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The Midnight Show
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26An immersive, page-turning novel about surviving as a funny woman in the male-dominated world of comedy—and what happens when the most promising female star of her generation disappears.
In the 1980s, women were not supposed to be funny. But when a group of college improv comedians gets the chance to join a new late-night show, it’s Lillian Martin who stands out. The new show was called The Midnight Show and it would air every Friday night, live from New York, and change the landscape of TV and comedy forever.
But first it would change Lillian’s and her friends’ lives. The show is a runaway hit and the cast is thrown into the spotlight. Suddenly, they’re skipping the line at the city’s hottest clubs and posing on the cover of Rolling Stone. Lillian, in particular, seems destined for big things—until one winter night in Lower Manhattan, she vanishes, leaving nothing behind but questions. Was Lillian a victim of her own excesses? Was it a mugging gone wrong? Or could she have been killed by someone in her own inner circle?
Forty years later, Lillian’s disappearance has never been solved. But when a budding journalist looking to examine Lillian’s story from a modern lens begins asking questions, she stirs up decades-old drama—as well as tightly-held secrets some comedy legends would much rather stay buried.
A propulsive story of fame and friendship, The Midnight Show takes readers behind the scenes of the cutthroat world of comedy in 1980s New York and asks if the rush of getting a laugh is all it’s cracked up to be.
In the 1980s, women were not supposed to be funny. But when a group of college improv comedians gets the chance to join a new late-night show, it’s Lillian Martin who stands out. The new show was called The Midnight Show and it would air every Friday night, live from New York, and change the landscape of TV and comedy forever.
But first it would change Lillian’s and her friends’ lives. The show is a runaway hit and the cast is thrown into the spotlight. Suddenly, they’re skipping the line at the city’s hottest clubs and posing on the cover of Rolling Stone. Lillian, in particular, seems destined for big things—until one winter night in Lower Manhattan, she vanishes, leaving nothing behind but questions. Was Lillian a victim of her own excesses? Was it a mugging gone wrong? Or could she have been killed by someone in her own inner circle?
Forty years later, Lillian’s disappearance has never been solved. But when a budding journalist looking to examine Lillian’s story from a modern lens begins asking questions, she stirs up decades-old drama—as well as tightly-held secrets some comedy legends would much rather stay buried.
A propulsive story of fame and friendship, The Midnight Show takes readers behind the scenes of the cutthroat world of comedy in 1980s New York and asks if the rush of getting a laugh is all it’s cracked up to be.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 7, 2026
5163 people want to read
About the author
Lee Kelly
7 books440 followersLee Kelly is the author of CITY OF SAVAGES, a Publishers Weekly pick and a VOYA Magazine “Perfect Ten” selection, A CRIMINAL MAGIC, which was optioned and developed for a television series by Warner Bros., and WITH REGRETS. With Jennifer Thorne, Lee has also co-written THE ANTIQUITY AFFAIR, THE STARLETS, MY FAIR FRAUDS (forthcoming from Harper Muse, 2025) and THE MIDNIGHT SHOW (forthcoming from Crown, 2026).
Her short fiction and essays have appeared in CrimeReads, Electric Lit, and Tor.com, among other publications, and she holds a Masters in Fine Arts from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. An entertainment lawyer by trade, Lee has practiced law in Los Angeles and New York. She currently lives with her husband and two children in Pennsylvania, where you’ll find them engaged in one adventure or another.
Her short fiction and essays have appeared in CrimeReads, Electric Lit, and Tor.com, among other publications, and she holds a Masters in Fine Arts from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. An entertainment lawyer by trade, Lee has practiced law in Los Angeles and New York. She currently lives with her husband and two children in Pennsylvania, where you’ll find them engaged in one adventure or another.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 17, 2025
ARC for review. To be published April 7, 2026.
4 stars
Oh, how I love books told in the mixed media format, and this I’m one was perfect for it. Madeline Cohen is a freelance writer on assignment to Rolling Stone and is writing a definitive article about Lillian Martin, a female comedian who rose to fame on the first two season of “The Midnight Show” (“Saturday Night Live.”). The book is made up mostly of Madeline’s interview transcripts, plus a few articles, etc. Lillian became a sensation then died mysteriously. Now, forty years later, Madeline wants to look to see what really happened by interviewing co-stars, BFFs, producers, family members and so on.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and if you love reading back stories about SNL I’ll bet you will like it too. It also takes a no-holds-barred look at the way women in comedy were treated in the 80s and it’s not pretty. I hope this does well.
