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Until Midnight
When lies and betrayals are exposed, the perfect wedding becomes a nightmare in a gripping novel of psychological suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of Last Night and The Shadow Box.
Rhode Island’s picturesque Ocean House is the perfect setting for Kate Woodward and Conor Reid’s fairy-tale wedding weekend. But there may not be a happily ever after.
When an old friend of Conor’s disrupts the rehearsal dinner and reveals a blindsiding secret—a claim that she and Conor share a child—Kate calls off the wedding, thinking things can’t get any worse. Until the next morning, when that same woman is found with her throat slashed.
As investigators close in and suspicions mount, the evidence points to a mystery deeper than anyone imagined. The soundproof boat with telltale signs of something sinister. The mansion on the hill that lures in young girls and doesn’t let them go. A secret society whose members might be more familiar than not. And the truth of the dead woman’s past that draws Kate and Conor into a nightmare.
Rhode Island’s picturesque Ocean House is the perfect setting for Kate Woodward and Conor Reid’s fairy-tale wedding weekend. But there may not be a happily ever after.
When an old friend of Conor’s disrupts the rehearsal dinner and reveals a blindsiding secret—a claim that she and Conor share a child—Kate calls off the wedding, thinking things can’t get any worse. Until the next morning, when that same woman is found with her throat slashed.
As investigators close in and suspicions mount, the evidence points to a mystery deeper than anyone imagined. The soundproof boat with telltale signs of something sinister. The mansion on the hill that lures in young girls and doesn’t let them go. A secret society whose members might be more familiar than not. And the truth of the dead woman’s past that draws Kate and Conor into a nightmare.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2026
About the author
Luanne Rice
114 books3,263 followersLuanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-eight novels, translated into thirty languages. Rice often writes about love, family, nature, and the sea. Most recently she has written thrillers, including one based on a murder that affected her family. She received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement in the Literary Arts category.
Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the College’s Special Collections Library. They are archived in the Luanne Rice Collection.
Rice has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph University in West Hartford, Conn.
Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television. Her monologue for the play Motherhood Out Loud premiered at Hartford Stage and has been performed Off-Broadway in NYC and at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Rice is a Creative Affiliate of the Safina Center. She lives in southeastern Connecticut.
Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the College’s Special Collections Library. They are archived in the Luanne Rice Collection.
Rice has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph University in West Hartford, Conn.
Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television. Her monologue for the play Motherhood Out Loud premiered at Hartford Stage and has been performed Off-Broadway in NYC and at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Rice is a Creative Affiliate of the Safina Center. She lives in southeastern Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
July 3, 2026
I started reading this book at the beach where I could see the Watch Hill Lighthouse and the Ocean House Hotel. Such a great setting to read this superbly written thriller. I finished this book in two days! I would highly recommend this book!!
July 10, 2026
I can’t believe that this book was written by the same author as the Hubbard Point books. This book is very dark, and I never would have read it had I known that. The book is incredibly disjointed, and it was impossible to keep track of who is good and who is evil. There are too many characters. It’s unsettling, and I regret that I read it. For many years, a Luanne Rice novel was a guaranteed buy for me, but that is no longer true. I forgot that I rated her most recent book before this one with a low rating and disappointment on the writing style. Hopefully the next time I see a Luanne Rice book, I’ll remember that I no longer like this author.
July 13, 2026
Disappointing
July 8, 2026
2.5 stars. A quick read and captivating, but I don’t think it measures up to other books by this author where we have previously met many of the characters. If anything, there too many characters. I really struggled to keep everyone straight, who was who and who knew who. I’m not even sure how I feel about how this twisty turning mystery went. It was all just too much. I think it was an effort to keep you guessing, but the thing is, I could figure out most of it pretty easily and really nothing surprised me. Just meh.
July 19, 2026
Kate Woodward and Connor Reid are all set to be married at the Ocean House, a beautiful Rhode Island setting for a lavish wedding. They have rented the hotel out for their family and friends for a weekend of events and celebration. But the fairy tale setting gets disrupted by an old acquaintance of Connor’s. Belinda (the old acquaintance) corners Kate at the rehearsal dinner and tells her she had a child with Connor years ago and shows her a picture of a little girl with striking blue eyes - just like Connor’s. Kate runs off, the wedding is cancelled and things are even worse the next day when Belinda is found murdered and wearing Kate’s wedding dress. As the police and coast guard investigate, a much darker story begins to be uncovered. A boat is found where there is evidence of handcuffs and shackles and blood - as if someone has been held captive or tortured on the boat. The investigation then leads to a mental health facility and a mansion on a hill. How are they all connected and what does it have to do with Kate and Connor? Will Kate and Connor be able to get to the bottom of it all? Will they be able to find their way back to the happiness they had before the rehearsal dinner episode - was there any truth to Belinda’s claim? The book was a wild ride from pre wedding excitement to horrible revelations. There were a lot of characters and the action kept right on rolling. It got a bit confusing at times with all the different characters and so many that were not who we thought they were, but overall I was hooked to see where it would all end up. I couldn’t help but root for Kate and Connor to be together. I’m giving this book 3.5 stars out of 5 which I’ll round up to 4.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 24, 2026
A good story idea but many many characters…not properly introduced or accounted for and therefore the confusion interfered with the enjoyment of the plot and the twists It’s as if it was written in a hurry I usually enjoy her books thoroughly
June 30, 2026
I've been reading Luanne Rice for over 25 years and she's one of my favorite authors. Her books never disappoint, but I think this one might be her best yet! I absolutely loved it!
