Midnight Crossroad

Written by Charlaine Harris

Narrated by Susan Bennett

From Charlaine Harris, the best-selling author who created Sookie Stackhouse the world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, comes a new, darker world - populated by more strangers than friends. But then, that's how the locals prefer it.

Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and Davy Road. It's a pretty standard dried-up western town. There's a pawnshop (someone lives in the basement and is seen only at night). There's a diner (people who are just passing through tend not to linger). And there's new resident Manfred Bernardo, who thinks he's found the perfect place to work in private (and who has secrets of his own). Stop at the one traffic light in town, and everything looks normal. Stay awhile, and learn the truth....

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette UK Audio
• Release date: May 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781409149880

Charlaine Harris

Charlaine Harris is a New York Times bestselling author who has been writing for over thirty years. She was born and raised in the Mississippi River Delta area. She has written four series, and two stand-alone novels, in addition to numerous short stories, novellas, and graphic novels (cowritten with Christopher Golden). Her Sookie Stackhouse books have appeared in twenty-five different languages and on many bestseller lists. They’re also the basis of the HBO series True Blood. Harris now lives in Texas, and when she is not writing her own books, she reads omnivorously. Her house is full of rescue dogs.

Reviews for Midnight Crossroad

[starknits_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So we have Bobo from the Lily Bard series and Arthur Smith from the Aurora Tegarden series. That was fun.

This book was a nice introduction to Midnight, Texas and the people that live there.

[amberwitch · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An entertaining, non-demanding urban fantasy. Follows newcomer Manfred, part-time psychic, part-time charlatan, as he settles into Midnight, Texas amongst the other residents ranging from witches and vampires to a gay couple and an uncomplicated man with a complicated history.A spot of murder and mayhem, kidnapping and arson, but mostly about the community and friendship of the people living in Midnight, all above average in kindness and likeability (which somehow is the least believeable part, even with the witchcraft and leeching).Not a lot of worldbuilding, just enough to set the scene and allow the story to unfold.

[jennybeast · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting new paranormal mystery story set in a very unusual town. It's not Sookie(yet)but I see a lot of potential here.

[sharonmariabidwell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

At first, I thought this was a fifth book in the Harper Connolly series, but it’s more of an extended spin-off because it contains Manfred, a character from those books. Extended, because there are some wild, and wacky, and supernatural inhabitants of Midnight, and it’s mostly those that keep this mystery going. There are apparently two more books and I’m so taken with the people living in Midnight, I’ll read on.

[preston.kringle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Midnight Crossroad is the first of the Midnight Texas series from Charlaine Harris. The book starts out slow and introduces and town and its residence where as although informative takes away from the imagery of the story. This writing style carries throughout the book which at times makes it hard to read; however at a certain point the voice of the book seems to change making the remains chapters hard to put down with an ending that no reader could see coming. This ending however concludes with a part that could of been left out of the book as it takes away from what happened.

[mirihawk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed it, and I didn't see the end coming.

[stephanie_m-868484 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

‘Midnight Crossroad’ is the first book in a new mystery series by Charlaine Harris, called ‘Midnight, Texas’.

This is the new series for Charlaine Harris fans; and by “fans” I do mean people who are familiar with more than just her ‘Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire’ HBO-adapted series. The pivoting points of Harris’s new ‘Midnight, Texas’ series are two characters from her old series ‘Lily Bard’ and ‘Harper Connelly’.

I’ve read this being touted as the Manfred spin-off, but in my eyes he’s only one-half of the double-act of this new series. Manfred Bernardo is the lovable pierced psychic who appeared as a secondary character in Harris’s ‘Harper Connelly’ mystery-paranormal series. The other secondary character who has been upgraded to protagonist is Bobo Winthrop, golden boy of Shakespeare, in the town of Harris’s ‘Lily Bard’ series. What these two characters have in common is that they were fan-favourites, and nice guys who finished last. Both Manfred and Bobo were in the unique positions of being ideal romantic candidates for the heroines in their respective series, but lucked out in the love department due to events and better happily-ever-afters that were out of their control. (Also, vampires are kinda out of the coffin in this universe too).

