Review of 'At The Stroke of Midnight' by Jenni Keer

Review of 'At The Stroke of Midnight' by Jenni Keer

Release date: March 12th, 2024

Publisher: Boldwood

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REVIEW 

What a creative fascinating story! This novel caught my attention with its cover and description and I knew I had to read it! So glad I did. This is my first Jenni Keer novel but it won’t be the last! At the Stroke of Midnight is a unique intriguing mystery set in 1923 with a fascinating time loop scenario, that is well delivered.

Pearl Glenham, as her friend Harriet says, is ‘suitably sedate and well behaved’. She obeys her father’s every demand—including attending to ‘endless domestic responsibilities.’ We are told her mother died during childbirth and Pearl has never known her. So, it seems she is expected to take over many household duties. But Pearl is so much more as we discover. A girl whose heart loves the sea. Was her mother also a lover of it, too? Is Pearl’s own name a clue? Regardless, Pearl feels most alive and free when she is diving through its waves (and there are some wonderful descriptions to carry us away). But her father, on the other hand, hates the ocean and sees it as a dangerous place. And he is never comfortable around danger. Yet Pearl is ‘curious about the unknown’ and longs to visit unique places to see the ‘mighty lions of Africa’ or gaze at the ‘Sistine Chapel’ ceiling, or ‘walk through the street markets of India.’ She has a real thirst for seeking out various wonders of the world. But her father keeps a tight rein on her. Why?

Well, eventually we learn there is more to his background. He receives a letter that bids him to come to a mysterious country house party on the Dorset coast. Pearl wonders: was it sent by a stranger or someone he knew? But her father claims he does not know his host but when they arrive, Pearl surmises he has a connection to this man and several of the guests who have been invited. Through a sneak peek of the letter, Pearl discovers some sort of blackmail is going on. Which seems likely as her father would never make such a trip for pure enjoyment. Something is amiss and she does not know what. But she believes that ‘blackmailers only had power over those with dark secrets.’

Stressed by the environment and the people therein, Pearl escapes to the cove close by to take in the coastal vibes and stumbles upon a hidden cave. She slips, bangs her head and weird things begin to happen. That evening after she retires, she dreams of swimming in the ocean but then a black smoke infiltrates the lovely experience. She wakes and much to her horror, the residence is on fire. She attempts to escape but cannot open the window. And tries to help others. But her efforts fail. Then at the stroke of midnight, something strange happens. She is back in the cave after bumping her head with the smell of salt air jolting her back to life. Of course, it is a time-loop story (like Ground Hog day) and she soon realises her déjà vu experiences are connected to the cave. She must not only find a way of saving those who are with her in the house during the fire but also figure out the mystery of why they are there and how to escape the loop. For a while she makes a number of attempts but it is a lonely fruitless mission, until she is joined by another person who helps her unravel this bizarre mystery.

I love the character development seen in Pearl over the course of the novel: how she moves out of her mousey submissive self to become a bold woman of courage and strength. When she finds herself in some difficult situations, she tries to be more like Harriet: act boldly and ask for forgiveness later. As she breaks free from the control of her father, she uncovers the truth of why they are at this house, discovers who each person is and exposes many secrets, (with the help of her new friend). All the while her world begins to take shape and eventually make sense—including understanding the magic of the mercury clock hidden in the cave. But this unusual vehicle sets a series of intriguing events in motion to solve a dark and dangerous mystery. There are many brilliant symbols and clever artistic analogies (such as comparing herself to a plucky spider in this time loop), twists and turns, surprises and even sprinkles of humour from Pearl’s conversations and thoughts (a great tension-balancer). 

The novel is filled with many visual aids of beautiful descriptions that whisked me away to the setting. I enjoyed all the explorations for truth and different scenarios played out in the time loop. But one identifiable feature that reminded me of an Agatha Christie story is the gathering of a social group that are confined to one location/house to play out the plot. The visitors who have been sent a letter to meet in this residence, start out friendly but as relationships are exposed, they deteriorate with finger-pointing, bickering and accusations that end in a huge showdown. And when confronted with the truth, there’s an ocean of denial.

This story kept me intrigued from start to finish as I followed every lead. The conflict, climax and resolution are exceptionally delivered with some brilliant surprises at the end! I loved it and cannot wait to read more of Jenni’s books. I highly recommend At the Stroke of Midnight to put an extra spark of adventure in your day! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Negalley for a review copy.