Midnight in Soap Lake: The sinister small town psychological crime thriller for 2025 from the author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

'A cracking read' Daily Mail 'Midnight in Soap Lake made me fall in love with reading all over again' Stuart Turton ‘A fantastic, assured debut’ Elly Griffiths on Matthew Sullivan The smallest towns hide the biggest secrets. Abigail uprooted her life to move to Soap Lake, Washington. A once-popular tourist destination, the town is now home to a dwindling population and the menacing shadow of an urban legend. With her husband away on a work trip, Abigail is alone when a young boy emerges from the desert scrub, catatonic and covered in blood. His mother, Esme, lies stabbed to death in a nearby car. When Abigail discovers Esme was a local woman who moved away after a series of tragedies, she is compelled to find answers. Esme’s is not the only mysterious death this town has witnessed. But her search attracts unwanted and dangerous attention. Drawn into a complex web of conspiracies and violence, Abigail will learn that the smallest towns can hide the biggest secrets. Praise for Matthew Sullivan ‘Matthew Sullivan has written—with great panache and suspense—a smart, twisty crime novel filled with compelling characters set in a world that book-lovers will adore.’ Jess Walter, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins ‘An intriguingly dark, twisty story and eccentric characters make this book a standout.’ Kirkus Reviews Readers are loving Midnight in Soap Lake… ‘I was completely immersed.’ ‘An atmospheric and immersive mystery that perfectly balances eerie folklore with a gripping investigation…if you love mysteries that keep you guessing, small-town secrets, and stories that feel like they could be real…a must-read!’ ‘I couldn’t put this book down!!’ ‘I enjoyed the spooky energy and complex family histories. ’ ‘You can tell from the get-go how much effort, research and planning was involved in creating such a complex plot’ ‘Sullivan lays this story out masterfully’ ‘This book was fantastic! I felt like I was THERE!’ The upcoming chapters of this top-rated thriller take you deeper into the rural mysteries of Soap Lake. As the latest secrets unfold, this literary fiction continues to captivate its readers with its intricate plot and compelling characters. HarperCollins 2025