4 stars
Oh, how I love books told in the mixed media format, and this I’m one was perfect for it. Madeline Cohen is a freelance writer on assignment to Rolling Stone and is writing a definitive article about Lillian Martin, a female comedian who rose to fame on the first two season of “The Midnight Show” (“Saturday Night Live.”). The book is made up mostly of Madeline’s interview transcripts, plus a few articles, etc. Lillian became a sensation then died mysteriously. Now, forty years later, Madeline wants to look to see what really happened by interviewing co-stars, BFFs, producers, family members and so on.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and if you love reading back stories about SNL I’ll bet you will like it too. It also takes a no-holds-barred look at the way women in comedy were treated in the 80s and it’s not pretty. I hope this does well.
October 10, 2025
Was this?? Absolutely amazing?? I kinda just went in assuming I’d get some good plot twists and move on but this was incredible! I did kinda call the plot twist but that’s okay. Suspense novels (this is general fiction I believe, but there’s a large amount of suspense and mystery in this one) surrounding famous people are a subgenre of book I remain obsessed with
October 11, 2025
The Midnight Show refers to a late night comedy sketch show (think Saturday Night Live) and takes place at the dawn of the 1980's. The story focuses on the forty year unsolved, mysterious disappearance of one of the shows original cast members, Lillian Martin, and is the focus of a cover story being written by a tenacious writer for Rolling Stone. The format the story is told is through interviews, newspaper clippings, and other various forms of correspondence.
I am old enough to remember the nascent years of Saturday Night Live, so I couldn't help but compare some of the cast members and skits to those in this story. I admit that I didn't get what was enigmatic or humorous about Lillian. She didn't seem particularly remarkable and like most forms of art, comedy is subjective as well as being a product of its zeitgeist. However, her brand of comedy just came across as absurd. Albeit, I think that was its goal. As we learn about Lillian and those who held close, personal relationships with her, we see its effect on her comedy as well as her mental health.
The writing style was clever, but I felt too many voices were speaking at once. For example, if an interview was taking place with one person in a coffee shop, there would then be parts of interviews with five other people (who weren't at the coffee shop) featured in the same transcript. The authors were adept at giving each character their own unique voice and personality. However, the format jumbled all the voices together.
I also can't say that I was satisfied with the conclusion. Lillian wasn't a character I was rooting for, nor did I feel any compassion for her. If anything, I felt apathetic in the end.
I give this book two and a half stars rounded up to three. The writing was good, but the story just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC
I am old enough to remember the nascent years of Saturday Night Live, so I couldn't help but compare some of the cast members and skits to those in this story. I admit that I didn't get what was enigmatic or humorous about Lillian. She didn't seem particularly remarkable and like most forms of art, comedy is subjective as well as being a product of its zeitgeist. However, her brand of comedy just came across as absurd. Albeit, I think that was its goal. As we learn about Lillian and those who held close, personal relationships with her, we see its effect on her comedy as well as her mental health.
The writing style was clever, but I felt too many voices were speaking at once. For example, if an interview was taking place with one person in a coffee shop, there would then be parts of interviews with five other people (who weren't at the coffee shop) featured in the same transcript. The authors were adept at giving each character their own unique voice and personality. However, the format jumbled all the voices together.
I also can't say that I was satisfied with the conclusion. Lillian wasn't a character I was rooting for, nor did I feel any compassion for her. If anything, I felt apathetic in the end.
I give this book two and a half stars rounded up to three. The writing was good, but the story just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wanted to love this. I so wanted to love this! And I will say that I really loved the ending, so that bumped up my star rating from when I was reading it, but as a huge comedy fan with a love of the history of Saturday Night Live, a fictional oral history of a show that is almost a 1:1 just didn’t keep my interest. It was kind of the same problem I had with DAISY JONES AND THE SIX. I would rather read an oral history with real people, a fictional take just doesn’t work for me. I spent way too much time trying to figure out who was supposed to be who, and then when real people would pop in it would just make me more confused. But I truly admire this authors for taking this on and clearly their love for Gilda Radner, even though they kill her, really does shine through.
