At the Stroke of Midnight by Jenni Keer - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Before time completely stopped for Pearl Glenham, she was more concerned with stealing it.

And yet, paradoxically, the very reason for stealing it was an attempt to hold on to a moment that had long passed...

***

It’s 1923 and in a decade that promises excitement and liberation, Pearl Glenham and her father are invited to a mysterious country house party on the Dorset coast, by a total stranger.

Her father claims not to have any prior association with Highcliffe House, but upon arrival, it is apparent that he has a shared history with several of the guests, although he won’t admit it. Belatedly discovering that her father was blackmailed into attending, Pearl’s worries are compounded when their host fails to arrive… 

Intimidated by everyone at the party, she escapes to the nearby cove and stumbles upon a mysterious mercury clock hidden in a cave. This strange encounter sets in motion a series of events that will culminate in an horrific house fire, claiming the lives of all the guests, including Pearl herself.

But then Pearl wakes up back in the cave, seemingly destined never to live past midnight. She can repeat the day. But can she change its outcome?

***

I was introduced to the work of Jenni Keer last year when I read her novel, No. 23 Burlington Square. If you would like to read my review, you can find it by clicking here. I loved that book and so when I was offered the opportunity to read At the Stroke of Midnight for the blog tour I was very keen to do so.

The book has a familiar premise, the opportunity to relive a single day several times over. In fact, it reminded me a little of Kate Atkinson's Life After Life although it focuses on just one day rather than a lifetime. 

Indeed, it was it's familiarity which made this book so easy to read and enjoyable, and enabled me to really focus on the details of the story. And what a fabulous story it is.

The main character, Pearl, was a wonderful depiction of a mousy young woman who is dominated by her father, and who presents more as his servant than his daughter. She is very easily intimidated and retreats into her shyness when faced with the apparently indomitable characters who have been invited to this mysterious dinner party at Highcliffe House.  Observing her personal growth during this time made for wonderful reading and I was absolutely rooting for her all the way.

There is secrecy surrounding both the characters and the house itself running throughout the story. Little by little, the author reveals the mysterious background that the characters appear to share, as well as the mystery of the house and I was kept guessing throughout.

Add to this a love interest and a time travel element and Jenni Keer has produced a riveting and engaging novel. Without doubt, she is a marvellous storyteller and having now read two of her novels I am extremely keen to read more of her back catalogue.

This is a well written and compelling story which I highly recommend.

ISBN: 978 1785139697

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  338 (paperback)

About the Author:

Jenni Keer is a history graduate who lives in the Suffolk countryside. Her lifelong passion for reading became a passion for writing and she had two contemporary romance novels published in 2019. She has now embraced her love of the past to write twisty, turny historicals, and The Legacy of Halesham Hall was shortlisted for the Romantic Historical Novel of the Year in 2023. 

(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)