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The Midnight House
People disappear. Secrets remain...
My Dearest T, Whatever you hear, do not believe it for a moment...
1940: In south-west Ireland, the young and beautiful Lady Charlotte Rathmore is pronounced dead after she mysteriously disappears by the lake of Blackwater Hall. In London, on the brink of the Blitz, Nancy Rathmore is grieving Charlotte's death when a letter arrives containing a secret that she is sworn to keep - one that will change her life for ever.
2019: Decades later, Ellie Fitzgerald is forced to leave Dublin disgraced and heartbroken. Abandoning journalism, she returns to rural Kerry to weather out the storm. But, when she discovers a faded letter, tucked inside the pages of an old book, she finds herself drawn in by a long-buried secret. And as Ellie begins to unravel the mystery, it becomes clear that the letter might hold the key to more than just Charlotte's disappearance.
An unforgettable and spellbinding story of secrets, war, love and sacrifice, perfect for readers of Kate Morton, Eve Chase and Louise Douglas.
My Dearest T, Whatever you hear, do not believe it for a moment...
1940: In south-west Ireland, the young and beautiful Lady Charlotte Rathmore is pronounced dead after she mysteriously disappears by the lake of Blackwater Hall. In London, on the brink of the Blitz, Nancy Rathmore is grieving Charlotte's death when a letter arrives containing a secret that she is sworn to keep - one that will change her life for ever.
2019: Decades later, Ellie Fitzgerald is forced to leave Dublin disgraced and heartbroken. Abandoning journalism, she returns to rural Kerry to weather out the storm. But, when she discovers a faded letter, tucked inside the pages of an old book, she finds herself drawn in by a long-buried secret. And as Ellie begins to unravel the mystery, it becomes clear that the letter might hold the key to more than just Charlotte's disappearance.
An unforgettable and spellbinding story of secrets, war, love and sacrifice, perfect for readers of Kate Morton, Eve Chase and Louise Douglas.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2022
1851 people are currently reading
17595 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Geard
6 books226 followersAmanda Geard is the bestselling author of THE MOON GATE and Richard & Judy Book Club pick THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE which was a UK Heatseeker and a top 10 kindle bestseller. Both novels are translated into ten languages. Her new book, THE GLASS KEY, will be published in May 2026 and has already sold across the world.
She has always loved novels with multiple timelines, ones which weave a complex web that resolve as the reader turns the final page, where secrets lie just beneath the surface if only the characters know where to look. She’s also a geologist who explores and maps the earth’s remote places. She splits her time between Ireland, Norway and ‘the field’.
“The inspiration for my first novel, THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE, appeared in the rafters of our Irish home, a two-hundred-year-old stone building perched on the edge of the Atlantic. Hidden there was a message, scratched into wood: 'When this comes down, pray for me. Tim O’Shea 1911'. As I held that piece of timber in my hands, dust clinging to my paint-stained clothes, I was humbled that a person’s fingerprint could, in a thousand ways, transcend time, and I wanted nothing more than to capture that feeling of discovery on the page.
My second novel, THE MOON GATE, is set across three locations: Tasmania (the place I grew up), London (where I lived for years in a houseboat on Paddington Canal) and County Kerry, Ireland (my home). Each of these places is special to me and I hope the settings, as much as the characters, will reach out from the page and reassure you that – in this world – you are not alone.
Finally, THE GLASS KEY is coming in May 2026 and I couldn’t be more excited! The inspiration for this novel began in April 2011. As Kate and Wills walked down the aisle, my soon-to-be husband and I walked onto an isle, a 52-acre Norwegian one, one hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.
It was for sale.
It was love at first sight.
We were 29.
We bought the island, learned to live. The Glass Key pays homage to this, weaving in the struggles of four women in Occupied Norway and the lengths they’ll go to to survive. Expect love and sacrifice. Expect tears. Expect hope. I can’t wait to share this book with you soon!”
You can find more information about Amanda Geard and her books on Instagram (@amandageard) or contact her at www.amandageard.com – where you can also join her mailing list for updates on books, events and giveaways.
She has always loved novels with multiple timelines, ones which weave a complex web that resolve as the reader turns the final page, where secrets lie just beneath the surface if only the characters know where to look. She’s also a geologist who explores and maps the earth’s remote places. She splits her time between Ireland, Norway and ‘the field’.
“The inspiration for my first novel, THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE, appeared in the rafters of our Irish home, a two-hundred-year-old stone building perched on the edge of the Atlantic. Hidden there was a message, scratched into wood: 'When this comes down, pray for me. Tim O’Shea 1911'. As I held that piece of timber in my hands, dust clinging to my paint-stained clothes, I was humbled that a person’s fingerprint could, in a thousand ways, transcend time, and I wanted nothing more than to capture that feeling of discovery on the page.
My second novel, THE MOON GATE, is set across three locations: Tasmania (the place I grew up), London (where I lived for years in a houseboat on Paddington Canal) and County Kerry, Ireland (my home). Each of these places is special to me and I hope the settings, as much as the characters, will reach out from the page and reassure you that – in this world – you are not alone.
Finally, THE GLASS KEY is coming in May 2026 and I couldn’t be more excited! The inspiration for this novel began in April 2011. As Kate and Wills walked down the aisle, my soon-to-be husband and I walked onto an isle, a 52-acre Norwegian one, one hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.
It was for sale.
It was love at first sight.
We were 29.
We bought the island, learned to live. The Glass Key pays homage to this, weaving in the struggles of four women in Occupied Norway and the lengths they’ll go to to survive. Expect love and sacrifice. Expect tears. Expect hope. I can’t wait to share this book with you soon!”
You can find more information about Amanda Geard and her books on Instagram (@amandageard) or contact her at www.amandageard.com – where you can also join her mailing list for updates on books, events and giveaways.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 460 reviews
October 26, 2022
Ellie Fitzgerald returns to Kerry to lick her wounds after both her personal and professional life in Dublin falls to pieces. Ellie wants nothing more but to hibernate away, however, her mother Moira has other schemes to try to get Ellie back on track, and what better way to arouse her daughter's curiosity and journalistic interest than an old mystery. The disappearance of Lady Charlotte Rathmore in 1940 was a mystery that was never solved. Many believe the beautiful heiress must have drowned in the lake by Blackwater Hall, at one point it was suspected that perhaps even the IRA was involved. However, as Ellie finds herself pulled deeper into the past, slowly she begins to unravel its secrets.
A debut novel by Amanda Geard, I was drawn to The Midnight House as I tend to enjoy dual time-frame stories with old mysteries and family secrets at their heart, and the setting of rural Ireland was also promising and a little different. Indeed, I enjoyed learning more about Ireland around the time of WWII and the socio-political climate, as well as tensions still in play from the Irish Civil War that ended in 1923. In the modern time-frame as well, I liked the depictions of the cosy, if rather nosy, rural community.
The Midnight House got off to a good start for me, however, whilst I do think this was a good effort for a debut novel, the book didn't hold me as enthralled as it went on. Whilst I thought the mystery and central characters were set up well to begin with, as we got into the heart of the story I unfortunately failed to feel a proper sense of connection to the main characters, and thought the story was told a little by the numbers if I'm being honest.
The mystery itself does become rather obvious as the story unfolds, however, that in itself did not bother me too much. Rather the issue was that I felt some of the relationships and characters came across as rather forced, and as such I never felt as invested in the story. There were moments that whilst certainly tragic, simply didn't stir the emotions as they should have done, and yet could have been very impactful had I felt more invested in the characters.
In some ways the book with its different time-frames and old family secrets did put me in mind of a Kate Morton novel, only lacking the finesse, and in a way trying almost a little too hard to emulate that style. Whilst it had all the ingredients, somehow the end result just fell a little flat for me personally. A shame, as I thought the story itself had a lot of potential.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 (given it is a debut)
A debut novel by Amanda Geard, I was drawn to The Midnight House as I tend to enjoy dual time-frame stories with old mysteries and family secrets at their heart, and the setting of rural Ireland was also promising and a little different. Indeed, I enjoyed learning more about Ireland around the time of WWII and the socio-political climate, as well as tensions still in play from the Irish Civil War that ended in 1923. In the modern time-frame as well, I liked the depictions of the cosy, if rather nosy, rural community.
The Midnight House got off to a good start for me, however, whilst I do think this was a good effort for a debut novel, the book didn't hold me as enthralled as it went on. Whilst I thought the mystery and central characters were set up well to begin with, as we got into the heart of the story I unfortunately failed to feel a proper sense of connection to the main characters, and thought the story was told a little by the numbers if I'm being honest.
The mystery itself does become rather obvious as the story unfolds, however, that in itself did not bother me too much. Rather the issue was that I felt some of the relationships and characters came across as rather forced, and as such I never felt as invested in the story. There were moments that whilst certainly tragic, simply didn't stir the emotions as they should have done, and yet could have been very impactful had I felt more invested in the characters.
In some ways the book with its different time-frames and old family secrets did put me in mind of a Kate Morton novel, only lacking the finesse, and in a way trying almost a little too hard to emulate that style. Whilst it had all the ingredients, somehow the end result just fell a little flat for me personally. A shame, as I thought the story itself had a lot of potential.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 (given it is a debut)
March 18, 2022
Every once in a while a book comes across my desk and it grabs my heart and won’t let go. This is one of those books. The writing is gold, just like Kerry butter.
“It sat as it had for two centuries, on the furze-rimmed water’s edge, its walls hidden behind a thick curtain of ivy, its windows and doors shut to the world. Russet and yellow leaves, discarded from the surrounding woodland, littered the hummocky lawn. A weak puff of smoke rose from one of a dozen chimneys, spires against the mountainside.”
The book is full of wonderfully descriptive paragraphs, like the one above describing Blackwater Hall, a dilapidated manor holding secrets of the past. It’s easy to see why I was captivated within the first few pages.
Like a skilled Kerry tweed weaver, Geard deftly combines the warp and weft threads of her timelines, producing one of the finest mysteries ever written in South Western Ireland. Geard uses the common threads of ‘broken’ and ‘lost’ to unite her 1940 and 1958 timelines with the 2019 timeline. What amazed me the most about the structure was that, like the unity of tweed, I didn’t notice the break between timelines. It flowed unhindered. That’s talent.
At the core of this mystery is a woman who vanishes from the estate in 1940 and is presumed drowned in Lough Atoon. Her body is never recovered.
Ellie Fitzgerald, the modern day protagonist, is nursing a broken heart while hiding out at her family home, Cahercillin Farm, in County Kerry. She stumbles across an old letter tucked inside an Agatha Christie book she’s purchased from a second hand shop in town. This letter initiates the solving of an 8 decades old mystery as well as the healing of Ellie’s heart. Slowly Ellie unravels the mystery of the girl’s disappearance and introduces us to Lady Charlotte Rathmore, one of the heirs to the Georgian ancestral estate and the girl who vanished one misty night in 1940.
The intricately crafted characters, the taut plotting, the unpredictable twists, the visceral atmosphere and the compelling mystery all work together to make this debut novel a 5-star read. The tug and pull between the reader wanting to know more about the secret and the author slowly leaving clues, was set up masterfully! For anyone who’s experienced the pull of my birthplace, you’ll feel your heartstrings tugged. Geard has captured the essence of rural Ireland between the pages of this book. I identified with Nancy, appreciated her loyalty, and loved that she never went anywhere without a book. I enjoyed reading about Nils at The Procaffination and smiled at his menu, and loved reading about Milo. I hope that the author isn’t finished with their story as I’d love to know more!
How ironic that the book is to be published on Florence Nightingale’s birthday as it is a nurse, Nurse Abby in St. Thomas Hospital, who, with compassion comparable to Nightingale’s, contributes to a miracle in this story!
Amanda Geard is a talented debut author on the rise and Agatha Christie would definitely be proud of her mystery.
“Hindsight is the best insight to foresight.”
“It was possible to step out of a life, but not to leave it behind.”
I was gifted this advance copy by Amanda Geard, Headline, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
“It sat as it had for two centuries, on the furze-rimmed water’s edge, its walls hidden behind a thick curtain of ivy, its windows and doors shut to the world. Russet and yellow leaves, discarded from the surrounding woodland, littered the hummocky lawn. A weak puff of smoke rose from one of a dozen chimneys, spires against the mountainside.”
The book is full of wonderfully descriptive paragraphs, like the one above describing Blackwater Hall, a dilapidated manor holding secrets of the past. It’s easy to see why I was captivated within the first few pages.
Like a skilled Kerry tweed weaver, Geard deftly combines the warp and weft threads of her timelines, producing one of the finest mysteries ever written in South Western Ireland. Geard uses the common threads of ‘broken’ and ‘lost’ to unite her 1940 and 1958 timelines with the 2019 timeline. What amazed me the most about the structure was that, like the unity of tweed, I didn’t notice the break between timelines. It flowed unhindered. That’s talent.
At the core of this mystery is a woman who vanishes from the estate in 1940 and is presumed drowned in Lough Atoon. Her body is never recovered.
Ellie Fitzgerald, the modern day protagonist, is nursing a broken heart while hiding out at her family home, Cahercillin Farm, in County Kerry. She stumbles across an old letter tucked inside an Agatha Christie book she’s purchased from a second hand shop in town. This letter initiates the solving of an 8 decades old mystery as well as the healing of Ellie’s heart. Slowly Ellie unravels the mystery of the girl’s disappearance and introduces us to Lady Charlotte Rathmore, one of the heirs to the Georgian ancestral estate and the girl who vanished one misty night in 1940.
The intricately crafted characters, the taut plotting, the unpredictable twists, the visceral atmosphere and the compelling mystery all work together to make this debut novel a 5-star read. The tug and pull between the reader wanting to know more about the secret and the author slowly leaving clues, was set up masterfully! For anyone who’s experienced the pull of my birthplace, you’ll feel your heartstrings tugged. Geard has captured the essence of rural Ireland between the pages of this book. I identified with Nancy, appreciated her loyalty, and loved that she never went anywhere without a book. I enjoyed reading about Nils at The Procaffination and smiled at his menu, and loved reading about Milo. I hope that the author isn’t finished with their story as I’d love to know more!
How ironic that the book is to be published on Florence Nightingale’s birthday as it is a nurse, Nurse Abby in St. Thomas Hospital, who, with compassion comparable to Nightingale’s, contributes to a miracle in this story!
Amanda Geard is a talented debut author on the rise and Agatha Christie would definitely be proud of her mystery.
“Hindsight is the best insight to foresight.”
“It was possible to step out of a life, but not to leave it behind.”
I was gifted this advance copy by Amanda Geard, Headline, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 17, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful book that at its heart, was a story about friendship. We get to read through a lot of different timelines and characters in this story, and I really enjoyed all their parallels with each other. The pacing was absolutely on point and you can tell that the author really spent time researching the time periods for this one, it shines through beautifully in the pages. The pages are brimming with suspense and mystery that make you reluctant to ever put the book down, and frankly I didn’t.
If Ireland is as beautiful as this book made it sound, I really need to get my act together and go exploring over there.
Thank you so much to Headline for sending me a proof of this wonderful book that’s releasing next year.
If Ireland is as beautiful as this book made it sound, I really need to get my act together and go exploring over there.
Thank you so much to Headline for sending me a proof of this wonderful book that’s releasing next year.
September 28, 2022
Ellie, a journalist comes across a letter which sparks her interest in finding out what became of Charlotte a young girl forced to leave her ancestral Irish home.
Set in three time periods. 2019, 1940 and 1958. This had the potential to be an intriguing novel.
Instead it was overwritten with too many characters and their interaction with one another. It was hard to keep up.
Ellie as a character was like a dog with a bone, she was never going to give up, but part of her story arc was about the breakup with her partner and didn't add anything to the plot.
Scenes in the fifties could have been culled and it would have been better to concentrate on Charlotte, the most fleshed out character in the book, we didn't see enough of her.
You do get a sense of place in terms of a rural Ireland but it wasn't enough for me to bring this book out of the label of mediocre.
Set in three time periods. 2019, 1940 and 1958. This had the potential to be an intriguing novel.
Instead it was overwritten with too many characters and their interaction with one another. It was hard to keep up.
Ellie as a character was like a dog with a bone, she was never going to give up, but part of her story arc was about the breakup with her partner and didn't add anything to the plot.
Scenes in the fifties could have been culled and it would have been better to concentrate on Charlotte, the most fleshed out character in the book, we didn't see enough of her.
You do get a sense of place in terms of a rural Ireland but it wasn't enough for me to bring this book out of the label of mediocre.
April 10, 2023
Although this book is a slow-burner, I did enjoy it very much. Set in Ireland it’s all about the Midnight House, it’s present and it’s past. It flits back and forth during the war years to present day. I enjoyed this one and I’m looking forward to reading her new one soon.
November 12, 2025
A random book group choice, I knew nothing about this book, but it turned out to be a very good read! A family mystery from eighty years previous and a young journalist looking to find answers and solve the puzzle.
May 26, 2022
My Rating ~ 4.5*
'Across the dark, slick surface of Lough Atoon, Blackwater Hall hove into view. It was less grand than she remembered, but handsome enough – not quite a pile; more sprawling than imposing. Thick ivy covered the walls, and its blue slate roof was scattered with a dozen chimney pots. Three rows of white sash windows – some of them open against the warm evening – peppered the front elevation. French doors led directly on to a sloping lawn that ran a hundred yards to the reedy edge of the lough’
The Midnight House by Amanda Geard was published May 12th with Headline Review and is described as ‘an unforgettable and spellbinding story of secrets, war, love and sacrifice’. I am absolutely delighted to bring you all my review today for this quite astonishing debut novel that completely captured my attention.
Here is a simple fact – I love historical fiction and always have. There is something very fascinating about being taken on a journey back to a time when society held different beliefs and expectations and in The Midnight House Amanda Geard does this extraordinarily well. What makes it even more extraordinary is that Amanda Geard is Tasmanian born, a blow-in to Ireland, settling in Co. Kerry on the west coast of Ireland, a number of years back. The Midnight House is set primarily in Co. Kerry and Amanda Geard’s grasp of the Irish way of life, both past and present is really impressive. Also we do visit London during the Blitz which is depicted with a great sense of anguish and desperation adding to the authenticity of the story.
The Rathmore estate, Blackwater Hall, is situated near the beautiful and extremely scenic Kenmare Bay in Co. Kerry. Since the 1790s the house has been home to generations of the Rathmore family, some more generous to their tenants than others. In the 1940s it was the home of Charles Rathmore and his wife Niamh. They lived there with their three children, Hugo, Theodore (Teddy) and Charlotte. It was a time of great change in society overshadowed by the Second World War, particularly for women. Charlotte wanted to embrace this new world and to live independently of her family’s wealth and all it encompassed but her family had very different ideas for her. In 1940 tragedy struck Blackwater Hall when Charlotte suddenly disappeared. No trace left but a shattered pearl necklace near the lake and traces of blood on an oar. Initially the IRA are blamed but with no obvious reason, and no evidence to the contrary, no arrests were made. Over time the case was left cold, the truth never revealed.
It’s 2019 and Ellie Fitzgerald returns to her home village in Kerry, a journalist in disgrace. Moving back in with her mother is her only option as she tries to gather her thoughts but Ellie is embarrassed and is wary of bumping into old school friends and acquaintances. She ventures into a local charity shop, where a buddy of her mother works, leaving with a box of books under her arm. Later that evening as she casually looks through the books as a distraction from her disturbed thoughts, she comes upon a letter, one written in 1940. Clearly the letter doesn’t belong to Ellie and with no intention of invoking any of her journalistic skills, Ellie makes a fast and simple decision to return the letter to where it obviously belongs, Blackwater Hall.
With no initial motivation to dig deeper, Ellie soon, unwittingly, finds herself caught up in a mystery that appears to gather momentum. When the dots begin to join up Ellie becomes engrossed and a little obsessed to finally uncover the truth behind an age-old enigma surrounding the Rathmore family.
Ellie Fitzgerald is a wonderful character. When she arrives home she is clearly hurting but Ellie was born and bred in Kerry and, once she relaxes a little back into her roots, she is quite surprised by how quickly she is accepted back into the community. As Ellie uncovers each piece of the past, the chapters unfold, transporting the reader back to the 1940’s and 1950’s. The Rathmore family is one with many secrets. There is a veil of sadness hanging over them that has shadowed generations for years. Is it time for the truth to out and for peace to finally descend on this troubled family? Mixing Ellie’s personal present-day predicament with the past creates an enthralling story that is extremely engaging at all times.
I must of course mention the cover of The Midnight House which immediately catches the attention. What secrets lie on the other side of that keyhole? The colours are warm and very inviting, leading the reader right into the story with an imaginary key and a desire to uncover the truth.
The Midnight House is a completely immersive experience. Amanda Geard has spun a breath-taking story with multiple threads and outstanding characters. The different eras are seamlessly interwoven as the reader jumps between 1940, 1958 and 2019. Amanda Geard was inspired by ‘the rugged landscape and rich history of Co. Kerry’, and this is very much evident in the stunning and very vivid descriptions depicted throughout.
“Here on the westernmost fringe of Europe, where jagged fingers of purple sandstone plunge dramatically into the angry froth of sea, both my story and I found a home…And this wild landscape, part tamed by generations of rough hands, is the perfect mirror in which communities like this can view themselves: vast histories stretching back generations, their imprints left on the land." – Amanda Geard
The Midnight House is packed full with intrigue and sumptuous descriptions. Enchanting, enveloping and cleverly written, The Midnight House is the perfect read for all fans of historical fiction. It has all the ingredients you could possibly need, with a sprinkling of Kerry magic on top of a tightly woven mystery.
'Across the dark, slick surface of Lough Atoon, Blackwater Hall hove into view. It was less grand than she remembered, but handsome enough – not quite a pile; more sprawling than imposing. Thick ivy covered the walls, and its blue slate roof was scattered with a dozen chimney pots. Three rows of white sash windows – some of them open against the warm evening – peppered the front elevation. French doors led directly on to a sloping lawn that ran a hundred yards to the reedy edge of the lough’
The Midnight House by Amanda Geard was published May 12th with Headline Review and is described as ‘an unforgettable and spellbinding story of secrets, war, love and sacrifice’. I am absolutely delighted to bring you all my review today for this quite astonishing debut novel that completely captured my attention.
Here is a simple fact – I love historical fiction and always have. There is something very fascinating about being taken on a journey back to a time when society held different beliefs and expectations and in The Midnight House Amanda Geard does this extraordinarily well. What makes it even more extraordinary is that Amanda Geard is Tasmanian born, a blow-in to Ireland, settling in Co. Kerry on the west coast of Ireland, a number of years back. The Midnight House is set primarily in Co. Kerry and Amanda Geard’s grasp of the Irish way of life, both past and present is really impressive. Also we do visit London during the Blitz which is depicted with a great sense of anguish and desperation adding to the authenticity of the story.
The Rathmore estate, Blackwater Hall, is situated near the beautiful and extremely scenic Kenmare Bay in Co. Kerry. Since the 1790s the house has been home to generations of the Rathmore family, some more generous to their tenants than others. In the 1940s it was the home of Charles Rathmore and his wife Niamh. They lived there with their three children, Hugo, Theodore (Teddy) and Charlotte. It was a time of great change in society overshadowed by the Second World War, particularly for women. Charlotte wanted to embrace this new world and to live independently of her family’s wealth and all it encompassed but her family had very different ideas for her. In 1940 tragedy struck Blackwater Hall when Charlotte suddenly disappeared. No trace left but a shattered pearl necklace near the lake and traces of blood on an oar. Initially the IRA are blamed but with no obvious reason, and no evidence to the contrary, no arrests were made. Over time the case was left cold, the truth never revealed.
It’s 2019 and Ellie Fitzgerald returns to her home village in Kerry, a journalist in disgrace. Moving back in with her mother is her only option as she tries to gather her thoughts but Ellie is embarrassed and is wary of bumping into old school friends and acquaintances. She ventures into a local charity shop, where a buddy of her mother works, leaving with a box of books under her arm. Later that evening as she casually looks through the books as a distraction from her disturbed thoughts, she comes upon a letter, one written in 1940. Clearly the letter doesn’t belong to Ellie and with no intention of invoking any of her journalistic skills, Ellie makes a fast and simple decision to return the letter to where it obviously belongs, Blackwater Hall.
With no initial motivation to dig deeper, Ellie soon, unwittingly, finds herself caught up in a mystery that appears to gather momentum. When the dots begin to join up Ellie becomes engrossed and a little obsessed to finally uncover the truth behind an age-old enigma surrounding the Rathmore family.
Ellie Fitzgerald is a wonderful character. When she arrives home she is clearly hurting but Ellie was born and bred in Kerry and, once she relaxes a little back into her roots, she is quite surprised by how quickly she is accepted back into the community. As Ellie uncovers each piece of the past, the chapters unfold, transporting the reader back to the 1940’s and 1950’s. The Rathmore family is one with many secrets. There is a veil of sadness hanging over them that has shadowed generations for years. Is it time for the truth to out and for peace to finally descend on this troubled family? Mixing Ellie’s personal present-day predicament with the past creates an enthralling story that is extremely engaging at all times.
I must of course mention the cover of The Midnight House which immediately catches the attention. What secrets lie on the other side of that keyhole? The colours are warm and very inviting, leading the reader right into the story with an imaginary key and a desire to uncover the truth.
The Midnight House is a completely immersive experience. Amanda Geard has spun a breath-taking story with multiple threads and outstanding characters. The different eras are seamlessly interwoven as the reader jumps between 1940, 1958 and 2019. Amanda Geard was inspired by ‘the rugged landscape and rich history of Co. Kerry’, and this is very much evident in the stunning and very vivid descriptions depicted throughout.
“Here on the westernmost fringe of Europe, where jagged fingers of purple sandstone plunge dramatically into the angry froth of sea, both my story and I found a home…And this wild landscape, part tamed by generations of rough hands, is the perfect mirror in which communities like this can view themselves: vast histories stretching back generations, their imprints left on the land." – Amanda Geard
The Midnight House is packed full with intrigue and sumptuous descriptions. Enchanting, enveloping and cleverly written, The Midnight House is the perfect read for all fans of historical fiction. It has all the ingredients you could possibly need, with a sprinkling of Kerry magic on top of a tightly woven mystery.
April 21, 2023
Dragged on. Weird plot twist. Three timelines — was rough to keep track of who was who in the family.
June 16, 2025
3.5-4⭐️
March 19, 2022
Ellie Fitzgerald is a journalist who is down on her luck. She accidentally comes across a letter from a woman named Charlotte dated 1940. She tries to dismiss the find, but her curiosity gets the better of her. As Ellie begins to search for information, she uncovers Charlotte's heartbreaking mysterious family secrets.
The Midnight House by Amanda Geard, is women's fiction. It is a beautiful story of friendship. The timeline alternates between 2019, 1958, and 1940. It took me to 33% of the kindle e-book to get fully invested in the story. Once I reached that point, it took off on a very interesting journey that I could not quit reading till the end. I really enjoyed the characters and beautifully described scenes. Amanda Geard is a master at making readers feel the experiences she writes about.
The Midnight House will be published May 12th.
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you NetGalley and Headline, for allowing me to review this gorgeous book. I appreciate your kindness.
The Midnight House by Amanda Geard, is women's fiction. It is a beautiful story of friendship. The timeline alternates between 2019, 1958, and 1940. It took me to 33% of the kindle e-book to get fully invested in the story. Once I reached that point, it took off on a very interesting journey that I could not quit reading till the end. I really enjoyed the characters and beautifully described scenes. Amanda Geard is a master at making readers feel the experiences she writes about.
The Midnight House will be published May 12th.
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you NetGalley and Headline, for allowing me to review this gorgeous book. I appreciate your kindness.
May 17, 2022
Oh my gosh. This was really poor. Set in Ireland in the present day and in the early days of the 2nd World War. A young journalist flees home to Kerry following a broken romance. Here she finds an old letter and begins to look into the lives of those who lived in Blackwater House during the 2nd World War. Dreadful read.
October 2, 2022
I adored this book! It is so beautifully written and completely captivating. I loved the 3 different timelines, the characters and the settings used. Everything and more you could want from a book.
June 22, 2024
The Midnight House intertwined 3 characters and 3 timelines and 1 house in an engaging and well balanced plot. I love multi generational books about family secrets, and I live for the moment when you fully understand what exactly connects all the strands. I thought the resolutions in this one were really rewarding, and when I started to work it all out before the reveal, I loved how it all linked.
I enjoyed all 3 timelines, although my favourite was the 1940s Kerry and London settings, and I liked how distinct all the characters were. Their interactions are poignantly connected though various themes and they all shared a love of reading. A charming detail was that the mystery started with a letter tucked away inside an Agatha Christie book.
My first Amanda Geard book, and I plan to dive into another one soon.
I enjoyed all 3 timelines, although my favourite was the 1940s Kerry and London settings, and I liked how distinct all the characters were. Their interactions are poignantly connected though various themes and they all shared a love of reading. A charming detail was that the mystery started with a letter tucked away inside an Agatha Christie book.
My first Amanda Geard book, and I plan to dive into another one soon.
August 5, 2025
3.5 stars
I will be frank, I picked this book from my TBR for mainly two reasons, the cover helped my personal read challenge and the story helped my bingo read challenge 2025. Theme wise, the story is not my usual go-to genre i.e. women fiction/ historical fiction/ family secret/ storytelling overlapsing multiple periods.
But if I had been the reader target, it would have been a 5 star read. Because, the author's pen was skilful at meshing the different time periods (1940s, 1950s and 2019), keeping the pace moving and the story layers' unveiling smooth and gripping. The different Irelands recounted through this book felt vibrant and true. And the emotionality was also there, with the sad and tragic melancholy usual to this genre written into the characters and secrets in a very honest manner.
💯 recommended to fans of the genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2023
Sometimes there's real finds in the Read Now section of NG. I picked this up and I was not disappointed. This debut was a good read, with a story set in multiple timelines and with lots of secrets, all set to the background of Irish political history and WWII.
It took me a while to really get into the story; there is a family tree in the book but it was not always immediately clear who was talking to whom.
Anyway, it was an enjoyable debut and I hope to read more of this author in the future.
It took me a while to really get into the story; there is a family tree in the book but it was not always immediately clear who was talking to whom.
Anyway, it was an enjoyable debut and I hope to read more of this author in the future.
April 21, 2022
I've been looking forward to reading this book since I heard about it, and I was not disappointed! It was a really enjoyable read, and the author has very skillfully interwoven three different narratives each adding a layer to the mystery of Charlotte Rathborne's disappearance in the 1940s. In the present day (2019) Ellie returns home to Co Kerry to lick her wounds after work and relationship issues. Whilst there, the journalist in her refuses to stay quiet and she finds herself unravelling the threads of Charlotte's story.
Meanwhile, we hear the story as it was unfolding, from the parts of the book set in the '40s against a backdrop of war - both that in Ireland, and the blitz in London, and then moving into the late 1950s for another point of view, adding more pieces to the puzzle.
I loved this book from the very first pages and was equally invested in all the different major characters - particularly but not exclusively, Hattie, Charlotte, Ellie, and Nancy.
I'm not always a fan of multiple points of view in a novel, but this is a perfect example of how well it can be done - it was never confusing or disjointed, and the use of the close third-person narration throughout would have kept the signposting clear for the reader had it been necessary - However, each point of view was so distinct in its voice and so artfully set into its own time that I found myself easily moving back and forth with each character. The overlap in the narration of certain events, but from other points of view, was also very pleasing - it was never repetitive, but included many 'oh, so that's what happened' moments as Ellie would uncover something that we would then 'see' unfolding in real time back in the '40s or '50s. The scenes in war-ravaged London or the 'big house' in Kerry back at a time when Ireland was having its own internal struggles tipped us into a historical drama, and the scenes set in 2019 pulled us into a lovely mix of cosy mystery and almost-romance, but again, I reiterate how skillfully all the threads entwined to make one very cohesive story. I read this fast, while simultaneously it wouldn't end too soon. This book will appeal to many, and will be read across genres and across generations. It is well-researched and beautifully crafted and I wait with anticipation to see what Amanda Geard is going to bring us next.
Meanwhile, we hear the story as it was unfolding, from the parts of the book set in the '40s against a backdrop of war - both that in Ireland, and the blitz in London, and then moving into the late 1950s for another point of view, adding more pieces to the puzzle.
I loved this book from the very first pages and was equally invested in all the different major characters - particularly but not exclusively, Hattie, Charlotte, Ellie, and Nancy.
I'm not always a fan of multiple points of view in a novel, but this is a perfect example of how well it can be done - it was never confusing or disjointed, and the use of the close third-person narration throughout would have kept the signposting clear for the reader had it been necessary - However, each point of view was so distinct in its voice and so artfully set into its own time that I found myself easily moving back and forth with each character. The overlap in the narration of certain events, but from other points of view, was also very pleasing - it was never repetitive, but included many 'oh, so that's what happened' moments as Ellie would uncover something that we would then 'see' unfolding in real time back in the '40s or '50s. The scenes in war-ravaged London or the 'big house' in Kerry back at a time when Ireland was having its own internal struggles tipped us into a historical drama, and the scenes set in 2019 pulled us into a lovely mix of cosy mystery and almost-romance, but again, I reiterate how skillfully all the threads entwined to make one very cohesive story. I read this fast, while simultaneously it wouldn't end too soon. This book will appeal to many, and will be read across genres and across generations. It is well-researched and beautifully crafted and I wait with anticipation to see what Amanda Geard is going to bring us next.
May 12, 2022
This novel made for a gripping and engaging read and I found myself being forced to put it down. Not literally, but that thing called life kept getting in the way of my returning to this book.
To read my full review of this book please visit my blog at: https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
To read my full review of this book please visit my blog at: https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
April 23, 2024
Loved it, great story telling
May 21, 2022
Told across three timelines and narratives, The Midnight House is a spellbinding tale of friendships, family and mystery all wrapped up in Blackwater House.
In the present (2019), Ellie has moved to her childhood home in Balinn after a series of unfortunate events in her life and discovers a letter written by Charlotte Rathmore whose family lived in Blackwater House and who was presumed dead in the 1940s. Charlotte’s voice in the late 30s/40s tells the story of a woman trying to find her place in the world against a very traditional family and expected lifestyle. Part of the plot is told From London via Harriett, Charlotte’s niece and all the different timelines tie very neatly together.
I love multiple timelines as they always add an element of suspense and tension for me. I enjoyed unravelling little snippets of each lady’s story but then having to wait for the next bit. It was like a jigsaw with all the pieces slotting together slowly to provide a full picture later on. It was also a lovely historical journey through time looking at the position of women in society and in families against a rich backdrop of historical events.
The plot was woven together skilfully, taking the reader on a journey and I loved the mystery aspect too about Lady Charlotte’s disappearance. It wasn’t a fast-paced plot but the richness of description and character development meant that I got completely lost between the pages and was 100 percent wrapped up in the lives of these women. County Kerry, Balinn, Blackwater Hall and London were brought to live by vivid description of the setting, community and characters within it. As a reader you become part of that community and setting, living and breathing in everything the characters do.
The Midnight House is a breath-taking novel of 3 women and how their lives entwine. It is full of wonderful characters and it’s addictive reading. Everything flows perfectly and it all comes together at exactly the right time for the reader.
In the present (2019), Ellie has moved to her childhood home in Balinn after a series of unfortunate events in her life and discovers a letter written by Charlotte Rathmore whose family lived in Blackwater House and who was presumed dead in the 1940s. Charlotte’s voice in the late 30s/40s tells the story of a woman trying to find her place in the world against a very traditional family and expected lifestyle. Part of the plot is told From London via Harriett, Charlotte’s niece and all the different timelines tie very neatly together.
I love multiple timelines as they always add an element of suspense and tension for me. I enjoyed unravelling little snippets of each lady’s story but then having to wait for the next bit. It was like a jigsaw with all the pieces slotting together slowly to provide a full picture later on. It was also a lovely historical journey through time looking at the position of women in society and in families against a rich backdrop of historical events.
The plot was woven together skilfully, taking the reader on a journey and I loved the mystery aspect too about Lady Charlotte’s disappearance. It wasn’t a fast-paced plot but the richness of description and character development meant that I got completely lost between the pages and was 100 percent wrapped up in the lives of these women. County Kerry, Balinn, Blackwater Hall and London were brought to live by vivid description of the setting, community and characters within it. As a reader you become part of that community and setting, living and breathing in everything the characters do.
The Midnight House is a breath-taking novel of 3 women and how their lives entwine. It is full of wonderful characters and it’s addictive reading. Everything flows perfectly and it all comes together at exactly the right time for the reader.
May 11, 2022
My imagination was immediately captured by the inky image of a lake and a house beyond it on the cover of The Midnight House. I started to wonder what secrets it could hold. Well, quite a few as it happens. This is a triple timeframe story with family intrigue from 1940 and 1958 rippling down into the present day storyline in 2019.
Ellie Fitzgerald is running away from a scandal in Dublin in 2019 and she retreats to her family farm in Ballinn, County Kerry. There, a letter found between the pages of a book lead her to investigate the disappearance of Lady Charlotte Rathmore in 1940 from the grounds of nearby Blackwater Hall.
This is exactly my kind of book. As is usual, initially I was most interested in the storyline in 2019, and I was fascinated and enthralled by the digging that Ellie does into the past and the way that it was revealed. But, as the story progressed, I found myself becoming just as engrossed in the other two strands, set in the past, and I found it was like I was putting together a jigsaw, with it all starting to make sense as more pieces were gathered. I loved that sense of collecting and collating memories and facts to build a picture of the past.
There's a family tree at the beginning. I was excited by this and envisaged lots of turning back to see who everybody was. In fact, I didn't need to do that. Ok, there weren't a huge amount of people to keep track of but I think it was more because the characters were so beautifully portrayed and realistic. I was totally invested in their lives, both the main players and also the more minor characters, such as the owner of the little coffee shop that Ellie frequents.
If, like me, you're a Kate Morton fan waiting for her to write her next book then look no further than The Midnight House. Amanda Geard has written a captivating debut encompassing a mystery which unfolds between the covers, family secrets and female friendship in a spellbinding setting. I absolutely loved it.
Ellie Fitzgerald is running away from a scandal in Dublin in 2019 and she retreats to her family farm in Ballinn, County Kerry. There, a letter found between the pages of a book lead her to investigate the disappearance of Lady Charlotte Rathmore in 1940 from the grounds of nearby Blackwater Hall.
This is exactly my kind of book. As is usual, initially I was most interested in the storyline in 2019, and I was fascinated and enthralled by the digging that Ellie does into the past and the way that it was revealed. But, as the story progressed, I found myself becoming just as engrossed in the other two strands, set in the past, and I found it was like I was putting together a jigsaw, with it all starting to make sense as more pieces were gathered. I loved that sense of collecting and collating memories and facts to build a picture of the past.
There's a family tree at the beginning. I was excited by this and envisaged lots of turning back to see who everybody was. In fact, I didn't need to do that. Ok, there weren't a huge amount of people to keep track of but I think it was more because the characters were so beautifully portrayed and realistic. I was totally invested in their lives, both the main players and also the more minor characters, such as the owner of the little coffee shop that Ellie frequents.
If, like me, you're a Kate Morton fan waiting for her to write her next book then look no further than The Midnight House. Amanda Geard has written a captivating debut encompassing a mystery which unfolds between the covers, family secrets and female friendship in a spellbinding setting. I absolutely loved it.
May 13, 2022
The cover of the book is what 1st drew me. Then I read the synopsis and was intrigued. I love dual time novels and throw in a mystery, even better. This is the 1st book i have read by the author and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The book is set over several time periods. 1939/40, 1958 and 2019. The story is about the mysterious disappearence of Lady Charlotte Rathmore, presumed acceidentally, or purposely drowned in 1940. Then in 2019 Ellie Fitzgerald has returned home to lick her wounds from a failed relationship and carreer. As a journalist she is intrigued when she stumbles across a letter written by Charlotte and decides to investigate her disappearance. The story takes place in Ireland and London during the War and in Ireland in the present day. I have to say that I guessed the mystery before the end, but it did not dampen my enjoyment of the book. I really loved Nancy, Charlotte and Ellie’s characters. They were strong women who overcame some forbidding obstacles.
I recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Amanda Geard in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley, Headline, and the author for the chance to read and review this book.
The book is set over several time periods. 1939/40, 1958 and 2019. The story is about the mysterious disappearence of Lady Charlotte Rathmore, presumed acceidentally, or purposely drowned in 1940. Then in 2019 Ellie Fitzgerald has returned home to lick her wounds from a failed relationship and carreer. As a journalist she is intrigued when she stumbles across a letter written by Charlotte and decides to investigate her disappearance. The story takes place in Ireland and London during the War and in Ireland in the present day. I have to say that I guessed the mystery before the end, but it did not dampen my enjoyment of the book. I really loved Nancy, Charlotte and Ellie’s characters. They were strong women who overcame some forbidding obstacles.
I recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Amanda Geard in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley, Headline, and the author for the chance to read and review this book.
November 12, 2022
I had a feeling that I was going to love this book, and I was right. I was in the perfect mood for a historical mystery and so I lapped it up in spades. The Midnight House is told in multiple perspectives over multiple time frames, and I adored that aspect of the book. It gives readers the opportunity to feel truly absorbed in the past as well as the present time. It also allows you to learn more about the characters that the book revolves around, in a natural way.
I just really adored it and think the author has written such a special book. Amanda was so descriptive in her prose that I could picture everything so vividly in my mind. It was almost tangible. The Midnight House has made me want to visit Ireland to see what mysteries it still holds.
Go and give it a read. You won’t regret it.
I just really adored it and think the author has written such a special book. Amanda was so descriptive in her prose that I could picture everything so vividly in my mind. It was almost tangible. The Midnight House has made me want to visit Ireland to see what mysteries it still holds.
Go and give it a read. You won’t regret it.
September 30, 2022
This was just ok I thought. I didn’t feel any of the characters were fully developed and it was therefore difficult to warm to anybody in any of the timelines, I particularly couldn’t warm to Ellie at all. I finished the book and it was readable enough in places but to me it was more like someone relating stories from the past by the fireside without giving any real insight to the people involved and the contemporary setting was just like throwing in a bit of work and relationship difficulties for the sake of it.
February 14, 2023
A proof copy of the debut novel, The Midnight House by Amanda Geard, came though my letter box early last year and I read the blurb and thought it sounded like just the kind of book I adore. A multi timeline story with plenty of mystery and riddles and secrets to be uncovered. But don’t ask me how but it’s only now as paperback publication is this month that I have gotten around to reading it and quite frankly I’m ashamed that I let such a brilliant book linger for so long on my ever increasing tbr pile. It’s a beguiling and riveting book with a few mind blowing twists that keep the reader rapidly turning the pages as you move between the past and present as Ellie becomes drawn into the mystery surrounding Lady Charlotte’s disappearance so many years ago.
The striking cover with its muted tones no doubt would attract your attention if you saw it residing on a shelf in a bookshop. The use of the keyhole is brilliant as it implies open the doors of Blackwater Hall and you will find many puzzling questions and characters who have kept serious things close to their chests for many years. This is a brooding, atmospheric mystery with gothic undertones packed full of unease and tension and so many necessary words unspoken and I adored every minute of it.
September 2019 and disgraced journalist Ellie Fitzgerald has returned to her homeplace of Ballinn in County Kerry. She hasn’t been home for any significant length of time in many years but as we are all want to do when hard times befall us we return to a place of comfort the place where we know we will feel safe and secure and to Ellie that is on the family farm run single handedly by her mother since the death of her father many years ago. It’s a rural area with no wi-fi or phone reception which perhaps will serve Ellie well as she has become a viral sensation but for all the wrong reasons. The details of the reason for Ellie returning are slowly teased out over the course of the book as she reveals more of herself to the reader and they go a long way to explain why she feels broken and has such a desire to turn back the clock.
Both her personal and professional life are a complete mess and she needs time to revaluate things and decide in which direction her life should turn next. Ellie’s story wasn’t the sole focus of the book and although I found it interesting and understood why and how it was there and how comparisons could be made between it and the two other strands of the story it was really Charlotte and Nancy’s story which captivated me. But it was Ellie who was the catalyst for stirring up a hornets nest which many perhaps would have liked to have kept quiet, secret and calm for the remainder of their days.
When Elie discovers a letter hidden in a set of books in the local charity shop from a Charlotte written to a Teddy stating that she is coming, of course the journalist in her is piqued and despite what she is going though and the fact she has promised to stop looking into other people’s business she is keen to learn more. She soon learns the books were donated from Blackwater Hall and when she goes to return the letter she meets Lord Rathmore where the house is in a state of decay and neglect and his mind is not the best. He refers to things she has no clue about but still the contents of the letter and the brief bit she learns about the family from local gossips have stirred something in her she thought had been damaged forever.
Who are Charlotte and Teddy? What happened to Charlotte in 1940 and what significance does the letter have? What detail is there that makes Ellie want to investigate more that makes her question is it possible to step out of a life but not to leave it behind? Without Ellie, the story of the past would not have been unravelled piece by piece and a few truths learnt that turn what people thought on their heads but as much as she was integral to the plot and I couldn’t find any fault with her the historical fiction addict in me was just totally enraptured with the chapters set in the past.
Charlotte was a remarkable character. A free spirit ahead of her time and desperately wanting to break free of the shackles imposed on her by her well to do British landowning family and by the constraints of society at the time. She was such a crucial and central character to the overall story but at times she felt like an enigma and it seemed that way to Ellie too. That Charlotte was made to be something greater than she was or was it the fact she was lost so young and early in her life that gave her an elevated status and persona of sorts? I will not say more regarding Charlotte as to do would give away the core and heart of the story but suffice to say she is tenacious and a woman who did a lot to pave her own way.
In 1957, Nancy, married to Charlotte’s brother Teddy, just wants to get documents signed and return back to England. The hall and the family have always made her feel uncomfortable and unwanted most notably the lady of the house and her cold attitude. But Charlotte was someone she felt a deep connection and kinship with and she is still desperately grieving her loss. We learn more of Nancy through her daughters eyes as a young innocent who spend holidays at the hall but to me there was a constant sense of anxiety surrounding Nancy that she could never be her true self and I wondered was there more to her than at first met the eye. Was she too hiding things just like they all were? Is there a curse on the family? Can Ellie in the present day bring conclusion and certainty for those in the past and in trying to do so do the same for herself in the present?
There are three timelines within the book. Those being Ellie in 2019, Charlotte in 1940 and Nancy in the 1950’s. I am used to dual timeline stories and there being three here could have become confusing but it didn’t at all and everything flowed seamlessly between chapters and time periods. The writing is flawless, the narrative effortless and the descriptions and imagery pure perfection. You become accustomed to what is going on in one timeline and then it alters but it never felt disconcerting instead all just very natural. You are left at the end of each chapter with a cliff-hanger that has you crying out for an answer but yet at the same time you are happy to see what a different character has been getting up to and how all three strands of the story will weave themselves together once of course some discovery and unravelling has occurred. For Ellie she discovers a wonderful mystery to get her teeth into and that sums up how I felt overall about this scintillating story which I can definitely say I devoured in short order.
The Midnight House was a fantastic read from start to finish with brilliantly drawn characters hiding a multitude of secrets. The slowly unravelling mystery that it contains had me on the edge of my seat right up until the satisfying ending although it was heartbreaking and I had secretly hoped for a certain ending. It’s a real just one more chapter kind of book and before you know it much time has passed and you have read 100 pages or more. You know you should go to turn out the light and leave it for the next day but I just couldn’t bare to leave it out of my hands as I was so caught up in the enigma that surrounded Blackwater Hall and its residents.
If this is the calibre of Amanda’s debut novel I can only imagine what is to come in the future and I have a feeling she may just be the author I have been looking for ever since the passing of Lucinda Riley whose books were my absolute favourite. I don’t say that lightly as long time readers of the blog will know I adored everything Lucinda wrote but there is just that something special about Amanda Geard that has made me very excited to see what new, engrossing and exciting stories she will bring us in the future. Thankfully, seen as it took me way too long to read this book, I now only have a few short months to wait for The Moon Gate which will be published in June. It has another stunning and intriguing cover and sounds like another winner for this talented author.
The striking cover with its muted tones no doubt would attract your attention if you saw it residing on a shelf in a bookshop. The use of the keyhole is brilliant as it implies open the doors of Blackwater Hall and you will find many puzzling questions and characters who have kept serious things close to their chests for many years. This is a brooding, atmospheric mystery with gothic undertones packed full of unease and tension and so many necessary words unspoken and I adored every minute of it.
September 2019 and disgraced journalist Ellie Fitzgerald has returned to her homeplace of Ballinn in County Kerry. She hasn’t been home for any significant length of time in many years but as we are all want to do when hard times befall us we return to a place of comfort the place where we know we will feel safe and secure and to Ellie that is on the family farm run single handedly by her mother since the death of her father many years ago. It’s a rural area with no wi-fi or phone reception which perhaps will serve Ellie well as she has become a viral sensation but for all the wrong reasons. The details of the reason for Ellie returning are slowly teased out over the course of the book as she reveals more of herself to the reader and they go a long way to explain why she feels broken and has such a desire to turn back the clock.
Both her personal and professional life are a complete mess and she needs time to revaluate things and decide in which direction her life should turn next. Ellie’s story wasn’t the sole focus of the book and although I found it interesting and understood why and how it was there and how comparisons could be made between it and the two other strands of the story it was really Charlotte and Nancy’s story which captivated me. But it was Ellie who was the catalyst for stirring up a hornets nest which many perhaps would have liked to have kept quiet, secret and calm for the remainder of their days.
When Elie discovers a letter hidden in a set of books in the local charity shop from a Charlotte written to a Teddy stating that she is coming, of course the journalist in her is piqued and despite what she is going though and the fact she has promised to stop looking into other people’s business she is keen to learn more. She soon learns the books were donated from Blackwater Hall and when she goes to return the letter she meets Lord Rathmore where the house is in a state of decay and neglect and his mind is not the best. He refers to things she has no clue about but still the contents of the letter and the brief bit she learns about the family from local gossips have stirred something in her she thought had been damaged forever.
Who are Charlotte and Teddy? What happened to Charlotte in 1940 and what significance does the letter have? What detail is there that makes Ellie want to investigate more that makes her question is it possible to step out of a life but not to leave it behind? Without Ellie, the story of the past would not have been unravelled piece by piece and a few truths learnt that turn what people thought on their heads but as much as she was integral to the plot and I couldn’t find any fault with her the historical fiction addict in me was just totally enraptured with the chapters set in the past.
Charlotte was a remarkable character. A free spirit ahead of her time and desperately wanting to break free of the shackles imposed on her by her well to do British landowning family and by the constraints of society at the time. She was such a crucial and central character to the overall story but at times she felt like an enigma and it seemed that way to Ellie too. That Charlotte was made to be something greater than she was or was it the fact she was lost so young and early in her life that gave her an elevated status and persona of sorts? I will not say more regarding Charlotte as to do would give away the core and heart of the story but suffice to say she is tenacious and a woman who did a lot to pave her own way.
In 1957, Nancy, married to Charlotte’s brother Teddy, just wants to get documents signed and return back to England. The hall and the family have always made her feel uncomfortable and unwanted most notably the lady of the house and her cold attitude. But Charlotte was someone she felt a deep connection and kinship with and she is still desperately grieving her loss. We learn more of Nancy through her daughters eyes as a young innocent who spend holidays at the hall but to me there was a constant sense of anxiety surrounding Nancy that she could never be her true self and I wondered was there more to her than at first met the eye. Was she too hiding things just like they all were? Is there a curse on the family? Can Ellie in the present day bring conclusion and certainty for those in the past and in trying to do so do the same for herself in the present?
There are three timelines within the book. Those being Ellie in 2019, Charlotte in 1940 and Nancy in the 1950’s. I am used to dual timeline stories and there being three here could have become confusing but it didn’t at all and everything flowed seamlessly between chapters and time periods. The writing is flawless, the narrative effortless and the descriptions and imagery pure perfection. You become accustomed to what is going on in one timeline and then it alters but it never felt disconcerting instead all just very natural. You are left at the end of each chapter with a cliff-hanger that has you crying out for an answer but yet at the same time you are happy to see what a different character has been getting up to and how all three strands of the story will weave themselves together once of course some discovery and unravelling has occurred. For Ellie she discovers a wonderful mystery to get her teeth into and that sums up how I felt overall about this scintillating story which I can definitely say I devoured in short order.
The Midnight House was a fantastic read from start to finish with brilliantly drawn characters hiding a multitude of secrets. The slowly unravelling mystery that it contains had me on the edge of my seat right up until the satisfying ending although it was heartbreaking and I had secretly hoped for a certain ending. It’s a real just one more chapter kind of book and before you know it much time has passed and you have read 100 pages or more. You know you should go to turn out the light and leave it for the next day but I just couldn’t bare to leave it out of my hands as I was so caught up in the enigma that surrounded Blackwater Hall and its residents.
If this is the calibre of Amanda’s debut novel I can only imagine what is to come in the future and I have a feeling she may just be the author I have been looking for ever since the passing of Lucinda Riley whose books were my absolute favourite. I don’t say that lightly as long time readers of the blog will know I adored everything Lucinda wrote but there is just that something special about Amanda Geard that has made me very excited to see what new, engrossing and exciting stories she will bring us in the future. Thankfully, seen as it took me way too long to read this book, I now only have a few short months to wait for The Moon Gate which will be published in June. It has another stunning and intriguing cover and sounds like another winner for this talented author.
October 28, 2022
Překvapivě komplexní příběh, odehrávající se v několika časových liniích. Postavy byly sympatické a zajímavé. Autorka píše velice čtivou formou a se podařilo se jí vystavět příběh tak, že všechny časové linie se propojují velice nenásilně, díky čemuž děj napříč nimi příjemně plyne, namísto aby skákal z jedné do druhé, jak je velice často obvyklé.
October 13, 2022
not a bad plot, the historical-mystery genre mixed with anglo-irish gentry is right up my sleeve but i feel like it dragged on wayyy too much and probably could've been about 100 pages shorter. also the "plot twist" was way too predictable
June 24, 2023
I loved this book! It captured the beauty of Ireland while also telling a suspenseful tail told over the years. It had surprising plot twists and turns. I want to read more books like this!
April 2, 2024
Discover the locations in the novel here
There is a lot to love about this book. First of all, I have to admire the cover. That keyhole! Well, that just invites you to look through it and wonder. It’s set in an old manor house with secrets. In the present day, a woman finds a letter which leads her to find this old house. Add to that an author who paints Ireland as if you were there and it’s a winner!
Remarkably, Amanda is not Irish! I didn’t know this until after I’d read the book. She lives there now I believe but is originally from Tasmania. Kudos to her for getting the Irish way of life, roles of women in society and well, the Irish essence throughout the book. There’s a second location of London during war time and once again, Amanda recreates it vividly. I’m starting to suspect the lady has a time machine. To get this so right and vivid across two timelines, she must have.
It’s 1940 and the war is everywhere. In Blackwater Hall, the manor in the book, lives Charles Rathmore and his wife Niamh. They have three children, Hugo, Theodore (Teddy) and Charlotte and it’s Charlotte who goes missing. Supposedly drowned in the lake, she has never been seen again. Many years later, in 2019, a journalist comes across a letter from Blackwater Hall.
To say I loved this book was an understatement. So much rich description and a plot that wove its way in and out of timelines, locations and characters. The mystery was so well done and built with great suspense. The Rathmore family has many secrets and easing them out was a treat. The mystery that has never fully been settled comes to a head by a chance discover of a letter. ooh very Kate Morton-esque.
A lovely immersive reading treat!
July 3, 2025
“The Midnight House” was Amanda Geard’s debut novel so when I read and loved her second book, “The Moon Gate”, I knew I had to keep my eyes peeled for this one. I am pleased to report that I was left feeling like Amanda is definitely going to be one of my auto-buy authors in future. Although perhaps not quite as polished as her most recent book I still felt I became completely immersed in the story and the characters and was easily wrapped up in the multiple timelines and story threads. The characters are all really well written and all of them were fleshed out and felt real. The timeline hops between 1940, 1958 and 2019 totally work and I was lost in the beautiful descriptions of Ireland and the rugged and rich atmosphere of county Kerry. Her descriptiveness and attention to detail is masterful and I think this is also one I would re-read and will be recommending in future. It’s historical fiction at its best and just the right amount of twists to the mysteries involved. It’s been well researched and the pacing is spot on. I think I still love her more recent work a little bit more but this one is definitely still worthy of the full five stars for me.
September 26, 2022
I absolutely adored The Midnight House! Amanda Geard’s debut novel is deeply powerful. A literary feast for the senses and imagination. The complex plot, mesmerising atmosphere, magical landscape, poetic writing style and well-defined characters deliver an exquisite escape to the fictional world of secrets, promises & surprises.
I love stories set in Ireland and this one delivers a detailed setting that is unforgettable. It is rooted in the south west region of the island where a mysterious death has occurred in a powerful family. A letter arrives containing a secret that changes one lady’s life.
Ellie, Nancy and Hattie present their stories throughout from different timelines (1940, 1958, 2019). Though this story spans the ages and is multi-generational, there is a continuity that flows between them. A real glue that fastens them all together. Charlotte is the core figure of the plot: what has happened to her? There is so much intriguing history dancing across these pages that I did not want to miss a word. We learn so much about the social norms, the class battles and the heartbreak that affects those who want to be free to live and love as they choose. Charlotte’s story is told well through those closest to her and those who came after her. It is a nice touch, though, that she gets to speak for herself in the epilogue.
I enjoyed all aspects of The Midnight House, including the authentic characters who get to tell their story and give a well-rounded view of events. But Ellie, the journalist and modern speaker (2019), is the one who manages to uncover the truth and bring everything once hidden into the light. At the start of the novel, her own life is in shambles, after fleeing Dublin to escape a scandal. She is in need of something fresh to give her a sense of purpose again. Being an avid reader, she gets lost in the pages of many novels. Then an old book comes to her that contains a faded letter tucked inside. This is the springboard that launches her on a meaningful mysterious journey to the truth about a family and a woman named Charlotte who went missing. It is the kernel of hope that gets inside her heart, awakens her talents and spurs her on until she solves the mystery. This whole experience transforms her life, too, in unexpected ways.
Inspiring, ingenious and spellbinding. The Midnight House is as atmospheric and haunting as the cover. A novel that was hard to put down as I was so deeply and effortlessly drawn in by the story. I highly recommend this for all those who love a multi-layered historical Irish mystery. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love stories set in Ireland and this one delivers a detailed setting that is unforgettable. It is rooted in the south west region of the island where a mysterious death has occurred in a powerful family. A letter arrives containing a secret that changes one lady’s life.
Ellie, Nancy and Hattie present their stories throughout from different timelines (1940, 1958, 2019). Though this story spans the ages and is multi-generational, there is a continuity that flows between them. A real glue that fastens them all together. Charlotte is the core figure of the plot: what has happened to her? There is so much intriguing history dancing across these pages that I did not want to miss a word. We learn so much about the social norms, the class battles and the heartbreak that affects those who want to be free to live and love as they choose. Charlotte’s story is told well through those closest to her and those who came after her. It is a nice touch, though, that she gets to speak for herself in the epilogue.
I enjoyed all aspects of The Midnight House, including the authentic characters who get to tell their story and give a well-rounded view of events. But Ellie, the journalist and modern speaker (2019), is the one who manages to uncover the truth and bring everything once hidden into the light. At the start of the novel, her own life is in shambles, after fleeing Dublin to escape a scandal. She is in need of something fresh to give her a sense of purpose again. Being an avid reader, she gets lost in the pages of many novels. Then an old book comes to her that contains a faded letter tucked inside. This is the springboard that launches her on a meaningful mysterious journey to the truth about a family and a woman named Charlotte who went missing. It is the kernel of hope that gets inside her heart, awakens her talents and spurs her on until she solves the mystery. This whole experience transforms her life, too, in unexpected ways.
Inspiring, ingenious and spellbinding. The Midnight House is as atmospheric and haunting as the cover. A novel that was hard to put down as I was so deeply and effortlessly drawn in by the story. I highly recommend this for all those who love a multi-layered historical Irish mystery. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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