witchy Mood Meter:
Almost Hexed: enough magic to keep me flipping pages, but the tangled web of events was a little too much for my mood cauldron.
Verdict:
If like twisty, mind-bending thrillers, with supernatural creepiness and unhinged characters add this to your altar, but only open the door when you’re ready for a midnight knock that leaves your thoughts spinning in the dark.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
August 4, 2025
Readers are going to love or hate John Fram's genre-bending psychological and chaotic thriller, but would it be a John Fram novel if he didn't polarize readers? I am already seeing the trolls, "It's too gay and it's too gory" already! John Fram is one of my favorite authors and is an auto-read for me, so I knew that I'd need to pick this one up. Fram's THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK is vastly different from his previous novels, in the same vein of Stuart Turton and Blake Crouch (and a hint of the supernatural vibe of his debut, The Bright Lands, but not related at all).
In the remote West Texas desert, seven strangers on the run—from violence, secrets, and a haunting past—converge at a desolate motel called the Brake Inn Motel. By morning, one of them, the mysterious Sarah Powers, is dead, and the unsettling twins who run the place demand the killer be identified by midnight—or everyone dies. As supernatural forces close in, the guests must uncover the truth, even as their alliances splinter and their darkest secrets come to light.
This book is bonkers and unhinged, just the way I like my John Fram novels! This book is one of those books you need to go in without knowing too much and let the story take you on this wild ride. I had no idea what I would expect, but I did wish I took a video of me getting to Fram's first twist, because I was very, very bewildered LOL. I loved many of these characters, but the plot takes center stage. THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK pushed me to the edge of my seat and I frantically read it in two sittings. Fram continues to fright and delight and I can't wait to see the discord for THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK.
In the remote West Texas desert, seven strangers on the run—from violence, secrets, and a haunting past—converge at a desolate motel called the Brake Inn Motel. By morning, one of them, the mysterious Sarah Powers, is dead, and the unsettling twins who run the place demand the killer be identified by midnight—or everyone dies. As supernatural forces close in, the guests must uncover the truth, even as their alliances splinter and their darkest secrets come to light.
This book is bonkers and unhinged, just the way I like my John Fram novels! This book is one of those books you need to go in without knowing too much and let the story take you on this wild ride. I had no idea what I would expect, but I did wish I took a video of me getting to Fram's first twist, because I was very, very bewildered LOL. I loved many of these characters, but the plot takes center stage. THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK pushed me to the edge of my seat and I frantically read it in two sittings. Fram continues to fright and delight and I can't wait to see the discord for THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK.
July 12, 2025
From the knock at midnight until the final sentence, new-to-me author John Fram captivated me with his clever plotting, plot twists, insightful deductions, slow-building tension and eerie setting.
He challenged me to unravel his complex mystery, uncover his hidden truth and showed me the danger of allowing trauma to endure. I was engrossed in a fascinating story, and felt wrapped up in pervading darkness, while experiencing the exasperating loss of control. Baffling mystery and creepy vibes abound.
Personally, I'd love more continuity, more character background, less horror, and less gruesome.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
He challenged me to unravel his complex mystery, uncover his hidden truth and showed me the danger of allowing trauma to endure. I was engrossed in a fascinating story, and felt wrapped up in pervading darkness, while experiencing the exasperating loss of control. Baffling mystery and creepy vibes abound.
Personally, I'd love more continuity, more character background, less horror, and less gruesome.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 15, 2025
Wow, what a fantastic, amazing book. The set up and writing style are awesome, I don't want to explain and give it away, as I think it makes the book that much more intriguing. Definitely supernatural elements going on, and you keep guessing, but let me tell you, you will not figure this book out til the end. What a page turner!!
Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 27, 2025
oh thank god. I finally finished. it's over. Felt like a lifetime, ugh
August 29, 2025
ARC for review. To be published October 21, 2025.
DNF at 50%
I read a fair amount of this horror novel before deciding not to go on but the part I read was a slog for me. There were lots of secrets in the book that I just didn’t care enough about to keep reading.
It’s about a group of maybe-bad people trapped in a motel with killer beasts all around and a deadline to solve a murder. Everything is filed with menace.
In the blurb it is recommended for fans of Stuart Turton and Blake Crouch. I didn’t get either one of those authors from this.
DNF at 50%
I read a fair amount of this horror novel before deciding not to go on but the part I read was a slog for me. There were lots of secrets in the book that I just didn’t care enough about to keep reading.
