The Other Side of Midnight, set in 1925 London during this resurgence of spiritualism, involves psychics and a handsome debunker of psychics in a paranormal mystery/romance.
When Ellie Winter's former friend and rival Gloria is murdered, Gloria's brother engages Ellie to find out who killed her and why. Ellie teams up with James Hawley, war veteran and debunker, and the two begin investigating--discovering secrets and courting danger along the way.
The Other Side of Midnight is a pretty light read. There were elements I liked well enough, but I wasn't bowled over by any means. I do like that St. James wants to write books like the ones she enjoyed by Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart:
"It wasn’t until my mid-20s that I discovered the old Gothics that were popular from the 1950s to about the 1970s – those musty old books you can find by the dozens, each one featuring a variation on the cover of the girl with flowing hair and nightgown fleeing a dark, foreboding house. These books are, shall we say, of varying quality (my personal favorite from my own shelf: “Lois Chalfont must choose between the devil and death!”) But several of the authors of old Gothics were truly talented, Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt being the top names of the genre.
I read – and still read – those books like crazy, and as I did I asked myself, “Why doesn’t anyone write these anymore?” So I write them, but I add my own sensibility to them. I make my heroines strong and independent. I set them in the 1920s. And I add ghosts." (source)
The Other Side of Midnight was a bit of a disappointment after reading The Broken Girls, St. James' latest book. (I wrote a little about The Broken Girls here when talking about books out next year.) It was a modern ghost story with roots in the past that kept me enthralled and uneasy the entire time. My full review is scheduled for Feb. 28, and the book will be published in March.
So...while The Other Side of Midnight was not exactly what I was hoping for, I want to try Lost Among the Living, which returns to the post WWI setting.
And if you love a good ghost story, pre-order The Broken Girls!
I loved The Broken Girls! So atmospheric, a bit creepy and if course not to mention a great suspense set in 1950 and 2014. After reading The Broken Girls I was very curious with her other books and I'm glad for your review of this book. :)
ReplyDeleteI mean "of course". Sigh... those frequent-use function and before I realised my mistake it was already sent. :D
DeleteThe Broken Girls is much more complex and much more frightening than The Other Side of Midnight! I probably would have enjoyed this one more if I had not already read The Broken Girls. :O
DeleteI thought The Other Side of Midnight was a fun read, but not as good as some of her others. I think I like An Inquiry Into Love and Death the best, but Silence For the Dead and Lost Among the Living are close seconds. But then I just really like all of St James' books. :)
ReplyDeleteI do plan to read more of her books and will look into the ones you mention. :) I love a good paranormal at this time of year!
DeleteI have a couple of her books on my shelves and just haven't gotten around to them. I always think this is a series I will really enjoy because I love the timeframe. Enjoyed your review!
ReplyDeleteI like the post WWI time frame as well, especially since there were so many people involved in the spiritualist movement. It is a little weird to think how popular the idea of communicating with the dead was!
DeleteI am really interested in reading this one, and hope to get to it one of these days. I find the subject matter so fascinating and the WWI setting helps a little.
ReplyDelete