The Other Side of Midnight

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

This post contains spoilers

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

I‘ve loved this time with you all on SUNDAYS!!!

Thank you for reading along!

Any final thoughts!? I‘m sure I‘ve missed a thing or two! That last section was jam packed!

AmyG Enjoyable as always. I never usually see where she is going which I like. And with this one, I enjoyed the “fortune teller” scene during that time period. 4mo

Sargar114 This was a very good one! Hit all the St James high points. Ghosts, strong but unconventional female lead, troubled male interest, awkward romance… 4mo

mollyrotondo Excellent read! Thank you again!! I love reading mysteries together because it‘s a blast reading everyone‘s predictions week to week!!! 4mo

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Librarybelle Loved it! 4mo

Karisa @Sargar114 Perfect summary! 😊 What a fun wild ride of a book! I loved the supernatural scenes too, @AmyG 4mo

JaclynW Thanks for guiding us! Excellent book! Loved the clairvoyant aspects of this one. Loved the characters. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 I agree!!! 4mo

TheBookHippie @AmyG that was my favorite part. 4mo

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I love the together aspect and we all have no clue 😂. 4mo

TheBookHippie @JaclynW This one was a wild ride for sure. 4mo

kspenmoll @Sargar114 Said perfectly! Just loved this! 4mo

katy4peas Enjoyed reading it with everyone and reading predictions. I wasn‘t as creeped out by this one! 💕 you all! 🥰🥰 4mo

DebinHawaii I really enjoyed this one & although I think I am getting better at figuring out where St. James is going with her books, she always manages to throw in a few twists that I didn‘t expect. I love that Merriken was in this one & woukd be happy to see he & Jillian & Ellie & James pop up in other books. Thanks for the usual fab hosting! 🤗 (edited) 4mo

BookwormAHN This was a really great one 💜 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @mollyrotondo It's so easy to just plow through a murder mystery at warp speed to see what's next. These buddy reads force me to stop and ponder what's happening, coming up with different scenarios. Even when I'm wildly wrong, it amuses me. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I love the pace!!! It forces enjoyment and thought! I‘m always so wrong 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ about the ending! 4mo

TheBookHippie @BookwormAHN I just loved it! I think I say that every time! 4mo

mollyrotondo @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I totally agree! I usually read mysteries super fast. But our buddy reads make the experience more fun. Taking a little more time to ponder everything we know and piece it all together. And it‘s so fun to see which one of us guesses certain things correctly. Very fun! 4mo

mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie 😂 love it when the group has no clue just like me! Makes me feel so much better 😆 4mo

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I have zero clues ever 😂🤦🏻‍♀️. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD MAY is when we are with Simone next.

Lost Among the Living https://www.amazon.com/dp/0451476190/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_2RCG6ST8G262J31S1D...

AmyG I am excited for a new book! 4mo

mollyrotondo I read this one a few years ago so I‘m excited to reread it!!!!! 4mo

Librarybelle Hooray!! 4mo

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JaclynW Yay! 4mo

Kdgordon88 Just picked it up $6.99 kindle 4mo

DebinHawaii Thanks to @AmyG & my #wintersolsticeswap box, I have my copy & can‘t wait to read it with the group! 🤗 4mo

Kimberlone This one looks good!! 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii 🎉🎉🎉🎉 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kimberlone I think so too, I may say that every time 😂 4mo

BookwormAHN Yay 🧡 4mo

AmyG @DebinHawaii I got us both copies! 4mo

DebinHawaii @AmyG 🎉🤗🎉 Yay! 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Bright Young People
By D.J. Taylor
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 361 pages, $27

This is mentioned again- I think this is the fourth book I‘ve read recently that mentions these folks- so here‘s a book on that I want to read ..

Bright Young People https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374532117/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_a_WWQMQZMJ4386F9EEKAG...

mollyrotondo This book we read together talked about The Bright Young Things. I had never really heard of this description before really. I know more about the American flapper and not enough about the youth in the UK at the time.

The Glittering Hour

4mo

Librarybelle This looks interesting! 4mo

Karisa @mollyrotondo Oh! I remember that book. So sad. It feels like it does tie in with the St. James 1920s books well. 4mo

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JaclynW Seriously fascinating era. Great to read up on the history on both sides if the pond. I remember The Glittering Hour. 4mo

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo It‘s fun how it ties in! I keep reading different things with it referenced ! 4mo

kspenmoll Didn‘t we read a book The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey? The Bright Young things…or am I mixing books up?!🤣 oops just saw @JaclynW mentioned it (edited) 4mo

DebinHawaii Yes, so interesting it was mentioned in the notes which totally made me think of The Glittering Hour & a couple other books I have read since then were they have been mentioned. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I didn't realize London had their own Bright Young Things but I've been aware of the term & the basics of their ideology. I should see if this or something similar is available with my library. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I plan to look as well. It‘s so intriguing. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Pickford: The Woman Who Made Hollywood https://www.amazon.com/dp/0813191793/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_6T0S93TNZXNMHNZ3VQ...

She‘s mentioned so much in this story, I put this book on hold at the library. My grandma loved her. I know nothing other than she was a star. FYI

DebinHawaii I forgot she was mentioned & had to look it up. Of course it was the charming Davies! 🙄🤣 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

James an investigator
Ellie back to school
The dog safe and sound

Well…
This may be my favorite St James to date you?
Other than the Gloria storyline that is!

AmyG Ha....I can only say....the favorite one is the one I just finished. 4mo

Sargar114 Ha @AmyG 4mo

Sargar114 I think of these period piece ones, Silence for the Dead is still my favorite. But this one is second. I still like her more contemporary ones more, so super excited for her new one!

Silence for the Dead

4mo

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mollyrotondo I absolutely loved this one!!!! It‘s interesting that the Merriken books are my favorite lol. But yes this an An Inquiry into Love and Death are my top two favorites!!! 4mo

Librarybelle This one was so good! It‘s hard to say which is my favorite! 4mo

vlwelser Except maybe the first one, I have enjoyed all of these quite a lot. The best part might be reading them together. 4mo

Karisa @mollyrotondo I agree! Those two are my favorite St. James‘ books as well. Plus, reading them with #SundayBuddyRead does make them better too as @vlwelser said! Thanks, @TheBookHippie 💗 4mo

JaclynW This one is definitely a favorite for me! 4mo

kspenmoll This one I loved for so many reasons, but most especially Ellie‘s character. I cannot choose. Can‘t wait to buddy read more with everyone! 4mo

Kdgordon88 My first. Happy to have a nice back log to explore 😊 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 we have one more backlog for May and her new one we‘re going to read in August. 4mo

katy4peas I loved Silence for the Dead as well @Sargar114 this is a close 2nd and I haven‘t read the other one you guys are talking about. Maddy Clare was good but needed work compared to these! 🤦‍♀️ these have improved a lot! 4mo

DebinHawaii I think this is right up there for me. I found Silence of the Dead creepier overall but this one was very good. I am still a big The Sun Down Motel fan, maybe because it was my first. I like @AmyG ‘s answer! 🤣 4mo

BookwormAHN @Sargar114 @katy4peas I agree Silence For The Dead is still my favorite but this is a close 2nd. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I wonder if Ellie & James (and Merriken🤞) will show up in Lost Among the Living? Off hand I don't remember if it takes place before or after this one. Inquiry is my favorite (I might have a bit of a book boyfriend thing for Merriken) and Silence of the Dead is second. I've enjoyed them all so far (but didn't read The Broken Girls yet). 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Davies in Paris pfft well she‘s alive - have to say that annoyed me. So no redemption here..

Thoughts on her?

AmyG Not a fan of hers. She seemed to have loved Gloria. She was a bitter woman. 4mo

Sargar114 It was a pretty great red herring though. Made sense to the story and enough of a distraction to add flavor. I also liked that it made sense since George and Collin were brothers, to think it was the same person that “took” her that was killing psychics. Well done. Davies overall, meh 4mo

mollyrotondo I was so annoyed about Davies. And Ellie even said it: poor Ellie was here almost getting killed and Davies was living it up all expenses paid in Paris. Uhh Davies doesn‘t deserve it. And yeah no redemption regarding that homophobic line in the beginning. 4mo

