Midnight in Delta County

Delta County #2

by J.L. Hyde

The highly anticipated sequel from the author of Delta County and Summer of '99

They thought the worst was over…little did they know it was just beginning.

By the final pages of Delta County and Summer of ’99, our main characters both found themselves at a crossroads.

Heather Matthews, pregnant and in handcuffs, had an uncertain future ahead of her. Quinn Harstead, newly married and enjoying literary success, found out that someone very close to her held the answers to a mystery from decades before.

The women come together when Quinn pens a bestselling account of Heather’s life in Delta County. Just when they think things are getting back to normal, several residents die at the hands of what may be a serial killer. A killer who seems to know a lot about both Quinn and Heather.

How many lives will be lost before this small-town murderer is caught?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2022

About the author

Hi Everyone!

Thank you for stopping by to rate my books or see my reviews. I don't spend much time on Goodreads, as it's not great for the mental health of an author to obsess over their own reviews.

I simply rate books as I finish reading them, and if you'd like a full review, check out my Instagram - @bookandbeerreview - where I keep it light, funny, and never disrespect fellow authors!

Happy reading!

Reviews

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot say enough about how much I love this entire series!! These books are so addictive and hard to put down!! It was so cool to see the characters from Delta County and Summer of '99 come together in this book. I love the small town setting, the characters, and the constant whodunit that kept me second guessing myself up until the very last word. Only downside for me was that I felt like this book ended with a cliffhanger of sorts. Hopefully that means more to come! 4 stars.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ A great quick and fast paced read. Was I the only one kind of confused by the ending though? Or am I just slow? Haha! I feel like there’s even more that needs to be told. The killer reveal didn’t really make sense to me. It just seemed so out of the blue and with no motive. And why was the magazine titled that? Am I missing something? And what are the other mistakes those 2 made? There’s got to be another book in the future. If not that was such a thrown together random ending. But I surely hope not. Hopefully it’s leading to another book. I was sure it was going to be a completely different person, who’s motive was jealousy. Boy was I way off.

[J.L. Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please enjoy my newest novel - a follow-up to Delta County and Summer of '99!

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

WAIT.... WHAT!???!

Midnight in Delta County is the last in Delta County Series. This last book combines the aftermath of Delta County and Summer of 99' with Quinn and Heather coming together when it looks like there is a new serial k!ller on the scene. Will they be able to uncover who is trying to cause rampant in this little town.

What i enjoy about this author is how quick i am able to get through her books. This was such a super quick read and i enjoyed being reunited with all the past characters and seeing how life was treating them.

I will say that i didn't see much growth in the two women. Heather still gave pushover vibes and Quinn wont let us forget that she is super rich. Plus the nonchalant-ness of one of the secrets that was revealed in Summer of 99' was irking me.

Did i guess the perpetrator Yes i did. There was something the author mentioned in the book that cemented it for me. I will say that although cleverly done it did leave a whole room open full of questions!

And the ending! I BEG YOUR PARDON!? What's going on!? I feel like this may not be the end of the series as we are being led to believe. 👀

3.5 ⭐


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
Excited to read the final book in the Delta County Series!
Cant wait to see how its all wrapped up!
I suspect this will be a quick read!😊🖤🤍

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little wrap up the Delta County series; however Midnight in Delta County was probably my least favorite of the three. The ending felt a bit rushed and somewhat confusing. Maybe that’s intentional if there’s going to be another book? Overall, the series as a whole makes for a decent summer read.

[Rylee Gainey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I absolutely loved every minute of this series and fell in love with each of the characters (the good ones though)!! But I will say this was my least favorite ending of the series. Note how I said ending and not book, the book gave me more time with my favorite characters and I was able to see their lives continued. I was completely convinced that the killer was going to be Jessie or Mitch! I really felt like Jessie could’ve masterminded the entire thing by planning her relationship with Matt just to end up framing him. J.L. Hyde planted some reasonable doubt towards Jessie’s case IMO by questioning if she had anything to do with the maintenance man that died at camp! I just felt like the ending would’ve made more sense that way. But I would still recommend everyone to read this series!!! I’ve come to love J.L. Hyde’s work through this series and I know that more people will as well!!! I’ve just ordered her book Underground and I can’t wait to start it!