Lillian, the (I’m assuming!) Gilda stand-in disappears during the height of her fame in the 1980s, starring in the second season of “The Midnight Show,” a live comedy show from NYC. In 2023, a Rolling Stone reporter decides to try to uncover what happened to her by talking to her costars, the crew of the show, and her brother. As we learn more about how the show came to be and what has become of that famous first cast, we slowly learn more about Lillian and what may have happened.
I think that this format and the subject matter presented this way just wasn’t for me (I also really didn’t like ROMANTIC COMEDY, another book set at a fictional SNL) so please take all of this with a grain of salt. Like I said, I was surprised and delighted by the ending and I think this could work for a lot of people. But I think I just prefer the real thing.
Lillian, the (I’m assuming!) Gilda stand-in disappears during the height of her fame in the 1980s, starring in the second season of “The Midnight Show,” a live comedy show from NYC. In 2023, a Rolling Stone reporter decides to try to uncover what happened to her by talking to her costars, the crew of the show, and her brother. As we learn more about how the show came to be and what has become of that famous first cast, we slowly learn more about Lillian and what may have happened.
I think that this format and the subject matter presented this way just wasn’t for me (I also really didn’t like ROMANTIC COMEDY, another book set at a fictional SNL) so please take all of this with a grain of salt. Like I said, I was surprised and delighted by the ending and I think this could work for a lot of people. But I think I just prefer the real thing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.75 ⭐️
THE MIDNIGHT SHOW by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne
I love novels that weave in SNL or SNL-like shows into the narrative (looking at you, ROMANTIC COMEDY). I’m not even much of a fan of SNL, but I think it has a predictable structure with little evolution other than the cast over the past 50ish years. So it’s a solid reference point.
This novel is told in an oral history format, which I predict will be excellent on audio, even though I read it in print. The oral history discusses the early seasons of THE MIDNIGHT SHOW, a sketch comedy show, how women face an uphill battle in comedy, and the tragic death of one of its first cast members Lillian Martin, who plunged to her death into the East River during the third season. Forty years after her death, a journalist is trying to get to the bottom of Lillian’s death and, in the process, find out more about Lillian’s co-workers/suspects all against the backdrop of an iconic sketch show.
➕ The oral history format worked really well here (much like THE FAVORITES).
➕ Great reference point to use an SNL-like show that really captured how women were tokenized and used for men’s devices within comedy.
➕ While the mystery wasn’t the centerpiece here, I found myself playing Nancy Drew trying to figure out whodunit.
This novel had my full attention, and I read it in a day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes April 7, 2026.
THE MIDNIGHT SHOW by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne
I love novels that weave in SNL or SNL-like shows into the narrative (looking at you, ROMANTIC COMEDY). I’m not even much of a fan of SNL, but I think it has a predictable structure with little evolution other than the cast over the past 50ish years. So it’s a solid reference point.
This novel is told in an oral history format, which I predict will be excellent on audio, even though I read it in print. The oral history discusses the early seasons of THE MIDNIGHT SHOW, a sketch comedy show, how women face an uphill battle in comedy, and the tragic death of one of its first cast members Lillian Martin, who plunged to her death into the East River during the third season. Forty years after her death, a journalist is trying to get to the bottom of Lillian’s death and, in the process, find out more about Lillian’s co-workers/suspects all against the backdrop of an iconic sketch show.
➕ The oral history format worked really well here (much like THE FAVORITES).
➕ Great reference point to use an SNL-like show that really captured how women were tokenized and used for men’s devices within comedy.
➕ While the mystery wasn’t the centerpiece here, I found myself playing Nancy Drew trying to figure out whodunit.
This novel had my full attention, and I read it in a day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes April 7, 2026.
January 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this ARC e-copy of The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne.
Told exclusively through transcripts of interviews and other found media à la Daisy Jones and the Six, this book follows the reporting of a Rolling Stone writer/failed funnywoman who is determined to discover what happened to the late comedienne Lillian Martin, rising star of The Midnight Show.
There are plenty of obvious parallels here: The Midnight Show = Saturday Night Live; One Astor = 30 Rock; Townies = Groundlings; and plenty more. Because of the pre-established setting, it’s easy to imagine these memorable characters interacting within it. It was hard to put this one down. The format and the story were addicting and easy to read. And the ending? Definitely surprising!