It’s about a group of maybe-bad people trapped in a motel with killer beasts all around and a deadline to solve a murder. Everything is filed with menace.
In the blurb it is recommended for fans of Stuart Turton and Blake Crouch. I didn’t get either one of those authors from this.
October 16, 2025
Déjà vu Again
A review of the NetGalley ARC eBook of the Atria Books hardcover/eBook/audiobook to be published October 21, 2025.
My praise for the imagination on display in this novel has to be tempered with some caution for other readers. The Midnight Knock jumps genres in a wild and crazy way and fans of one kind may not always be accepting of others. It is something like Psycho meets Groundhog Day meets Close Encounters of the Third Kind (I'm using movie references intentionally for hopefully wider recognition). If you can embrace all of those, along with elements of noir crime and investigative mystery, then this will be right up your alley.
Too many details would be spoilery. Suffice it to say that a group of apparent strangers converge at the mysterious Brake Inn Motel in the shadow of an imposing mountain in Texas. They are on the run from their past lives or are on the hunt to fulfill a mission. For many of them there is a blurring between the two paths and some are yet to discover what their purpose is to be.
The synopsis blurb is perhaps a bit misleading. When mystery fans see the words "locked room," they will assume the classic setup of a murder committed in a locked room where no one other than the victim was seen to enter or leave. The locked room in this book is of an entirely different nature. It is one that passes into an unknown realm. The question is whether you are prepared to enter through it.
My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance ARC copy for which I provide this honest review.
A review of the NetGalley ARC eBook of the Atria Books hardcover/eBook/audiobook to be published October 21, 2025.
My praise for the imagination on display in this novel has to be tempered with some caution for other readers. The Midnight Knock jumps genres in a wild and crazy way and fans of one kind may not always be accepting of others. It is something like Psycho meets Groundhog Day meets Close Encounters of the Third Kind (I'm using movie references intentionally for hopefully wider recognition). If you can embrace all of those, along with elements of noir crime and investigative mystery, then this will be right up your alley.
Too many details would be spoilery. Suffice it to say that a group of apparent strangers converge at the mysterious Brake Inn Motel in the shadow of an imposing mountain in Texas. They are on the run from their past lives or are on the hunt to fulfill a mission. For many of them there is a blurring between the two paths and some are yet to discover what their purpose is to be.
The synopsis blurb is perhaps a bit misleading. When mystery fans see the words "locked room," they will assume the classic setup of a murder committed in a locked room where no one other than the victim was seen to enter or leave. The locked room in this book is of an entirely different nature. It is one that passes into an unknown realm. The question is whether you are prepared to enter through it.
My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance ARC copy for which I provide this honest review.
July 24, 2025
So the premise of The Midnight Knock sounds amazing - “ a mind-bending locked-room thriller about eight strangers trapped in a remote Texas motel as they race against time to save their lives”
I will say this definitely has a blend of genres from mystery, sci fi, thriller and definitely horror elements as there is a lot of death and gore throughout, this certainly isn’t a plot where everyone gets away, expect their to be bodies dropping like flies and if your squeamish this may not be a good fit for you, the book itself is very dark so go in with this expectation,
There is a lot of chaos going on at all times so be prepared to remove reality from your brain and dive in to the mess. My favourite part was the locked room feel at the deserted motel in the middle of no where Texas, and the supernatural elements.
I think this is a book you will either really like and think is super clever / intelligent or you are going to dislike it, i don’t foresee there being much of a middle ground 😆 I personally can appreciate what the author did with this book I think it’s definitely outside of the box and a great book for a group discussion / book club pick as there is lots of content to talk about.
Thank you to Atria books and John Fram for the #netgalley #gifted copy!
Publishes : October 21st
I will say this definitely has a blend of genres from mystery, sci fi, thriller and definitely horror elements as there is a lot of death and gore throughout, this certainly isn’t a plot where everyone gets away, expect their to be bodies dropping like flies and if your squeamish this may not be a good fit for you, the book itself is very dark so go in with this expectation,
There is a lot of chaos going on at all times so be prepared to remove reality from your brain and dive in to the mess. My favourite part was the locked room feel at the deserted motel in the middle of no where Texas, and the supernatural elements.