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Librarybelle Davies does not get high marks in my book 4mo

vlwelser @Sargar114 💯 great red herring. I was a little annoyed that she wasn't murdered. 4mo

Karisa I thought it‘d have been better if Davies was edited out. One too many red herrings in this book for me! Did it even make sense that they‘d protect her? She had no special status and not much information to give as a witness. Pfft is right! 😂 4mo

JaclynW Loved the red herring. Davies was not a fan favorite. Seemed so unfair to be living it up in Paris while the good guys had their lives on the line - but c'est la vie...that is how it always goes. George had better do something nice for Ellie! 4mo

kspenmoll @Librarybelle no high marks for Davies in mine either. I assumed she had been murdered or fled! Protection for her seems a little overboard but having her show up again took me by surprise. 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser I‘m with you for upset she wasn‘t murdered 😂 4mo

katy4peas I guess she was protected because she was close to Gloria? 🤷‍♀️ 4mo

DebinHawaii Hah! We all were not fans. 🤣 Definitely just used as a red herring, somewhat effectively. @JaclynW I agree—Ellie should get a Paris honeymoon or something from George! 😉 4mo

BookwormAHN Nice red herring but I didn't like her. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I didn't care much for the character but we didn't get a lot of her directly anyway. I get that her business relationship with Gloria put her at risk, and I did assume George took her away, but sending her to Paris without danger is too clean. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Well wow the pond scene ! 😩

Ellie‘s conversation with Colin and then her refusal to take his hands.
And just walk out.
Would you?

AmyG What was the point of taking his hands? It was all done and over by that point. Ellie needed to put it all behind her and move on. 4mo

Sargar114 @AmyG I think it was to try and get answers If he refused to talk. She had a lot of the answers it seemed but maybe just getting confirmation. I like that she realized for herself that this isn‘t what she wanted. Good for Ellie. 4mo

mollyrotondo I guess the police needed an actual confession in headquarters with details in order to complete their report. But I‘m very happy Ellie decided that that‘s not what she wanted to be used for. The police can do their own job. Ellie didn‘t want to become that person. Her ability is for her to decide what to do with. 4mo

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Librarybelle I agree with @mollyrotondo - it probably would have helped the police tie up any loose ends and have an official confession of sorts. But, I think Ellie did the right thing. 4mo

vlwelser I love that Ellie stood up for herself here. 4mo

JaclynW I love that Ellie used her voice. But secretly I wanted all of the details. @mollyrotondo Is right that the police should do their job and get those details. 4mo

AmyG @Sargar114 Yes…I agreed it was to get more answers. What I should have said was…what was the point as in it‘s over and done. Why learn anything else that could upset or disturb her. 4mo

TheBookHippie @AmyG Right?! She got answers that helped her say goodbye, time to get on with her life. 4mo

AmyG @TheBookHippie Why dig herself deeper into the story. If she is going to move on-then move on. What she doesn‘t know can‘t hurt her. 4mo

TheBookHippie @AmyG Who needs to see all that evil? And also what toll would it have on her physically ? 4mo

kspenmoll @TheBookHippie @AmyG She did the right thing.why see/feel all the evil in Colin? I like that she took charge of herself & walked out. 4mo

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll Exactly. Good to put herself in control of it all. 4mo

DebinHawaii I agree with everyone—I was proud of her. She was used enough by George Sutter already & didn‘t need to put herself at more risk of her mental & physical health to get the details for them. I felt like it was healthy behavior for her. 4mo

katy4peas I thought it would be a fun gig for her to help the police by getting the true details of things, but I‘m glad that she got to decide what she wanted. Even if she helped the police, she would be seeing and feeling so many extra things that she wouldn‘t be able to express to them and that would take a toll. Good for her for saying no 4mo

BookwormAHN I think she needed a few answers for herself which is why she went but they were going to execute him and anyone who she saw connected to him so I think for herself it was best she left. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I would've read that son of a bitch like a Simone St James novel! 🤣🤣 Partly to implicate him for everything he did and partly because I'm nosy. I also have a general disregard for my safety in strange situations so... 4mo

Sargar114 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 😂🤣😂🤣 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 😂✊🏼👏🏼👏🏼 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Black Dog terrorist saboteur COLIN
intelligent men in the right hands always the most dangerous …true?