I was reading 'midnight crossroad' as someone who had read, and liked (for the most part) all of the 'Lily Bard' series by Charlaine Harris. I have never read any of the 'Aurora Teagarden' series, or the 'Harper Connelly' series. But I have read most of the 'Southern Vampire series' up until the last three or four novels in it. I really liked seeing these established characters from other universes, coming together for a fresh start. I don’t know how readers who are only familiar with Harris’s Sookie-verse will go with ‘Midnight, Texas’ – she writes enough backstory and a tight enough whodunit that anyone will get enjoyment from the story itself – but I do hope people who aren’t familiar with Harris’s backlist will be interested enough to give this new universe, and it's peoples, a try. I thought it was interesting, it kept me reading until the end, and was a good read.

‘Midnight Crossroad’ is quite a departure for Harris too, regardless that these characters are familiar. She’s writing her first multiple-POV series (third-person narration, but following the characters of Manfred, Bobo and Fiji in alternating chapters) and with two male protagonists when she’s previously only written female heroines. And even though this is, in my mind at least, the Manfred and Bobo show, the storyline of ‘Midnight Crossroad’ is leaning more heavily Bobo’s way. Fiji was my favorite character in this book, as maybe it’s the curse of Harris’s lovelorn characters, but I like her underdogs and Fiji is charming in her loyalty, witchiness and one-sided crushing. The town vampire, the resident "bad girl", and the reclusive preacher were all interesting enough to keep me coming back to finish this novel. (In fact, I think the preacher is really a recluse, because he occasionally turns into a were-beast of some kind. SOME kind of 'monster' was sniffing around at one point, and no other clues were given, so that story must be saved for another novel in this series. This were-reason could be why he's reclusive, and why people say "you do not want to see him angry.")

Midnight is definitely a town with enough secrets and intriguing residents to fill a new series from Charlaine Harris. Reading this as someone who is a bigger fan of her backlist than HBO-adapted Sookie, ‘Midnight, Texas’ feels like a hark back to the cozy mysteries she excelled at writing early on – the cherries on top are Manfred and Bobo, fan-favourites who are being given a chance to shine all on their own.

[chrisweir-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A new series by Charlaine Harris set in Texas. We meet a wide variety of characters and she gives us quite a bit of background for each. There's a vampire who's unlike any you've encountered before. A witch who lives in a house she inherited from her Aunt. A small family run convenience store and another little restaurant run by another family. A pawn shop in this one little stop light town. And the newcomer to the town an online psychic. The psychic has moved into town shortly after the girlfriend of the pawn shop owner has run away. But all things are not as they seem in this little one stop light town. Will be interesting to see where she goes with the series.

[chaoticbooklover · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Took me a lot longer to get into it than i would have liked. I think I had a hard time because i watched the tv show before reading and i just couldn't reconcile some of the characters in the book with what i "thought" they should look like based on the show. And the whole twist at the end was a complete shock to me!

[enyonam-13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Midnight Crossroad started a little slow, but I like Manfred Bernardo from the Harper Connelly series and Bobo Winthrop from the Lily Bard series, both of whom are main characters in the Midnight novels, so I kept at it. (Funnily enough, I didn't realize that the police officer, Arthur Smith, is from the Aurora Teagarden series until almost the end of the book. I liked him a lot better here than in that series, although that may also be because Charlaine Harris’s writing has improved over the years.) The town's quirky characters drew me in, and by the time Manfred, Fiji and Olivia started their investigation at the Cartoon Saloon, I was hooked. I wasn't disappointed—I really enjoyed this book.I’m not usually a fan of having multiple POV characters, but I thought the author used it very well. One of the best things about this book was the mix of the supernatural and the mundane. It’s rare (at least in the fantasy fiction I’ve read) for supernatural protagonists to have mundane problems. Also, I’ve always liked the way Charlaine Harris isn’t afraid to tackle racism in the American South head on—this book is a bit of a follow-up to Shakespeare’s Champion both thematically and, through Bobo, plot-wise.The solution to the mystery came as a complete surprise to me. Partly this was because there were only the vaguest hints, not really anything that could have led to the answer. Sometimes that’s annoying, but here it made perfect sense and fit with the general tone of the story, which is not really a whodunnit. Partly, though, it was because the solution wasn’t the kind of solution I had been expecting—it took things in a direction I didn’t foresee, and not in a bad way.All in all, I found Midnight Crossroad quite entertaining, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of the Midnighters in the sequels, Day Shift and Night Shift.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Midnight Crossroad
3.5 Stars

