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Wrócę przed północą
Mocna, poruszająca powieść o miłości, zdradzie i rodzinnych tajemnicach rzucających długie cienie.
Idealna rodzina. Skrywane sekrety. Czas, który upływa nieubłaganie.
Rok 1998. Życie rodziny Parkerów zmienia się bezpowrotnie. Matka – niegdyś gwiazda okładek i skandali – znika bez śladu, zostawiając swoje dzieci: dojrzałą ponad wiek Maggie i małego, adoptowanego Kita. Opowieść o ich dzieciństwie to pełna napięcia kronika przetrwania, niespodziewanej miłości i brutalnego dorastania. Z pomocą tajemniczego chłopaka z sąsiedztwa, Wilka, Maggie próbuje ocalić brata i siebie. Gdy dochodzi do tragedii, dziewczyna musi opuścić dom, nie oglądając się za siebie.
Lata później, w 2019 roku, przeszłość upomina się o swoje. Maggie, dziś znana pisarka, dowiaduje się, że w piwnicy ich dawnego domu odkryto coś, co nigdy nie miało ujrzeć światła dziennego. Zaczyna się walka z czasem, by nie dopuścić do ujawnienia bolesnych sekretów.
„Wrócę przed północą” to porywająca opowieść o granicach lojalności i sile miłości, która potrafi leczyć najgłębsze rany. Przeplatające się wątki kryminalne, psychologiczne i obyczajowe tworzą wciągającą, wielowymiarową historię o tym, że prawda zawsze znajdzie sposób, by wyjść na jaw – nawet po latach.
Idealna rodzina. Skrywane sekrety. Czas, który upływa nieubłaganie.
Rok 1998. Życie rodziny Parkerów zmienia się bezpowrotnie. Matka – niegdyś gwiazda okładek i skandali – znika bez śladu, zostawiając swoje dzieci: dojrzałą ponad wiek Maggie i małego, adoptowanego Kita. Opowieść o ich dzieciństwie to pełna napięcia kronika przetrwania, niespodziewanej miłości i brutalnego dorastania. Z pomocą tajemniczego chłopaka z sąsiedztwa, Wilka, Maggie próbuje ocalić brata i siebie. Gdy dochodzi do tragedii, dziewczyna musi opuścić dom, nie oglądając się za siebie.
Lata później, w 2019 roku, przeszłość upomina się o swoje. Maggie, dziś znana pisarka, dowiaduje się, że w piwnicy ich dawnego domu odkryto coś, co nigdy nie miało ujrzeć światła dziennego. Zaczyna się walka z czasem, by nie dopuścić do ujawnienia bolesnych sekretów.
„Wrócę przed północą” to porywająca opowieść o granicach lojalności i sile miłości, która potrafi leczyć najgłębsze rany. Przeplatające się wątki kryminalne, psychologiczne i obyczajowe tworzą wciągającą, wielowymiarową historię o tym, że prawda zawsze znajdzie sposób, by wyjść na jaw – nawet po latach.
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2024
1676 people are currently reading
35898 people want to read
About the author
Eve Chase
11 books1,371 followersEve Chase is an internationally bestselling British novelist who writes rich, layered and suspenseful novels. Including R&J pick, no.1 kindle bestseller The Midnight Hour, The Birdcage, The Glass House (The Daughters of Foxcote Manor, US) Sunday Times top ten and Richard and Judy Book Club pick, The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde (The Wildling Sisters, US) longlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award, and Black Rabbit Hall, winner of Paris' Saint-Maur en Poche prize for Best Foreign Fiction.
Say hello @evepollychase on Instagram, X, and Facebook
Say hello @evepollychase on Instagram, X, and Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 627 reviews
September 14, 2025
What a breathtaking story! From the creeping wonder of the underlying mystery to the fantastically drawn 1990’s nostalgia, I was quickly pulled into the original premise of The Midnight Hour. You see, not only was it multifaceted and exceedingly well-layered, but, in Eve Chase’s typical style, it was filled with evocative prose that won me over hook, line, and sinker. Telling the tale of intertwining friendships and love stories, the puzzle of what happened to Dee still never left my mind. And by the time I reached the series of unguessable twists, my fingers were flying through each page with increasing speed. Ultimately, it was one heck of a magical tale that had oodles of dark secrets.
Next up on my list of wins for this book were Chase’s vivid, believable characters. With humanizing flaws and dysfunctional family dynamics, the relationships came alive right before my eyes. The only piece that wasn’t an absolute slam dunk was the slow-burning pace. Initially, it was somewhat hard to fall into the writing, and it took me a while to get truly invested. Once I did, though, boy oh boy. Coming fast and furious towards the end, the twists delivered in spades. All in all, it was an impressive mashup of murder mystery and family drama on top of a coming of age story. So if you’re looking for a real treat of a book, definitely give this one a try. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Notting Hill, London: One May evening, seventeen-year-old Maggie Parker's mother walks out of their front door and doesn't return. With her little brother in tow, desperate to find their mother, Maggie is drawn into a labyrinthine world of secondhand shops and shadowy figures, far from the grand townhouses in her comfortable neighborhood.