All for the love of a woman who was helping English soldiers escape war
And was executed for it..wow!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Cavell
Edith Cavell

Who was Edith Cavell? A Collection of Essays Celebrating the Great British Nurse https://www.amazon.com/dp/1528719786/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_BQY979VMZWXVKK9VEQ...

TheBookHippie Fatal Decision: Edith Cavell, World War I Nurse (2nd edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1595983546/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_RQNT8FJ3J34ZX8DXY3... 4mo

TheBookHippie Edith Cavell, Nurse Hero https://www.amazon.com/dp/1595985204/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_V8QS65QAYX8FFMWS5Z... 4mo

AmyG More like intelligent man in the wrong hands. This Edith Cavell...so interesting. 4mo

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Sargar114 Very interesting! This gave some meat to the twist for me. I think @DebinHawaii may have called it! 4mo

mollyrotondo Oh wow so many books about Edith Cavell! Thank you! I can see a man like Colin who was a completely stressed soldier and loses his love by the hands of his own countrymen being an easy target for the enemy to mold. I like how St James used this true story to enhance her own story. 4mo

Librarybelle Thanks for the resources!!! 4mo

vlwelser So interesting. Thank you. 4mo

vlwelser I get why Colin lost his shit. But why does he go after the British? My brain didn't like this. 4mo

Karisa @vlwelser Agreed. It felt a bit thrown together. It was a nice idea to give Colin some depth though. It felt like if he‘d been doing to try to save the nurse (like striking a deal with the Germans) it would‘ve worked better. 4mo

Karisa Wow! She helped 200 soldiers escape! That‘s awesome! So brave and selfless. Thanks for the resources, @TheBookHippie 4mo

JaclynW An intelligent man in the right hands is always the most dangerous, yes! We could probably dig up a fee examples. Thanks for the Edith Cavell info. I didn't realize she was an actual person. Cool tie in. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Edith sounds like an interesting lady. Intelligence can be dangerous, regardless of what side you're on. He just happened to get lured in by the enemy. The entire turn of events to "why" felt tied together a bit too neatly but still plausible. 4mo

kspenmoll Yes, very true. @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I agree. The ending‘s events seemed to speed the story up & suddenly it was all over… 4mo

kspenmoll Thanks for the resources you give us Christine! This book is now in my A want! 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser It‘s a bit off but he‘s have to be I guess? It reminds me of Americans and British joining ISIS. Just doesn‘t compute. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle @mollyrotondo I thought it was fascinating. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Karisa Who knew?! I love when we learn once again of a brave selfless woman in history. 4mo

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll I get so many TBR books from my curiosity 😂 sharing the love. I find this twist of it being based off a real person so intriguing! 4mo

DebinHawaii @Sargar114 I had parts of it but it definitely surprised me a bit too. I am not 100% on Colin hating his country so much (for the war & not doing enough to save his love?) but when the German‘s killed her, I find it hard to believe he wouldn‘t hate them more. I guess he did become a mercenary at the end but you think he would have gone back to get revenge on her killers at some point.🤷🏻‍♀️Edith Cavell is such an interesting character, I have ⬇️ 4mo

DebinHawaii … a bit about her when googling info about female resistance fighters in both wars prompted by historical fiction. Thanks for the links to more info! 4mo

katy4peas Yeah, this part got me confused a bit too. Wouldn‘t he turn against the Germans for killing her? 🤔 she sounds fascinating. More reading to do! 4mo

BookwormAHN Edith sounds fascinating and I can kind of see why Colin would turn against the British government but not the people in general. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Gloria‘s thoughts about Ellie
Their part in each other‘s lives
What do you think now of their relationship ?

AmyG They “understood” each other like nobody could. That was their bond. 4mo

Sargar114 The end of Gloria‘s life ended up being pretty sad. I think she truly cared about Ellie and recognized her power as stronger than her own, but her competitive nature and her survival instinct got the better of her. It also seemed she and Ellie‘s mother were in a way trying to protect Ellie and give her an “out” of the business. 4mo

mollyrotondo They had an interesting relationship. They were friends but Gloria always let her competitiveness get in the way. Once they realized their abilities could start to vanish they should have stuck together. 4mo

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Librarybelle I feel bad for Gloria, who seemed to be suffering so much in the end. And, Ellie and Gloria had a special bond, contentious at times, but a bond all the same. 4mo

vlwelser It almost seems like a missed opportunity because they didn't really reunite before Gloria died. But it also gave Ellie something other than her mother for perspective. 4mo

JaclynW @AmyG Exactly! They had something together that you just couldn't find in anyone else. I think they both took it for granted until it was too late to do much with it. They could have been the best of friends and allies. @Sargar114 @mollyrotondo @Librarybelle @vlwelser And yes to the competitiveness getting in the way. Sometimes you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. (que the 🎶) 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I think they needed each other. It's sad they couldn't come together and be friends again before Gloria's death. 4mo

kspenmoll @Sargar114 @AmyG Agree with you both. Missed opportunity for supporting each other but Glorious competitiveness & Ellie‘s Mom really wanting her out of the life she led got in the way of a real relationship between Ellie and Gloria. 4mo

DebinHawaii I don‘t think Gloria had a real relationship with anyone in her life having been cast out from her family, but Ellie was probably the closest. Gloria was very complicated and I found her quite sympathetic in the end—what a lonely life. I think she and Ellie could have helped each other out, but agree that Gloria‘s competitive nature got in the way. (edited) 4mo

katy4peas @DebinHawaii I‘m not sure Gloria knew how to have a relationship either as she had been cast out of her family. While she wanted to be friends/sisters with Ellie, she didn‘t know how in a way that would work for both of them and ended up splitting them apart rather than keeping them close. 4mo

BookwormAHN It was sad that they couldn't stay close because of Gloria's insecurities/competiveness. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Colin killed his own sister?!
The BOMBER?!
Gloria wasn‘t supposed to die ?!
It was a safe house
George set it all up😱
Gloria KNEW Colin wasn‘t dead
Gloria told Colin “no” not to kill Ellie

Seriously elaborate plot!

How did you like this unfolding ?

AmyG Yes, very elaborate. What saddens me most is how her brothers didn‘t protect her....as they should have. I was wondering if George was the cause of her murder but it was thhe other brother, Colin. That was a surprise. And I loved that Gloria saved Ellie. (edited) 4mo

Sargar114 It was a bit of a stretch for me, but it did end up coming together very well. So sad that while George was kinda behind it, he was ultimately trying to protect her. It was very St. James how the humans are the worst and ultimately the ghosts help the MC. I still very much enjoy that. 4mo

mollyrotondo Colin was very sick to have killed his own sister. George was trying to protect Ellie by bringing her to the safe house but it was too late. I want to say that I actually cried when Ellie‘s ghost spoke in Colin‘s ear and said “no”. All the family was around him too. The two brothers who did die were there. Uhh it was such a heartbreaking but beautifully written scene. 4mo

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Librarybelle Agree with @Sargar114 - the Colin line of the story, and he being the bomber, seemed a bit of “wrapped in a nice bow” for me, but it did all come together in the end. 4mo

vlwelser This was seriously banana pants. But she did sort of make it obvious from the start that this had something to do with the brothers. 4mo

Karisa I thought it was clever that the killer was “brought back from the dead” but not in a supernatural way. Also, loved how Ellie and Gloria were together again for a moment. George was still creepy to me. He should have looped Merriken in as it was his case. (I loved having that character overlap here too.) 4mo

JaclynW I loved how it all unfolded. I bought it all. It was unfortunate to have Gloria die but without that, where would our story be? I really wasn't expecting it to happen this exact way but thought it was clever. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I think this is the St James book that surprised me most. I did NOT suspect one of the other brothers. 😲 4mo

kspenmoll Just loved this. Resurrected Colin was a shock to me but wrapped up The reason for Gloria‘s death etc. clever how Ellie could feel/hear her… Gloria saving her was fabulous twist. As for George- YUK 4mo

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll I do not like George at all. Ugh. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I agree! 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser I thought possibly it was George but this was as you say BANANAS! 4mo