It's supposed to be Kate's perfect weekend. She's marrying Conor, the love of her life, at their very favorite place, Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI. But during the rehearsal dinner, one of the guests confronts Kate with a secret about Conor that has Kate calling off the wedding. The very next morning, that guest is found across the street with their throat slashed. As the investigation ensues, investigators find disturbing evidence of a secret society, kidnapping, and human trafficking. Who are these people, and will the authorities be able to solve this case before more women go missing, including Kate?
Told in multiple POVs, this was a thrilling ride! Not only did this book keep me in suspense, but it also made me emotional! There were rich people behaving badly, a sinister boat, a mansion on a hill, dark secrets, lies, and betrayal. The setting is one of my favorite places on the East Coast, and the author describes it incredibly well. The writing is captivating and the mystery had me intrigued. I wasn't sure who could be trusted. There were plenty of twists and shocking moments that kept me on my toes! I absolutley loved the Beauty and the Beast references! An utterly gripping, completely unputdownable psychological thriller! I would HIGHLY recommend adding this one to your TBR!🩷
It's supposed to be Kate's perfect weekend. She's marrying Conor, the love of her life, at their very favorite place, Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI. But during the rehearsal dinner, one of the guests confronts Kate with a secret about Conor that has Kate calling off the wedding. The very next morning, that guest is found across the street with their throat slashed. As the investigation ensues, investigators find disturbing evidence of a secret society, kidnapping, and human trafficking. Who are these people, and will the authorities be able to solve this case before more women go missing, including Kate?
Told in multiple POVs, this was a thrilling ride! Not only did this book keep me in suspense, but it also made me emotional! There were rich people behaving badly, a sinister boat, a mansion on a hill, dark secrets, lies, and betrayal. The setting is one of my favorite places on the East Coast, and the author describes it incredibly well. The writing is captivating and the mystery had me intrigued. I wasn't sure who could be trusted. There were plenty of twists and shocking moments that kept me on my toes! I absolutley loved the Beauty and the Beast references! An utterly gripping, completely unputdownable psychological thriller! I would HIGHLY recommend adding this one to your TBR!🩷
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A solid 5-star psychological thriller! I’m keeping this spoiler-free, but Rice’s writing is exceptional—gripping, sharp, and impossible to put down.
A brides fairytale wedding dreams are shattered by an accusation made during the rehersal dinner.
This book is about rich families doing horrible things, with murder and twists. I didn't see it coming!
GO READ on release day 06/ 30 / 2026
Thank you Luane Rice, publisher Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley for this ARC.
A brides fairytale wedding dreams are shattered by an accusation made during the rehersal dinner.
This book is about rich families doing horrible things, with murder and twists. I didn't see it coming!
GO READ on release day 06/ 30 / 2026
Thank you Luane Rice, publisher Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley for this ARC.
July 11, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! It was a fast paced thriller with a lot of suspense, and the twists kept me guessing the whole way through. It definitely held my attention and was hard to put down.
My only complaint is that there are a lot of characters, and several of the names were similar enough that I had to pause a few times and remind myself who was who.
Other than that, I thought it was a great read. Luanne Rice did a really good job building tension and keeping the story moving. I’d definitely read another book by her.
My only complaint is that there are a lot of characters, and several of the names were similar enough that I had to pause a few times and remind myself who was who.
Other than that, I thought it was a great read. Luanne Rice did a really good job building tension and keeping the story moving. I’d definitely read another book by her.
August 9, 2026
I like mystery novels but was particularly interested in reading this because of the setting. Unfortunately, everything fell apart before the wedding could take place, and then the story tried to be a police procedural with tons of characters while also trying to push the romance. None of it really worked, but it could have if it was tightened down maybe.
I liked the narration and they helped keep my interest. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this
I liked the narration and they helped keep my interest. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this
August 16, 2026
A hefty read.
Katie assumed what Belinda said about Collin without letting him have a chance to refute it.
There were a few characters who should have been locked up with the key thrown away.
The best part was the glorious house on the cliff.
Thanks NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance read.
Katie assumed what Belinda said about Collin without letting him have a chance to refute it.
There were a few characters who should have been locked up with the key thrown away.
The best part was the glorious house on the cliff.
Thanks NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance read.
August 4, 2026
Equal parts love story and intense investigation. Probably 3.5 stars, but that’s not an option. Disturbing subject matter (trying to avoid spoilers here). Enjoyable. I think my daughter will give this 4 stars. 😊
July 29, 2026
I loved reading this book on the Rhode Island beaches with a view of the Ocean House in Watch Hill. It was the perfect setting, especially with all the Westerly and nautical references woven throughout the story.
It's a quick read, but quite dark. There are a lot of characters to keep track of which made it difficult to follow at times. Several are introduced briefly as minor characters end up playing significant roles by the end.
3.5 star… but an extra half star for location!
It's a quick read, but quite dark. There are a lot of characters to keep track of which made it difficult to follow at times. Several are introduced briefly as minor characters end up playing significant roles by the end.
3.5 star… but an extra half star for location!
June 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my review. WOW! What a thriller. This book brings to light secrets so very harmful and unimaginable that have been going on for many years. Things begin to crumble though at Kate and Conor’s pre wedding festivities when a strange woman shows up and reveals her twisted secret of her past with Conor. Needless to say the wedding does not happen and things start to unravel in their lives and in this town. A psychiatric facility becomes the center of a human trafficking investigation that involves death and kidnapping among other things. If you love a good psychological, thriller, you won’t want to miss this book.
July 23, 2026
A true page-turner. Characters we know from previous novels put through an absolute meat grinder of a murder mystery - dark, intense and written for this moment in our culture. And all with Rice’s usual beautiful writing and descriptive turn of phrase.
August 2, 2026
I just couldn't connect with this book, but I pushed through because I don't like to DNF. I think it's only fair to the author to see it through to the end.
The premise of this was intriguing and the autbor blended a domestic/crime thriller with what felt like a dystopian Handmaid's Tale style subplot.
The plot took too long to get going for me and the number of characters was overwhelming. They seemed to flit in and out of the story so I found it difficult to keep track of who was who, who knows what, or generate any theories about who is good or bad.
Overall, this book just wasn't for me.
The premise of this was intriguing and the autbor blended a domestic/crime thriller with what felt like a dystopian Handmaid's Tale style subplot.
The plot took too long to get going for me and the number of characters was overwhelming. They seemed to flit in and out of the story so I found it difficult to keep track of who was who, who knows what, or generate any theories about who is good or bad.
Overall, this book just wasn't for me.
September 2, 2026
I’ve read Luanne Rice for almost as long as she’s been publishing, so I feel tremendously disloyal for saying that this one just didn’t work for me. I started it back in May or June and only just finished, which I guess speaks for itself.
❓ Is Until Midnight worth reading?
If you’re a longtime Luanne Rice reader who wants to check in with familiar territory, there’s enough here to justify picking it up. If you’re coming to it as a mystery reader first, I’d go in with carefully measured expectations: a very large cast, a lot of twists (dare I, the reigning queen of “just give me one more twist” say: too many!), and pacing that dragged.
📖 What Is Until Midnight About?
Kate and Conor have known each other for years, going back to an earlier book in which Kate’s mother was killed and a young Conor, a young patrol officer was called to the scene. Now they’re finally getting married, and Ocean House is set for a full weekend of celebrations, family, and enough name-dropped art, cars, and boats to make the wealth on display feel like its own character.
Then a woman named Belinda, someone Conor knew growing up, shows up at the rehearsal dinner and tells Kate she had Conor’s child years ago. Kate calls off the wedding on the spot. The next morning, Belinda is found dead, wearing Kate’s own wedding dress, and Conor becomes a suspect. To help sort it out, Conor’s 78-year-old uncle Mike, a judge, pulls together a group of older friends who call themselves the old detectives, and from there the investigation spreads out to touch nearly everyone in Kate and Conor’s orbit.
✨ What Worked for Me?
The setup is a strong hook: a wedding derailed at the worst possible moment, then a body found the next morning in the bride’s own dress. I also liked the idea of the old detectives, a handful of older characters who solve mysteries together for the fun of it. For a while I thought Rice might be setting up a recurring group I’d get to enjoy again in future books, maybe even leaning a little lighter and more humorous. That would have been a fun direction to take it. Oh, well.
Rice is also clearly engaging with something that’s been very much in the news in recent years: the trafficking of young women by powerful, wealthy men. One character’s fixation on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, and specifically its earliest French incarnation rather than the softened version most of us grew up with (albeit still problematic), becomes part of the framework for that thread. It’s a bold, dark thing to build into a wedding-weekend mystery, and it gave the book more to chew on thematically than I expected going in.
👥 Characters & Relationships
Kate and Conor have a long history, and Rice clearly wants their bond to feel unshakeable even after everything that happens to test it. It didn’t quite land for me the way I wanted it to by the end. The supporting cast is enormous: Conor’s detective partner, his brother in the Coast Guard, another detective, Kate’s assistant, her niece, Kate’s assistant’s boyfriend, and a whole colony of island neighbors who get pulled into the investigation. By the last third I was too busy keeping track of names (and frequently failing) than invested in any one relationship.
❗ What Didn’t Work for Me
The cast is huge, and I mean huge. Between families, friends, colleagues, hotel staff, island neighbors, and the old detectives themselves, it was far too easy to lose track of who was who.
The reversal became a pattern rather than a surprise: a character trusts someone, that person turns out to not be who they seemed. That works once, maybe twice. It happened too many times here–which made me sad.
The old detectives, the group I was hoping might become a fun recurring device, became something else (no ride to spoilertown here). It felt like a missed opportunity.
The pacing bogged down badly for me. I don’t usually take months to finish a Luanne Rice novel!
Characters deliver long chunks of backstory in the middle of the climax, which stalled the momentum right when it needed to build.
A few procedural details, like police entering places they probably shouldn’t have without a warrant, pulled me out of the story. The author was definitely picking and choosing when to follow procedure and when to throw it out the window.
⭐ Final Verdict
Three butterflies feels close to generous, honestly, given how long this one sat half-finished. If you love Luanne Rice’s backlist and want to see familiar characters again, there’s enough here to make it worth a read. If you’re picking it up purely as a mystery reader, I’d adjust your expectations for the size of the cast, the frequency of the twists, and an ending that leans more than a tad too melodramatic.
❓ Is Until Midnight worth reading?
