What do you think?
Rate this book
The Night Book
From the author of the bestselling Some Day I’ll Find You comes a novel of dark suspense set in the Lake District where, beneath the inviting water of the lakes, danger and death are waiting.
The summer of 1976 was unprecedented in living memory. Days of blazing sunshine bled into weeks and months. In the Lake District, Cumbria’s mountains and valleys began to resemble a Grecian landscape. People swam in delightfully tropic waters to cool off. But, barely three feet below the surface, the temperature remained just a degree or so above freezing. As the summer blazed on, the drownings began…
What if someone wanted to take revenge? To remove an abusive, controlling partner from their life? When and where better to stage a murder and pass it off as an accidental drowning? But what if there is someone out there who does not accept such a verdict passed by the local coroner, who begins to quietly investigate the ‘tragedy’..?
The summer of 1976 was unprecedented in living memory. Days of blazing sunshine bled into weeks and months. In the Lake District, Cumbria’s mountains and valleys began to resemble a Grecian landscape. People swam in delightfully tropic waters to cool off. But, barely three feet below the surface, the temperature remained just a degree or so above freezing. As the summer blazed on, the drownings began…
What if someone wanted to take revenge? To remove an abusive, controlling partner from their life? When and where better to stage a murder and pass it off as an accidental drowning? But what if there is someone out there who does not accept such a verdict passed by the local coroner, who begins to quietly investigate the ‘tragedy’..?
454 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2016
56 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
June 16, 2020
4.5 stars
This was a lot better than I expected. I was reluctant about reading this because just looking at the title I thought it was going to be a shallow and corny horror story involving monsters lurking under the lakes. I only bought the book because I was drawn to the cover and of course it was on sale so why not? When will I ever learn about judging books by their cover?
But indeed, the story does talk about monsters except they do not wait 60 feet deep in the water, they come in the form of billionaires tormenting their wives psychologically and emotionally, and I don't know but I think this particular monster in the story got exactly what he deserves.
Using historical fiction and a natural phenomenon as a backdrop of the main conflict, I find the story very well written using a sympathetic character who is also an advocate of women rights. I couldn't say more because I'm afraid I'll spoil the juicy parts but personally this is one of the better psychological mysteries I've read.
This was a lot better than I expected. I was reluctant about reading this because just looking at the title I thought it was going to be a shallow and corny horror story involving monsters lurking under the lakes. I only bought the book because I was drawn to the cover and of course it was on sale so why not? When will I ever learn about judging books by their cover?
But indeed, the story does talk about monsters except they do not wait 60 feet deep in the water, they come in the form of billionaires tormenting their wives psychologically and emotionally, and I don't know but I think this particular monster in the story got exactly what he deserves.
Using historical fiction and a natural phenomenon as a backdrop of the main conflict, I find the story very well written using a sympathetic character who is also an advocate of women rights. I couldn't say more because I'm afraid I'll spoil the juicy parts but personally this is one of the better psychological mysteries I've read.
July 4, 2016
This was fantastic! A really unique and clever plot set against the heady backdrop of the hottest summer the UK ever saw. With beautiful descriptions of the Lake District and questionable characters and actions, The Night Book is definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far.
July 3, 2016
Whilst Mr Madeley is never going to win any awards for writing a literary masterpiece, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by The Night Book.
After listening to the author talk about the topic of this unassuming and interesting tale I was more than excited to read my first Madeley novel.
Meriel Kidd, a more than famous and very likable Agony Aunt is trapped in a marriage to the rich but old Cameron Bruton. He treats her badly and to him she is nothing more than 'arm candy' young, pretty and although he despises her, he loves the fact that he has managed to 'pull' someone like her.
Meriel, has harboured secret fantasies about killing Cameron, even writing about how these futile dreams would take place in a diary she calls The Night Book.
After meeting and falling in love with Seb, she decides to leave her husband, and after deciding to divorce him, she and Cameron find themselves on one last Sunday afternoon trip on their boat. Cameron tells her he has found her diary and makes an ultimatum that not only repulses Meriel but also seals his fate.
Richard Madeley's novel is a clever and not altogether false representation of how some womens minds work, how many of us have thought how we would do away with our other halves given the chance? When in a moment of madness and after an awful episode that sometimes marriage and life in general throw at us, do we wish them 'dead'?.
Of course, we tell ourselves that we wouldn't do it, but when an opportunity arises that means that not only will Meriel be rid of the man she detests but may also get away with it, she takes that chance.