As Maggie struggles to maintain a stable life for herself and her brother, she befriends Wolf, another young person also living on his wits alone. But can he help solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance—or will her growing feelings for him just cause her further pain, upending her life even more? When she discovers that her beloved house now holds a dangerous new secret, and Wolf is involved, Maggie, heartbroken, makes her escape.
Twenty-one years later, in her Paris apartment, Maggie gets a phone call that shatters her hard-won new life. While in London, the incoming owner of the Parkers' old Notting Hill house is excavating the basement, unaware of what might lie beneath—and the clock starts ticking on buried secrets.
Thank you to Eve Chase and Ballantine Books—Random House for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 5, 2025
Content warnings: abandonment, cancer, murder, addiction, grief, violence
Next up on my list of wins for this book were Chase’s vivid, believable characters. With humanizing flaws and dysfunctional family dynamics, the relationships came alive right before my eyes. The only piece that wasn’t an absolute slam dunk was the slow-burning pace. Initially, it was somewhat hard to fall into the writing, and it took me a while to get truly invested. Once I did, though, boy oh boy. Coming fast and furious towards the end, the twists delivered in spades. All in all, it was an impressive mashup of murder mystery and family drama on top of a coming of age story. So if you’re looking for a real treat of a book, definitely give this one a try. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Notting Hill, London: One May evening, seventeen-year-old Maggie Parker's mother walks out of their front door and doesn't return. With her little brother in tow, desperate to find their mother, Maggie is drawn into a labyrinthine world of secondhand shops and shadowy figures, far from the grand townhouses in her comfortable neighborhood.
As Maggie struggles to maintain a stable life for herself and her brother, she befriends Wolf, another young person also living on his wits alone. But can he help solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance—or will her growing feelings for him just cause her further pain, upending her life even more? When she discovers that her beloved house now holds a dangerous new secret, and Wolf is involved, Maggie, heartbroken, makes her escape.
Twenty-one years later, in her Paris apartment, Maggie gets a phone call that shatters her hard-won new life. While in London, the incoming owner of the Parkers' old Notting Hill house is excavating the basement, unaware of what might lie beneath—and the clock starts ticking on buried secrets.
Thank you to Eve Chase and Ballantine Books—Random House for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 5, 2025
Content warnings: abandonment, cancer, murder, addiction, grief, violence
April 4, 2024
In May 2019, author Maggie Parker is living in Paris writing under the pseudonym Margaret Foale. She receives a phone call and it’s one she has been dreading. Backtrack to Notting Hill (London) in 1998 and Maggie’s beautiful widowed model mother Dee Dee is getting ready for a night out, leaving her in charge of her younger brother, Kit. When she doesn’t return by the midnight hour as promised, Maggie is unsure of what to do. However, a chance and very fortuitous meeting with Wolf not only opens her eyes to a previously unknown world but also delays any decision making.
This is absolutely fabulous in very possible way. It’s beautifully written with originality and creativity encompassing a multilayered story. It’s part suspenseful mystery, part love story, an novel of friendship and family secrets which is very cleverly told via the dual timelines. Fabulous characters bestride the pages from golden Kit to loyal Maggie to gruff Gav Out Back to the colourful Aunt Cora with all portrayed in full technicolour. You ponder at the secrets which are so intriguing, you feel the same sense of doom that Maggie does with some characters making you feel unsettled and wondering what’s afoot. The mystery of Dee Dee continues to puzzle but it stultifies Maggie with tension which oozes from her pores.
There are so many aspects of the book that are well done but I love that the film ‘Notting Hill’ is being made in the 1998 timeline which adds its own distinctive flavour! I also enjoy the antiques element with the inclusion of some fascinating objects and great scenes at Gav’s Out Back.
The storytelling navigates multiple twists with the author dropping in little teasers which ignite the page, sending my brain into overdrive. Sometimes these are dirty great information bombs that send my jaw to the floor! A few of the reveals are so good, some scenes are sad, occasionally horrifying as it builds to the ending you hope for. An outstanding book and one I can highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is absolutely fabulous in very possible way. It’s beautifully written with originality and creativity encompassing a multilayered story. It’s part suspenseful mystery, part love story, an novel of friendship and family secrets which is very cleverly told via the dual timelines. Fabulous characters bestride the pages from golden Kit to loyal Maggie to gruff Gav Out Back to the colourful Aunt Cora with all portrayed in full technicolour. You ponder at the secrets which are so intriguing, you feel the same sense of doom that Maggie does with some characters making you feel unsettled and wondering what’s afoot. The mystery of Dee Dee continues to puzzle but it stultifies Maggie with tension which oozes from her pores.
There are so many aspects of the book that are well done but I love that the film ‘Notting Hill’ is being made in the 1998 timeline which adds its own distinctive flavour! I also enjoy the antiques element with the inclusion of some fascinating objects and great scenes at Gav’s Out Back.
