Day Shift

Written by Charlaine Harris

Narrated by Susan Bennett

Welcome to Midnight, Texas.

It's a quiet little town, perched at the junction between Davy Road and Witch Light Road, and it's easy to miss. With its boarded-up windows, single traffic light and sleepy air, there's nothing special about Midnight . . . which is exactly how the residents like it.

So when the news comes that a new owner plans to renovate the run-down, abandoned old hotel in town, it's not met with pleasure. Who would want to come to Midnight, with its handful of shops, the Home Cookin diner, and quiet residents - and why?

But there are bigger problems in the air. When Manfred Bernado, the newest resident in town, is swept up in a deadly investigation suddenly the hotel and its residents are the least of the towns concern. The police, lawyers and journalists are all headed to Midnight, and it's the worst possible moment...

Read by Susan Bennett

(p) 2015 Recorded Books LLC

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette UK Audio
• Release date: May 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781409156154

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 Day Shift

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

I'll give this a four, even though it might not deserve it on a scale of all the books ever written. It is, however, worthy of four out of five within it's genre (at least in my book) so there you go. I enjoy Harris' characters and the atmosphere of her books (maybe barring the Aurora Teagarden books), and the books are infinitely entertaining. I also like the mismash of the random characters from the previous series.

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this one even more than the first -- partly, I think, because I had an idea what to expect, partly because I really like how Harris is peeling back the layers on the mysteries in town. Highly enjoyable.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Midnight is having some change, the old hotel is being renovated and Manfred is present when one of his clients dies. In the same hotel that two other people die unexpectedly. The investigation of the murder for Manfred is orchestrated to keep journalists away from the town and while doing the investigation they find new friends and discover some things about some of the other people resident in the town. And people discover who matter to them.It's an interesting slice of life story with some crossover to the Stookie Stackhouse stories. Now I'm curious about the final book in the series. This one kept me reading well past my bedtime.

[sharonmariabidwell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

We learn more about the strange community living in Midnight in this book, with Manfred especially facing threats from outside which endangers them all, including the peculiar reopening of an old hotel. This is a fun fantasy, and while I enjoyed much of Harris’s work, I think I like this series most of all. Although it’s not the fastest pace, this makes for comfortable reading with characters interesting enough to capture attention. They all have strengths (some supernatural), and yet very human weaknesses. We particularly learn more about Olivia’s past, the Rev’s nature, and Joe and Chuy in this one. There’s one more book, which is a relief considering my to-be-read mountain. Yet another part of me is sorry there’s only one more to go. Not every plot point is perfect, but the characters carry this through.

[mirihawk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a really fun read. It's a "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead" sort of a thing. If you are a C. Harris fan (not the TV show but her various series) you will love this book. Bobo and Manfred and Arthur all sitting at a dinner table! Oh my! The Lily Bard books and the Grave Sight books are some of my favorites, and I liked the Aurora Teagarden books too, so to have side characters from them show up in a new series is such a pleasure! Manfred and Bobo are favorites of mine, and I love that they are neighbors in this new series. What fun!

The book itself is the second in a series about a tiny town called Midnight, Texas, and it is interesting in itself. I'm not sure if the books would be as amazing if I were new to Harris' work. If you haven't read anything but her Sookie books (which I admit I never did finish to the end of the series) you might want to check out some of her other works.

I hope there will be more about Midnight - it seems to me that there is a lot more to say about that town.

[stephanie_m-868484 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very interesting series, with many supernatural creatures, living together in a small town. They all help each other out, when needed. The way Harris writes this series is so.....secretive and closed-mouthed, for lack of a better word. We finally got to "see" what a couple more of the residents really are, in this second book. There was just enough action to keep me interested, the people are likable, and the storylines just plausible enough. I will keep reading this series as they come out, at my local library.

[glennis.leblanc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The second book in this series follows a few months after the previous one but the upside is the events in the previous book really don’t impact this one so if a reader picks this book up they will not be that lost. There is more overlap with minor characters from her other series in this book but they feel like they are passing through and not staying for the series. It does anchor this book firmly into that universe though.
One of the two story mysteries really doesn’t get solved and I wonder if it will come to the forefront in the next book. The other mystery is fairly straightforward but does need to be solved in order to clear Manfred’s name. I enjoyed this one as much as the previous book and I can’t wait to see what happens in the not so sleepy town of Midnight.


Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley

[jthierer_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A solid middle entry to Harris' trilogy about a supernatural town in Texas where most of the residents aren't entirely human. In this entry, Manfred, the town's newest resident and online psychic has to call on the residents of Midnight to help him clear his name after a client dies mysteriously and her son accuses him of stealing her jewels. Meanwhile, the Rev takes in a strange new child while vampire Lemuel is away for most of the book looking for a translator for the ancient books discovered in the previous volume. One of the things I like best about this series (so far) has been the leisurely way Harris allows the characters to reveal themselves to each other and to the reader. While it can occasionally feel frustrating, I mostly like that there's no rush to get to 'answers.' However, this focus on the characters can sometimes lead to a plot that feels somewhat disjointed. Especially in this volume, the main 'mystery' gets solved in a really rushed way that didn't feel of a piece with the rest of the book. I'm still looking forward to the third volume, but more to spend time with these characters than to find out what happens.

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

Dayshift starts off by not only introducing several characters at once which by the time that they may actually appear in the book the reader has no idea whom they are; it also describes a town in go much detail the reader gets lost in all of the words and it distracts from the story. The mere storyline of the book is confusing as it starts with the mysterious reopening of a hotel, to a death, and a then intertwines a constantly growing boy; all of which leaves the whole hotel thing up in the air with no questions answered. Overall, Day Shift is an okay book.

[kwadyko · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this series!!!! #punkrocklibrarian

[kmajort · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Boo. While I enjoyed the characters in Midnight, TX, the first book (Midnight Crossroads) left me hopeing the series/trilogy would improve. Didn't. The plot lines were predictble and.... boring? Too bad. Probably won't bother with the next one.

[dne2004 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great sequel that answered questions that lingered and left more to be answered! I have truly enjoyed this series so far and find the vast differences between the book and the TV series refreshing. The book is so much better and has more things going on than the TV Series! If you like Sookie, you'll like this series as well! Plus you get to meet an old character from a Sookie book! The secrets of the people in Midnight are slowly being revealed!

[booklover3258 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in the trilogy. Loved it! So happy they finally brought in two characters from True Blood. The main premise is one of Manfred's clients winds up dying on him and he has to clear his name. Of course there are side stories with the rest of the residents of Midnight such as the strangeness of the hotel opening and the arrival of a young boy the Rev is taking in his care. Such a great series and love every character. Looking to finishing it up with the next book and getting into the tv show.

[nickhowes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The secretive eccentrics of Midnight, Texas return and phone psychic Manfred Bernardo finds himself a person of interest in three unrelated hotel deaths. It gets more complicated as things go on with aid from the violent Olivia and her vampire boyfriend, the largely normal Bobo, and Fiji, the witch. Not to mention the Rev, who is caring for a boy undergoing an unusually fsst growth spurt. Reads well and draws you along, revealing secrets about Midnight's residents along the way. Excellent reading.

[mrsmich02 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I would say I did not have a pleasant experience reading the first book in this series. Looking back I think I just really missed Sookie. However, this second book in the series read much better. I'm already a little indignant that the upcoming tv series does not portray the characters as in the book from what I've read in the media. I find this book fleshed out the residents of Midnight just enough to make me want to scoop up Night Shift and read their next adventure.

[cynrtst · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Day Shift

In Midnight, Texas, there is a psychic, a witch, her talking cat, an angel, a vampire, a hired killer, and other mysterious residents. In Day Shift, this second novel about Midnight, the psychic, Manfred Bernardo, is unfortunate enough to have one of his clients die during a session and her grasping son accuses him of stealing the jewels that she hid from him. It takes a village to get Manfred out of this predicament.

Charlaine Harris’s newest series is set in the same world as her Sookie Stackhouse universe, where vampires and weres are “out” but those of other natures haven't quite revealed themselves. Manfred is the real thing, a psychic with a large clientele who sometimes schedules meetings at hotels where he will see successive clients over a few days in nicer settings than his living room in Midnight. This time. Rachel Goldthorpe wants to talk to her dead husband, Morton, about their son, Lewis, who is badgering her about his inheritance and basically making her life miserable.

Written in a sparse, yet precise and descriptive style, the mix of characters and flow of plot is just right. The characters are all connected in logical ways that make sense in the framework of the story. They all seem to be given equal time to live and breathe with the exception of Madonna and her husband, Teacher, the proprietors of the local diner. They remain mysterious, but there are hints that the next novel might concern them.

A new character in town is Deideric, a small boy who is mysteriously left in the care of the Rev, the taciturn caretaker of the local chapel, who spends his time holding funerals for pets and marrying young couples who pass through. He is not a good choice for the boy, who seems to be growing by leaps and bounds each day.

When Manfred is questioned by the police, his fellow Midnight neighbors want to clear his name, get rid of the reporters lurking around town, get their lives back to normal, and get the spotlight off their quiet town. With the help of some surprise visitors from Harris’s previous books about Sookie, the book sets out to do just that. It doesn’t help that an old abandoned hotel has been renovated and filled with what appears to be indigent seniors with no known relatives. The motives of the hotel owners are hidden and the publicity of the new enterprise is not welcomed by the town residents, who would prefer to live anonymously.

I really like this new series and was very happy to have been given a chance to review the novel in advance as a member of Ace/Roc Stars. If the rest of the selection of books I received are this good, I will be in bookworm heaven for the rest of the year! Thank you Ace/Roc!

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think this is the second book in the Midnight, Texas series. I enjoyed this one as much as the first. I listened to this on audiobook while on a long car trip and it made the miles just fly by. I'm loving these characters.

[welsh_eileen2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Just an okay story for me sadly.Didn't gel with the characters, too much like a Stephen King story.I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Orion via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

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

Day Shift by Charlaine Harris is a paranormal book that is entertaining. I gave it four stars because it was fast moving, the characters were well developed & it kept my attention.While it was an entertaining book, it is the second in this series. I would suggest reading Midnight Crossroad first, only because there are several situations referenced that are not easily understandable. Otherwise, it is a stand alone book.I highly recommend Charlaine Harris' books for quick, fun reading.I would like to thank Penguin Group Berkley/Signet Romance & NetGalley for a complimentary kindle copy. This did not change my opinion for this review.

[leleliasky · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great follow up to Midnight, TX series. It is a quick and interesting read, with obvious open areas for future books. And, you will find comments about Sookie's world here which I find kind of unnecessary, but that is just my opinion. I love the Sookie series, but I don't feel need to blatantly throw it in here. Look forward to the next book!

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm new to this series and I really enjoyed this book, the second in the series. Really interesting characters, complex plot, and a continuation of the world-building in the True Blood books. And it really kept my attention - I tore right through it. I'm going to find and read the first book.

[cc123-3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

more things going on in Midnight, Texas and points on toward Dallas. We meet a couple others who have drifted through from Bon Temps, LA.

The mystery of who/what the other citizens of Midnight are is answered.

[jalenv_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Midnight Crossing didn't thrill me, but the sequel, Day Shift, was more interesting.

[thehistorychic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listened for Fun/Read for Review (Audible/First Read Program)Overall Rating: 4.00Story Rating: 4.25Character Rating: 3.75Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: Day Shift by Charlaine Harris really had 2 good mysteries but left me with some character questions.Overall Thoughts: People ask me if they liked Sookie would they like this series? The answer I give them is always the same: If you liked the mystery part of Sookie then I think you will like this series more. If you were more invested in the romance then I would skip Midnight Texas. Me, I am a fan of Charlaine's ability to write a solid, fun, twisty mystery with just a bit of "Oh my did that just happen" thrown in. Day Shift had 2 mysteries and I liked them both. That being said, I do have character questions left but I am guessing those will be answered in the next (final) book of the series. I really enjoy my time in Midnight!Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Susan Bennett / Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins Susan does a solid job with the narration but her male voices (2 of them) are a little too high pitched for me. I do love the emotion and cadence she brings to the table though. Her pacing is stellar and I will continue with this series on audio.Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews

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

This book was wonderful!!! Charlaine Harris has created yet another fascinating small town full of odd and interesting characters, each with their own unique back stories and abilities.
I loved the first book in the series, Midnight Crossroad, but this book was even better. The characters are really delved into and a lot is revealed about them. There are even more characters to be delved into. I can definitely see this being a long and successful series.
Day Shift has more than a few intriguing mysteries running throughout it that keep you guessing and turning pages like crazy.
Bonus for fans of the Sookie Stackhouse series: There's not one, but TWO cameos by beloved characters from Bon Temps!

[vampiregirl76 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent Read! I loved the first book, so I was eager to jump into this one. Of course Ms. Harris doesn't disappoint. She has created another great group of interesting and diverse characters. In this installment the reader learns more about each of the residents of Midnight. I feel there is a lot more to learn about these characters so I can't wait to read the next book. Fans of Charlaine Harris will be happy to know there are a couple familiar faces from the Sookie Stackhouse-verse. Day Shift is an exciting read with a great mystery to piece together.

[nbmars · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the second in a new paranormal series by the author of the Sookie Stackhouse books (which were adapted for a popular HBO series “True Blood”). When I started this book, I didn’t realize it was the second in a new series, but I’m happy to say that didn’t interfere at all with my ability to pick right up with the story and enjoy it. I was also pleased to see some characters from Harris’s earlier books. This series is set in the small town of Midnight, Texas (so small it’s pretty much just a couple of streets). Almost everyone who lives there is some kind of paranormal. The main character, Manfred Bernardo, is “just” a psychic, and in a very deeply funny conceit, all these other paranormals think that someone who says he is a psychic is off the wall and must be “woo-woo.”As the story begins, Manfred is seeing clients in a nearby larger town, but his first client of the day, Rachel Goldthorpe, dies while he is holding her hands and channeling her dead husband. Not only does this totally freak out Manfred, but Rachel’s son accuses Manfred of murdering her and stealing her jewelry from her purse.The other residents of Midnight know Manfred couldn’t possibly be guilty, and furthermore, don’t like too much attention directed at their strange little town, so they band together to help him get exonerated. They are also concerned about a new hotel that opened in their town - as if it needed a hotel!So the small group of “denizens” of Midnight have a number of reasons to meet and compare notes, not only about what is happening in their town, but about each other; there is much they don’t know, but only suspect, as to each other’s particular talent.Working together, they solve the crime, although there are a number of loose threads that will no doubt be picked up in future books in the series.Discussion: I saw that Manfred is from Harris's Harper Connelly series, but to be honest, I don’t remember him. So I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t get to “know” him better in this book. On the whole, however, I really liked the characters - especially Joe and Chuy. I also appreciated the many indications of Harris’s humor, in the way that she makes fun of the genre as much as she clearly loves it and her characters. I feel that this new series has a lot of promise, and will definitely be looking for the next book in the series.

[debra_armbruster · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In truth, my rating is closer to 3.5I enjoyed this book; more than I anticipated and more than I had enjoyed the first in the series, Midnight Crossroad. In Day Shift, Harris focuses in on some of the more intriguing residents of Midnight - Olivia, the Rev, Joe and Chuy - while skipping the romance-leads-to-kidnapping-and-torture-only-to-be-saved-by-friends-in-the-nick-of-time formula that irked me in Midnight Crossroad and several books in the Sookie series (although, yeah, I obsessively read them all). The Sookie series "Easter Egg" characters were a welcome addition as well!I had not been aware that several of the other Midnighters had appeared in other series written by Harris. Maybe Midnight, TX will prove to be the epicenter of some great Charlaine Harris literary mash-up. She certainly has quite a bit to draw from. It could be fun!

[mlake_22 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was great to visit Midnight again. I can't wait to go back.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Things are getting exciting in Midnight, Texas, which is not at all what the residents want. A mysterious company has bought the long-empty hotel and is turning it into a long-term hotel for both people working at a nearby technical company and elderly people waiting for openings in assisted living facilities. The first elderly residents are from Las Vegas and were recruited to live there. Manfred brings unexpected attention to Midnight when one of his clients died in his presence. He is being accused by her paranoid son of stealing her jewelry - jewelry that she told Manfred she hid from her son. Things heat up for him even more when it is learned that his client didn't die of natural causes.We learn more about Olivia in this book too. Some of the mystery about her is revealed as we learn of her abusive childhood and her current career as a hit woman. She is clearly someone who feels a lot of rage and who doesn't really see other people as real. She is recruited by the Rev to help solve Manfred's problems and get the spotlight off Midnight. Her first thought is to kill the son to end the threat.Adding to the things bringing unexpected attention to midnight is a young boy who is staying with the Rev. Figi helps keep his fed and clothed as he enters an accelerated growth period. It turns out his is a shapeshifter getting ready to make his first shift - into a Bengal tiger. We learn that the Rev also shifts into a tiger. There are some crossover characters from the Sookie Stackhouse series that make appearances in this story. Barry Bellboy happens to be the grandson of one of the elderly characters staying at the new hotel. He is terrified of being in Texas because the Texas vampires are still very unhappy with him. And the father of the young tiger shifter is Quinn who was one of Sookie's love interests. This was an interesting story filled with fascinating characters. There are certainly more stories to explore in Midnight, Texas, and I look forward to reading each of them.