Review of 'The Midnight House' by Amanda Geard
Review of ‘The Midnight House’ by Amanda Geard
Released May 10, 2022.
Amanda Geard, Tasmanian born, is a writer, geologist, amateur gardener, experimental chef and enthusiastic restorer of old houses. Having lived and worked from the Equator to the Arctic she is now happily settled in Ireland with her husband and two setters. When not at her desk, she can be found between the wild Atlantic and even wilder Kerry mountains, getting rained on while planning her next project.Amanda has also written for The Irish Times, The Journal, writing.ie, The Waxed Lemon, Ireland’s Own and Nordic Reach. Her first short story, Not Yet Recycled, won October 2019’s New Irish Writing.
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REVIEW
I absolutely adored The Midnight House! Amanda Geard’s debut novel is deeply powerful. A literary feast for the senses and imagination. The complex plot, mesmerising atmosphere, magical landscape, poetic writing style and well-defined characters deliver an exquisite escape to the fictional world of secrets, promises & surprises.
I love stories set in Ireland and this one delivers a detailed setting that is unforgettable. It is rooted in the south west region of the island where a mysterious death has occurred in a powerful family. A letter arrives containing a secret that changes one lady’s life.
Ellie, Nancy and Hattie present their stories throughout from different timelines (1940, 1958, 2019). Though this story spans the ages and is multi-generational, there is a continuity that flows between them. A real glue that fastens them all together. Charlotte is the core figure of the plot: what has happened to her? There is so much intriguing history dancing across these pages that I did not want to miss a word. We learn so much about the social norms, the class battles and the heartbreak that affects those who want to be free to live and love as they choose. Charlotte’s story is told well through those closest to her and those who came after her. It is a nice touch, though, that she gets to speak for herself in the epilogue.
I enjoyed all aspects of The Midnight House, including the authentic characters who get to tell their story and give a well-rounded view of events. But Ellie, the journalist and modern speaker (2019), is the one who manages to uncover the truth and bring everything once hidden into the light. At the start of the novel, her own life is in shambles, after fleeing Dublin to escape a scandal. She is in need of something fresh to give her a sense of purpose again. Being an avid reader, she gets lost in the pages of many novels. Then an old book comes to her that contains a faded letter tucked inside. This is the springboard that launches her on a meaningful mysterious journey to the truth about a family and a woman named Charlotte who went missing. It is the kernel of hope that gets inside her heart, awakens her talents and spurs her on until she solves the mystery. This whole experience transforms her life, too, in unexpected ways.
Inspiring, ingenious and spellbinding. The Midnight House is as atmospheric and haunting as the cover. A novel that was hard to put down as I was so deeply and effortlessly drawn in by the story. I highly recommend this for all those who love a multi-layered historical Irish mystery. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