The storytelling navigates multiple twists with the author dropping in little teasers which ignite the page, sending my brain into overdrive. Sometimes these are dirty great information bombs that send my jaw to the floor! A few of the reveals are so good, some scenes are sad, occasionally horrifying as it builds to the ending you hope for. An outstanding book and one I can highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 16, 2024
I liked the premise of the book, so decided to try it. It was ok, but not one of my favourites. The characterisations weren’t believable, and Kit, the younger brother is downright annoying even as an adult. The mother, Dee, is not much better.
The story starts in 1998 when Maggie and Kit’s mum Dee disappears, and Maggie is left, at 17 left to look after her much younger brother. She then meets Wolf, a local boy who works for his Antique dealer uncle, and she falls head over heals in love with him. Maggie, Wolf and Kit end up living together in the mum’s house until something happens that threatens all of their safety. Twenty years later Maggie hears from Wolf that the basement in their old house is being dug up, and this threatens to unearth secrets and things better left hidden.
This took longer to read then it should have, probably because a couple of the characters were so annoying.
The story starts in 1998 when Maggie and Kit’s mum Dee disappears, and Maggie is left, at 17 left to look after her much younger brother. She then meets Wolf, a local boy who works for his Antique dealer uncle, and she falls head over heals in love with him. Maggie, Wolf and Kit end up living together in the mum’s house until something happens that threatens all of their safety. Twenty years later Maggie hears from Wolf that the basement in their old house is being dug up, and this threatens to unearth secrets and things better left hidden.
This took longer to read then it should have, probably because a couple of the characters were so annoying.
July 14, 2024
Two dimensional characters it was hard to care about.
I have enjoyed all of Eve Chase’s previous books and was looking forward to reading this one. However, I found it strangely flat and the characters two dimensional. Wolf, from his first appearance seemed too good to be true, grown up Kit, infuriatingly, continued to be treated as a helpless child by his female relatives and Dee Dee’s friends Clemence and Suki seem to have no purpose whatsoever in the book, other than to turn up periodically and wear interesting clothes. But my biggest difficulty was the central character Maggie. We are told her story but I felt I knew so little about her as an individual character. And what I did know I couldn’t really engage with or care about.
One aspect of Eve Chase’s books which I have always loved is her beautiful prose and for me this was by far the most enjoyable part of ‘The Midnight Hour’. But otherwise, this missed the mark for me.
I have enjoyed all of Eve Chase’s previous books and was looking forward to reading this one. However, I found it strangely flat and the characters two dimensional. Wolf, from his first appearance seemed too good to be true, grown up Kit, infuriatingly, continued to be treated as a helpless child by his female relatives and Dee Dee’s friends Clemence and Suki seem to have no purpose whatsoever in the book, other than to turn up periodically and wear interesting clothes. But my biggest difficulty was the central character Maggie. We are told her story but I felt I knew so little about her as an individual character. And what I did know I couldn’t really engage with or care about.
One aspect of Eve Chase’s books which I have always loved is her beautiful prose and for me this was by far the most enjoyable part of ‘The Midnight Hour’. But otherwise, this missed the mark for me.
January 2, 2025
I found the first 2/3 of this to be pretty boring and seemed to have a lot of wasted time which could have been used to provide better character development, and with the complex relationships and histories they have they desperately needed that. The "happily ever after ending" came across as rushed. Again, some parts earlier could have been cut down to make room for more build for that.
December 16, 2024
Absolutely loved this beautifully written, beguiling dual timeline mystery. So evocative of 1990’s Notting Hill, I was fully immersed in all the senses. A wonderful book to escape into on a drab winter’s day. Loved it!
July 4, 2024
Moving between two timelines and locations, London’s Notting Hill in 1998 and Paris in 2019, The Midnight Hour was just the type of mystery for me. A mother goes out for the evening leaving her two children at home and doesn’t return. Where is she? Is her disappearance due to a terrible accident or intentional and if the latter, why leave your children alone?
Maggie Parker is 17 when her mother Dee-Dee, an ex-model with some celebrity status goes missing and feels overwhelmed by the responsibility of looking after her younger brother Kit. He is not an easy child and Maggie has to make the decision as to whether she should report her mother’s disappearance to the police and risk them being split up and taken into care or just wait a bit longer to see if she returns Their father had died and with only an estranged aunt as remaining family, there is no adult she can turn to.
This is a coming of age story for Maggie as well as a mystery. The appearance of a boy called Wolf into their lives has major repercussions and lives will be changed forever.
In 2019, 38 year old Margaret Foale has made a life for herself in Paris as a novelist. However an unexpected phone call completely derails her settled life and events bring her back to London. As events unfold the story highlights a broken family with long held secrets.
The Midnight Hour is a slow burner to begin with but as the revelations keep coming, the pace increases and I was completely invested in the what and the why. Maggie was the linchpin of the story but ably accompanied by Kit, rather a fragile character fighting his own demons and Aunt Cora, a no-nonsense woman who had a far better connection with her animals than with her family. With well drawn supporting characters like Wolf and Gav Out Back, this is a multi layered story of love, loyalty and dysfunctional family relationships with an undercurrent of danger and mystery.