DebinHawaii I thought it was intriguing & although pretty out there, she brought it together in the end. I expected Gloria would pop up to help Ellie but it was kind of cool (& sad) that they all were there. I did have it in my head from last week it was a brother who didn‘t die (not Harry) but didn‘t know which one it was) who killed Gloria & that George (big creepy jerk face) knew somehow & was using first Gloria & then Ellie for bait to draw him out. 4mo

katy4peas I thought it was a clever twist how she explained Colin still being alive and the Germans taking him in etc. I didn‘t quite understand how he could see all of the ghosts at the end. That was an unexplained new power that came from nowhere! 4mo

BookwormAHN I had a feeling that one of the brothers had survived but it was horrible that he was the one trying to kill her. Gloria saving Ellie was a fantastic twist. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

She was ALONE that whole time— Ellie!

DUBBS TOTAL FAKES 🤦🏻‍♀️
the inspector missed it!

“There is nothing I hate worse” Merriken clarified “is people who metal in my murder cases- except possibly ghosts don‘t ever talk to me about ghosts….”BAHAHAHAHAHA 😂

Headaches- they all get such severe headaches
I need to look up the mediums of that time and now it all is fascinating.

Lots of gems in this section!

Thoughts?!

AmyG It was wild. She is lucky she wasn‘t killed. All the secrets revealed! 4mo

Sargar114 I seriously enjoyed the throwback to her earlier novel. This was a very exciting section! So many answers. 4mo

mollyrotondo When it was revealed that the detective and James were delayed and no one was with you I was shocked. She was on that bike all by herself. 😬 and I was so certain the Dubbes were real. Boy was I wrong 😆 I love how this book kept so much under wraps in a very well done way. 4mo

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Librarybelle Once again St James kept you in the dark until the end. I was freaked out when Ellie learned she was alone - yikes! 4mo

vlwelser I love that she references the prior book. It's fun that she reused this character. 4mo

Karisa We knew something was up but them, but still so surprising that the Dubbses were agents! 😱 So elaborate to have a whole estate too! 4mo

JaclynW Super cool throwback. I was super worried for Ellie! But....knew she could handle it. She's tough! 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I may have uttered "Oh shit" when I read that she was alone, now that houndstooth coat is dead. I really enjoyed having the connection to a previous book. I didn't expect the Dubbses to be agents. 4mo

DebinHawaii Yikes on Ellie being alone besides houndstooth! 😱 I felt the Dubbes were planted to get Gloria out there, but didn‘t pick up on them being agents. The estate was interesting too with all of the weapons. I like that I can usually figure out parts of her books but St. James always throws some twists in there too. 🤔 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii Just when I think I have it figured 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ I‘m wrong. I had less ideas on this one than the last one! 4mo

kspenmoll I was unprepared for Ellie being alone on her bike- I am glad she had no idea! This book surprised me totally in how it all wrapped up in the end. 4mo

katy4peas I think she had more courage because of the hope that her friends were waiting for her and would help her. I‘m glad that she didn‘t know that she was alone at that point. 😱 4mo

BookwormAHN I wasn't surprised that the Dubbs were fakes, but the one time she could of used someone following her 🤦🏼‍♀️ 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

https://www.history.com/news/flu-pandemic-wwi-ouija-boards-spiritualism

https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2021/10/14/understanding-the-1920s-sp...

https://www.historyextra.com/period/first-world-war/rise-spiritualism-after-ww1-...

Some interesting reading associated with our story.

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

kspenmoll These look great! Will read. Thanks for all the research you do- enriches our reading! 4mo

44 likes1 comment

TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

Read for #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD 🤫🤐👀

kspenmoll Your mug!!!! 4mo

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll I made it at Shutterfly!!! It says Litsy on the other side 😂😂🤫🤫 4mo

LeahBergen Yes, your mug is wonderful!! 4mo

Chrissyreadit Excellent mug 🙌🎉🙌🎉🙌🎉 4mo

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mollyrotondo

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

pick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another excellent Simone St James ghost story mystery. So many twists and a very satisfying ending. Don‘t want to say too much since our last #sundaybuddyread discussion is this week but I definitely recommend! Can‘t wait to discuss!