I think this is a book you will either really like and think is super clever / intelligent or you are going to dislike it, i don’t foresee there being much of a middle ground 😆 I personally can appreciate what the author did with this book I think it’s definitely outside of the box and a great book for a group discussion / book club pick as there is lots of content to talk about.
Thank you to Atria books and John Fram for the #netgalley #gifted copy!
Publishes : October 21st
November 10, 2025
I’ve always loved a good locked-room mystery, and this one definitely starts strong. The setup is great—eight strangers stranded at a remote motel in the West Texas desert, forced to solve a murder before midnight while monsters prowl outside and a creepy man in a gabardine suit keeps popping up out of nowhere to taunt them. It’s wild, tense, and full of potential.
But somewhere along the way, it just became too much. The story started feeling messy and overstuffed, and the structure got confusing fast. On top of that, the whole “night repeating over and over” element drove me crazy—I’ve never liked that trope, and here it just made everything drag. By the second half, I was more irritated than intrigued, and I eventually had to set it down unfinished, stopping at page 266. It really pains me to do that because I invested a lot into the story but it would probably pain me even more to continue.
This is one of those books people will either rave about or want to throw across the room—unfortunately, I was in the latter category. Still, I’ve really enjoyed this author’s earlier work, so I’ll chalk this one up as a miss and hope his next book feels more like the stories that first won me over.
But somewhere along the way, it just became too much. The story started feeling messy and overstuffed, and the structure got confusing fast. On top of that, the whole “night repeating over and over” element drove me crazy—I’ve never liked that trope, and here it just made everything drag. By the second half, I was more irritated than intrigued, and I eventually had to set it down unfinished, stopping at page 266. It really pains me to do that because I invested a lot into the story but it would probably pain me even more to continue.
This is one of those books people will either rave about or want to throw across the room—unfortunately, I was in the latter category. Still, I’ve really enjoyed this author’s earlier work, so I’ll chalk this one up as a miss and hope his next book feels more like the stories that first won me over.
October 22, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for the pre-release copy of John Fram's The Midnight Knock. Below you'll find my honest review.
The Midnight Knock gets all the points for creativity. Definitely an original and weird story, with a much bigger plot than anticipated. The hook of the hotel full of people with one being a murderer is a great hook - it's used often for that reason - but this novel absolutely gave it an original spin on the WHY behind it.
I also really liked the formatting of the book. After a certain point, the title card is revealed again, with a new set of quotes, just like at the beginning, which added some believability to the events, and I loved that.
The characters were pretty interesting as well, but for all that some were developed pretty deeply, others (and I might argue some of the more intriguing ones) weren't developed enough for my taste.
There was some convolution to the story that also pulled me out of it a little.
All in all, I enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend it to closed room mystery lovers and horror fans. And I have to say, I think this one would make a REALLY good movie.
3.5 stars rounded up.
The Midnight Knock gets all the points for creativity. Definitely an original and weird story, with a much bigger plot than anticipated. The hook of the hotel full of people with one being a murderer is a great hook - it's used often for that reason - but this novel absolutely gave it an original spin on the WHY behind it.
I also really liked the formatting of the book. After a certain point, the title card is revealed again, with a new set of quotes, just like at the beginning, which added some believability to the events, and I loved that.
The characters were pretty interesting as well, but for all that some were developed pretty deeply, others (and I might argue some of the more intriguing ones) weren't developed enough for my taste.
There was some convolution to the story that also pulled me out of it a little.
All in all, I enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend it to closed room mystery lovers and horror fans. And I have to say, I think this one would make a REALLY good movie.
3.5 stars rounded up.
October 11, 2025
Somewhere between 3.5 to 4 stars - Up front, let me say that I have some questions about the Native American representation that left me personally uneasy, but I will let those of the Apache communities speak to how successful those elements were. That said, I could not put this down. This is a pulpy paranormal horror thriller that just worked for me. There was also a cinematic quality to the book that reflected its very fast pacing and emphasis on plot.
July 21, 2025
For me a very generous three stars. I fought to keep picking this one up in the evening and almost did not finish. The first 40% left me cold, with flat characters who also managed to be very unlikeable and a plot that I didn’t care to follow until the end. Halfway through we get a decent twist and the action kicked in to gear and I was back in the game. It was like Stefan from Saturday Night Live was offering plot notes, “it has ghosts, and killer bird men, and possessed stones and time warps and creepy twins, plus gunfights and Native American gods (maybe) and Mexican cartels and murderers aplenty.” Somehow it was all not going off the rails and turning into a lot of fun, and then BAM! the ending….right off the rails and a cliff into straight up cringe-ending land.