I very much enjoyed this. Eve Chase’s characters feel authentic with their flaws being very much part of the story. Maggie was always the protective big sister even it meant hiding things from Kit. With the story’s clever construction, the reason for Dee-Dee’s disappearance kept me guessing as did the events around that phone call; the author teases the reader with unexpected revelations. and just when I thought I had worked it all out, I was thrown off course by another curve ball.
With its gorgeous cover and immersive story of family drama and relationships, The Midnight Hour is one to be recommended.
Maggie Parker is 17 when her mother Dee-Dee, an ex-model with some celebrity status goes missing and feels overwhelmed by the responsibility of looking after her younger brother Kit. He is not an easy child and Maggie has to make the decision as to whether she should report her mother’s disappearance to the police and risk them being split up and taken into care or just wait a bit longer to see if she returns Their father had died and with only an estranged aunt as remaining family, there is no adult she can turn to.
This is a coming of age story for Maggie as well as a mystery. The appearance of a boy called Wolf into their lives has major repercussions and lives will be changed forever.
In 2019, 38 year old Margaret Foale has made a life for herself in Paris as a novelist. However an unexpected phone call completely derails her settled life and events bring her back to London. As events unfold the story highlights a broken family with long held secrets.
The Midnight Hour is a slow burner to begin with but as the revelations keep coming, the pace increases and I was completely invested in the what and the why. Maggie was the linchpin of the story but ably accompanied by Kit, rather a fragile character fighting his own demons and Aunt Cora, a no-nonsense woman who had a far better connection with her animals than with her family. With well drawn supporting characters like Wolf and Gav Out Back, this is a multi layered story of love, loyalty and dysfunctional family relationships with an undercurrent of danger and mystery.
I very much enjoyed this. Eve Chase’s characters feel authentic with their flaws being very much part of the story. Maggie was always the protective big sister even it meant hiding things from Kit. With the story’s clever construction, the reason for Dee-Dee’s disappearance kept me guessing as did the events around that phone call; the author teases the reader with unexpected revelations. and just when I thought I had worked it all out, I was thrown off course by another curve ball.
With its gorgeous cover and immersive story of family drama and relationships, The Midnight Hour is one to be recommended.
July 29, 2024
This is a fabulous book and it is quite complex as the author flits back and forth over time. Dee had lived in Nottinghill with her two children, Maggie and Kit. One night Dee does not return home and the children are left alone not knowing where she has gone. Maggie is nearly 18 when this happens, not wanting to call the police as she thinks they may then take her brother away from her, she tries to carry on as normal.
20 years later and we are in the present, Maggie is living in France as a writer under a nom de plume, she receives a phone call from someone from the past. This person is important to Maggie and Kit, but no one has been in touch with him. The Nottinghill house is being renovated and there is a secret that if discovered could change all of their lives.
I was hooked on this book from the outset. The author takes the reader on a journey through the lives of Maggie and Kit, the people they come across, those who help them and those who know their mother. Their mother is well known so this is the reason that the police are not involved, and also Maggie's age. There are many struggles in the past and also the present as things become more obvious after time has passed, but there are also a whole host of new questions. Many of these have been hidden and so were not necessarily asked by the right person at the right time.
I did mention that this is a complex story and I think this is where I should add that it flows so well. The author has kept her characters and the storyline under control so that even though it flits back and forth, it makes sense. I think this is a book that is more complex to review as there are so many things happening and I don't want to risk letting any spoilers out.
If you are looking for a story that shows and tells the struggles of a family growing up in the 90s and coming to terms with things left unsaid then this is a book for you. If you are looking for something with mystery and drama this is also one for you.
Once again this author has written a compelling and interesting book about the dynamics of a family and how this shapes them into the people they become. Fabulous story and characters, a great pace and one I would definitely recommend.
20 years later and we are in the present, Maggie is living in France as a writer under a nom de plume, she receives a phone call from someone from the past. This person is important to Maggie and Kit, but no one has been in touch with him. The Nottinghill house is being renovated and there is a secret that if discovered could change all of their lives.
I was hooked on this book from the outset. The author takes the reader on a journey through the lives of Maggie and Kit, the people they come across, those who help them and those who know their mother. Their mother is well known so this is the reason that the police are not involved, and also Maggie's age. There are many struggles in the past and also the present as things become more obvious after time has passed, but there are also a whole host of new questions. Many of these have been hidden and so were not necessarily asked by the right person at the right time.
I did mention that this is a complex story and I think this is where I should add that it flows so well. The author has kept her characters and the storyline under control so that even though it flits back and forth, it makes sense. I think this is a book that is more complex to review as there are so many things happening and I don't want to risk letting any spoilers out.
If you are looking for a story that shows and tells the struggles of a family growing up in the 90s and coming to terms with things left unsaid then this is a book for you. If you are looking for something with mystery and drama this is also one for you.
Once again this author has written a compelling and interesting book about the dynamics of a family and how this shapes them into the people they become. Fabulous story and characters, a great pace and one I would definitely recommend.
January 4, 2025
They mystery was intriguing enough to make me want to find out what happened. All that agonising over Wolf was a bit too much though, especially when I realised they were only together for like a week or so.
February 20, 2025
I was looking forward to this one but 11% in and I have had to stop. I’m not finding the style of writing engaging; It feels clunky and a chore to read.
