Middletide: A Novel

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER

In this gripping and intensely atmospheric debut, disquiet descends on a small town after the suspicious death of a beautiful young doctor, with all clues pointing to the reclusive young man who abandoned the community in chase of big city dreams but returned for the first love he left behind. Perfect for fans of All Good People Here and Where the Crawdads Sing.

One peaceful morning, in the small, Puget Sound town of Point Orchards, the lifeless body of Dr. Erin Landry is found hanging from a tree on the property of prodigal son and failed writer, Elijah Leith. Sheriff Jim Godbout’s initial investigation points to an obvious suicide, but upon closer inspection, there seem to be clues of foul play when he discovers that the circumstances of the beautiful doctor’s death were ripped straight from the pages of Elijah Leith’s own novel.

Out of money and motivation, thirty-three-year-old Elijah returns to his empty childhood home to lick the wounds of his futile writing career. Hungry for purpose, he throws himself into restoring the ramshackle cabin his father left behind and rekindling his relationship with Nakita, the extraordinary girl from the nearby reservation whom he betrayed but was never able to forget.

As the town of Point Orchards turns against him, Elijah must fight for his innocence against an unexpected foe who is close and cunning enough to flawlessly frame him for murder in this scintillating literary thriller that seeks to uncover a case of love, loss, and revenge.

BUY THE BOOK

Published Jun 11, 2024

288 pages

Average rating: 6.4

35 RATINGS

|

Join a book club that is reading Middletide: A Novel!

Rustic Roots Winery

Join us monthly at the winery while we discuss recent contemporary fiction and enjoy a glass of wine (or two).

Community Reviews

Anne-Marie Eberhardt
Jul 02, 2025
10/10 stars
The twist to end all twists!
Laura Kershaw
Jan 07, 2025
6/10 stars
I liked the premise of the story and most of the pacing, but I didn't love that the native elements in the book didn't feel super intentional. If you're going to include elements of another culture, I think they should be more integrated into the story. The pacing at the end also was a bit off and the court scene a bit goofy so the redeeming qualities just didn't make this more than an average book.
Jen Marin
Jul 04, 2024
5/10 stars
A debut novel I wanted to really love but couldn’t. Beginning was very good but then as the plot thickened and law enforcement becomes involved some parts were not believable (dealing with lawyers and procedures) and it felt rushed at the end.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.