My Thoughts:
I am glad that I stumbled into this author because this book is a very good read!

This is not just crime fiction, but also with suggestive paranormal elements in it. My kind of read!

I am not really a crime fiction fan. I am more of an urban fantasy reader. Now, the urban fantasy genre is plagued by plotlessness, so, I am used to that. So much so that a little plot impresses me already. I was very surprised with the plot twist in this book!

I've been reading too many similar crime fiction books because I keep getting our protagonist, DC Sarah Noble, confused with DC Morgan Brookes in One Left Alive by Helen Phifer. I have to keep untangling the details in my head... was it DC Morgan Brookes who owned that big chunk of land with that big, haunted manor? Or was it DC Sarah Noble who was married to her former DI who is already dead, but she keeps talking to? The answer to both questions by the way, is no to the first one and yes to the second one.

This is my first Elliot Fitzpatrick and Emma Gregory listen and I would buy audiobooks by them again. The narrators are good at bringing the characters come to life!

Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = (9 hrs and 36 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 ( )

3.5 Stars

Despite not being as suspenseful as I would have liked it was still an entertaining book. I like multi POVs in this genre as Readers get pieces of the story from different points of view and get to work out how they all connect. That being said, the ending was a bit out of left field for me but in a 'that was weird' way, not 'Oooooo, dang I did not see that coming!' way. I quite liked the main character and it was a good set up for book 2. I look forward to seeing where this series goes.

CW: torture, murder, talk about suicide with shot gun, sexual abuse of child, PTSD ( )

D̶o̶ Y̶o̶u̶ W̶a̶n̶n̶a̶ P̶l̶a̶y̶ A̶ G̶a̶m̶e̶?̶
̶T̶h̶e̶ M̶i̶d̶n̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ M̶a̶n̶ D̶a̶r̶e̶s̶ Y̶o̶u̶!̶

Thank you so much Embla Books, NetGalley and Caroline Mitchell for this gripping story!

Here we have Sarah.
She has been through so much since she was 14 and finally as an adult and now a detective....
Her life still is in shambles!
She has taken time away from work when tragedy strikes her life agan!
She only returns back when she hears of this deadly game teenage kids are playing called.....
The Midnight Man!
Once you start this game it stays with you. Forever!
When four teenage girls goes to Blackhall Manor to play the game only three get out alive.
Sarah is back on duty but only to take interviews.
And she has to reconnect with two ladies from her past!
Her best friend Maggie who is raising seven year old son Elliot by herself after her husband is badly injured in war. And her son who has these terrible awful nightmares that has things to do with the old Blackhall Manor and the Midnight Man.
And the other lady is Elsie who is struggling with obesity. Who is being taken care of by her son.
As Sarah has to revisit her past can she uncover who the Midnight Man is in time to save these teenage girls from harm?

I can't express how pumped I am to see this become a series!
So exciting?!
This ending left open so many possibilities!
I can't wait!
This story is totally gripping and surprising.
I was seriously hooked.
I absolutely love it when a book hooks me the way TMM did!
I woke up at 2am wanting to read it. To put a few more chapters in.
That makes it an automatic 4.5 star book in my opinion if you ask me!
The writing flowed effortlessly and the story was packed with mystery and twists as it spiralled its way to a compelling climax!
Quick paced and what a physiological thrillers this was.
I thought I knew who TMM was.....
Psshhhhh yeah ok! Had no damn idea!
Amazing if you ask me.
Can't wait to see more of Sarah.
Another top notch book from this author.!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

PS if you need a advanced reader for future books..... I'm your girl! ( )