August 9, 2025
4.25 stars. Fun and entertaining.
March 19, 2025
Another beautiful story from an author who writes stories just for me, or so it feels.
This time we are in a terrace in upmarket Notting Hill in 1998 and then again in 2019 when the past may very well resurface.
The perfect way the mysteries and secrets of Maggie, her mother Dee Dee and her Aunt Cora and Wolf, the boy she will never forget are dropped into the chapters like little chocolate drops, had me hooked from the start.
In 1998 young Maggie Parker is left to look after her six year old brother Kit, when their mother Dee Dee disappears. While out with Kit one day Maggie meets Wolf, a local boy, and feels the flush of first love. The next couple of weeks are a blur of worry about her mother's whereabouts and joy at her burgeoning relationship with Wolf.
Until one day tragedy literally comes through the front door and none of their lives will ever be the same.
Then one day in 2019 Maggie takes a phone call that brings the past rushing back to her. She races back to London to be there for Kit. Will she finally tell Kit exactly what happened that day in May 1998?
This time we are in a terrace in upmarket Notting Hill in 1998 and then again in 2019 when the past may very well resurface.
The perfect way the mysteries and secrets of Maggie, her mother Dee Dee and her Aunt Cora and Wolf, the boy she will never forget are dropped into the chapters like little chocolate drops, had me hooked from the start.
In 1998 young Maggie Parker is left to look after her six year old brother Kit, when their mother Dee Dee disappears. While out with Kit one day Maggie meets Wolf, a local boy, and feels the flush of first love. The next couple of weeks are a blur of worry about her mother's whereabouts and joy at her burgeoning relationship with Wolf.
Until one day tragedy literally comes through the front door and none of their lives will ever be the same.
Then one day in 2019 Maggie takes a phone call that brings the past rushing back to her. She races back to London to be there for Kit. Will she finally tell Kit exactly what happened that day in May 1998?
December 5, 2025
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the story overall and the mystery across two timelines. I did find it went on a tad though, especially the mooning over Wolf and the dragging out of the missing mother days. Also, the MC If the author had shaved 50 pages or so of that away, I’d have given it 4 stars. I still recommend it as a read however, in spite of that, and will try another of her books at some point.
I enjoyed the story overall and the mystery across two timelines. I did find it went on a tad though, especially the mooning over Wolf and the dragging out of the missing mother days. Also, the MC If the author had shaved 50 pages or so of that away, I’d have given it 4 stars. I still recommend it as a read however, in spite of that, and will try another of her books at some point.
September 10, 2024
A small time slip tale that took a large amount of reading and time to get going,
Kit, Wolf & Cora were likeable but Maggie was dreary.
Many secrets held for a long time but when revealed didn’t have any “ wow I didn’t see that coming “ feeling.
Unfortunately description of “ Notting Hill “ also became
OTT.
The dust cover I think is lovely.
I’m afraid that’s all I can say!
Would I read this again…. No
Would i recommend it…No
A weary 🌟 🌟 rating
Sorry EC it just didn’t grab me !
Kit, Wolf & Cora were likeable but Maggie was dreary.
Many secrets held for a long time but when revealed didn’t have any “ wow I didn’t see that coming “ feeling.
Unfortunately description of “ Notting Hill “ also became
OTT.
The dust cover I think is lovely.
I’m afraid that’s all I can say!
Would I read this again…. No
Would i recommend it…No
A weary 🌟 🌟 rating
Sorry EC it just didn’t grab me !
September 14, 2025
Review pending. I’m too weary to do justice to this, my favorite of Eve Chase’s works, and I have read every one and loved them all.
And here goes:
Call it fate, call it luck, I will be forever grateful to whatever it was that led a late night library search to THE WILDLING SISTERS, by Eve (Polly) Chase. At the time, I was just looking for a quick bedtime read, and neither my requirements or expectations were very high. However, just a few paragraphs in, I discovered I had stumbled onto a real gem, not just the book, but the writer herself. She obviously had the kind of talent I am drawn to, someone with a mastery of language, that was setting forth metaphors that clicked and made me melt. I read everything she had written and accomplishing that, I waited impatiently for her next publication and the next and the next. Never have I been anything but dazzled.
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR is by far my favorite. Her best yet! I loved the characters. I cared about them. A lot. The settings—multiple places in England and Paris—were rich in description. The magic of first love; the indefatigable brother-sister bond—both captured perfectly, realistically without smarm or sentiment. My inner teenage girl was resurrected for a time as I developed a book crush on the magnetic, capable and sweet (so sweet!) Wolf, wise beyond his years. Damn, this would make a fine showing done well on the screen.
Of course, there’s a mystery at its heart. Suspense, curiosity, and of course, emotional investment kept the pages flying. TMH was my “free” monthly Audible choice, and although I was completely satisfied with the narration, I bought the Kindle version, too, because seeing the words allowed me to savor and steep myself in the writing of which I am so fond. I noticed, too,she put some kickass verbs to work! Ah, the magical force of word choice!