Thanks to the publisher for an early peek.
Thanks to the publisher for an early peek.
October 22, 2025
After finishing this book, I sat there for a few minutes, thinking about what I had just read. This has wildly mixed reviews, and after reading it, I understand why. It’s definitely unique, and I like that it includes so many genres. The risk of that is putting off people who really don’t like certain themes, but overall, this was a pretty even mix of horror, mystery, thriller, suspense, science fiction, supernatural horror, crime and fantasy.
How you feel about this book may completely depend on the type of books you like, but I think most horror readers will enjoy the plot. The synopsis lays it out quite well - we have a few characters who all end up at a motel in the middle of nowhere, for a variety of reasons. Creepy twins run the Brake Inn Motel, which has a Psycho-esque house behind it and looks like it hasn’t been renovated for at least sixty years. It’s clean though, and warm, so all of the characters decide to take a room until they can figure out their respective issues in the morning.
Before morning though, a guest dies, and the twins tell the others to figure out who did it. If they don’t find out who the killer is by midnight, they will all die. And since time works in a quirky way at the Brake Inn, they need to get started right away. That’s when this book REALLY gets going, with things I don’t want to mention because they aren’t in the synopsis for a reason. This is not a basic locked-room mystery. This is not your basic motel horror story. There isn’t anything that’s basic about this book; it’s not a light read, it’s not a quick book, but it’s definitely original.
The synopsis calls this “layered storytelling”, which is nice because I wasn’t sure what the term would be for a layout like this. This is several books in one (and not done in the usual way of switching the points of view). I thought that was really cool, and it added suspense to an already suspenseful story. I liked the overall plot, and I thought the characters were decent. Then we get to the part that lowered my rating almost to three stars…the supernatural/fantasy in the ending. Those just aren’t my genres, even though my two favorite authors (Stephen King and Bentley Little) also have a propensity for ending their horror books in the same way.
This one has me very torn on the rating. Some parts were five star quality, some were not my cup of tea. I’m going with a 3.5 on this one, but I still recommend giving it a shot, so I’m rounding up instead of down. If you like books that contain many genres, that make you think a lot and that are outside of the norm, this may be a five star read for you.
(Thank you to Atria Books, John Fram and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
How you feel about this book may completely depend on the type of books you like, but I think most horror readers will enjoy the plot. The synopsis lays it out quite well - we have a few characters who all end up at a motel in the middle of nowhere, for a variety of reasons. Creepy twins run the Brake Inn Motel, which has a Psycho-esque house behind it and looks like it hasn’t been renovated for at least sixty years. It’s clean though, and warm, so all of the characters decide to take a room until they can figure out their respective issues in the morning.
Before morning though, a guest dies, and the twins tell the others to figure out who did it. If they don’t find out who the killer is by midnight, they will all die. And since time works in a quirky way at the Brake Inn, they need to get started right away. That’s when this book REALLY gets going, with things I don’t want to mention because they aren’t in the synopsis for a reason. This is not a basic locked-room mystery. This is not your basic motel horror story. There isn’t anything that’s basic about this book; it’s not a light read, it’s not a quick book, but it’s definitely original.
The synopsis calls this “layered storytelling”, which is nice because I wasn’t sure what the term would be for a layout like this. This is several books in one (and not done in the usual way of switching the points of view). I thought that was really cool, and it added suspense to an already suspenseful story. I liked the overall plot, and I thought the characters were decent. Then we get to the part that lowered my rating almost to three stars…the supernatural/fantasy in the ending. Those just aren’t my genres, even though my two favorite authors (Stephen King and Bentley Little) also have a propensity for ending their horror books in the same way.
This one has me very torn on the rating. Some parts were five star quality, some were not my cup of tea. I’m going with a 3.5 on this one, but I still recommend giving it a shot, so I’m rounding up instead of down. If you like books that contain many genres, that make you think a lot and that are outside of the norm, this may be a five star read for you.
(Thank you to Atria Books, John Fram and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
November 8, 2025
Nine rooms, and twelve empty beds. Every 24 hours, these beds will get filled. And every 24 hours Timothy and Tabitha will clean up the blood, and ready the rooms for the next 24 hour cycle of murder and mayhem. The only people who seem to check into The Brake Inn Motel are those desperate enough to take this dust road that never seems to end. Some of them are looking for gas, while others appear to have a hidden agenda. Either way, they will be killed, and wake up in the morning with no memory only to die again. And again. And again. How many times will Ethan, Hunter, Sarah, Kyla, Fernanda, Stanley, Penelope, and Ryan have to relive the same scenario? Will they ever catch on?
Good premise, promising plot, and enough characters to change the point-of-view. However, by the fiftieth time someone felt tingles on the back of their neck, I was done, done, done. But I read on until the end: 415 pages to the most ludicrous ending ever.
Maybe I missed something. Maybe you will find it and enjoy this book better than I did.
I would like thank Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Good premise, promising plot, and enough characters to change the point-of-view. However, by the fiftieth time someone felt tingles on the back of their neck, I was done, done, done. But I read on until the end: 415 pages to the most ludicrous ending ever.
Maybe I missed something. Maybe you will find it and enjoy this book better than I did.
I would like thank Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
December 25, 2025
The Midnight Knock by John Fram is a riveting and eerie locked‑room mystery blended with supernatural horror, set at a desolate roadside motel in the west Texas desert where weary travelers, each fleeing secrets and past violence, are trapped together after one guest is found dead and the motel owners issue a chilling ultimatum: uncover the killer by midnight or face deadly forces beyond the motel’s protective lights. As alliances shift and hidden truths surface, what begins as a character‑driven whodunit quickly spirals into something far darker and more mysterious than anyone expected.
Right from the beginning I felt that tension almost like a cold wind, with Fram’s vivid setting placing me alongside characters whose guilt, regret, and fear hummed beneath every interaction, like dust in the desert air. The ensemble cast of flawed, deeply human people made me care about their survival even as the horror elements warped the stakes into something visceral and unsettling; their stories of violence, flight, and hidden motives gave the mystery both weight and emotional texture. Fram crafts the motel itself almost as a character, its isolation and eerie atmosphere echoing the characters’ own internal darkness, which only deepened my unease as time ticked toward midnight.
While I admired how the narrative wove mystery and horror together, I will admit that the pacing felt uneven at times and the blending of genres may leave some readers bewildered rather than exhilarated, with parts of the resolution feeling ambiguous or less grounded for my taste.
Rating: 4 out of 5. I’m giving The Midnight Knock this score because its blend of psychological suspense, nuanced characters, and creeping dread made it a haunting, thought‑provoking read that stayed with me long after the final page, even if its ambition occasionally overwhelmed its structure. If you love mysteries that feel alive with dread, secrets that breathe, and horror that both chills and makes you think, this book delivers a distinctive and unforgettable experience.
Right from the beginning I felt that tension almost like a cold wind, with Fram’s vivid setting placing me alongside characters whose guilt, regret, and fear hummed beneath every interaction, like dust in the desert air. The ensemble cast of flawed, deeply human people made me care about their survival even as the horror elements warped the stakes into something visceral and unsettling; their stories of violence, flight, and hidden motives gave the mystery both weight and emotional texture. Fram crafts the motel itself almost as a character, its isolation and eerie atmosphere echoing the characters’ own internal darkness, which only deepened my unease as time ticked toward midnight.
While I admired how the narrative wove mystery and horror together, I will admit that the pacing felt uneven at times and the blending of genres may leave some readers bewildered rather than exhilarated, with parts of the resolution feeling ambiguous or less grounded for my taste.
Rating: 4 out of 5. I’m giving The Midnight Knock this score because its blend of psychological suspense, nuanced characters, and creeping dread made it a haunting, thought‑provoking read that stayed with me long after the final page, even if its ambition occasionally overwhelmed its structure. If you love mysteries that feel alive with dread, secrets that breathe, and horror that both chills and makes you think, this book delivers a distinctive and unforgettable experience.
November 2, 2025
3.5 stars. "A locked-room mystery meets white-knuckle horror in this mind-bending thriller, where strangers must survive a deadly night in a remote Texas motel."
The Midnight Knock follows eight strangers who end up in the same motel. Someone is killed and they have to solve the murder by midnight or else total destruction will commence. What follows is deja vu which became quite repetitive for me. All the guests have secrets so the characters aren't fully fleshed out but I believe this is intentional.
I did not read the memo that this is a locked-room mystery with supernatural horror and science fiction. I love the mystery element but the supernatural horror was mainly violence and gore which I personally avoid. If you enjoy some horror and science fiction in your mysteries than this will be a home run for you. The premise of this book is brilliant and John Fram is a master at creating atmospheric tension and making the reader feel as trapped as the characters. This is the perfect spooky read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and John Fram for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Midnight Knock follows eight strangers who end up in the same motel. Someone is killed and they have to solve the murder by midnight or else total destruction will commence. What follows is deja vu which became quite repetitive for me. All the guests have secrets so the characters aren't fully fleshed out but I believe this is intentional.
I did not read the memo that this is a locked-room mystery with supernatural horror and science fiction. I love the mystery element but the supernatural horror was mainly violence and gore which I personally avoid. If you enjoy some horror and science fiction in your mysteries than this will be a home run for you. The premise of this book is brilliant and John Fram is a master at creating atmospheric tension and making the reader feel as trapped as the characters. This is the perfect spooky read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and John Fram for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 28, 2025
This was definitely different from my usual genre. This has horror, paranormal, sci-fi, and thriller all combined. This was my first book by John Fram and I gotta say it's not what I was expecting. It was very unique in the setup. I was expecting your typical locked door mystery but this one was so much more. It definitely grabbed my attention at the beginning, with a murder at a hotel, and the guests need to figure out who the murderer is. Things get weird then. I do not want to spoil this for anyone so I'm going to stop here but this is definitely entertaining. Whether you'll love it or not I cannot say, but I'm happy I had a chance to check it out. Very unique. I say give it a try for spooky season.
Thank you to the publisher, librofm, and netgalley for the gifted copy and audiobook. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher, librofm, and netgalley for the gifted copy and audiobook. All opinions are my own.
October 23, 2025
Started with a bang, ended with a "Really, bruh?"
I was so ready to give The Midnight Knock a solid 4 or 5 stars. It had me hooked from the start... it's such a clever, stylish spin on the locked-room mystery, which, let’s be real, is having a serious moment this year.
The setup had me spiraling. Every few pages made me doubt what I thought I knew. The tension was unrelenting. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. But then we hit the final stretch… and it all kind of fell apart for me.
A group of seemingly random people all end up at the Brake Inn Motel. Once they've checked in, they quickly learn there is no checking out. Run by a pair of elusively creepy twins clearly hiding something, the guests' connection to each other slowly begins to bubble up to the surface and as darkness begins to descend, a scream announces a dead body, a murder that kickstarts the worst night of everyone's lives.
It was the ending that threw me, veering into the weird in a way that just didn't seem to fit. Not 'bold weird', not 'satisfying weird'... just whacky, like the story lost its footing and faceplanted into its own twist. I could practically feel the plot crumbling beneath me, like a sandcastle at high tide. What started as a tight, compelling mystery unraveled into something that felt rushed, chaotic, and strangely disconnected.
I can’t deny how much I enjoyed the ride... right up until the wheels came off, steering things headfirst into WTF territory.
I was so ready to give The Midnight Knock a solid 4 or 5 stars. It had me hooked from the start... it's such a clever, stylish spin on the locked-room mystery, which, let’s be real, is having a serious moment this year.
The setup had me spiraling. Every few pages made me doubt what I thought I knew. The tension was unrelenting. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. But then we hit the final stretch… and it all kind of fell apart for me.
A group of seemingly random people all end up at the Brake Inn Motel. Once they've checked in, they quickly learn there is no checking out. Run by a pair of elusively creepy twins clearly hiding something, the guests' connection to each other slowly begins to bubble up to the surface and as darkness begins to descend, a scream announces a dead body, a murder that kickstarts the worst night of everyone's lives.
It was the ending that threw me, veering into the weird in a way that just didn't seem to fit. Not 'bold weird', not 'satisfying weird'... just whacky, like the story lost its footing and faceplanted into its own twist. I could practically feel the plot crumbling beneath me, like a sandcastle at high tide. What started as a tight, compelling mystery unraveled into something that felt rushed, chaotic, and strangely disconnected.
I can’t deny how much I enjoyed the ride... right up until the wheels came off, steering things headfirst into WTF territory.
August 21, 2025
This is kinda like that one rollercoaster you get on because the line was short, only to realize halfway through it’s got loops you didn’t sign up for. I went into this expecting a creepy, locked room thriller set in a spooky Texas motel, and for the first 35% or so, I was hooked like a fish on a line. The vibes were immaculate: a desolate desert, a cast of shady characters with secrets worthy of Gossip Girl, and a murder mystery that had me scribbling notes like I was auditioning for CSI. But then the time loop showed up, and my enthusiasm did a cartoonish skid off a cliff. I HATE time loops. Hate them like I hate stepping on a wet kitchen floor in socks. But I was already 35% in, so I gritted my teeth and kept going, because abandoning a book feels like leaving a puppy in the rain.
Let’s start with the good stuff, because Fram’s got some chops. The setup is eerie: seven strangers (plus one enigmatic dead lady, Sarah Powers) converge on the Brake Inn Motel, a place so creepy it makes the Bates Motel look like a nice Airbnb. You’ve got Ethan and Hunter, who are running from a crime scene that sounds like it belongs in a Tarantino flick: corpse, arson, the works. Kyla and Fernanda are sprinting toward the border like they’re in a relay race. Stanley and his granddaughter are dodging Ryan. And then there’s the motel itself, run by creepy twins who seem like they stepped out of a Stephen King novel. I was all in, ready to solve Sarah’s murder before the clock struck midnight and the “protective lights” went out.
But then, around the 35% mark, the plot pulls a fast one and reveals it’s not just a thriller, it’s a time loop thriller. Cue my internal screaming. I don’t know what it is about time loops, but they make my brain itch like I’m allergic to narrative repetition. Suddenly, the story’s pacing felt like it was stuck in a hamster wheel, and I was begging for someone to let me off. I get it, Fram’s trying to be clever, weaving in psychological tension and supernatural horror like he’s Stuart Turton’s edgier cousin. But for me, the loop felt like a cheap trick to stretch out the mystery, like when your mom waters down the juice to make it last longer. I persevered, mostly because I’m stubborn and because the characters were compelling enough to keep me curious.
The writing itself is a mixed bag. Fram’s got a knack for vivid imagery—there’s a scene with a fry cook that’s gruesome. But sometimes the plot gets tangled in its own ambition, like a kid trying to show off too many yo-yo tricks at once. The big climax is billed as “unforgettable,” and yeah, it’s wild, but I found myself rolling my eyes at some of the over-the-top twists. It’s like Fram couldn’t decide whether he wanted to be Blake Crouch or M. Night Shyamalan, so he just said, “Why not both?” The result is a book that’s fun but feels like it’s trying too hard to blow your mind.
By the end, I was less invested in who killed Sarah and more just relieved to escape the time loop purgatory. It’s a solid read if you don’t mind time loops (you weirdo) and love a thriller that’s half mystery, half supernatural fever dream. Fram’s got talent, and I’ll probably check out his next book, but I’m hoping it sticks to one timeline.
Let’s start with the good stuff, because Fram’s got some chops. The setup is eerie: seven strangers (plus one enigmatic dead lady, Sarah Powers) converge on the Brake Inn Motel, a place so creepy it makes the Bates Motel look like a nice Airbnb. You’ve got Ethan and Hunter, who are running from a crime scene that sounds like it belongs in a Tarantino flick: corpse, arson, the works. Kyla and Fernanda are sprinting toward the border like they’re in a relay race. Stanley and his granddaughter are dodging Ryan. And then there’s the motel itself, run by creepy twins who seem like they stepped out of a Stephen King novel. I was all in, ready to solve Sarah’s murder before the clock struck midnight and the “protective lights” went out.
But then, around the 35% mark, the plot pulls a fast one and reveals it’s not just a thriller, it’s a time loop thriller. Cue my internal screaming. I don’t know what it is about time loops, but they make my brain itch like I’m allergic to narrative repetition. Suddenly, the story’s pacing felt like it was stuck in a hamster wheel, and I was begging for someone to let me off. I get it, Fram’s trying to be clever, weaving in psychological tension and supernatural horror like he’s Stuart Turton’s edgier cousin. But for me, the loop felt like a cheap trick to stretch out the mystery, like when your mom waters down the juice to make it last longer. I persevered, mostly because I’m stubborn and because the characters were compelling enough to keep me curious.
The writing itself is a mixed bag. Fram’s got a knack for vivid imagery—there’s a scene with a fry cook that’s gruesome. But sometimes the plot gets tangled in its own ambition, like a kid trying to show off too many yo-yo tricks at once. The big climax is billed as “unforgettable,” and yeah, it’s wild, but I found myself rolling my eyes at some of the over-the-top twists. It’s like Fram couldn’t decide whether he wanted to be Blake Crouch or M. Night Shyamalan, so he just said, “Why not both?” The result is a book that’s fun but feels like it’s trying too hard to blow your mind.