[Kelly Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this novel as much as the other two in Hyde's "Delta" series. While there was her signature twist at the very end, this one felt a bit quick and anti-climatic. What exactly was the killer's motive here?

And the final tidbit about Julie? What "big mistake" might SHE have gotten caught for? I'm not sure what that was supposed to mean.

Will there be a fourth book featuring these characters so we can find out?

[Doreen Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down!!

I loved Delta County and Summer of '99, and I had high expectations for Midnight in Delta County. It completely surpassed all expectations! I loved this book sooo much! I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting! I thought I had figured it out, but I was wrong! I am not ready to let go of Heather and Quinn, please tell me their story is not over!

[Megan Wilfong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series and I hope it doesn't end. I was really worried for Meryl for a while, I'm so glad it didn't end that way. I'll be honest, I didn't see the killer coming because there were no hints given at all. I was more actually more shocked though, by the last paragraph with Julie?!?! What did she mean? What did they do? I hope we get more of this story!!!

[Keshia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to take my time to fully explain in words about the full series. What I love about this author is how they describe things. I felt like I was in the scene. What I don’t love is how all the suspense is within the last few pages of the book. It’s a very vanilla mystery thriller series. There’s not a lot of umph that gets your heart racing to see the next page. The killer made no dang sense. At all. None of their personality gave way to them being the killer. I think once the author finds their footing, digs deeper to make their books more thrilling, and combine that with their very descriptive nature, they will without a doubt be a number one best seller.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t heard of this author but saw a Tik Tok review of her book “Summer of ‘99”, which I devoured. I read Delta County next and was so excited to see this one come out that tied the two books together. I am a FAN! I will absolutely read anything else she writes. Loved this!

[Macy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My guess: this is not the last book in the series!

[Morgan Valente · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love the way i can never anticipate the ending of a jl hyde book and the way she manages to keep you hooked until the very end. such a good author

[Kait Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

JL hyde has done it again. If you love twisty and fast paced thrillers this is the 3rd in the delta county series and the last. JL hyde is extremely readable, and also gives so many twists to keep you interesting.

There’s not tons of dead ends and frustrating red herrings but enough suspense and intrigue that it keeps you guessing. Her books are also not over written - right under 300 pages which I think is the perfect page length. When a thriller is 360-450 I am getting bored and ready to just get to the reveals.

Overall a fantastic series. She is also an indie author and doing all the promotion and publishing alone. So make sure to support her! If you buy her books and read - spread the word on socials!

[Tori Bugg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! If you haven’t read Delta County or Summer of ‘99, wait to read this book. I loved how she joined two of my favorite characters into this new story that had me on the edge of my seat. There were twists and turns at every corner. I can’t wait to read more of her work and hope that she will continue with Heather and Quinn’s storylines.

[Kendall Foreman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This three book series was great! I really enjoyed how the first two books were brought together in this final book and the murder mysteries were all solved. Did not expect the ending so props to the author.

Friendly reminder to support your local Michigan authors!

~read through Libby through local library~

[Ashleigh Begres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super glad I decided to read Summer of ‘99 before this. Midnight is described as a sequel to Delta County but I would definitely put these three as a trilogy (Delta County, Summer of 99, Midnight in Delta County). Breezed through these in one day — couldn’t put it down.

[Raigan Novotny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that I wasn’t able to put down. This author really knows how to keep you engaged. I really cared about each character. Giving 4 stars because the ending didn’t feel right to me honestly. But that’s just my personal feelings. All in all still a really great book!

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great ending to this series! I love all the twists and turns this book has! This series is amazing and I will miss the characters!

[Laurin Wanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the pages turned on Delta County and the Summer of '99, both Heather Matthews and Quinn Harstead faced pivotal moments.