There are some unexpected twists along the way, but the story does not at depend on them for its strength. Do you know what I mean? I’ve read of one author hailed as “the queen of twists,” and I’m not criticizing that. My point is that it’s not required that a mystery blow your mind with an incredible, didn’t see-it-coming, never-woulda-guessed-it-in-a-million-years, explosive kind of twist.
It doesn’t seem that Eve Chase gets near the recognition or attention of comparable authors Lisa Jewell and Kate Morton. If that’s accurate, and it appears to be o, I can’t for the life of me understand why. This is by no means a contest or ranking, but I contend her canon holds up to that same level of recognition and quality. Her books tend to carry a UK title different from the US one. Maybe her American marketing team needs to get on the stick! But what do I know….
From her online presence, I think I would really like Ms. Chase, like she’s a cool person you’d like to have in the neighborhood. Photos of her writing cottage are to die for—the requisite English garden. (sigh) Add the Golden Retriever, and all those lovely words, she’s most solidly in my mix of favorite authors.
What did you think of THE MIDNIGHT HOUR?
And here goes:
Call it fate, call it luck, I will be forever grateful to whatever it was that led a late night library search to THE WILDLING SISTERS, by Eve (Polly) Chase. At the time, I was just looking for a quick bedtime read, and neither my requirements or expectations were very high. However, just a few paragraphs in, I discovered I had stumbled onto a real gem, not just the book, but the writer herself. She obviously had the kind of talent I am drawn to, someone with a mastery of language, that was setting forth metaphors that clicked and made me melt. I read everything she had written and accomplishing that, I waited impatiently for her next publication and the next and the next. Never have I been anything but dazzled.
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR is by far my favorite. Her best yet! I loved the characters. I cared about them. A lot. The settings—multiple places in England and Paris—were rich in description. The magic of first love; the indefatigable brother-sister bond—both captured perfectly, realistically without smarm or sentiment. My inner teenage girl was resurrected for a time as I developed a book crush on the magnetic, capable and sweet (so sweet!) Wolf, wise beyond his years. Damn, this would make a fine showing done well on the screen.
Of course, there’s a mystery at its heart. Suspense, curiosity, and of course, emotional investment kept the pages flying. TMH was my “free” monthly Audible choice, and although I was completely satisfied with the narration, I bought the Kindle version, too, because seeing the words allowed me to savor and steep myself in the writing of which I am so fond. I noticed, too,she put some kickass verbs to work! Ah, the magical force of word choice!
There are some unexpected twists along the way, but the story does not at depend on them for its strength. Do you know what I mean? I’ve read of one author hailed as “the queen of twists,” and I’m not criticizing that. My point is that it’s not required that a mystery blow your mind with an incredible, didn’t see-it-coming, never-woulda-guessed-it-in-a-million-years, explosive kind of twist.
It doesn’t seem that Eve Chase gets near the recognition or attention of comparable authors Lisa Jewell and Kate Morton. If that’s accurate, and it appears to be o, I can’t for the life of me understand why. This is by no means a contest or ranking, but I contend her canon holds up to that same level of recognition and quality. Her books tend to carry a UK title different from the US one. Maybe her American marketing team needs to get on the stick! But what do I know….
From her online presence, I think I would really like Ms. Chase, like she’s a cool person you’d like to have in the neighborhood. Photos of her writing cottage are to die for—the requisite English garden. (sigh) Add the Golden Retriever, and all those lovely words, she’s most solidly in my mix of favorite authors.
What did you think of THE MIDNIGHT HOUR?
March 5, 2024
Another beautifully written book by Eve Chase. The story is told through alternating time periods, 1998 and 2019. The two timelines are cleverly interwoven bringing the story to a satisfying climax. There are lots of surprises along the way with plenty of mystery to be uncovered. The characters, as always, are delightful. This is a story about family, secrets and deception and finding yourself. There is tragedy and delight and all the emotions in-between. An absolute joy to read. Highly recommended.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
April 4, 2024
I enjoyed this story set in the late 1990s and then twenty years later. The characters were relatable and the momentum of the story carried me along. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
March 20, 2025
I loved this book! I thought it was a little bit slow at the beginning, but then it got me hooked. Plenty of twist towards the end. I really enjoyed reading it.
June 21, 2025
I enjoy Eve Chases’ writing . I’ve read almost all her books now , thanks to my local library.
The Midnight Hour is a tender, but mysterious story of two siblings and their absent mother.
The Midnight Hour is a tender, but mysterious story of two siblings and their absent mother.
December 6, 2025
I have long been a fan of Eve Chase’s writing, so it is no surprise to anyone that I thoroughly enjoyed her latest offering “The Midnight Hour“. A dual time line mystery novel rife with family secrets… what’s not to love?
When just a teenager, Maggie’s glamorous, actress mother went out one spring evening and never returned. This event left Maggie with the sole care of her little brother, Kit, as their father had died a few years previously.
As Maggie strives to maintain the Notting Hill house and look after young Kit, she meets and falls in love with a local boy named Wolf. He ‘gets her‘, and introduces her to the world of second-hand and antique shops – as well as introducing her to love, both emotional and physical. One day, while Wolf is staying at Maggie’s a pivotal event occurs, causing Maggie to flee with her little brother to Paris, where her estranged, maternal aunt lives. She severs her ties to Wolf, but never stops caring for him.
Flash forward two decades. Maggie is living in Paris and going by the name of Margaret Foale. She is a novelist with several books published. One day she receives a phone call that precipitates her flying back to London. Maggie’s brother Kit is now living in London, after travelling around the world. He works in the antique trade, and he has never forgotten Wolf either.
As the author drip-feeds the reader clues, the tension increases. What happened at that house all those years ago? Why did Maggie’s mother abandon her family?
Be assured that in true Eve Chase fashion, all will be revealed – and in a satisfactory way.
In addition to being a well constructed mystery, “The Midnight Hour” is also a coming-of-age novel, a story of dysfunctional families, sibling relationships, first love, forgiveness, and second chances.
As always, I found this to be an immersive read with well-drawn characters and an intriguing story. Highly recommended!
When just a teenager, Maggie’s glamorous, actress mother went out one spring evening and never returned. This event left Maggie with the sole care of her little brother, Kit, as their father had died a few years previously.
As Maggie strives to maintain the Notting Hill house and look after young Kit, she meets and falls in love with a local boy named Wolf. He ‘gets her‘, and introduces her to the world of second-hand and antique shops – as well as introducing her to love, both emotional and physical. One day, while Wolf is staying at Maggie’s a pivotal event occurs, causing Maggie to flee with her little brother to Paris, where her estranged, maternal aunt lives. She severs her ties to Wolf, but never stops caring for him.
Flash forward two decades. Maggie is living in Paris and going by the name of Margaret Foale. She is a novelist with several books published. One day she receives a phone call that precipitates her flying back to London. Maggie’s brother Kit is now living in London, after travelling around the world. He works in the antique trade, and he has never forgotten Wolf either.
As the author drip-feeds the reader clues, the tension increases. What happened at that house all those years ago? Why did Maggie’s mother abandon her family?
Be assured that in true Eve Chase fashion, all will be revealed – and in a satisfactory way.
In addition to being a well constructed mystery, “The Midnight Hour” is also a coming-of-age novel, a story of dysfunctional families, sibling relationships, first love, forgiveness, and second chances.
As always, I found this to be an immersive read with well-drawn characters and an intriguing story. Highly recommended!
August 12, 2025
This one was just OK.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my gifted copy of The Midnight Hour by Eve Chase.
Overall, this one was just okay. There were definitely things I enjoyed—starting with the audiobook. It’s dual narrated by Genevieve Gaunt and Bert Seymour, and this was my first time listening to either of them. Both did a great job.
I also thought the mystery elements were intriguing enough to keep me reading (or listening) through to the end. There were moments where I was curious to see how everything would come together.
Where it fell flat for me was with the characters. I just didn’t feel invested in any of them. The pacing also felt slow in parts, and I kept waiting for more to happen. Things did pick up toward the end, but it wasn’t quite enough to win me over completely.
Interestingly, when I looked back at my review for The Birdcage—another Eve Chase novel I’ve read—I realized I had a similar experience: same 3-star rating and the same struggle to connect with the characters.
So while I didn’t dislike The Midnight Hour, I think it’s fair to say Eve Chase’s writing style might just not be the best fit for me.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my gifted copy of The Midnight Hour by Eve Chase.
Overall, this one was just okay. There were definitely things I enjoyed—starting with the audiobook. It’s dual narrated by Genevieve Gaunt and Bert Seymour, and this was my first time listening to either of them. Both did a great job.
I also thought the mystery elements were intriguing enough to keep me reading (or listening) through to the end. There were moments where I was curious to see how everything would come together.
Where it fell flat for me was with the characters. I just didn’t feel invested in any of them. The pacing also felt slow in parts, and I kept waiting for more to happen. Things did pick up toward the end, but it wasn’t quite enough to win me over completely.
Interestingly, when I looked back at my review for The Birdcage—another Eve Chase novel I’ve read—I realized I had a similar experience: same 3-star rating and the same struggle to connect with the characters.
So while I didn’t dislike The Midnight Hour, I think it’s fair to say Eve Chase’s writing style might just not be the best fit for me.
August 11, 2025
„Wrócę przed północą” to moje pierwsze spotkanie z twórczością Eve Chase. Wybrałam tę książkę głównie, dlatego że jej opis zapowiadał świetny psychologiczny thriller, który idealnie wpasowałby się w tematykę sierpniowego wyzwania #celowaniewczytanie. Natomiast teraz po przeczytaniu tej historii mam dość duży dylemat, czy faktycznie będę mogła ją zaliczyć do tej zabawy, bo tak szczerze powiedziawszy bliżej tej książce do obyczajówki z wątkiem kryminalnym, niż do wspomnianego przeze mnie gatunku. Czy pomimo tego faktu publikacja przypadła mi do gustu? Już spieszę z wyjaśnieniem.
