“What is it about us teenage girls that claws so deeply under people’s skin? We’re reviled and desired in equal measure; cringed at, laughed at, then lunged at.”
— Ashley Winstead, Midnight Is the Darkest Hour
The vibes
book / bathing suit / Twilight set / dress / shoes / necklace / bracelets / blanket / tote / candle / lip gloss
The review
Ruth is the pastor’s daughter in her small town in rural Louisiana. She’s not had much freedom, but her friendship with Everett — and what they’ve done together — encompasses her entire rebellion. Well, that and her love of books (specifically, Twilight). But Ever left her in Bottom Springs and only returns to visit every summer. And this summer — she really needs him. The town found a skull in the marsh, and Ruth and Everett might be the only ones to know who it belonged to.
Ashley Winstead is back with her third thriller and I’m constantly impressed with her ability to tell a story and layer in a deeper meaning. It’s not as dark as The Last Housewife, but it’s also different from In My Dreams I Hold a Knife.
This one’s theme — moral philosophy. What’s right and what’s wrong? Because the God-fearing people belonging to Holy Fire Baptist of Bottom Springs sure don’t seem to check that box, but neither does the vigilante sh*t/satanic activity happening in the town. Or does it?
I’m not sure how much detail I really want to go into, so here are some things to expect in this book:
- small town and southern
- flashes between Ruth’s childhood and the present timeline when she’s in her 20s
- Twilight and vampire references galore
- Lots of characters in Bottom Springs (keep up!!)
- Satanic panic / religious righteousness
- slower pace
- an ending you won’t forget
Pre-order this one asap! It’s sure to be *the* fall thriller everyone’s talking about! Thank you Sourcebooks for the advanced copy.
BookNerdalie 