In the small (meaning barely inhabited) town of Midnight, Texas, nothing is as it first appears. Distrustful of outsiders and law enforcement, the quirky residents keep their own counsel and don't ask questions. Thus, when a barely identifiable body is discovered within town limits and one of their own is the prime suspect, the people of Midnight are determined to uncover the truth without exposing their own secrets.

Series note: Several of the characters are crossovers from other Harris series including Bobo Winthrop from Lily Bard, Manfred Bernardo from Harper Connelly and Arthur Smith from Aurora Teagarden. While it is not necessary to have read these series in order to understand and enjoy the book, reading them does provide background and insight into certain behaviors and motivations.

The first half of the story is dedicated to introducing the strange setting with its ghost-town like atmosphere and creepy yet oddly relatable and appealing characters. Consequently, the pacing is slow (perhaps even plodding) and readers who prefer fast and action packed scenes will be disappointed. Nevertheless, the shifting point of view and richly detailed characterization immerses the reader into the mysterious and enigmatic lives of the various residents.

The second half involves the murder investigation, but readers expecting an exciting police procedural will, once again, be disappointed as the style is more Agatha Christie than CSI. While there are numerous red herrings and some solid twists and turns, the ultimate revelation of the culprit sort of comes out of the blue, but only if one isn't really paying attention to the details.

In sum, Midnight Crossroads is an intriguing mix of the southern-gothic, mystery and urban fantasy genres that Charlaine Harris is so adept at writing. Nevertheless, newbies to her writing will not want to start with this series. To truly appreciate her work, one should start with either the Lily Bard or Harper Connelly books.

[sprainedbrain · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars. This one reminded me of how much I loved the first few Sookie books. I do like this author's style, and the characters she has created for Midnight are fun to read.

[kwadyko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5⭐️...after catching the first few episodes of Midnight, Texas and learning that it was based on Charlaine Harris's novels, I had to get my hands on them! Having loved the Sookie Stackhouse (true blood) series, I knew I would love this series, and I was correct!

I really liked the murder mystery mixed in with the fantastical Midnighters! If you like mysteries, secrets, and magic...start this series asap!

[kmajort · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The beginning of a new series that touches on the Shakespeare/Lily Bard series, which I enjoyed. A pleasing lite novel with a touch of weirdness, it's fun and leaves me sure I'll continue the series.
Nice mix of fun/funky characters who live in the tiny Texas town of Midnight - everyone there has secrets, it's unspoken courtesy not to talk about them.
Just to throw it out there - I didn't read the Sookie Stackhouse series after the first one - didn't care for it.

[quondame · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the new cast of characters and the wide open setting which isolates them.

[urph818 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3..5 rating. I thought that Midnight Crossroad got off to a slow start but I certainly got into the characters and I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the relaxed small town feel of the story. Good pacing with it's glimpse of a one gas station country town in Texas. A place where everybody knows your business and keeps to theirs for the most part. This is the kind of community that reveals their steel forged bonds in times of trouble. It is also a place where many supernatural beings have come to hide away from the outside world. I loved the character development. They were quirky, magical, nerdy and extremely different, not a "normal" in the bunch.My whole family has read and enjoyed the previous paranormal mysteries from Ms. Harris and I believe that she brought a few of her old characters into this story (namely Manfred) and gave us some new ones. I like her writing style.I will continue the series once my wife finishes the next book. Jack Murphy

[dne2004 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I got interested in this series after watching the TV series. Let me just say the book is SOOOOOOO much better!!!! There are many many differences in the TV series and the book but the book flows and has so many details that is left out of the TV series!! If you love Charlaine Harris' books, you'll love this one too!!

[nickhowes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Phone psychic Manfred Bernardo moves into the small, remote community of Midnight where he finds himself fitting right in among eccentrics who keep to themselves. There's a vampire who is a night clerk at an antique shop, his violent human girlfriend, goodhearted Bobo, Fiji the witch and her talking cat, and the taciturn Rev. Personally, I think the book reads better than the Skokie Stack house novels and I enjoy the pacing as the storyline gradually takes place, its highlights intermixed with the revelation of secrets of the Midnight residents. A lot of fun, a very satisfying read.

[booklover3258 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's been a while since I've read Charlaine Harris (true blood series). When I heard this trilogy was being made into a tv show, I ran out and got the first book. I absolutely loved it! All the characters are great and funny (especially the cat!). Just like True Blood, there are strange characters in the town of Midnight, TX. A murder happens and the town comes together to figure out who is the murderer. I did not figure out the killer at all. Kudos! Looking forward to reading the next two in the series and watching the show.

[deelightful-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this story. I like how she references all her other series in some way or other.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Midnight, Texas is not your typical small town, nor are its inhabitants ordinary people. In this close-knit community, neighbors look out for neighbors, lending a helping hand where one is needed. A newcomer to the town is welcomed cautiously but cordially. Stores in the town include a gas station, a pawn shop, and a restaurant. Residents include a psychic, a witch, and a vampire. Author Charlaine Harris has created a town with an interesting mix of normal people and supernatural beings. And into this town she has placed a mystery and an act of evil. A fascinating beginning to an interesting series.

[wingedwolf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a great, atmospheric, descriptive urban fantasy mystery that made me very, very happy. Delightfully complex characters, fun interactions, and you could see, smell, hear and taste that small town. Midnight is a place I'd love to live.If you want a fast-paced book with lots of action, car chases, and explosions - this is absolutely not that book. This is an immersive feast for the senses, slow and contemplative, rich with personality, full of secrets. I can't wait to read the sequel - or see the TV series I hear they're making from it!

[grammarchick · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I kept giving up on this author because she couldn't seem to write without including gratuitous sex that, to me, took away from the story and made me feel embarrassed to admit reading her books. Also, her series about the chick who could tell how a person had died turned into something disgusting on a whole other level so let me just warn you to avoid those altogether. This series seems to be on a whole other tack, though you do meet up with some of the characters from her other series (don't worry if you haven't read those, you won't flounder). I'm glad the blurb drew me in and made me go back off my no-harris book diet. I liked the small-town setting and the interesting characters and I frankly envy anyone living over a pawn shop. Call me crazy.

[sasham-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This one is a slight disappointment. I loved the Harper Connelly Series in which Manfred originally appears. I enjoyed most of Sookie Stackhouse (it went off the rails I felt toward the end). I have only read a few of the Lily Bard mysteries but they never really grabbed me.
This book brings the worlds of Harper & Lily together into the world of Sookie. As far as I was aware both Lily and Harper were mostly in the "real" world.
So Manfred (who was a character in the Harper Connelly Series) moves into a weird little dead-end town populated entirely with people who have secrets. Including Bobo (who was apparently a minor character in the Lily Bard series) and Lumuel (Vampire - clearly tying the series into Sookie's world).
The story itself it quite slow. Lots of town and character description. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either.
Having said all of this I will try the second one (but I will wait until it is in small format).

[tigerb-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Harris's characters feel like old friends to me. I suggest that if you liked Shakespeare, AR and enjoyed hanging out with Harper Conolly and thought Merlotte's would be a good place to hang, you are likely to enjoy this book.

[cygnet81 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not Sookie but I think there is some potential.

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a fun audiobook and book one of a new series by Charlaine Harris. I liked the characters and the setting. Looks like maybe a good series to get as audiobooks. The narrator was excellent.

[chaps_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining start to a new series, with Harris' usual gift for clever dialog and varied plot. Look forward to more!

[leleliasky · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A quirky new town, supernatural townies, and a murder are the start of a new series by the Sookie Stackhouse creator. Set in the fictional town of Midnight, Texas, this was a quick read that had me immediately putting the second book in the series on hold at the library!

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this one even better than I liked the first one in the series. The characters are unique and mysterious and fascinating, at least to me. Especially as layers get slowly peeled back. Harris also uses humor deftly, e.g., the talking cat, and mystery well, e.g., the identification of the murderer.