Pomysł na historię był świetny — dwie linie czasowe, tajemnicze znikniecie matki głównej bohaterki i skrzętnie skrywana tajemnica, która miała ujrzeć światło dzienne po ponad dwudziestu latach, bo nowy właściciel postanowił przebudować stary dom głównej bohaterki. Czy to nie brzmi świetnie? Oczywiście, że tak, jednak moim zdaniem wykonanie było tak nieudane, że książka, zamiast trzymać w napięciu, przez 2/3 objętości była przegadana, a przez co nudna jak flaki z olejem.
Głównym problemem tej historii jest to, że akcja nie jest wartka, a wręcz powiedziałabym, że została aż nazbyt rozwleczona. Niestety, ale nie da się napisać dobrego thrillera psychologicznego, skupiając się tylko i wyłącznie na emocjach, które targają bohaterami i na ich wzajemnych relacjach, ponieważ napięcie, które powinno trzymać w ryzach tę opowieść, zupełnie się rozmywa i czytelnik, zamiast czerpać radość z lektury, modli się, aby ta mordęga już się skończyła. I szczerze powiedziawszy, gdyby nie fakt, że zawsze staram się doczytać książkę do końca (nawet jak czytanie straszliwie mnie męczy) to pewnie porzuciłabym ją w połowie, a co za tym idzie, dołączyłaby ona do tego zacnego grona trzech powieści, które dotychczas porzuciłam bezpowrotnie.
Niemniej jednak myślę, że dla osób, które lubią lekkie wątki kryminalne i książki o tematyce skupiającej się wokół skomplikowanych relacji rodzinnych będzie to lektura godna uwagi, dlatego, jeżeli poszukujecie czegoś w tym klimacie, możecie spokojnie po nią sięgnąć. Natomiast jeżeli tak jak ja, uwielbiacie thrillery psychologiczne — polecam wybrać inną publikację.
Pomysł na historię był świetny — dwie linie czasowe, tajemnicze znikniecie matki głównej bohaterki i skrzętnie skrywana tajemnica, która miała ujrzeć światło dzienne po ponad dwudziestu latach, bo nowy właściciel postanowił przebudować stary dom głównej bohaterki. Czy to nie brzmi świetnie? Oczywiście, że tak, jednak moim zdaniem wykonanie było tak nieudane, że książka, zamiast trzymać w napięciu, przez 2/3 objętości była przegadana, a przez co nudna jak flaki z olejem.
Głównym problemem tej historii jest to, że akcja nie jest wartka, a wręcz powiedziałabym, że została aż nazbyt rozwleczona. Niestety, ale nie da się napisać dobrego thrillera psychologicznego, skupiając się tylko i wyłącznie na emocjach, które targają bohaterami i na ich wzajemnych relacjach, ponieważ napięcie, które powinno trzymać w ryzach tę opowieść, zupełnie się rozmywa i czytelnik, zamiast czerpać radość z lektury, modli się, aby ta mordęga już się skończyła. I szczerze powiedziawszy, gdyby nie fakt, że zawsze staram się doczytać książkę do końca (nawet jak czytanie straszliwie mnie męczy) to pewnie porzuciłabym ją w połowie, a co za tym idzie, dołączyłaby ona do tego zacnego grona trzech powieści, które dotychczas porzuciłam bezpowrotnie.
Niemniej jednak myślę, że dla osób, które lubią lekkie wątki kryminalne i książki o tematyce skupiającej się wokół skomplikowanych relacji rodzinnych będzie to lektura godna uwagi, dlatego, jeżeli poszukujecie czegoś w tym klimacie, możecie spokojnie po nią sięgnąć. Natomiast jeżeli tak jak ja, uwielbiacie thrillery psychologiczne — polecam wybrać inną publikację.
August 31, 2025
Mmm, I found this one a bit of a slog, I usually love Eve Chase's books but I haven't cared for the last two at all.
Set in two timelines, London 1998 and 2019, this one was full of irritating characters and though I enjoyed the setting, it wasn't enough for me, I was bored.
2.5 stars.
Set in two timelines, London 1998 and 2019, this one was full of irritating characters and though I enjoyed the setting, it wasn't enough for me, I was bored.
2.5 stars.
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December 26, 2024Secrets , twists and mystery
This was really good. I liked the 3 perspectives of Maggie in 1998, 2019 and Kit in 2019. I loved the protective nature of Wolf and Cora.
It had plenty of twists, only a couple of which I saw coming...
I can't write too much without spoiling it.
It's a story of secrets, lies, sibling love and unrivalled romantic love , that spans 21 years. The ending was wonderful.
This was really good. I liked the 3 perspectives of Maggie in 1998, 2019 and Kit in 2019. I loved the protective nature of Wolf and Cora.
It had plenty of twists, only a couple of which I saw coming...
I can't write too much without spoiling it.
It's a story of secrets, lies, sibling love and unrivalled romantic love , that spans 21 years. The ending was wonderful.
August 28, 2024
Enjoyable read with some great twists towards the end . Did find the beginning a bit slow and was unsure where it was going, but it did turn into a page turner!!
December 27, 2024
3.5 stars
March 12, 2025
Did not finish this book. I couldn't get into it. Felt like it flicked back and fourth to much so was difficult to follow.
April 28, 2025
I did like the concept of this but the moments that were supposed to be shocking didn’t have much impact for me
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