By the end, I was less invested in who killed Sarah and more just relieved to escape the time loop purgatory. It’s a solid read if you don’t mind time loops (you weirdo) and love a thriller that’s half mystery, half supernatural fever dream. Fram’s got talent, and I’ll probably check out his next book, but I’m hoping it sticks to one timeline.
September 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75/5)
The Midnight Knock is a slow-burn thriller that blends small-town secrets, atmospheric writing, and psychological tension. John Fram has a gift for setting the stage—his descriptions create a moody, unsettling environment that makes you feel like something ominous is always lurking just beyond the page.
The premise is intriguing, and the mystery is well-layered, but the pacing at times felt uneven. Some sections dragged, while others picked up with sharp, edge-of-your-seat intensity. The characters are interesting but not always fully fleshed out, leaving me wanting more depth in their motivations and development.
That said, Fram’s writing style is compelling, and he knows how to craft suspense that lingers. The final act delivers some satisfying twists, though not all questions felt neatly tied up.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read—perfect for fans of atmospheric thrillers who don’t mind a slower build. While it wasn’t flawless, it kept me engaged and curious enough to want to explore more of John Fram’s work.
The Midnight Knock is a slow-burn thriller that blends small-town secrets, atmospheric writing, and psychological tension. John Fram has a gift for setting the stage—his descriptions create a moody, unsettling environment that makes you feel like something ominous is always lurking just beyond the page.
The premise is intriguing, and the mystery is well-layered, but the pacing at times felt uneven. Some sections dragged, while others picked up with sharp, edge-of-your-seat intensity. The characters are interesting but not always fully fleshed out, leaving me wanting more depth in their motivations and development.
That said, Fram’s writing style is compelling, and he knows how to craft suspense that lingers. The final act delivers some satisfying twists, though not all questions felt neatly tied up.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read—perfect for fans of atmospheric thrillers who don’t mind a slower build. While it wasn’t flawless, it kept me engaged and curious enough to want to explore more of John Fram’s work.
October 28, 2025
Overall 3.5⭐️
Audio 4.5⭐️
Hmmmm. Is this a thriller? Horror? Science fiction? I have no idea. There are elements of all three genres present in this mind boggling book from John Fram. Did I like it? I truly don’t know, but I think I did. Will I remember it? Absolutely.
I did an immersive read; pairing the physical ARC with the audio. Let me just say, the audio is utterly brilliant. Performances by Angel Pean and Lee Osorio are outstanding. They brought tension and fear bubbling to the surface and kept me engaged in the story even when I wasn’t sure what was happening.
This is a locked room murder mystery meets folklore meets crime drama meets horror novel. It’s creepy and unsettling. There’s an abandoned hotel run by twin siblings where weary travelers end up. It’s also where they die gruesome deaths. There’s a crime boss and a freaky dude in a gabardine suit and victims with secrets; so many secrets.
The book is structured in a creative way that almost made it seem I was reading three separate stories. Saying any more would ruin the plot and, to be frank, I’m not sure I can explain it properly. If you like genre bending reads that will freak you out and leave you scratching your head, this one is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital and physical ARCs. All opinions are my own.
Audio 4.5⭐️
Hmmmm. Is this a thriller? Horror? Science fiction? I have no idea. There are elements of all three genres present in this mind boggling book from John Fram. Did I like it? I truly don’t know, but I think I did. Will I remember it? Absolutely.
I did an immersive read; pairing the physical ARC with the audio. Let me just say, the audio is utterly brilliant. Performances by Angel Pean and Lee Osorio are outstanding. They brought tension and fear bubbling to the surface and kept me engaged in the story even when I wasn’t sure what was happening.
This is a locked room murder mystery meets folklore meets crime drama meets horror novel. It’s creepy and unsettling. There’s an abandoned hotel run by twin siblings where weary travelers end up. It’s also where they die gruesome deaths. There’s a crime boss and a freaky dude in a gabardine suit and victims with secrets; so many secrets.
The book is structured in a creative way that almost made it seem I was reading three separate stories. Saying any more would ruin the plot and, to be frank, I’m not sure I can explain it properly. If you like genre bending reads that will freak you out and leave you scratching your head, this one is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital and physical ARCs. All opinions are my own.
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