Reviews

Midnight Falls by John Evans

shelbylynn7's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

5.0

A fun and exciting read! It continued to get better with every chapter. Truly a book that sucks you into the plot. Wonderful job!

aschultz's review

3.0

Midnight Falls is considered a horror suspense story about a man named Josh. Josh was going to school in NY to become a writer and after a handful of missed opportunities decided to return home. Home is in Midnight Falls, a small town where they do not take kind to outsiders. While Josh is not technically an outsider, he is treated as such. He is lost about what he wants to do and where life is going, but what he wants is to be left alone to live with his dog. In a small town, this is not an easy task and he quickly “befriends” his 2 neighbors and the girl down the street, Lizzie. Although he tries to mind his business, there is a group of awful teenagers always trying to cause trouble. After a run-in with one of these boys, the boy ends up dead, and weird things start to happen. Josh, Lizzie, and his neighbors try to understand what is happening in their town and are also trying to decide what to do about it. Does this town really hold such crazy secrets? Can Josh and them save his town from the mystery?

This was probably not one of my favorite horror suspense stories. I didn’t like the main character, I thought Josh was a coward, bitter, and sort of a low life who can’t get his stuff together. There was also a lot of build-up to a not-so-secret suspense story. I thought much of the story I was able to predict what was happening so the suspense wasn’t there for me. The only thing I did not predict was where each of the characters would end up and how open for interpretation some of the ending was.

terrijomac's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

5.0

 

This was a crazy wild book; like modern-day monsters crazy! Josh returns to his hometown after several failures at trying to make it in the big city. Only he feels more like an outsider than ever. Strange things are happening and Josh feels like he’s the only one to notice. Soon he and only a few close acquaintances realize the evil that has been hiding right under their noses for decades. Great horror story!

 

jemery07's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

I wasn’t far into the prologue when I knew I needed to clear my schedule.
The whole time though the first chapters I was on edge, wanting more backstory and yet knowing what was coming because of the prologue. Knowing there would be action made the backstory, at times, painstakingly slow. But I was invested.
I loved seeing Josh and Lizzie getting to know one another. I enjoyed how Joey & Brad bonded with Josh in their own ways, finding reasons to band together to create their own group of outsiders that didn’t necessary belong in town. I was obsessed with Nimrod and his antics, loving every description of him.

alexandria61's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

4.0

John Evans’ *Midnight Falls* is a gripping thriller that masterfully weaves small-town nostalgia with a creeping sense of dread. The story follows Josh Blevins, a college dropout who returns to his sleepy hometown of Midnight Falls after a string of failures and disappointments. Accompanied by his loyal dog, Josh hopes for a quiet reset, but what he finds instead is a town riddled with darkness, where the friendly smiles and familiar faces hide something far more sinister.

Evans creates an atmospheric and unsettling backdrop for Josh’s story. Midnight Falls, with its quaint streets and seemingly pleasant community, quickly reveals itself to be a place where trust is a luxury and danger lurks in every shadow. The tension escalates as Josh grapples with his own personal failures while facing the inexplicable malevolence seeping from the town’s core. As the sense of paranoia builds, the novel expertly blurs the lines between external threats and Josh's inner turmoil, making him question who, if anyone, he can rely on.

One of the standout elements of the book is its strong cast of characters. Josh is a relatable protagonist, haunted by feelings of inadequacy and a sense of being an outsider in a town that was once home. His strained relationship with the town sheriff, a man holding a deep-seated grudge, adds to the tension, creating a cat-and-mouse dynamic that propels much of the conflict. This rivalry, combined with Josh's struggle to trust even his newfound friends and the girl he begins to fall for, adds layers of complexity to the story.

Evans excels at crafting a slow-burn mystery, with Midnight Falls itself feeling like a character—its dark past and hidden secrets gradually revealing themselves as the story unfolds. The author skillfully balances Josh’s personal crossroads with the creeping horror of what’s really happening in the town, keeping readers hooked as they wonder what evil truly lies beneath the surface. The question of whether Josh will confront his demons or continue to run is a powerful undercurrent, and the stakes only rise as the darkness begins closing in.

*Midnight Falls* does an excellent job of tapping into classic small-town horror vibes, but it’s also a psychological thriller at heart. The exploration of fear, failure, and redemption feels real and grounded, even as the supernatural or sinister elements simmer in the background. The pacing is taut, though some readers may wish for more direct confrontation with the town’s secrets earlier in the narrative. However, the slow build-up adds to the unsettling atmosphere and makes the climax all the more satisfying.

Overall, *Midnight Falls* is a chilling, suspenseful read that fans of mystery and horror will thoroughly enjoy. With its haunting atmosphere, complex characters, and an ever-present sense of unease, John Evans has crafted a tale that lingers long after the final page. If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that mixes small-town secrets with lurking malevolence, *Midnight Falls* is a book not to miss.

jennadb's review

4.0

 

3.5 - 4 stars 

"Midnight Falls" is a dark and interesting horror narrative that delves into the chilling world of werewolves, and I found it to be an intriguing read. I have not read any of Jonh’s work before and I was pleasantly surprised. His descriptive words take you into the story and have you easily imagining the scenes he sets. 

The story centres around Josh, a disillusioned college student who returns to his quaint hometown. However, upon his arrival, Josh quickly senses an air of malevolence permeating the town, he grapples with feeling like an outcast in his own community, Josh is confronted with the difficult decision of either confronting the looming menace or turning his back on it all. 

This book has the feel of horror of old when true horror was around. I wholeheartedly recommend "Midnight Falls" to fellow enthusiasts of the horror genre; it's a well-crafted and absorbing narrative, and I find myself eagerly anticipating the unravelling of further books. 

tytanmom23's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

Midnight Falls by John Evans. This is a super dark vampire thriller that will keep you turning pages late in the night. I do admit I got a little scared reading this at night and I loved it! Its the story of Josh who has chosen to move to Midnight Falls and he got a job as a freelance writer for the local newspaper. He becomes quick friends with his neighbors Joey and Brad as they are new to Midnight Falls as well. Josh starts to settle in even finds himself a girlfriend, Lizzie. The only problem he really has is the sheriffs son, Jarrod who wanted to buy Josh's car and Josh told him no. He doesn't seem to take kindly to being told no and the Sheriff even threatens Josh. Josh also has his faithful companion Nimrod his dog and Nimrod has saved Josh more than once. I really enjoyed this book. It was scary at times but also had a great storyline! This was my first read by this author but it won't be my last!

shannlynn's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

This was the first book by this author, but I couldn’t pass it up after the cover caught my attention. After reading the synopsis, I knew I had to dive in immediately. I’m a huge fan of the horror and thriller genres which meant this was right up my alley. Throw in a paranormal twist and I’m in heaven! From the very beginning, the author subtly drew me in and before I knew it I was reading the last page. I couldn’t put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. The plot is expertly crafted with twists and turns woven seamlessly throughout. No matter how well I thought I had it nailed down, the author threw another surprise curve at me! I don’t want to give away any spoilers but will say that this was a magnificently dark book. I have already recommended this book to all of my old school horror-loving friends. If you enjoy a suspenseful thriller with a paranormal theme, I highly recommend giving this book a chance. I can’t wait to pick up more work by this author!

meggs1717's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

I was hooked from the beginning and had a hard time putting this down. I loved Evan's writing style and the pacing of the book was fantastic. He really allows you to get a feel for the characters and pulls you into the story and before you realize it, it's the wee hours of the night and you've got to get some sleep! I loved the dark, creepiness of the tone and the downright scariness of it as well. There are so many twists and turns throughout this story that you don't see coming. This is the perfect read for spooky season so get your copy now!

shellyk51's review

4.0

 Fascinating book. I absolutely loved how the suspense built right from the start. I had the chills as he was describing the worlves. It sounds weird to say but it is one of the better horror novels that I've read this year. Intriguing characters. The whole premise of the story really grabs you from the beginning and hooks you in. He's a new author to me and I'll be there to buy new works from him. It's an entertaining read.