If you like Saturday Night Live or HBO Max’s Hacks, this is a book for you. It explores the dark side of the stand-up and improv comedy worlds, and the treatment of women in the ‘late night’ industry. But throughout, there is hope. This is an awesome book that deserves the hype of anything written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, who I also read and admire. If you’re looking for something a little different, give this book a shot.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - GREAT
Told exclusively through transcripts of interviews and other found media à la Daisy Jones and the Six, this book follows the reporting of a Rolling Stone writer/failed funnywoman who is determined to discover what happened to the late comedienne Lillian Martin, rising star of The Midnight Show.
There are plenty of obvious parallels here: The Midnight Show = Saturday Night Live; One Astor = 30 Rock; Townies = Groundlings; and plenty more. Because of the pre-established setting, it’s easy to imagine these memorable characters interacting within it. It was hard to put this one down. The format and the story were addicting and easy to read. And the ending? Definitely surprising!
If you like Saturday Night Live or HBO Max’s Hacks, this is a book for you. It explores the dark side of the stand-up and improv comedy worlds, and the treatment of women in the ‘late night’ industry. But throughout, there is hope. This is an awesome book that deserves the hype of anything written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, who I also read and admire. If you’re looking for something a little different, give this book a shot.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - GREAT
December 10, 2025
Wow -- I wasn't expecting this. I loved this behind-the-scenes look at a fictional 1980's New York-based live comedy show - think "Saturday Night Live." Employing interviews, articles, and transcripts to tell the tale, focusing mostly on a group of young performers from improvisational comedy in Boston. Having come of age in the 80's, I can attest to much of the stuff the authors got right -- it was a different, crazy time. The inclusion of real and made-up stars and musicians was really well done, and added to the realism portrayed.
Once I could figure out the characters, I was absolutely invested in the story. Each character was differentiated extremely well -- I have to give a hats-off the cast member who repeatedly called the interviewer by a different (wrong) name every time -- I laughed EVERY time.
All and all, I was hugely satisfied by this, and I was unhappy when it ended.
Will I read more from the authors? Hell, yes.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and Net Galley, and my review is being left freely.
Once I could figure out the characters, I was absolutely invested in the story. Each character was differentiated extremely well -- I have to give a hats-off the cast member who repeatedly called the interviewer by a different (wrong) name every time -- I laughed EVERY time.
All and all, I was hugely satisfied by this, and I was unhappy when it ended.
Will I read more from the authors? Hell, yes.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and Net Galley, and my review is being left freely.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fictional exploration into the world of late-night comedy with probably some stereotypes that ring true, this mystery was page turning and fascinating.
The story revolves around a comedy skit show in New York City involving several young comedians. The men and women of the cast are being interviewed several years later after one of their cast mates mysteriously vanishes from a bridge in Lower Manhattan. Murder, not out of the question, makes every cast member and acquaintance a suspect.
The entire novel is written in interview form, which was helpful in keeping the characters straight. I kept googling to see if this was based on true events. I enjoyed this as much and if not more than a similar “interview” that I read, Daisy Jones and the Six.
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the advanced reader copy, that is set to be published April 2026, in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book and was surprised by the ending which I did not see coming, which was refreshing. #NetGalley #TheMidnightShow #CrownPublishing @CrownPublishing
The story revolves around a comedy skit show in New York City involving several young comedians. The men and women of the cast are being interviewed several years later after one of their cast mates mysteriously vanishes from a bridge in Lower Manhattan. Murder, not out of the question, makes every cast member and acquaintance a suspect.
The entire novel is written in interview form, which was helpful in keeping the characters straight. I kept googling to see if this was based on true events. I enjoyed this as much and if not more than a similar “interview” that I read, Daisy Jones and the Six.
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the advanced reader copy, that is set to be published April 2026, in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book and was surprised by the ending which I did not see coming, which was refreshing. #NetGalley #TheMidnightShow #CrownPublishing @CrownPublishing
November 9, 2025
I LOVED this book. I was utterly immersed in this world that, very cleverly, blended fact and fiction. It was a tightly constructed and unputdownable story about women in comedy and the precarious nature of fame/notoriety. It inspired me to pick up the many books detailing the early days of SNL and also to think deeply about people in the public eye. How carefully legacies are crafted and how they are probably not based on truth, Fame is truly a monster. It's a tough thing to do to weave together a web of characters in this way...I can't wait to recommend this book to anyone who will listen. Many thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A journalist, Madeline, is exploring the life of Lillian Martin, a sketch comedian popular for her run on The Midnight Show prior to her sudden disappearance.
Madeline interviews those closest to Lillian, her former cast mates and boyfriend and finds herself unraveling the truth of who Lillian was and what happened to her leading up to her disappearance and presumed death.
The authors weave together a varied cast of characters and their personalities help tell the story of the past. Highly intriguing and reminiscent of SNL, this is a great TBR if you enjoy comedy and other books that have an interview style narrative.
Madeline interviews those closest to Lillian, her former cast mates and boyfriend and finds herself unraveling the truth of who Lillian was and what happened to her leading up to her disappearance and presumed death.
The authors weave together a varied cast of characters and their personalities help tell the story of the past. Highly intriguing and reminiscent of SNL, this is a great TBR if you enjoy comedy and other books that have an interview style narrative.
Review of advance copy
I loved The Midnight Show! The characters jumped off the page, each with their own voice, literally. The book is written in a unique interview format as the reporter/narrator investigates the unsolved death of one of the stars of The Midnight Show, a hit late night comedy television show (a thinly veiled Saturday Night Live). TMS is funny, pithy and intriguing, with mystery and romance intertwined with a story told from multiple points of view - a true page turner!
October 23, 2025
Told in an interview-style format reminiscent of Daisy Jones & The Six, this story centers on the mysterious disappearance of comedienne Lillian Martin following her stint on an early ’80s sketch comedy show, The Midnight Show (think a fictional version of SNL). It gripped me from the very first page, and I was completely hooked by all the twists and turns! 4.5 stars
October 30, 2025
This book checked so many boxes for me.
Love of mysteries, ✅.
The world of comedy, ✅.
The 80s, ✅.
Behind the scenes drama, ✅.
100% dialogue!!!, ✅.
Mostly women leads, ✅.
Exciting plot that moves fast, ✅.
I truly loved this book.
Love of mysteries, ✅.
The world of comedy, ✅.
The 80s, ✅.
Behind the scenes drama, ✅.
100% dialogue!!!, ✅.
Mostly women leads, ✅.
Exciting plot that moves fast, ✅.
I truly loved this book.
December 20, 2025
Reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six but with a TV show instead of a band. Told in mixed-media (mainly interviews) format. The story wasn’t exciting enough for me but it was an easy read. It wasn’t bad and I could see some people liking this more than I did.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
So good! A refreshing form with ongoing interviews and notes and article headings. A lot of real New York in its pages. Loved the women so wholeheartedly, and Kent 😊 Great twist. A classic whodunit feminist interview realistic fiction.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Pretty solid! This was such a quick read for me, very engaging and a unique concept. The ending was a tad convenient, but that's my only real complaint.
Thanks Crown Publishing/NetGalley for the ARC
Thanks Crown Publishing/NetGalley for the ARC
July 15, 2025
Listen, I've read this thing and it's a solid five stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
fantastic plot about a young, brilliant, comedian who dies in her prime and the comics writer turned journalist investigating decades later. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I always love when a novel is written in an interesting format. The Midnight Show reminded me a bit of The Favorites in its documentary type formatting with interviews with various characters to get multiple points of view. Even as someone who has only a very limited knowledge of Saturday Night Live, I was able to see many parallels between the world of The Midnight Show and SNL. Despite the fact that the only firsthand view we get of the main character Lillian is a few pages from her journal, I felt like Kelly and Thorne developed her characer extremely well through the interviews with her castmates. There were quite a few characters, which sometimes can make it hard to keep track of/differentiate between characters, yet each one was completely unique and distinctive with his/her own personality. Overall a really worthwhile read!
January 1, 2026
Hands-down the most fun I've ever had writing. Hope you love it too.
Update 9/9/25: Netgalley users, THE MIDNIGHT SHOW is up for request! https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
Update 9/9/25: Netgalley users, THE MIDNIGHT SHOW is up for request! https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
December 10, 2025
A very good book. Insightful and thought provoking. Five stars!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews