Midnight Crossroad (#1)
Next: Day Shift (#2)
Take a trip to the small Texas town where only outsiders fit in with the first novel in #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris’ paranormal mystery series.
Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and the Davy highway. It’s a pretty standard dried-up western town.
There’s a pawnshop with three residents. One is seen only at night. There’s a diner, but people stopping there tend not to linger. There’s a newcomer, Manfred Bernardo, who just wants to work hard and blend in. But Manfred has secrets of his own.
Stop at the one traffic light in town, and everything looks normal. Stay awhile, and learn the truth…
Reviews
“If you’re looking for a light and fun read with a bit of paranormal mystery thrown in, you’re looking in the right place. MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD has a little bit of everything – murder, mayhem, vampires, psychics, witches and who knows what else. Wrapped up neatly with a healthy dose of Ms. Harris’ southern charm and sharp wit, it’s a package worth opening and devouring immediately.”San Francisco Review of Books
“Charlaine Harris is back, casting her comfortingly familiar folksy-freaky spell.”Seattle Times
“An excellent new trilogy that captures the same magic as the world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and takes it to another level. No matter how unlikely or fantastic an element she might introduce into her pages it’s always down-home and believable. She’s the Mark Twain of things that live under your bed.”
“I’m always thrilled when a favorite author, especially one with a great track record, starts a new series, so I’ve been anticipating Charlaine Harris’ next journey for a while […] I hope the Midnight series extends for more than three books.”
“As intimate and deep as the Stackhouse novels, but with a lighter load of gore and death, Harris’s latest displays her skills at interweaving the lives of her characters. Recommended for those who prefer a mystery that perhaps calls for accepting the unbelievable and fantastical.”Library Journal
“Although it’s much lighter on the paranormal elements than Harris’ usual fare, this should still make the holds lists of readers who miss Sookie and company.”Booklist
“This is a solid entry in Harris’s catalogue and will do very well with her fans.”Publishers Weekly
“An unusual and highly entertaining new series […] Harris has delivered a supernatural mystery with a decidedly creepy edge.”
“Charlaine Harris is an icon. She’s found success writing mysteries, gothic horror, and paranormal fantasy. But it’s MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD, out today, that may very well be her best–and most important–work to date […] This novel will not only appeal to genre fiction fans but mainstream fiction readers as well. The blend of fiction, mystery, and supernatural fantasy is subtle and seamless. And because of the ensemble cast, the storyline is equally appealing to both male and female readers. The potential audience for this novel is mind-boggling […] [It has] an unforgettable cast of characters […] [and] extraordinary world building. Harris is a master at this.”
“A good start to what may turn out to be another outstanding series by Charlaine Harris.”
“A gently-paced mystery, with a supernatural slant, and populated by endearing, varied and well-constructed characters.”
“I enjoy this kind of story, a mystery/crime/thriller/urban fantasy novel, there is something for everyone here and enough loose ends to keep you intrigued to find out what could happen next. If you have read anything by Charlaine Harris I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.”
“Charlaine is a master of leaving us wanting more.”
“A slow burning novel which successfully juggles setting the scene for an ongoing series with a self-contained story.”
“At its heart MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is a murder mystery, but done in such a way that begs for more to be explored about the characters and setting. It’s a pleasurable and enjoyable read, with Harris’ prose making the experience easy and simple. As a newcomer to her work I can safely say I’ll be back for more, and to see just what else is in store for Midnight, Texas.”
“Part Twin Peaks, part Twilight, Charlaine has her established following of readers and this will not disappoint, it may well expand her readership.”Swide Magazine
“This book is a study in character. The slow unfolding of what secrets people choose to hide and what makes them tick is a journey I found vastly clever and interesting […] This is Charlaine Harris’ magic, her ability to create interesting characters that live in a slightly un-normal world.”Kazoo Books
“Harris has created a cast and setting that is richer than the arid Texas soil. The inclusion of a mystery that starts simply and then winds out of control so that no one can be trusted makes this is a blast to read. Everyone is your friend in Midnight, but you don’t know everything about anyone. I can’t wait for Midnight to come again […] Overall Grade: A+.”SciFiPulse
“It’s clear from the start that this is an author at the peak of their ability […] MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is a warm, comforting and entertaining read written by a master story-teller.”
“A promising start to a new series […] once you’ve entered, you’ll never leave.”
“Interesting, fairly diverse cast of characters […] easy to get into, didn’t bog down much; sets the stage for what could be a fun to read trilogy.”
There is a nice blend of human, not-so-human and supernatural characters […] Friendships are subtle and believable, and stories gradually told, but there are still enough secrets and hidden back stories to keep me wanting more […] And the breadcrumbs for the sequel’s mystery have already been dropped.
“MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is fast-paced and fun despite a rather grisly discovery that forms the central mystery of the novel. All of Harris’ trademarks are present – charm and wit, pacy storytelling and likeable characters.”We Love This Book
“MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is a strong opener of the new series and often feels like a love letter from Charlaine to her faithful readers. This gentle mystery shows an author confident in her writing and perhaps heralds the arrival of the best stage of her work – one where she writes primarily because of the sheer love for writing. An excellent read.”Upcoming4.me
“I can see why she has sold more than three million books so far. MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD feels like the beginning of another very successful series.”
“It takes some real magic to weave a story like [this] […] Fans might be sad to say good-bye to Sookie, but they’ll be so intrigued by the denizens of Midnight they won’t have time to mourn.”A Knife and A Quill
“An excellent start to what looks to be an intriguing and very entertaining series, MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is a small-town American crime novel with a light brush of the supernatural. In a wonderful, captivating voice, Charlaine Harris introduces us to the town and its residents, and sets the scene for what is to follow. Deeply strange, but with enough outside influence to ground the story in reality, MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD feels, on the surface, like a light, jaunty read, but it grips like a thriller and unsettles like the finest horror novel.”
“MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is an unforgettable kick-start to a fresh and very exciting new series. Harris is at her best writing small town mysteries and this one slides into that bracket nicely […] I think I’d rather like to stay a little while longer in the alluring Midnight – I can’t wait for my next visit!”
“MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD did not disappoint […] If you enjoy mysterious character driven stories with a paranormal twist then this is for you.”
“There is something comforting about Charlaine Harris’s writing style and that bleeds through into her characters […] Harris succeeds in bringing her comforting style, her love of the supernatural together with her skills as a mystery writer to make a Midnight Crossroad into a pleasurable and enjoyable read […] I can’t honestly wait for my my next visit to Midnight.”Gav Reads
“MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD has a writing style unlike anything I have ever read before […] This is a great start to a new series. It is full of unique characters; all with a story to tell. If you are looking for a book that is slightly different from the normal summer reads, then this is the book for you.”
“A great introduction to the town and its residents and a great story that kept me gripped until the very end.”
“I was blown away by MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD. It’s a wholly immersive, stunningly written adventure that I couldn’t put down. The characters are spot on and unforgettable, the plot is exciting.”
“MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is another compelling book by Charlaine Harris. I love her storytelling style and the wonderful characters she creates […] [T]his might be a mystery at heart but there’s also a supernatural slant that we have come to expect and love from Harris’s work.”
“I can see many nights being lost to the wonder of Midnight.”
“The book is entertaining and turns quite a serious subject matter into a light read with a supernatural touch […] the audiobook is worth listening to […] delightfully playful.”Cult Hub
“Harris is back with a vengeance! […] This is a great read from Charlaine Harris and a fantastic start to a new series – don’t hesitate, jump in with both feet and let the storytelling begin.”Tangled Web
“This is a really fun intriguing read, and sets the series up nicely […] I am eagerly anticipating the next one!”Escapades of a Bookworm
“MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is a fascinating novel with unusual characters. It’s a book that will challenge readers […] Charlaine Harris’ new book is a little bit mystery, a little bit horror novel, a little bit paranormal. And, it’s a terrific story.”Lesa’s Book Critiques
“The characters are fascinating, the world she created is very intriguing and there is SO MUCH mystery […] so much, in fast, that you just HAVE to relocate from Bon Temps to Midnight, Texas.”
“A slow burning novel which successfully juggles setting the scene for an ongoing series with a self-contained story.”
“MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD reminded me why I fell in love with Charlaine Harris’s writing originally. As I read this novel, I felt the same connection I had when I read Dead Until Dark all those years ago […] Harris has a skill for portraying the small-town dynamic in a real, honest, and engaging way.”
“Midnight is definitely a town with enough secrets and intriguing residents to fill a (long-awaited!) new series from Charlaine Harris […] ‘Midnight, Texas’ feels like a hark back to the cozy mysteries she excelled at writing early on […] A favourite book of 2014, for sure.”
“The book is a quick read and it’s fun, a page turner that you’ll romp through in no time.”Jan Edwards
Awards & Accolades
USA
#12 debut New York Times Bestseller List
USA
Dolce & Gabbana's Swide Magazine: “Summer Reading List: Top Ten Fantasy”