Middletide

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Sarah Crouch. The book captured my interest from the beginning, though as the pages passed by I did wonder where we were going. But then, it became obvious, or so it seemed. The remainder of the book led us to what really happened. Was our first instinct right, or was there something more sinister afoot? There is a little romance in the novel to break the tension, it is set in Washington state, told in a back and forth time frame with several points of view. I picked this book up on the recommendation of Adrena Monic in her Books Books & more books, let’s chat video and I am so glad I saw it.

I LOVED THIS! I felt like the trial itself was rushed but I hadn't even thought of the revenge plot. I thought the girlfriends or angry citizens may have killed the doctor. It was suicide to begin with but just done so well that it would look like the MMC killed her. I feel that this was one book I enjoyed even though the end began to slow down.

I see a lot of people comparing this book to Where the Crawdads Sing. Though I've been curious about that book, I've yet to read it. I was kind of glad about this as I didn't have a comparison in mind.    Dr. Erin Landry's body is found on Elijah Leith's property. The death is eerily similar to one of Elijah's novels, making him the prime suspect. Neighbors and residents of the town think him guilty and Elijah has to prove his innocence.    This book had a calm intrigue. I didn't find it particularly gripping, making it difficult to endure the slow pace. I also found the characters unremarkable, treading on the path of irritating at times. In general, a lot of the story and situations felt unrealistic. What I did enjoy was the writing itself, particularly how well the author captures the tone and atmosphere. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a free digital ARC of the book to read and review!