The Night Book is a fabulous light read and is one that I really enjoyed. I was completely supportive of Meriel, and in her found a woman who just wants to be loved and be happy.
This is a book that would be great for book clubs. I can imagine the debates of 'would you or wouldn't you' and the types of scenarios that could be conjured up by readers with imaginative minds.
Recommended.
After listening to the author talk about the topic of this unassuming and interesting tale I was more than excited to read my first Madeley novel.
Meriel Kidd, a more than famous and very likable Agony Aunt is trapped in a marriage to the rich but old Cameron Bruton. He treats her badly and to him she is nothing more than 'arm candy' young, pretty and although he despises her, he loves the fact that he has managed to 'pull' someone like her.
Meriel, has harboured secret fantasies about killing Cameron, even writing about how these futile dreams would take place in a diary she calls The Night Book.
After meeting and falling in love with Seb, she decides to leave her husband, and after deciding to divorce him, she and Cameron find themselves on one last Sunday afternoon trip on their boat. Cameron tells her he has found her diary and makes an ultimatum that not only repulses Meriel but also seals his fate.
Richard Madeley's novel is a clever and not altogether false representation of how some womens minds work, how many of us have thought how we would do away with our other halves given the chance? When in a moment of madness and after an awful episode that sometimes marriage and life in general throw at us, do we wish them 'dead'?.
Of course, we tell ourselves that we wouldn't do it, but when an opportunity arises that means that not only will Meriel be rid of the man she detests but may also get away with it, she takes that chance.
The Night Book is a fabulous light read and is one that I really enjoyed. I was completely supportive of Meriel, and in her found a woman who just wants to be loved and be happy.
This is a book that would be great for book clubs. I can imagine the debates of 'would you or wouldn't you' and the types of scenarios that could be conjured up by readers with imaginative minds.
Recommended.
June 3, 2022
Despite the not so great reviews of this book, I actually really enjoyed it.
I loved the setting of this book. The lake district is one of my favourite places, so it was really fun to read a thriller set in familiar places.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. It was a very interesting read.
This is definitely a slow burn thriller. It's not full of twists and turns, but it was still an engaging and very quick read.
The plot point of the heatwave, makes this a perfect thriller to read over summer.
Although, not the most shocking thriller I've ever read, it was an enjoyable read nonetheless with fantastic descriptions of Cumbria. Highly recommend.
I loved the setting of this book. The lake district is one of my favourite places, so it was really fun to read a thriller set in familiar places.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. It was a very interesting read.
This is definitely a slow burn thriller. It's not full of twists and turns, but it was still an engaging and very quick read.
The plot point of the heatwave, makes this a perfect thriller to read over summer.
Although, not the most shocking thriller I've ever read, it was an enjoyable read nonetheless with fantastic descriptions of Cumbria. Highly recommend.
August 1, 2020
Having purchased this novel for a dollar in a second-hand bookstore, I was not really expecting much. I wasn't even sure whether this was a horror or a murder mystery at first.
But the story turned out to be an interesting, exciting and eventually memorable read. The thrill you get is uncommon; it is in hoping that an appealing protagonist would not get caught for something she did. A bonus is the lovely and picturesque Lake District setting, which I added to my bucket list of places to visit, thanks to the author.
But the story turned out to be an interesting, exciting and eventually memorable read. The thrill you get is uncommon; it is in hoping that an appealing protagonist would not get caught for something she did. A bonus is the lovely and picturesque Lake District setting, which I added to my bucket list of places to visit, thanks to the author.
June 23, 2016
I won this in the giveaways in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the Lake District in the hot summer of 1976, this is the story of radio agony aunt Meriel and how she took advantage of a recent spate of drownings to rid herself of her abusive husband. Most of the characters in this were kind of annoying but it kind of drew me in to the storyline. I've heard older people talk about the long hot summer of 76 so I found that aspect interesting. Good read but not great.
Set in the Lake District in the hot summer of 1976, this is the story of radio agony aunt Meriel and how she took advantage of a recent spate of drownings to rid herself of her abusive husband. Most of the characters in this were kind of annoying but it kind of drew me in to the storyline. I've heard older people talk about the long hot summer of 76 so I found that aspect interesting. Good read but not great.
February 4, 2017
While the writing didn't lack talent, I found the characters to be boring and very unrelatable, unless of course you are a upper middle class person who owns a boat and works in the communication industry. The story itself was quite bland, everything seemed to have a pretty easy solution, but were ignored to heighten tension. I also felt like I was peeking into the author, Richard Madley's, sexy fantasies. A lot seemed to have been borrowed from his true life and I couldn't stop imagining him and Judy in the scenarios. I like Judy. She's like a kindly aunt, but I really don't want to think of my aunt having a shag.
My mum quite enjoyed it though.
My mum quite enjoyed it though.
July 29, 2016
I actually was pleasantly surprised by this, the first book I have read by Richard Madeley. It was quite simply written and easy enough to read. and it flowed quite well. I was only young but I do remember the Summer of 1976 and the heatwave something we have sadly never seen again. I was a little disappointed the Lakes didn't hold anything more sinister but it was used as a backdrop for this storyline. I suppose it was a bit corny including the ending but would make a good watchable TV drama. Definate a worthy read.
August 25, 2025
Easy read, simple plot and quite predictable. How ever did try to highlight abuse of women.
February 25, 2017
This is an enjoyable, lightweight read probably best suited for dipping in and out of as you laze by the pool.
April 12, 2019
Just finished this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was such a lovely easy read . I couldn't read quick enough! Definitely a page turner.
July 2, 2020
Really liked this, hadn’t a clue what it was about when I started but easy to read, liked the characters and good satisfying well explained ending x
October 30, 2016
It's set in the hot summer of 1976, and focuses around Sebastian, a news reporter for Lake District FM and Meriel, an 'agony aunt' for the same radio station. There is a spate of drownings in the various lakes of the Lake District and Seb has his big break in reporting them. Meriel is a successful woman with a wealthy husband, but her relationship isn't all it seems. Her husband is aggressive and violent, but Meriel has to put up with it for the sake of her public appearance. How are her relationship and the recent drownings connected?
I've read a couple of this author's books before and have quite enjoyed them, but this struggled to get me interested in the beginning. The part of the story about the drownings in the lakes was quite interesting. I'm a child of the 70's but still too young to remember how hot the summer of 76 actually was, and this viewpoint was well brought across. I did wonder where the story was going at some point, and felt that some characters were given big build up's but then nothing really came of them. I thought the coroner was going to play more of a part than he actually did. It went into detail about his previous occupations and how he thought there was something more sinister about the drownings but then that was it. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, and did struggle to have any incentive to pick the book back up, which is why it's taken me so long to read it!
On the whole, it was okay, the story plodded along and got to the point eventually. Three stars!
I've read a couple of this author's books before and have quite enjoyed them, but this struggled to get me interested in the beginning. The part of the story about the drownings in the lakes was quite interesting. I'm a child of the 70's but still too young to remember how hot the summer of 76 actually was, and this viewpoint was well brought across. I did wonder where the story was going at some point, and felt that some characters were given big build up's but then nothing really came of them. I thought the coroner was going to play more of a part than he actually did. It went into detail about his previous occupations and how he thought there was something more sinister about the drownings but then that was it. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, and did struggle to have any incentive to pick the book back up, which is why it's taken me so long to read it!
On the whole, it was okay, the story plodded along and got to the point eventually. Three stars!
June 25, 2020
Really pleasantly surprised by this book, I genuinely wasn't expecting much. Good plot and enough twists to keep me interested.
Really enjoyable read
Really enjoyable read
October 9, 2022
Although this book looked very interesting I must admit it took me 4 months to read because I kept putting it down. It almost seemed realistic until you sat down and read around 140 pages at which point the book completely lost me. To be honest I don't remember much after that because all I wanted was to get to the end.
The female character was one I found particularly difficult to identify with, especially since she is suppose to be a very submissive woman who only cares about her image yet we are suppose to be believe that she writes a diary in which she says exactly how she is going to hurt her husband and describes is great detail but leaves it in the house, anyone who would be that careful with how they are seen would hide it in some other way or somewhere else which was clearly an option because she was allowed to leave the house on a regular basis. For example, she could leave it in a safety deposit box or in one of million other places where her husband couldn't find it.
The husband being that abusive I do believe, but then considering he was trying to make sure people saw him as a loving husband he was way to obvious and public with his humiliation of her and treatment, so that was a bit of a stretch as well.
The female character was one I found particularly difficult to identify with, especially since she is suppose to be a very submissive woman who only cares about her image yet we are suppose to be believe that she writes a diary in which she says exactly how she is going to hurt her husband and describes is great detail but leaves it in the house, anyone who would be that careful with how they are seen would hide it in some other way or somewhere else which was clearly an option because she was allowed to leave the house on a regular basis. For example, she could leave it in a safety deposit box or in one of million other places where her husband couldn't find it.
The husband being that abusive I do believe, but then considering he was trying to make sure people saw him as a loving husband he was way to obvious and public with his humiliation of her and treatment, so that was a bit of a stretch as well.
December 17, 2016
From the author of the bestselling Some Day I’ll Find You comes a novel of dark suspense set in the Lake District where, beneath the inviting water of the lakes, danger and death are waiting.
The summer of 1976 was unprecedented in living memory. Days of blazing sunshine bled into weeks and months. In the Lake District, Cumbria’s mountains and valleys began to resemble a Grecian landscape. People swam in delightfully tropic waters to cool off. But, barely three feet below the surface, the temperature remained just a degree or so above freezing. As the summer blazed on, the drownings began…
What if someone wanted to take revenge? To remove an abusive, controlling partner from their life? When and where better to stage a murder and pass it off as an accidental drowning?
This started off fairly slowly and predictably but when it got going it became really quite gripping. The writing style is hard to get used to, a bit Jeffrey Archer and fairly clumsy in places (e.g. The cuffs and collar of a cream silk blouse were at her wrists and throat where else would they be?). Despite my nit-picking I enjoyed the plot.
The summer of 1976 was unprecedented in living memory. Days of blazing sunshine bled into weeks and months. In the Lake District, Cumbria’s mountains and valleys began to resemble a Grecian landscape. People swam in delightfully tropic waters to cool off. But, barely three feet below the surface, the temperature remained just a degree or so above freezing. As the summer blazed on, the drownings began…
What if someone wanted to take revenge? To remove an abusive, controlling partner from their life? When and where better to stage a murder and pass it off as an accidental drowning?
This started off fairly slowly and predictably but when it got going it became really quite gripping. The writing style is hard to get used to, a bit Jeffrey Archer and fairly clumsy in places (e.g. The cuffs and collar of a cream silk blouse were at her wrists and throat where else would they be?). Despite my nit-picking I enjoyed the plot.
November 18, 2017
I wasn't expecting much from this book if I am honest, I am not a fan of the author, that said I have never read one of his books before and I do like the Richard and Judy book club.
I found this an easy read, I could whizz through it and manage a number of chapters a day. I found the story did keep me interested from the start. As the story progressed I became a captured reader, I empathised with the characters and found myself discussing the plot with my husband who is not interested in books. I got to the stage that I would steal moments to spend time reading this book as I wanted to know what was going to happen next, there was even a time that I cursed to myself because I had to put it down to go and make dinner.
What a pleasant surprise this book was, it turned into an exciting page turner, the ease of the reading makes it the perfect summer or travelling read. I take back what I thought about the author and give him credit for an enjoyable and exciting story. I will defiantly read more books by Richard Madeley.
I found this an easy read, I could whizz through it and manage a number of chapters a day. I found the story did keep me interested from the start. As the story progressed I became a captured reader, I empathised with the characters and found myself discussing the plot with my husband who is not interested in books. I got to the stage that I would steal moments to spend time reading this book as I wanted to know what was going to happen next, there was even a time that I cursed to myself because I had to put it down to go and make dinner.
What a pleasant surprise this book was, it turned into an exciting page turner, the ease of the reading makes it the perfect summer or travelling read. I take back what I thought about the author and give him credit for an enjoyable and exciting story. I will defiantly read more books by Richard Madeley.
August 11, 2017
The only expectation I had when I started reading this book was in regards to the story. There seemed to be an interesting story, although the writing style lacked in details and otherwise. The story however disappointed me greatly as it failed logic at times. Some characters just conveniently knew stuff or were feeling it although they had no reason to do so. Some other characters appeared to have done actions just to be proven that they've done it poorly (which it was blatantly unrealistic) so that the story could go on as planned. Overall my impression is that: one, the author had an action in mind, which he wanted badly to happen, that he did everything to get it even if that meant that some things would defy logic and realistic actions. And two, the main characters were unidimensional and Mary Sue/Gary Stu.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2018
It's 1976 and the hottest summer in memory. What better way to cool off than with a swim in the lakes? But just below the inviting surface a layer of icy water remained, and that's when the drownings began. What better way to stage a murder?
The beginning was a little slow but once the story got going I found I couldn't put it down. Tying the plot into the 1976 heatwave was very clever. The descriptions of the lake were wonderful, I could really picture them. We have been enjoying a heatwave whilst I was reading this, I can imagine this would be the perfect holiday read.
The story had me gripped for the majority but I did find the ending to be a bit of a let down. Overall, it was a quick an enjoyable and quick read.
The beginning was a little slow but once the story got going I found I couldn't put it down. Tying the plot into the 1976 heatwave was very clever. The descriptions of the lake were wonderful, I could really picture them. We have been enjoying a heatwave whilst I was reading this, I can imagine this would be the perfect holiday read.
The story had me gripped for the majority but I did find the ending to be a bit of a let down. Overall, it was a quick an enjoyable and quick read.
August 16, 2019
The story was reasonably interesting but I found the style of writing really quite difficult to read. There is something about the way the sentences are structured and the lack of punctuation that meant I genuinely had to concentrate to understand things, which seems odd with such a light book. Also, the fact that one of the main characters is named 'Seb' meant that I quite frequently misread it as 'She' at the beginning of a sentence and was then very confused and had to reread the whole paragraph. It may be a function of the way I skim things.
November 27, 2025
The book begins with drownings. Folks go into a lake and seemingly drown. Not having paid attention to the summary very much, I assumed I was diving into a fantasy book where something heinous and possibly mystical was leading to these deaths. But that's not the focus of this book.
It's about a woman and her identity and her disastrous marriage. It's about the man she falls in love with and the man who desperately loves her back but struggles with his morality.
There's no fantasy. It is all very remarkablely human.
It's about a woman and her identity and her disastrous marriage. It's about the man she falls in love with and the man who desperately loves her back but struggles with his morality.
There's no fantasy. It is all very remarkablely human.
August 1, 2018
Im not qualified in any way to be a critic but this read like a novice writer with some big words thrown in here and there to fluff it up (I confess I didn't know what some of them meant!!). Also the plot was pretty obvious almost straight away. Holding my hands up...………..I did read it all and sort of enjoyed it for its easiness of reading but I wouldn't read another book by this author. Sorry Mr Madeley but not for me.
February 6, 2024
It was the front cover that made me pick this book up - bold writing of the title with what I think was under water with a women above!
I’m glad I did - once started I couldn’t put it down.
Cameron was a bully of a man, meriel the hot younger wife. Night writings, reporters and radio stations with calculated coolness of characters at times.
Hot summer at the lakes, water warnings of hot on top and cold under current causing drownings - let the story begin.
Enjoy.
I’m glad I did - once started I couldn’t put it down.
Cameron was a bully of a man, meriel the hot younger wife. Night writings, reporters and radio stations with calculated coolness of characters at times.
Hot summer at the lakes, water warnings of hot on top and cold under current causing drownings - let the story begin.
Enjoy.
July 8, 2017
It was a pleasant surprise to find I actually enjoyed this. It was a nice easy going read and I found myself speeding through it. A very nostalgic look back to the summer of 1976 (although I cannot remember '76) to where a radio star tries to use innocent drownings in the Cumbrian lakes to their advantage but does she get away with it ? I will be taking a second look at Richard's other books now.
July 6, 2025
After ploughing through The Mercies, I needed something light. Richard did not disappoint. Exciting, clever and immensely readable, my highbrow son downloaded it for a long haul flight and he is one of the most scathing critics.
The main character, Seb, seemed very like a young RM to me and as a fan, that made the story more intriguing.
The main character, Seb, seemed very like a young RM to me and as a fan, that made the story more intriguing.
January 3, 2017
Good storyline!!!
I was very impressed by this storyline, totally different to what I was expecting.
It tells the story of how an abusive husband eventually gets his comeuppance in a most spectacular but totally uncontrived way!!!
I was very impressed by this storyline, totally different to what I was expecting.
It tells the story of how an abusive husband eventually gets his comeuppance in a most spectacular but totally uncontrived way!!!
July 5, 2017
Enjoyed it. My first by Richard Madeley and was pleasantly surprised. About drownings in the Lake District in the summer of 76. Good plot, and most characters not completely good or bad, making it difficult to decide who you liked and what you hoped may happen.
December 3, 2017
I really liked this book. Took it on holiday with me. An easy read but a surprisingly enjoyable one. Even though it was set in the 1970’s it had a 1930’s British crime classic feel to it. Good setting and good characters.
August 21, 2018
This was a good book, but it wasn’t anything special. I didn’t mind it and the story was good, it just wasn’t thrilling. It could have been so much more! However I would absolutely love to read the book that Meriel had written!! The extracts of that sounded amazing!
August 22, 2018
Really enjoyed this but the ending was awful. Just one thing...I was wondering if Meriel pushed that school-girl off the mountain and watched her ex-husband choke to death on purpose? Is she actually a psychopath?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews