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Midnight's Shadow
Before the war began, danger had already found her.
Europe stands on the edge of war. Jessie Fordham, recently graduated from Cambridge and carrying more questions than certainty, travels into a continent already shifting beneath her feet. The newspapers speak of diplomacy and hope, yet on the streets and people's front parlours a different mood stirs, uneasy and sharp.
Jessie has been taught how to observe and how to listen. What she has not been taught is how to place her trust. Companions become strangers. Strangers become threats. Every conversation seems to hide another meaning. Every journey feels watched.
She must learn quickly. The world she knew is fading, and the one taking its place will demand more of her than she ever believed herself able to give.
Midnight's Shadow is a novella prequel to The Midnight Series , introducing us to Jessie Fordham at the very beginning of her journey, before the war shapes her into the SOE agent she will become.
Europe stands on the edge of war. Jessie Fordham, recently graduated from Cambridge and carrying more questions than certainty, travels into a continent already shifting beneath her feet. The newspapers speak of diplomacy and hope, yet on the streets and people's front parlours a different mood stirs, uneasy and sharp.
Jessie has been taught how to observe and how to listen. What she has not been taught is how to place her trust. Companions become strangers. Strangers become threats. Every conversation seems to hide another meaning. Every journey feels watched.
She must learn quickly. The world she knew is fading, and the one taking its place will demand more of her than she ever believed herself able to give.
Midnight's Shadow is a novella prequel to The Midnight Series , introducing us to Jessie Fordham at the very beginning of her journey, before the war shapes her into the SOE agent she will become.
76 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Tom Kane
17 books45 followersTom Kane is a seasoned writer whose literary journey began at the age of eight with his first short story, "Planet A for Acid." Armed with a pencil and notepad, he embarked on a lifelong passion for storytelling. Transitioning to a typewriter in his thirties, he penned tales whenever time allowed. It was the advent of the Kindle that spurred him to become an indie author and publish his debut novel, "Operation Werewolf," based his father's World War II experiences.
Drawing from personal and family narratives, Kane's writing evolved, exemplified by "The Diary of a Debt Collector," inspired by his wife's professional encounters. This catalyst ignited a prolific period, yielding both fiction and non-fiction works, with 1,284 copies sold.
During the Covid lockdown, Kane delved into historical fiction, crafting The Brittle Saga Trilogy comprising "The Brittle Sea," "The Brittle Land," and "The Brittle Sky." Offering the first book as a free enticement resulted in over 10,000 downloads, showing a growing readership.
Currently, Kane's focus now lies on the sequel to "Walking Away from Midnight," "Midnight's Child," his latest historical fiction endeavour part two of a promising series. Additionally, he is on the brink of completing "The Ragged Edge of Time," a captivating science fiction novel slated for release in the autumn of 2024.
With an ever-expanding repertoire and a knack for weaving intricate narratives, Tom Kane invites readers to explore his diverse literary landscape, offering a glimpse into his writing style through his published works.
Drawing from personal and family narratives, Kane's writing evolved, exemplified by "The Diary of a Debt Collector," inspired by his wife's professional encounters. This catalyst ignited a prolific period, yielding both fiction and non-fiction works, with 1,284 copies sold.
During the Covid lockdown, Kane delved into historical fiction, crafting The Brittle Saga Trilogy comprising "The Brittle Sea," "The Brittle Land," and "The Brittle Sky." Offering the first book as a free enticement resulted in over 10,000 downloads, showing a growing readership.
Currently, Kane's focus now lies on the sequel to "Walking Away from Midnight," "Midnight's Child," his latest historical fiction endeavour part two of a promising series. Additionally, he is on the brink of completing "The Ragged Edge of Time," a captivating science fiction novel slated for release in the autumn of 2024.
With an ever-expanding repertoire and a knack for weaving intricate narratives, Tom Kane invites readers to explore his diverse literary landscape, offering a glimpse into his writing style through his published works.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 26, 2025
The end of innocence and the beginnings of war. For a short novel this is intense. I think it captures the time period very well. Fear, uncertainty, whispers and shadows of war looming. Then there is a young woman whose future is changed by men and then herself when she begins to notice. An excellent origin story. I received an advance review copy via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 30, 2025
A Poem, a Painting-of-a time period, a Dream. These terms are descriptive of the feel of this novella.
A Poem, a Painting-of-a time period, a Dream. These terms are descriptive of the feel of this novella.
A very beautiful rendering of a time just before WW II started, when all the pieces of the war are taking their place for the coming conflict. In the midst of this time, a young woman about to graduate Cambridge, is drawn into the twilight world of diplomacy and spying by her father. Sent from England to France, and back, on missions that are vague and full of danger, Jessie reluctantly is forced to learn the craft of espionage. Despite feeling resentful for being asked to do these things initially, she accomplishes her missions, and is being prepared for the coming conflict.
I have already read books 1 - 3, and found this book fit right into the series as an introduction to it. There was continuity of the 2 main characters, Jessie and her father, and we meet Rose, who will play a much bigger role in the books 1-3. I especially enjoyed the ambience of this novella, as it was so carefully painted by this author. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A Poem, a Painting-of-a time period, a Dream. These terms are descriptive of the feel of this novella.
A very beautiful rendering of a time just before WW II started, when all the pieces of the war are taking their place for the coming conflict. In the midst of this time, a young woman about to graduate Cambridge, is drawn into the twilight world of diplomacy and spying by her father. Sent from England to France, and back, on missions that are vague and full of danger, Jessie reluctantly is forced to learn the craft of espionage. Despite feeling resentful for being asked to do these things initially, she accomplishes her missions, and is being prepared for the coming conflict.
I have already read books 1 - 3, and found this book fit right into the series as an introduction to it. There was continuity of the 2 main characters, Jessie and her father, and we meet Rose, who will play a much bigger role in the books 1-3. I especially enjoyed the ambience of this novella, as it was so carefully painted by this author. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 4, 2025
This is an espionage novella set in 1939, as World War II looms. It's a prequel to the Midnight series and introduces the reader to Jessie Fordham, who has just graduated from King's College, Cambridge. Jessie told her father that she wanted “adventure”. At the time, it was something that I admired her for, and maybe identified with a little bit in some way.
I have to say that this is a genre I don't read too often, but when I do, I find it very wholesome. I see it as something that I can really sink my bookish teeth into, and I enjoy it. I liked Jessie a lot, and she was exactly the type of character that I had in mind before I started reading.
At some point, it occurred to me that Jessie's work was potentially very dangerous, and I thought about how she was much braver than myself. Perhaps, like her, I want adventure, but that's why I read books and allow the characters to have the adventure for me.
This short read was a gripping page turner. I thought it was a great way to introduce Jessie, and now I'm keen to read some of the full length novels featuring her as the main character.
I have to say that this is a genre I don't read too often, but when I do, I find it very wholesome. I see it as something that I can really sink my bookish teeth into, and I enjoy it. I liked Jessie a lot, and she was exactly the type of character that I had in mind before I started reading.
At some point, it occurred to me that Jessie's work was potentially very dangerous, and I thought about how she was much braver than myself. Perhaps, like her, I want adventure, but that's why I read books and allow the characters to have the adventure for me.
This short read was a gripping page turner. I thought it was a great way to introduce Jessie, and now I'm keen to read some of the full length novels featuring her as the main character.
November 28, 2025
I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. I've read books 1-3 in Tom Kane's Midnight series. It is a brilliant series about a young girl, Jessie Fordham who seems extremely perceptive, more so than I was or any other girl I know now or knew when I was young. But maybe that's because back in the 1930s there was so much less to distract attention from what was actually happening in life around us. This prequel is set in 1939, in the spring before war was declared in Britain and book 1, Walking Away from Midnight began. It explains how Jessie started to become the exceptional young woman she grows into as the series progresses. This is an excellent series. Even my husband became engrossed when I had my echo dot reading it with kindle assisted reader. I am really looking forward to reading the subsequent books as they are published.
January 16, 2026
3/5
The story tells us about Jessie, a girl who must see the gradual change of the war, from its silent stalking to its strong beginning.
I liked that we were able to experience that change with her, in the sense that the first half of the book everything happens around her, the story happens to her. But in the second half we can see the introspection of what she has experienced and how it will inevitably impact her future.
Overall, I liked the second half better, I feel like it's where we really see her and get to know Jessie, and we understand more about the character herself. I understand that this is a prequel, so I find it interesting how it will unfold in the story as such.
The story tells us about Jessie, a girl who must see the gradual change of the war, from its silent stalking to its strong beginning.
I liked that we were able to experience that change with her, in the sense that the first half of the book everything happens around her, the story happens to her. But in the second half we can see the introspection of what she has experienced and how it will inevitably impact her future.
Overall, I liked the second half better, I feel like it's where we really see her and get to know Jessie, and we understand more about the character herself. I understand that this is a prequel, so I find it interesting how it will unfold in the story as such.
December 13, 2025
I enjoyed the novella. My understanding is that it is a pre-quell to the novels. If that is the case, it might be best to read it after some of the novels. While very good, the short nature leaves the reader wanting more development of Jesse and a lot more of her somewhat sinister father.
Set on the eve of WWII, I like the background and historical setting.
Because I like the set up and Jesse, I will look into the full novels.
Set on the eve of WWII, I like the background and historical setting.
Because I like the set up and Jesse, I will look into the full novels.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews