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Kelsey Woods #1
Dead After Midnight
Suzie Q is a prostitute and determined to get out of her current line of work and excited for a fresh start with best friend Lucy by her side. Her dreams come to an abrupt halt, when, during a night of turning tricks, she stumbles upon Lucy's brutally murdered body. Fearing for her life, Suzie runs to her neighbor, Luke's, to regroup, where she discovers he's not just a creepy client, but an undercover FBI agent. He blindsides her when he reveals that she's mixed up in an FBI investigation, and that she's been unknowingly working for Johnny Stone, New York's notorious crime boss. Suzie flees from New York, hiding in a quaint seaside town in Maine. She changes her identity and her life. Now she has to survive, to keep the life she has come to love.
This is the first novel in the Kelsey Woods thriller series.
This is the first novel in the Kelsey Woods thriller series.
- GenresThriller
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2020
100 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
C.P. Daly
4 books19 followersAbout CP Daly
My reading tastes are an eclectic mix of mystery, crime, historical fiction, romance and the occasional fantasy novel.
I made the leap from writing short stories to completing a mystery/thriller trilogy.
The Kelsey Woods trilogy:
Dead After Midnight
Dead Before Sunrise
Dead Days Ahead
Bloody Water, is my first stand alone thriller and was released in 2024. It is set in Nova Scotia, Canada.
I am busy working on my next thriller, which is set in Iowa and will be released in 2025.
I live in the beautiful East Coast of Canada with my family.
Member of Sisters in Crime.
My reading tastes are an eclectic mix of mystery, crime, historical fiction, romance and the occasional fantasy novel.
I made the leap from writing short stories to completing a mystery/thriller trilogy.
The Kelsey Woods trilogy:
Dead After Midnight
Dead Before Sunrise
Dead Days Ahead
Bloody Water, is my first stand alone thriller and was released in 2024. It is set in Nova Scotia, Canada.
I am busy working on my next thriller, which is set in Iowa and will be released in 2025.
I live in the beautiful East Coast of Canada with my family.
Member of Sisters in Crime.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 19, 2021
Dead After Midnight by C.P. Daley is an excellent read. Interesting characters and a riveting plot make this a page-turner. It's a quick read that immediately catches your attention and holds it from the first page to the last. I enjoyed Dead After midnight immensely, and highly recommend it. A five-star read for me.
June 4, 2021
A thriller it was; I read it quickly. I liked the story, the characterization, and the apparent, careful editing. This is not a love story, but as in real life, love slips in. "...that's what love is. People you love can disappoint you and hurt you deeply, but when you truly love someone, you find the capacity to forgive. It's hard, but people forgive things--huge things, despicable things--all the time."
I cared right away about the protagonist, whose story of survival pulled me along. I was ready to give this debut novel five stars, until the gruesomely graphic ending. I am glad (most of) the bad guys are no more, but would like to have been spared the 'despicable' details. I will read book two.
I cared right away about the protagonist, whose story of survival pulled me along. I was ready to give this debut novel five stars, until the gruesomely graphic ending. I am glad (most of) the bad guys are no more, but would like to have been spared the 'despicable' details. I will read book two.
August 27, 2020
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This was a very nice, fast paced, suspense thriller, and turned out to be very entertaining.
Suzie aka Julia is a strong character, and I liked her no-nonsense attitude. She has to lead a new life with a false identity, and I wanted to see how far she would pull it before someone caught her. Moreover, I found her scenes with Rachel hilarious, as she urges to argue with her but doesn’t want to attract attention. Similarly, Luke is also interesting and I liked the bond he shared with Suzie. However, my favorite character was Sophie. She was adorable and quirky as Suzie’s friend and lighted the tale. Also, Stone is decent as the villain, but wasn’t prominent in the story-line.
The author also added quite a few twists and turns as to the story. At the same time, the author provides a very nice back story to the characters. I thought she did a very nice job with the history and connection between Stone, Lucy, and Suzie. The backstory turned out to be very interesting and dramatic.
However, there are a few parts where I would have liked more details. For instance, Phoenix is a pivotal character, yet we don’t see much of him or know his history. Also, I felt like Anthony was a very random character who did not had much value. Perhaps he would play a pivotal role in the next book of the series?
Apart from that, this story was very entertaining. Overall, “Dead After Midnight” was gripping and suspenseful. I am very curious to see how the series progresses, and looking forward to the next book.
November 1, 2020
Dead After Midnight
C.P. Daly
Armed with a solid plot, some really good sub plots and starring the most unconventional protagonist Daly delivers a page-turning debut novel and first in a brand new series. Dead After Midnight takes readers on a fast paced wild dark roller coaster ride where the turns get twisty-er the more the story unfolds and by the end the audience will be picking their jaw off the ground impatiently waiting to find out what happens in book 2. Using a former prostitute to star in a series is unique and a bit of a risk but Suzie steals the show with her vulnerability, her moxie and her smart often getting her into trouble mouth. The secondary characters in this episode are also fantastic especially Luke who it seems readers will be seeing in future novels too. Fans of the thrillers of JT Ellison and the romantic suspense novels of Laura Griffin will really enjoy this novel.
Suzie’s life hasn’t been easy, going from the horrors of foster care to the horrors of prostitution, the only thing that’s keeping her sane is her best friend Lucy and their plan to make enough to finally get off the streets and make a fresh start. To make their dream come true they need a big payday so they agree to service some inmates at the state prison. But something goes terribly wrong Lucy is brutally murdered and Suzie finds herself alone on the run. Not knowing where to go or who she can trust she takes a chance and goes to their neighbor Luke for help, but when he reveals he’s really a federal agent and Lucy was working for him it’s just too much to take so Suzie takes off on her own hoping she can outrun both the feds and the mob.
C.P. Daly
Armed with a solid plot, some really good sub plots and starring the most unconventional protagonist Daly delivers a page-turning debut novel and first in a brand new series. Dead After Midnight takes readers on a fast paced wild dark roller coaster ride where the turns get twisty-er the more the story unfolds and by the end the audience will be picking their jaw off the ground impatiently waiting to find out what happens in book 2. Using a former prostitute to star in a series is unique and a bit of a risk but Suzie steals the show with her vulnerability, her moxie and her smart often getting her into trouble mouth. The secondary characters in this episode are also fantastic especially Luke who it seems readers will be seeing in future novels too. Fans of the thrillers of JT Ellison and the romantic suspense novels of Laura Griffin will really enjoy this novel.
Suzie’s life hasn’t been easy, going from the horrors of foster care to the horrors of prostitution, the only thing that’s keeping her sane is her best friend Lucy and their plan to make enough to finally get off the streets and make a fresh start. To make their dream come true they need a big payday so they agree to service some inmates at the state prison. But something goes terribly wrong Lucy is brutally murdered and Suzie finds herself alone on the run. Not knowing where to go or who she can trust she takes a chance and goes to their neighbor Luke for help, but when he reveals he’s really a federal agent and Lucy was working for him it’s just too much to take so Suzie takes off on her own hoping she can outrun both the feds and the mob.
July 22, 2020
I’m a slow reader and have to digest every word, sentence, each and every dash and comma, but the second I picked up CP Daly’s debut novel, Dead After Midnight, I literally and absolutely could not put down this compelling, engrossing work of fiction. I read this fabulous mystery in one day. I hate using this hackneyed expression but it’s the truth—this is a page-turner!
The riveting scenes cascade one after another, building upon what came before, and there is no limit to the tension and risks for the main character, Suzanne Quinn, Julia Yorke, Kelsey Woods, who is a solid dove with great survival instincts! I’d follow her anywhere! And I cannot wait to read Book 2 of this series. Compliments galore for the newbie & wonderful author, CP Daly!
The riveting scenes cascade one after another, building upon what came before, and there is no limit to the tension and risks for the main character, Suzanne Quinn, Julia Yorke, Kelsey Woods, who is a solid dove with great survival instincts! I’d follow her anywhere! And I cannot wait to read Book 2 of this series. Compliments galore for the newbie & wonderful author, CP Daly!
August 27, 2020
Dead After Midnight will captivate you from page one. You get thrown right into the story and the action. From there it's a page turner that you'll easily lose hours reading. From the mob to the FBI to a quiet life in a quiet town, Susie's story is a wild ride. A promising start to a thrilling new series.
September 3, 2022
A brilliant fast-paced read.
Dead After Midnight is an entertaining, fast-paced, suspense thriller. I love the character building, with their backstory, and drama. A great plot and subplots make for a lot of twists and turns, and a definite page-turner. Both my husband and I enjoyed this dark suspenseful ride. Dead After Midnight won't be the last book we read by the talented C.P. Daly.
Dead After Midnight is an entertaining, fast-paced, suspense thriller. I love the character building, with their backstory, and drama. A great plot and subplots make for a lot of twists and turns, and a definite page-turner. Both my husband and I enjoyed this dark suspenseful ride. Dead After Midnight won't be the last book we read by the talented C.P. Daly.
August 3, 2022
I love reading the first book in any series. It sets the tone for the rest of the series and this one has potential. Dead After Midnight was a quick, fast-paced thriller introducing CP Daly's Kelsey Woods. I loved how it concluded and will read the next installment.
November 25, 2022
Never give up
How could you not fall in love with Susie. She fought so hard to get out of the crappy life she was in. Such a strong young woman that never gave up.
How could you not fall in love with Susie. She fought so hard to get out of the crappy life she was in. Such a strong young woman that never gave up.
December 12, 2020
This book is in the thriller genre and unfortunately, I did not feel like I was on the edge of my seat. However, the story itself was still interesting enough that I will read the next two books. The book was very realistic and very visual. I could see what I was reading and that for me is the making of a great book.
April 16, 2022
She is a young girl trying her best to survive in a harsh world, even if the price is her innocence. The only thing keeping her going is the hope for a better life.
But when she finds the body of the woman who has been her only friend, almost a mentor, her life comes crashing down. She finds herself embroiled in an ongoing FBI investigation. Eager to escape the attention and the brutal men chasing her she flees to Maine.
Starting a new life seems like the best decision until her past catches up with her. The people after her are ruthless and ready to sentence her to a life worse than death.
What does she do?
She fights back. She doesn't emerge unscathed. No one can. Some wounds are physical. But many of them emotional.
Will she ever be able to trust again?
But she is a survivor. A fighter. And she will never give up.
This is her story.
Meet Kelsey Woods.
But when she finds the body of the woman who has been her only friend, almost a mentor, her life comes crashing down. She finds herself embroiled in an ongoing FBI investigation. Eager to escape the attention and the brutal men chasing her she flees to Maine.
Starting a new life seems like the best decision until her past catches up with her. The people after her are ruthless and ready to sentence her to a life worse than death.
What does she do?
She fights back. She doesn't emerge unscathed. No one can. Some wounds are physical. But many of them emotional.
Will she ever be able to trust again?
But she is a survivor. A fighter. And she will never give up.
This is her story.
Meet Kelsey Woods.
October 20, 2025
The general ideas presented throughout the story were nice. The writing itself was okay, and the logic had moments of struggle. Once I stopped reading too deeply into the logic and details it became a very enjoyable read. There were moments of excellence in terms of writing and emotion. I enjoyed the development between the main character and the family and helped her out.
All in all, read it quick and it is great. Pick it apart and it is poor.
All in all, read it quick and it is great. Pick it apart and it is poor.
August 7, 2021
I read this in one day ! It’s a quick paced page turner that kept me entertained and guessing . Plus there is nothing like a thriller with an FBI agent that also happens to be a handsome Texan :)
August 12, 2021
Awesome!
August 24, 2020
I found this to be an intriguing debut thriller with unique characters and an interesting plot line. When a young prostitute witnesses the murder of her best friend and federal informant, she becomes a fugitive from the mob and from the FBI.
Suzanne Quinn aka Julia Yorke has had a tragic life and only wants to have a normal life under a new name as a waitress and a student in a small town. But life isn’t that simple and her life is in danger again. They have found her and she needs to flee, but the FBI agent, Luke Klooney, who was partly responsible for her being in this position, is there to make it right this time and protect her with his life. Can she trust him?
Suzie is a very strong character with street smarts and an admirable determination to better her life. Her relationship with Luke is tenuous at first, but his guilt mission to track her down and protect her is commendable considering he was suspended from his job. The secrets Suzie’s friend, Lucy, kept from her are heartbreaking and unforgivable, but there are people out there who care deeply for Suzie and I look forward to seeing how that all turns out.
Overall, this is a gripping suspense thriller and a great start to the series giving us a thorough background story on the main character. Many times crime thrillers only give us nuances of the protagonist’s life, but I feel invested in Suzie’s story and can’t wait to read more. Recommend highly!
Thank you to Ms. Daley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Suzanne Quinn aka Julia Yorke has had a tragic life and only wants to have a normal life under a new name as a waitress and a student in a small town. But life isn’t that simple and her life is in danger again. They have found her and she needs to flee, but the FBI agent, Luke Klooney, who was partly responsible for her being in this position, is there to make it right this time and protect her with his life. Can she trust him?
Suzie is a very strong character with street smarts and an admirable determination to better her life. Her relationship with Luke is tenuous at first, but his guilt mission to track her down and protect her is commendable considering he was suspended from his job. The secrets Suzie’s friend, Lucy, kept from her are heartbreaking and unforgivable, but there are people out there who care deeply for Suzie and I look forward to seeing how that all turns out.
Overall, this is a gripping suspense thriller and a great start to the series giving us a thorough background story on the main character. Many times crime thrillers only give us nuances of the protagonist’s life, but I feel invested in Suzie’s story and can’t wait to read more. Recommend highly!
Thank you to Ms. Daley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
April 3, 2021
Easy Read
Lots of quirks and turns with an interesting backstory. Simple and easy read with some foul language (although appropriate when used).
Lots of quirks and turns with an interesting backstory. Simple and easy read with some foul language (although appropriate when used).
April 1, 2021
I read this book last year, after purchasing from a local bookstore. The book was easy to get into and very hard to put down! At the end of the book I immediately went looking for the next one, however had to wait. I enjoyed this book enough to pass on to two other people who also thoroughly enjoyed it!
November 5, 2021
Entertaining If Implausible
A young woman turns to prostitution to make ends meet. Befriended and mentored by a mobster's ex-girlfriend and fellow prostitute she is on the lam after her friend is murdered while the duo was servicing connected prisoners. On the lam she evades both the FBI and the mob. She begins a new life in a small Maine town only to have it threatened by menaces from the past.
This is fairly predictable romantic suspense. Neither the romance nor the thriller portion is especially plausible. Entertaining though. It is apparently the first of a series. Some of the story lines are not resolved. Not bad.
A young woman turns to prostitution to make ends meet. Befriended and mentored by a mobster's ex-girlfriend and fellow prostitute she is on the lam after her friend is murdered while the duo was servicing connected prisoners. On the lam she evades both the FBI and the mob. She begins a new life in a small Maine town only to have it threatened by menaces from the past.
This is fairly predictable romantic suspense. Neither the romance nor the thriller portion is especially plausible. Entertaining though. It is apparently the first of a series. Some of the story lines are not resolved. Not bad.
March 2, 2025
An interesting murder mystery exploring betrayal and the desire to not only survive but to make a better life. The main character is easy to cheer for.
This is book 1 of 3 and although it doesn’t end in a cliff hanger it leaves you curious as to what will happen next in the life of Kelsey.
This is book 1 of 3 and although it doesn’t end in a cliff hanger it leaves you curious as to what will happen next in the life of Kelsey.
March 18, 2022
Excitement and action
Action and good storyline that keeps you reading late in the night. Drugs , prostitution, the mob! This author makes it all work together and so real.
Action and good storyline that keeps you reading late in the night. Drugs , prostitution, the mob! This author makes it all work together and so real.
April 2, 2022
Dead After Midnight
First time reading this author and was drawn in from the beginning. I read nine chapters the first day. Looking forward to reading Dead After Sunrise.
First time reading this author and was drawn in from the beginning. I read nine chapters the first day. Looking forward to reading Dead After Sunrise.
August 7, 2022
Excellent book! The only slight criticism is that I wish the book was written either solely in one format narrative/1st person or narrative/name to clarify when the switching of format took place.
August 29, 2020
I don’t think I’ve read such a gripping, fast-paced, and thoroughly entertaining thriller in a long time! Not a sentence out of place, nothing that jars–this book is perfect.
A warning to readers who feel queasy about blood and gore–there are some torture and murder scenes that you might find difficult to read. Overall, it is a dark story featuring unsavory characters driven by greed, money, and power, but there’s also an undercurrent of hope that the main character can get away from it all.
The story flows smoothly and quickly, and there’s usually something exciting happening at all times. Even when the main character settles down to what she hopes will be a quiet life, things are not as sedate. Jealousy, anxiety, estranged relationships, betrayal — all of it is there.
I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next books in the Kelsey Woods series. Would recommend it to anybody who loves dark, gritty thrillers.
(I received a review copy from R&R Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.)
A warning to readers who feel queasy about blood and gore–there are some torture and murder scenes that you might find difficult to read. Overall, it is a dark story featuring unsavory characters driven by greed, money, and power, but there’s also an undercurrent of hope that the main character can get away from it all.