Heather confronted an uncertain fate. Meanwhile, Quinn unearthed secrets tied to a decades-old mystery.

Their paths converge when Quinn pens a bestselling tale of Heather's tumultuous life in Delta County. Yet, just as they settle into a semblance of normalcy, a string of deaths grips their small town, suggesting a sinister presence with intimate knowledge of their lives.

Will they unmask the perpetrator before more lives are claimed by this elusive killer?

1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 4.5/5 - The storytelling and multiple points of view are highly entertaining, with an engaging plot. However, there's a deduction of 0.5 points due to the necessity of reading the previous books for full comprehension, which is not clearly indicated when you go to buy them online (ex. Amazon).

2. **Characterization:** 5/5 - The characters are enjoyable with their growth, evolution, and realism throughout the book.

3. **Writing Style:** 5/5 - JL Hyde's writing style is commendable for its pacing and ability to maintain suspense while providing sufficient detail.

4. **Originality:** 4/5 - This book, for the most part, was unlike anything I’ve read before. It was a fresh take on a concept that I’ve encountered before.

5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 4/5 - The book successfully resonates emotionally and keeps the reader invested, but there's a deduction of 1 point due to the loose setup for a sequel, which leaves the ending feeling unresolved.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 - The book receives high marks across all categories, with minor deductions for the necessity of previous book knowledge and a slightly loose ending.

If you enjoyed “Midnight in Delta County” I recommend “The Night Swim” by Megan Goldin - A gripping thriller with multiple perspectives and a strong narrative voice.

[Madisen · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book and audibly GASPED at the big reveal at the end!! only complaint is it left me wanting more with almost every character and their ending

[Chelsea Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love her books!

[Nicole Neiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A perfect ending to this series. I just love the characters JL Hyde writes. They are so lovable, which I find super rare these days in books. Bringing both Quinn and Heather together made for a perfect story, and the growing suspense had me on the edge of my seat, I didn’t see the big twist coming at all. I really loved this one, highly recommended!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Kept me guessing til the very end. I am going to miss these characters and the little town of Escanaba!

[Maddie Margraf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love every book she writes!!!!

[Sammie Pechkurow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best sequels I’ve ever read - the way JL Hyde writes her characters has me feeling like I’m right there with them and they’re my friends. This book was probably my favorite out of the three & was filled with a lot more suspense. It was perfect & I’ll forever be recommending her

[Alyssa Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
I loved this book and how it connected Delta County and Summer of ‘99! The only part that was slightly confusing was when the author wrote about Quinn and Heather. Since it was written in 3rd person, the feeling and thoughts of each character just kind of felt weird. But the plot was amazing and I wasn’t suspecting the end at all.

SPOILER!
I don’t know if it’s just me, but at the very end when Ryan gives Julie a wink and she already has her bags packed, did they plan this? Or is there more to it?

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't decide between giving this book 3 or 4 stars. I liked it well enough but not as much as the previous books. It had a lot of build-up and a good premise, but then it was just over. The ending was anticlimactic and left a lot of questions to be answered. I wish that it was just a bit longer, even 20 pages. I wanted to know more about Julie and Ryan. Had they been killing people since college? Where did Julie go? Did Ryan get a life sentence? I just think there could have been more explored, and I'm bummed it wasn't. So overall, it was good but just not as good as the previous books.

[Shannon Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the whole series but found this book to be a disappointment overall, particularly the ending. I feel that the author just wanted a shock factor and thew something in there. There was no real build up or explanation and honestly made zero sense. I still liked the follow up of the characters from the other two books but the execution just wasn't there for me.

[Ray.Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently discovered J.L. Hyde and she has quickly become one of my favorite authors. After reading Summer of ‘99 and Delta County I was SO excited to read this book and it did not disappoint!!! I loved the combination with the first two books characters. I could not put this down! It has a lot of jaw dropping moments and with the ending I’m HOPING that means more books in this series to come ! Highly recommend!