If you’re a longtime Luanne Rice reader who wants to check in with familiar territory, there’s enough here to justify picking it up. If you’re coming to it as a mystery reader first, I’d go in with carefully measured expectations: a very large cast, a lot of twists (dare I, the reigning queen of “just give me one more twist” say: too many!), and pacing that dragged.
📖 What Is Until Midnight About?
Kate and Conor have known each other for years, going back to an earlier book in which Kate’s mother was killed and a young Conor, a young patrol officer was called to the scene. Now they’re finally getting married, and Ocean House is set for a full weekend of celebrations, family, and enough name-dropped art, cars, and boats to make the wealth on display feel like its own character.
Then a woman named Belinda, someone Conor knew growing up, shows up at the rehearsal dinner and tells Kate she had Conor’s child years ago. Kate calls off the wedding on the spot. The next morning, Belinda is found dead, wearing Kate’s own wedding dress, and Conor becomes a suspect. To help sort it out, Conor’s 78-year-old uncle Mike, a judge, pulls together a group of older friends who call themselves the old detectives, and from there the investigation spreads out to touch nearly everyone in Kate and Conor’s orbit.
✨ What Worked for Me?
The setup is a strong hook: a wedding derailed at the worst possible moment, then a body found the next morning in the bride’s own dress. I also liked the idea of the old detectives, a handful of older characters who solve mysteries together for the fun of it. For a while I thought Rice might be setting up a recurring group I’d get to enjoy again in future books, maybe even leaning a little lighter and more humorous. That would have been a fun direction to take it. Oh, well.
Rice is also clearly engaging with something that’s been very much in the news in recent years: the trafficking of young women by powerful, wealthy men. One character’s fixation on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, and specifically its earliest French incarnation rather than the softened version most of us grew up with (albeit still problematic), becomes part of the framework for that thread. It’s a bold, dark thing to build into a wedding-weekend mystery, and it gave the book more to chew on thematically than I expected going in.
👥 Characters & Relationships
Kate and Conor have a long history, and Rice clearly wants their bond to feel unshakeable even after everything that happens to test it. It didn’t quite land for me the way I wanted it to by the end. The supporting cast is enormous: Conor’s detective partner, his brother in the Coast Guard, another detective, Kate’s assistant, her niece, Kate’s assistant’s boyfriend, and a whole colony of island neighbors who get pulled into the investigation. By the last third I was too busy keeping track of names (and frequently failing) than invested in any one relationship.
❗ What Didn’t Work for Me
The cast is huge, and I mean huge. Between families, friends, colleagues, hotel staff, island neighbors, and the old detectives themselves, it was far too easy to lose track of who was who.
The reversal became a pattern rather than a surprise: a character trusts someone, that person turns out to not be who they seemed. That works once, maybe twice. It happened too many times here–which made me sad.
The old detectives, the group I was hoping might become a fun recurring device, became something else (no ride to spoilertown here). It felt like a missed opportunity.
The pacing bogged down badly for me. I don’t usually take months to finish a Luanne Rice novel!
Characters deliver long chunks of backstory in the middle of the climax, which stalled the momentum right when it needed to build.
A few procedural details, like police entering places they probably shouldn’t have without a warrant, pulled me out of the story. The author was definitely picking and choosing when to follow procedure and when to throw it out the window.
⭐ Final Verdict
Three butterflies feels close to generous, honestly, given how long this one sat half-finished. If you love Luanne Rice’s backlist and want to see familiar characters again, there’s enough here to make it worth a read. If you’re picking it up purely as a mystery reader, I’d adjust your expectations for the size of the cast, the frequency of the twists, and an ending that leans more than a tad too melodramatic.
July 14, 2026
3.5 Stars bumped up to 4 since no half stars available here.
*It was a perfect day for a wedding... until it wasn't.
*A fairy-tale romance, upended.
*A soundproof boat, a private island, a secret club.
*High-society secrets with intense family loyalty.
This started out as a fast paced psychological thriller that hooked me in from the beginning. No time was wasted shattering the picture perfect wedding! An old friend shows up with lifechanging news that Conor is her baby daddy. The devastated bride-to-be runs out and the wedding is called off!
It doesn't take long before the baby momma is found lifeless wearing the bride's dress, her throat slaṤhed and the heirloom veil slaṤhed into shreds!
Let the whodunit begin. Was it Kate's revenge? Conor's fury? Or someone else looking out for the family name and protecting dark secrets?
The pacing does bog down in the middle transitioning from the wedding fallout. The story takes a dark turn and the plot becomes an investigation into an underground ring of Humɐn TrĂꞘꞘickinᵷ and a secret society expL0itinᵷ girls. Complete with a soundproof boat and a private island, its very unsettling. At times difficult to read as the fictional story starts to sound like real life headlines.
That's not a spoiler by the way. The author agreed in interviews with the description "Epstein Island meets Rhode Island".
Despite the mid-book slump, curiosity kept me going. Is Conor able to clear his name and win back Kate's heart? Can they find their happily ever after? And the girls who are the real victims here. Can they be saved and their monsters stopped? NO SPOILERS HERE!
Not included in the book, here's my PSA. If you suspect suspicious activity, need help, or want to get involved in the fight against:
National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24-7.
1 888-373-7888, or text 233733.
Or contact The Tim Tebow Foundation @ timtebowfoundation.org.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free "read now" ARC in exchange for my honest review.
*It was a perfect day for a wedding... until it wasn't.
*A fairy-tale romance, upended.
*A soundproof boat, a private island, a secret club.
*High-society secrets with intense family loyalty.
This started out as a fast paced psychological thriller that hooked me in from the beginning. No time was wasted shattering the picture perfect wedding! An old friend shows up with lifechanging news that Conor is her baby daddy. The devastated bride-to-be runs out and the wedding is called off!
It doesn't take long before the baby momma is found lifeless wearing the bride's dress, her throat slaṤhed and the heirloom veil slaṤhed into shreds!
Let the whodunit begin. Was it Kate's revenge? Conor's fury? Or someone else looking out for the family name and protecting dark secrets?
The pacing does bog down in the middle transitioning from the wedding fallout. The story takes a dark turn and the plot becomes an investigation into an underground ring of Humɐn TrĂꞘꞘickinᵷ and a secret society expL0itinᵷ girls. Complete with a soundproof boat and a private island, its very unsettling. At times difficult to read as the fictional story starts to sound like real life headlines.
That's not a spoiler by the way. The author agreed in interviews with the description "Epstein Island meets Rhode Island".
Despite the mid-book slump, curiosity kept me going. Is Conor able to clear his name and win back Kate's heart? Can they find their happily ever after? And the girls who are the real victims here. Can they be saved and their monsters stopped? NO SPOILERS HERE!
Not included in the book, here's my PSA. If you suspect suspicious activity, need help, or want to get involved in the fight against:
National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24-7.
1 888-373-7888, or text 233733.
Or contact The Tim Tebow Foundation @ timtebowfoundation.org.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free "read now" ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Until Midnight takes the glossy perfection of a seaside celebration and slowly, deliciously fractures it. Ocean House, with its sweeping Rhode Island views and fairy‑tale charm, should have been the backdrop to Kate and Conor’s perfect beginning. Instead, it becomes the stage for a series of betrayals that unravel their lives with startling speed.
The novel opens with a jolt: a woman from Conor’s past crashing the rehearsal dinner with a revelation sharp enough to slice through the champagne glow. Her claim—that she and Conor share a child—shatters Kate’s trust and sends the wedding spiralling before it even begins. But the true shock comes the next morning, when that same woman is found murdered, her throat slashed, and the celebration turns into a crime scene.
From there, the story tightens beautifully. The investigation exposes cracks in every direction: a soundproof boat with unsettling secrets, a mansion on the hill with a history no one wants to discuss, and whispers of a secret society that feels both outlandish and disturbingly plausible. Each thread pulls Kate and Conor deeper into a maze of lies, where every truth seems to carry a shadow.
What makes the book so compelling is the way it blends high‑society glamour with creeping dread. The author captures that unsettling contrast—the clink of crystal glasses against the rising hum of suspicion, the ocean breeze carrying secrets no one wants unearthed. Kate’s emotional journey is especially gripping; her heartbreak, confusion, and determination give the story its pulse.
By the time the final revelations land, the novel has shifted from a wedding‑gone‑wrong drama into something darker, twistier, and far more dangerous than it first appears.
A gripping, atmospheric psychological thriller that turns a dream wedding into a chilling descent into secrets, power, and the lies we tell to protect the life we want.
With thanks to Luanne Rice, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The novel opens with a jolt: a woman from Conor’s past crashing the rehearsal dinner with a revelation sharp enough to slice through the champagne glow. Her claim—that she and Conor share a child—shatters Kate’s trust and sends the wedding spiralling before it even begins. But the true shock comes the next morning, when that same woman is found murdered, her throat slashed, and the celebration turns into a crime scene.
From there, the story tightens beautifully. The investigation exposes cracks in every direction: a soundproof boat with unsettling secrets, a mansion on the hill with a history no one wants to discuss, and whispers of a secret society that feels both outlandish and disturbingly plausible. Each thread pulls Kate and Conor deeper into a maze of lies, where every truth seems to carry a shadow.
What makes the book so compelling is the way it blends high‑society glamour with creeping dread. The author captures that unsettling contrast—the clink of crystal glasses against the rising hum of suspicion, the ocean breeze carrying secrets no one wants unearthed. Kate’s emotional journey is especially gripping; her heartbreak, confusion, and determination give the story its pulse.
By the time the final revelations land, the novel has shifted from a wedding‑gone‑wrong drama into something darker, twistier, and far more dangerous than it first appears.
A gripping, atmospheric psychological thriller that turns a dream wedding into a chilling descent into secrets, power, and the lies we tell to protect the life we want.
With thanks to Luanne Rice, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the first and only book I have read from this author and I must say I will be looking out for more. This is the story of long held secrets, a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In a way it is a story that somewhat haunts you as what happens in this book can and does happen if and around the world.
The story starts quite quietly with the preparations for a wedding, family and friends together to celebrate, all set within a beautiful setting. But soon it becomes clear that there is something amiss as bride Kate is thrust into a world she could never have know was coming. A woman from her fiancé past, tales and lies of his commitment to her and then a murder.
And so the real story begins as the investigation gets underway. There is much more to this story than first meets the eye, there are many players, many suspects and many victims. But who can you trust, who are your friends and who is lying to you. This is what the whole story revolves around as the case is cracked wide, the truth eventually comes out and the people behind the horrors that have been happening to young girls over many years finally comes to light.
You won't believe what is coming and who is involved as you read page after page of this tense, dramatic and thrilling read.
Until Midnight
Luanne Rice
Thomas & Mercer
The story starts quite quietly with the preparations for a wedding, family and friends together to celebrate, all set within a beautiful setting. But soon it becomes clear that there is something amiss as bride Kate is thrust into a world she could never have know was coming. A woman from her fiancé past, tales and lies of his commitment to her and then a murder.
And so the real story begins as the investigation gets underway. There is much more to this story than first meets the eye, there are many players, many suspects and many victims. But who can you trust, who are your friends and who is lying to you. This is what the whole story revolves around as the case is cracked wide, the truth eventually comes out and the people behind the horrors that have been happening to young girls over many years finally comes to light.
You won't believe what is coming and who is involved as you read page after page of this tense, dramatic and thrilling read.
Until Midnight
Luanne Rice
Thomas & Mercer
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first Luanne Rice book and I should have been reading her sooner! Loved this one! I will definitely be adding her to my tbr. I do see this is part of a series but I think it was fine as a standalone.
Brief Summary: This is a book about love, secrets, and lies. Kate and Conor are getting married and then disaster strikes. The wedding weekend is here, but at the rehearsal dinner a woman named Belinda approaches Kate with some disturbing news. She tells Kate that her and Conor have known each other since childhood, that they loved each other and that her child is Conor's. The wedding is off but worse the next day Belinda is found murdered. Of course with the way it went down, Conor is looked at to be the prime suspect. Conor and his brother start investigating trying to get answers, they find out about a human trafficking ring that the dead woman has ties too. There are some twists and turns which I am not going to go into.
Thoughts on the book: There is a big cast of characters in this story which did make it a little hard to keep up with, there seemed to be a lot going on and maybe with so many characters it made it hard to narrow down the villain and what is going on and kept me guessing, and therefore kept me very interested. It was a rollercoaster and suspenseful. There were some great twists and turns in the story that kept me going until all was answered. There are some traumatic events and a close call, but the story did end up in a very satisfying way.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the complimentary copy and to Luanne Rice for a great story!
Brief Summary: This is a book about love, secrets, and lies. Kate and Conor are getting married and then disaster strikes. The wedding weekend is here, but at the rehearsal dinner a woman named Belinda approaches Kate with some disturbing news. She tells Kate that her and Conor have known each other since childhood, that they loved each other and that her child is Conor's. The wedding is off but worse the next day Belinda is found murdered. Of course with the way it went down, Conor is looked at to be the prime suspect. Conor and his brother start investigating trying to get answers, they find out about a human trafficking ring that the dead woman has ties too. There are some twists and turns which I am not going to go into.
Thoughts on the book: There is a big cast of characters in this story which did make it a little hard to keep up with, there seemed to be a lot going on and maybe with so many characters it made it hard to narrow down the villain and what is going on and kept me guessing, and therefore kept me very interested. It was a rollercoaster and suspenseful. There were some great twists and turns in the story that kept me going until all was answered. There are some traumatic events and a close call, but the story did end up in a very satisfying way.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the complimentary copy and to Luanne Rice for a great story!
July 15, 2026
In a perfect world, having your dream wedding should go off without a hitch, but that was not the case for Conner and Kate. The story unfolds when a childhood friend shows up from Conner's past and instead of congratulating the happy couple, she sets off a chain reaction of betrayal and murder. These events also create breadcrumbs that uncover a dirty little secret that has been hidden for decades.
Listening to this audio book, the writer had me hanging on to every word, especially when secrets started to slowly come out and friendships started to unravel. Despite the mystery that was unfolding, I had no doubt that the couple would still make it down the aisle because I believe that when two people love each other, nothing can stand in their way.
If stand by your man was a woman, it would most definitely be Kate. She was able to filter through all the lies that were told to her, trusted her man and put faith in their bond. Conner was equally dedicated. He was forced to hold it together long enough to bring the bad guys to justice so he could concentrate on getting his happily ever after.
In summary, this book had me scratching my head trying to find out who were the real friends, who was the killer(s), and who was a part of keeping secrets hidden. I am officially a fan and will look forward to reading more work from Ms. Rice.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
Listening to this audio book, the writer had me hanging on to every word, especially when secrets started to slowly come out and friendships started to unravel. Despite the mystery that was unfolding, I had no doubt that the couple would still make it down the aisle because I believe that when two people love each other, nothing can stand in their way.
If stand by your man was a woman, it would most definitely be Kate. She was able to filter through all the lies that were told to her, trusted her man and put faith in their bond. Conner was equally dedicated. He was forced to hold it together long enough to bring the bad guys to justice so he could concentrate on getting his happily ever after.
In summary, this book had me scratching my head trying to find out who were the real friends, who was the killer(s), and who was a part of keeping secrets hidden. I am officially a fan and will look forward to reading more work from Ms. Rice.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Until Midnight is the third in a series with Detective Conor Reid. Unfortunately I did not read the first two. While I enjoyed this book, I definitely feel I would have benefited from having the full history of the characters. The main characters, Conor and Kate, first met when Kate was a child and Conor was the detective assigned to solve her mother’s murder. They met again—under similar tragic circumstances—20 years later when Kate’s beloved sister was also murdered.
In Until Midnight Conor and Kate’s story is culminating in a fairytale wedding. That is, until someone from Conor’s past drops a bombshell accusation at the rehearsal dinner. She is found dead the next morning—wearing Kate’s wedding dress—and Conor is the prime suspect. As Conor and his brother investigate the death, they stumble onto a human trafficking ring that is directly tied to the dead woman.
The story is absorbing and suspenseful. There are definitely some unexpected twists. I enjoyed it very much and will definitely add Luanne Rice to my list of go-to authors. If I have any complaints it would be that the end of the story was a bit anticlimactic and rushed compared to the overall pacing of the story.
In Until Midnight Conor and Kate’s story is culminating in a fairytale wedding. That is, until someone from Conor’s past drops a bombshell accusation at the rehearsal dinner. She is found dead the next morning—wearing Kate’s wedding dress—and Conor is the prime suspect. As Conor and his brother investigate the death, they stumble onto a human trafficking ring that is directly tied to the dead woman.
The story is absorbing and suspenseful. There are definitely some unexpected twists. I enjoyed it very much and will definitely add Luanne Rice to my list of go-to authors. If I have any complaints it would be that the end of the story was a bit anticlimactic and rushed compared to the overall pacing of the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for a free advance copy audiobook (written by LuAnne Rice and narrated by Nicol Zanzarella and Jim Frangione) in exchange for an honest review ❤️
This one is quite a roller coaster! It starts the night before a wedding, but all plans are suddenly derailed by secrets, accusations, and someone murdered in a wedding dress.
This psychological thriller has a large cast of characters, but the focus seemed to be on the bride and groom as they try to find the truth that derailed their wedding. It ends up uncovering something way bigger than they could have ever imagined!
This is my first book by this author. I round it down to 3 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ simply because there were times I struggled keeping everyone straight with how many people were doing different things. Overall it was an intriguing story, dark enough without being too graphic, and I absolutely loved all the cool references to an obsession with Beauty and the Beast🌹
***Upon glancing through other reviews, it seems I probably would have bumped this one up a star had I read her previous works featuring these characters. This can be read as a standalone or as an installment featuring some of these same detectives.
This one is quite a roller coaster! It starts the night before a wedding, but all plans are suddenly derailed by secrets, accusations, and someone murdered in a wedding dress.
This psychological thriller has a large cast of characters, but the focus seemed to be on the bride and groom as they try to find the truth that derailed their wedding. It ends up uncovering something way bigger than they could have ever imagined!
This is my first book by this author. I round it down to 3 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ simply because there were times I struggled keeping everyone straight with how many people were doing different things. Overall it was an intriguing story, dark enough without being too graphic, and I absolutely loved all the cool references to an obsession with Beauty and the Beast🌹
***Upon glancing through other reviews, it seems I probably would have bumped this one up a star had I read her previous works featuring these characters. This can be read as a standalone or as an installment featuring some of these same detectives.
July 1, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Kate and Conor are set to have their fairytale wedding at the iconic Ocean House in Rhode Island. The most special weekend of their lives takes a shocking turn when a woman from Conor’s past interrupts the rehearsal dinner, claiming that he is the father of her child. The next morning, this same woman is found murder, placing the canceled wedding at the center of a twisting investigation.
As investigators search for answers, they discover something far more sinister than the murder alone.
I have long heard wonderful things about Luanne Rice’s writing, but I haven’t experienced it until now. Why did I wait so long? This was such an enjoyable read. The multiple POVs, brought to life by the talented Nicol Zanzarella and Jim Frangione, kept me engaged throughout the entire audiobook.
Rice creates a gripping police procedural that features rich people behaving badly as well as a mansion on a hill that harbors dark secrets from some of the people you’d least to be involved. Without giving too much away, the secrets are both timely and deeply disturbing. I also enjoyed the threaded references to Beauty and the Beast as they added depth to the story.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Kate and Conor are set to have their fairytale wedding at the iconic Ocean House in Rhode Island. The most special weekend of their lives takes a shocking turn when a woman from Conor’s past interrupts the rehearsal dinner, claiming that he is the father of her child. The next morning, this same woman is found murder, placing the canceled wedding at the center of a twisting investigation.
As investigators search for answers, they discover something far more sinister than the murder alone.
I have long heard wonderful things about Luanne Rice’s writing, but I haven’t experienced it until now. Why did I wait so long? This was such an enjoyable read. The multiple POVs, brought to life by the talented Nicol Zanzarella and Jim Frangione, kept me engaged throughout the entire audiobook.
Rice creates a gripping police procedural that features rich people behaving badly as well as a mansion on a hill that harbors dark secrets from some of the people you’d least to be involved. Without giving too much away, the secrets are both timely and deeply disturbing. I also enjoyed the threaded references to Beauty and the Beast as they added depth to the story.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Luanne Rice has been a favorite author of mine since her very first book and I still get as excited today when I see a new title by her as I did back then. Until Midnight is a story of love and friendship, but it's also a story of secrets and deception. Rice masterfully weaves them together in an engaging and unputdownable suspensful love story.
The story is set in the beautiful state of Rhode Island with the magnificent and magical Ocean House hotel as the location. The marriage of Kate and Conor is to be the elaborate event of the season. But things do not go as planned, and at the rehearsal dinner, an unexpected revelation about Conor's past throws the whole event into a tailspin.
This was such a great book! The characters are a mixed bag of good and evil that balance each other off. Rice's writing is always powerful and engaging and easy to follow. The suspense, twists, and secrets provide a different layer to the love story. The vivid descriptions give the reader a sense of having a presence in the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy
The story is set in the beautiful state of Rhode Island with the magnificent and magical Ocean House hotel as the location. The marriage of Kate and Conor is to be the elaborate event of the season. But things do not go as planned, and at the rehearsal dinner, an unexpected revelation about Conor's past throws the whole event into a tailspin.
This was such a great book! The characters are a mixed bag of good and evil that balance each other off. Rice's writing is always powerful and engaging and easy to follow. The suspense, twists, and secrets provide a different layer to the love story. The vivid descriptions give the reader a sense of having a presence in the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kate and Connor have the perfect wedding planned for Fourth of July weekend in the perfect seaside venue where they were engaged. A mystery woman appears out of nowhere from Connor’s past, claiming to be the mother of his child, sowing seeds of mistrust between Kate and Connor. The morning of the wedding, she is found dead, dressed in Kate’s wedding dress. Now, Connor is the prime suspect and Kate is missing! What follows is a murder mystery that leads to a much bigger conspiracy, with Kate and Connor are caught up in the middle.
Luanne Rice’s lates book brings us back to familiar characters and familiar settings with new mysteries and secrets to unravel. Characters we’ve loved from her previous books are hiding something - if Kate can’t trust Connor, can we? Is he really the perfect partner we thought he was? A great storyteller, Luanne Rice pulls us in and makes us want to keep turning the pages. I didn’t want to put this one down. This is a perfect summer read - the season and location make it a great beach (or boat….) read.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Luanne Rice’s lates book brings us back to familiar characters and familiar settings with new mysteries and secrets to unravel. Characters we’ve loved from her previous books are hiding something - if Kate can’t trust Connor, can we? Is he really the perfect partner we thought he was? A great storyteller, Luanne Rice pulls us in and makes us want to keep turning the pages. I didn’t want to put this one down. This is a perfect summer read - the season and location make it a great beach (or boat….) read.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 30, 2026
I received an advance audiobook of Until Midnight by Luanne Rice from Netgalley.
I didn't read the description before requesting this ARC because I saw Luanne Rice's name and knew I wanted to read it no matter what it was about. She is an auto read author for me!! Until Midnight did not disappoint!
Until Midnight follows characters that you're introduced to in two other books; The Last Day and The Last Night. I didn't feel that you would need to read the others to follow what is happening in Until Midnight, the events from those two books are mentioned throughout to give the reader character background. However, I would recommend reading the others because they are also SO GOOD.
This story is wildly unbelievable and fast paced. I sort of guessed the twisty twist, but definitely not fully and it didn't take away from my enjoyment.
I have only physically read Luanne Rice's books, so this was my first audiobook of hers. I did enjoy it. The narration kept me engaged and was easy to follow. (for me personally, I think I enjoy physically reading her books vs listening).
Luanne rice is always a definite recommend from me!
I didn't read the description before requesting this ARC because I saw Luanne Rice's name and knew I wanted to read it no matter what it was about. She is an auto read author for me!! Until Midnight did not disappoint!
Until Midnight follows characters that you're introduced to in two other books; The Last Day and The Last Night. I didn't feel that you would need to read the others to follow what is happening in Until Midnight, the events from those two books are mentioned throughout to give the reader character background. However, I would recommend reading the others because they are also SO GOOD.
This story is wildly unbelievable and fast paced. I sort of guessed the twisty twist, but definitely not fully and it didn't take away from my enjoyment.
I have only physically read Luanne Rice's books, so this was my first audiobook of hers. I did enjoy it. The narration kept me engaged and was easy to follow. (for me personally, I think I enjoy physically reading her books vs listening).
Luanne rice is always a definite recommend from me!
July 1, 2026
Just released! My first Luanne Rice in quite a spell. I didn't even realize she was writing mysteries but this was pretty good. From the get go it grabs your attention and that is important to me. It has to draw me in me quickly or I'll move on down my TBR list.
As the publishers blurb indicates it's starts off the night before a wedding and the bride, being the main character is approached at the venue by an intruder, an old flame of her soon-to-be-husband. She claims to have known him since childhood and has even borne a child of his, and shows the bride the photo. Her fiancé is in law enforcement and denies all allegations but when the intruder is found murdered and wearing the brides dress, this not only halts the wedding plans but opens up a can of worms with twists and turns the reader doesn't see coming. Who doesn't love good plot twists, especially when what you think happened is wrong?!
Do yourself a favor if this type of novel interests you. Available now at your favorite retailer.
My thanks to Thomas Mercer Publishing providing an e-ARC via NetGalley - and of course to Luanne Rice, atta girl!
As the publishers blurb indicates it's starts off the night before a wedding and the bride, being the main character is approached at the venue by an intruder, an old flame of her soon-to-be-husband. She claims to have known him since childhood and has even borne a child of his, and shows the bride the photo. Her fiancé is in law enforcement and denies all allegations but when the intruder is found murdered and wearing the brides dress, this not only halts the wedding plans but opens up a can of worms with twists and turns the reader doesn't see coming. Who doesn't love good plot twists, especially when what you think happened is wrong?!
Do yourself a favor if this type of novel interests you. Available now at your favorite retailer.
My thanks to Thomas Mercer Publishing providing an e-ARC via NetGalley - and of course to Luanne Rice, atta girl!
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