The story flows smoothly and quickly, and there’s usually something exciting happening at all times. Even when the main character settles down to what she hopes will be a quiet life, things are not as sedate. Jealousy, anxiety, estranged relationships, betrayal — all of it is there.
I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next books in the Kelsey Woods series. Would recommend it to anybody who loves dark, gritty thrillers.
(I received a review copy from R&R Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.)
June 19, 2022
Gripping read. Thoroughly enjoyed this and will be looking for the sequels, but this stood well on its own
January 4, 2025
What can I say? This is how you start a book! Straight into it with a juicy murder, a girl on the run and a background plot to unravel!
Suzie Q is a prostitute working for the mob and doing the rounds in a prison no less! Her so-called friend Lucy got her the gig in the first place and she ends up hanging at the end of a rope. Does the mob think Suzie can identify them? So Suzie runs from the prison. She turns to the only friend she thinks she has, Luke, but he turns out to be an FBI agent! Annnnnd RUN....
Suzie starts a new life in a little town but how long before her past catches her up?
You will have to read to find out.
Suzie Q is a prostitute working for the mob and doing the rounds in a prison no less! Her so-called friend Lucy got her the gig in the first place and she ends up hanging at the end of a rope. Does the mob think Suzie can identify them? So Suzie runs from the prison. She turns to the only friend she thinks she has, Luke, but he turns out to be an FBI agent! Annnnnd RUN....
Suzie starts a new life in a little town but how long before her past catches her up?
You will have to read to find out.
October 1, 2023
Definitely a thriller. I read through it very quickly. It had me hooked from the first page to the last. I cared right away for the protagonist whose story of survival really pulls at your heart strings. Susie aka Julie is a strong character and very no nonsense. Luke is not who you think he is and he cares deeply for her. The ending was a little gruesome but I have to say the bad guys got what they deserved
July 16, 2020
Great fast paced read. Can't wait for the next book in the series
August 1, 2020
Review to follow
April 21, 2023
Great FBI thriller
This book kept you on your toes until the end. Lots of drama and suspense. What the poor main character went through. Happy for the happy ever after ending!
This book kept you on your toes until the end. Lots of drama and suspense. What the poor main character went through. Happy for the happy ever after ending!
May 21, 2023
Layers of Betrayal and Murder build in this thriller.
The hits keep coming for prostitute Suzy Q. The young woman has had a hard-scrabble life, but her relentless determination keeps her focused on a better life and a way out from the seedy, underbelly world of prostitution. When she witnesses the murder of Lucy, another prostitute who happens to be her closest friend and ally, Suzy finds herself on the run from the mob who forced her and Lucy into a prison so that the men there could have their way with the women. Suzy flees from the FBI investigators, working the case and the men who want her dead because she’s seen and knows too much. Innovative and cunning, she starts a new life as Julia Quinn in a charming small New England town. Finally, a bit of luck falls her way, and all is well for a short time. Eventually, her old life catches up to her and the chase is on again.
Author C.P. Daly does an excellent job of keeping up the suspense, and halfway through the story things really begin to heat up as she slowly reveals more about Suzy Q’s origins and the men who want her dead.
Dead After Midnight reminded me of Pretty Woman meets the Godfather- an innocent young woman forces herself into prostitution in the hopes to earn enough money to turn her life around but soon finds herself entangled with a group of nasty mobsters who will destroy her life in the most painful way possible up and until her nearly merciless death.
The hits keep coming for prostitute Suzy Q. The young woman has had a hard-scrabble life, but her relentless determination keeps her focused on a better life and a way out from the seedy, underbelly world of prostitution. When she witnesses the murder of Lucy, another prostitute who happens to be her closest friend and ally, Suzy finds herself on the run from the mob who forced her and Lucy into a prison so that the men there could have their way with the women. Suzy flees from the FBI investigators, working the case and the men who want her dead because she’s seen and knows too much. Innovative and cunning, she starts a new life as Julia Quinn in a charming small New England town. Finally, a bit of luck falls her way, and all is well for a short time. Eventually, her old life catches up to her and the chase is on again.
Author C.P. Daly does an excellent job of keeping up the suspense, and halfway through the story things really begin to heat up as she slowly reveals more about Suzy Q’s origins and the men who want her dead.
Dead After Midnight reminded me of Pretty Woman meets the Godfather- an innocent young woman forces herself into prostitution in the hopes to earn enough money to turn her life around but soon finds herself entangled with a group of nasty mobsters who will destroy her life in the most painful way possible up and until her nearly merciless death.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews