When Midnight Comes

by Beryl Matthews

1856. Christine Banner is alone after her father’s death, penniless but armed with an iron will. Determined to put London behind her and find a place to call home, her search takes her to the New Forest where she stumbles upon Lord Frenshaw’s estate. Her skill at handling some of the large and difficult war horses bred there, shines through and captures his attention. However, when his son Harry returns from the Crimea, battle-scarred and short-tempered, Christine’s future looks uncertain, and Harry may find that home is not the safe haven to which he hoped to return.
In the face of grief, sadness and disappointment, Christine’s intelligence and strength will be tested until she finds the place she can truly belong.

Genres: Historical Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2018

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Pa dies, Chrissie Banner is on her own and penniless. She gives their rag and bone cart and horse to a neighbor who will treat Bessie well. Pawns the few pots and things she owns and goes to big house after big house looking for work. She finds a job, decks the son of the house when he tries to rape a young maid, is fired (girl’s uncle, the butler also quits), and joins a troupe of Travellers heading toward the south coast. Chrissie has Romany blood and skills with horses and fortunetelling, so they accept her.

Chrissie’s dream is to find a permanent home somewhere away from cities. She finds such a spot with Lord Frenshaw who is watching over his son’s estate and prime herd of destriers. These warhorses are large and intimidating, but they respond to Chrissie. After many jobs, toil and trouble, Chrissie eventually lands where she is meant to be. Chrissie has admirable skills and talents for a girl from the London slums – she speaks well, she’s literate, she can draw and write with an elegant hand. It’s hard to feel her dreams and traumas. She’s an unconvincing character. There are many kind people in the story, but those who are more troubled are unpersuasive as their moods change from anger to civility and then back again.

Readers who enjoy the story and the relationship with the horses will be satisfied, but there is too much telling and not enough showing in this novel. It could have been much better if the characters were more developed and their actions more convincing.

Readalikes:
Michel Faber – The Crimson Petal and the White; Daisy Goodwin – Victoria; Susana Aikin – We Shall See the Sky Sparkling; Tracy Rees – Amy Snow; Rosie Goodwin – The Little Angel; Thomas Hauser - The Baker’s Tale; Betty Annand – The Girl from Old Nichol; Jane Jackson – The Master’s Wife

Pace: Fast read
Characters: Superficial
Story: Plot-driven
Writing style: Engaging
Tone: Upbeat
Frame: London, Southern England; 1856

[Gerrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5 stars

[Karli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been one of my favorite books of all time, except for a few critical issues.

Pros:
-The heroine is not a delicate, helpless, tiny girl, but a tall, strapping, strong and hard-working girl who Gets Shit Done TM
-Traveller culture is not portrayed as evil, or a stereotype
-The horses behave like actual horses

Cons:
-Heroine's name is Chrissy, which just feels to me too little-girl-ish, especially for the characterization she has
-A few cringey lines, like "You're not like other girls!" (this is not a compliment but an insult to women) and, without giving too much away, the love interest has some trouble with the word "no" at first, which is not romantic AT ALL, just disrespectful
-The pacing is like. You know how media show first-time drivers as like stopping and starting really jerkily, slamming on the brakes unexpectedly and then gunning it over and over? That's the sensation the pacing of this book gives you. The author passes over huge things in the space of half a paragraph, and at other times, will linger on the most insignificant of things for like two pages. As a result, the ending feels super rushed (and therefore not organic or realistic) and some crucial issues are left unexplored/undeveloped.
-Some of the dialogue is SUPER stilted, especially the words of child characters. No 10 year old boy is going to say, "I'm sorry I behaved so poorly, I was bored and acting out" (not a direct quote, but pretty closely conveys exactly what he says).

I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this book, but the few issues I had with it (mostly the pacing and resultant poor development/execution) make me demote it to 3/5 stars. I'm not sorry I read it, I just wish it had realized its potential.

[Pat Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Historical novel set in England mid 1800's. A young girl leaves the slums of London to find work in the English countryside. Interesting and quick read.

[Danika · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was a little bit different, which is what kept me so fascinated. It was very predictable. however, most are in this genre. I love a good fantasy... but something about the fortune teller thing made me second guess if I liked it truly.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very oddly paced with both the main characters barely spending any time together until the last quarter of the book. Also they both suddenly realised they loved each other in the last 20 or so page ... don't quite believe the character development.

[josephine Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb story

What a wonderful story, every one of this author's stories are different and very entertaining. The problem I have is that I don't want to put the book down. These stories deal with serious subjects but always in a entertaining way.

[Rachel Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find the style of writing very stilted and at a level below the usual professional writer. Would not recommend.

[Yvonne Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dieselblackcat

That was wonderful, what else can I say. Read in two days. Couldn’t put it down. I loved Charisse and Harry and well as his fathers characters.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read

[Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get into it

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book.