Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: A Novel

"Lydia heard the distant flap of paper wings as the first book fell from its shelf." (p 1)
"And though she wanted to close her eyes and feel the promise of this moment, she couldn't help but look beyond his shoulder, hoping to see for one last time the girl he'd just erased from the screen." (p.326).

Inbetween these two sentences is a h*lluva of a good book, taut with complexity. Danger, uncertainty, compassion, caring are woven into a page-turner of a murder mystery. The narrator focuses on Lydia, who cares for books, paying customers, the "book frogs" who find shelter in those three stories of the indy book store. She has had a sometimes secure,but mostly terrible life. Now she enjoys a really nice boyfriend (Dave), a job she loves, and maybe a chance to move on.

But this ends with a chilling discovery that night as the books fell. The past can't be evaded, bringing back a cornucopia of characters, almost Proustian in their variety, whose connections Lydia is driven to understand, at some danger to herself and others---many others.

Matthew Sullivan is a name to remember. This is a stunningly realized book. He has made people--persons---of these characters, people we come to care about. "Midnight" is the opposite of mysteries where readers might often not care about the murderee, fixed as the story is on twists, turns, plots, subplots, and the cleverness of whoever ultimately solves the mystery. Sullivan begins with reaching into our hearts, bringing readers into the urgency of understanding who did what to whom, when, and why--even when the trail seems cold and the clues already well-chewed.

Any Reader Alerts? The writing is excellent, the thoughts on the masks we may hope will protect us are worth pondering, and the story has a momentum between a race car and a jet plane. However, there is no table of contents which strikes me as being unwisely cheap-skate in the publisher and the author does not include in his notes of thanks the fascinating backstory of an unsolved triple murder in his home town, later discussed in interviews. Please include in the next edition, very good author!

OVERALL, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

The book started out fairly well, but the story’s intrigue was disappointing. The character development was limited and though there were some interesting twists, these were not developed. Seemed like a good idea, but the story fell flat.

This was another mediocre book for me. I really didn't like Lydia. I couldn't understand her relationship with David. I thought the whole thing was forced and useless to the story. Why did she need to hide "who she was" from him. That's only one of the things that bothered me. The other was her downright refusal to speak to her dad. After the murder of her best friend, her father moved her to the mountains and turned into somewhat of a recluse. Along with his metamorphosis he didn't hug or kiss her enough so at the age of 18 she ran away and never looked back. I thought that during the flashback chapters there would be some grand revelation as to why she hates her dad so much but there isn't because he didn't do anything besides not being affectionate. I felt really sad for Joey and finding out what really happened with him made it that much sadder.
I had much higher expectations for this book but in all honesty it fell flat, not totally flat, but flat enough to make me wish I hadn't read it.

I love bookstores but seldom peruse the mystery sections. However, the compelling setting of Midnight At The Bright Ideas Bookstore intrigued me and my curiosity was rewarded beginning with the first sentence. Upon entering the Bright Ides Bookstore, the author seduced me with a tale both bittersweet and sordid. I encourage readers to pay attention to all the details and each nuance of the characters' relationships. On her journey through discovery, Lydia reflects on a useful philosophy embedded in the center of story. "You leave yourself open to answers, he'd always taught her. You keep turning pages, you finish chapters, you find the next book. You seek and you seek and you seek . . ." I did keep turning the pages and now I shall find the next mystery hoping that it measures up to this one.

I was so happy yesterday when I was notified that I won this Kindle edition novel through a Goodreads giveaway. I have already finished it if that tells you anything. This book was a lot of fun. I read a lot of thriller/suspense/mystery stories and what was refreshing about this one was that all the characters were likable (except the Hammerman, of course). That rarely happens. I'll admit that I did figure out the twists before they were told to me but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. A clever debut that shouldn't be missed.

Thank you, Goodreads!

Best read of the summer. The characters are so real and well-rendered, you find yourself thinking about them and missing them after the book ends. The plot is skillfully crafted and each piece falls in place like an intricate puzzle design. The importance of books and language is an integral part of the secret code needed to solve the crime, and the crimes of the heart, inside. Beautiful, moving and compelling story about the ties that bind and the twists of life that divide us. Set aside some time, and open this up--because you won't want to stop reading

Severely disappointing. It is not about a bookstore and as soon as I realized that I stopped reading (about 50 pages or so). Two points, in the beginning, I just couldn't wrap my head being an apparent suicide that happens during store hours and the countless homeless that are allowed to hang out in the store all day long. I developed no connection to the main character and finally had to put it down. In all fairness to the author, I did try to read it again on a separate occasion to see if it was my mindset but it still made no sense to me.

I really wanted to get deeply entrenched in this book, but I found myself simply not empathizing with the characters. I found Lydia judgemental and sanctimonious, and the other people littered though out just trying. The only one I did like was David.

The story had a few holes, and frankly left me with a lot if questions.

To sum up, it was just ok.

I am breathless! I just finished this book (thank you, Net Galley, for a copy in exchange for my unbiased review) and had to say something about it immediately. It definitely goes down as my favorite book I've read this year. The author found the perfect blend of suspense, heart, mystery, and description. I had no idea how it would turn out until the author revealed it - always so nice when reading a mystery to be kept guessing the whole time.

I won't give any spoilers, but I will say a few things:

1. Put this on your to-read list now.
2. The quirk of many of the secondary characters could have the author writing a half-dozen spin-offs.
3. And - I wish I could give Joey a hug.

This was a wonderful book. Sullivan weaved an unbelievable web of events that he then brought together at the end. I would have never guess. Although this was a mystery and it was, I actually wanted to cry toward the end. I understand this is Sullivan's first novel and I hope he writes more. Can't recommend it enough you will love it.

I was very surprised how much I loved this book. Cover caught my eye looked at the reviews. Decided to give it a try was hard to get into at first. Glad I stuck to it. A few chapters in I got hooked. Great story loved the characters. Kept you guessing right up to the end. Very emotional story

This book took me on a thrilling and emotional ride! I couldn't put it down. I kept following the "crumbs" and then felt the pull of being led down a completely different path! Bravo Mr. Sullivan and thank you!

I could not stop reading... and the shocks never stopped coming! An excellent story, totally engaging. I loved it (as a former librarian AND bookshop employee!). I understood the BookFrogs reference, to that crowd both places have in common, and the simpatico that an educated fellow reader has as guide to their reading. Out of the thousands of books I have read, this is among the best.

A lifelong reader, I enjoy books about books and their intrinsic role in our lives...and I love good mysteries and I love the accidental female detective...and I love tight plots with characters to root for...so there is an awful lot to love about this book!

I liked the plot development, character development and the story. All lost people in lost relationships trying desperately to find home...and a terrifying night of savage murder. Anyone who loves a mystery will love this book.

Thank you for this very enjoyable read. I hope you write more novels because this, your first, is a great story and you are an excellent storyteller. You kept me in suspense well to the last page, indulging me, the reader, with clues that unraveled the mystery of not one, but two, untimely deaths. Your timing of events was impeccable. Well done.

A good novel that involves a mysterious suicide and then introduces several seemingly unrelated events that are nicely pulled together in a surprising and original way to produce an ending that is ... enjoyable.

This author can write and initially the book was engaging, but as the novel progressed the plot became less and less plausible.
I finished the book, but was mildly annoyed by the plot. I felt as if I had just finished an old time drugstore novel.

I enjoy reading books that involve books, bookstores or libraries and this mystery had quite a unique twist. The story with interspersed chapters relating the back stories of the primary characters was involving and woven in smoothly. The ending was a surprise and satisfying but simultaneously horrific. Thank you for the advanced copy which introduced me to this author. I will anticipate his future publications.

An enjoyable and red herring filled mystery. There is more than enough to keep three readers: mystery, bookstore, and puzzle lovers involved. I regret bookstores like Bright Ideas are fading, but to be reminded is sufficient. I agree with the dust cover--I good first novel. I look for the second.

Interesting setting,characters, and background story. Although I guessed who the murderer was about half way through, I wanted to know how this would be revealed and what would happen once he was unmasked. There were unexpected plot twists despite this. I enjoyed reading the novel a good deal and will read more by this author when he writes them.

Interesting setting,characters, and background story. Although I guessed who the murderer was about half way through, I wanted to know how this would be revealed and what would happen once he was unmasked. There were unexpected plot twists despite this. I enjoyed reading the novel a good deal and will read more by this author when he writes them.