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katy4peas

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

pick

A lot of fun with spookiness, twists and turns. This one had likable characters and an interesting premise. I didn‘t guess it till the end. #sundaybuddyread St James is becoming a favorite author of mine. I like to do audiobooks and I like the narrator that does her stories. This is a fun read!

48 likes

Librarybelle

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

pick

St James is crazy good at spooky stories, and this one is another great example of her work. Psychics and murder and mystery and of course danger are all related to this novel. Won‘t say more because of the #SundayBuddyRead , but this is definitely another winner! #19822022 #2015

TheBookHippie

TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️ 4mo

ferskner Oooooo I haven't read any of her backlist! 4mo

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BookwormAHN

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

pick

Loved this one. Set during the Age of Spiritualism in Great Britain, Ellie is drawn in to solve the mystery of who killed her exfriend and rival the medium Gloria Sutter.
I can't wait for the discussion this Sunday!
#SundayBuddyRead @TheBookHippie
#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks
#TheSupernaturalYear #brothers @AkashaVampie

kspenmoll Me too! For all that you said! 4mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4mo

TheBookHippie 🎉🎉🎉🎉 4mo

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Sargar114

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

pick

What I love about St. James is her ability to allow me to suspend disbelief and become so immersed in whatever world she has created for us. I don‘t know if I believe in ghosts or psychic abilities but none of that mattered with this story. Another solid one! Also loved the appearance of a former character in one of her previous books; that was fun. Read for #sundaybuddyread

TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 4mo

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vlwelser

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

pick

❤🤐
I started with the ebook and switched to the audio. Both are great.

#SundayBuddyRead @TheBookHippie
Final discussion on Sunday.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheBookHippie I cannot wait to be reunited with my book! I NEED TO KNOW HOW IT ENDS! Hahahahaha. 4mo

vlwelser 😂🤣 HOW DO YOU REALLY FEEL ABOUT IT? @TheBookHippie. My question here is why the heck did you not take it with you? 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser I do not trust myself 😂😂😝🤦🏻‍♀️ 4mo

See All 9 Comments

vlwelser @TheBookHippie What do you do when you're home? Have someone hide it from you? 4mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser Yup 😂😂😂 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser Simone is the only one I have trouble with though 😂 otherwise I don‘t have problems waiting 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

vlwelser @TheBookHippie 💯 except I also struggled to put down Chloe Gong. So glad we are reading the sequel in March. 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser me too!!! I cannot wait to see where it goes. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

WE GET TO FINISH IT NOW!!!

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

I made it through the questions ♥️♥️♥️posting from the city was ridiculous ! I‘ll catch up with you all tonight!

AmyG Ha! I just want to find out who killed Gloria already! And I want Ellie to keep the dog. 4mo

vlwelser @AmyG 💯🐕 4mo

JaclynW Done! Couldn't wait to finish! 😉😆 4mo

See All 13 Comments

katy4peas Yay! 4mo

TheBookHippie @JaclynW my book is at home 😂😂 4mo

DebinHawaii I had to finish the section & deliberately put my Kindle away last night so I wouldn‘t read more/ahead! 😬 I don‘t know if I‘ll hold out until next weekend, but I have a book I am behind on for review, so I am going to try pretend this one does not exist for at least a few days! 🤣😱🤣 (edited) 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I have no choice 😂😝 my book is 2 hours away at home 🤷🏻‍♀️ I didn‘t want to be tempted! I can‘t wait to get at it! 4mo

DebinHawaii @TheBookHippie Hah! That‘s smart.🤓 I am too tempted by my Kindle. 4mo

JaclynW @TheBookHippie Where are you?! 4mo

TheBookHippie @JaclynW Chicago. Saw a concert and I needed to come 'home' for a few days. 4mo

JaclynW @TheBookHippie How fun! What concert? 4mo

TheBookHippie @JaclynW my sons Christmas present -Tedeski Trucks 4mo

JaclynW @TheBookHippie I love memory making gifts! 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

The CIGARETTE ?

So many loose ends to tie up!
Any guesses?

Did I miss anything ?

AmyG She could hold the cigarette and hope to see who the person who smoked it. 🤞🏻 4mo

vlwelser I'm just pumped to finish. 4mo

Librarybelle I cannot wait to finish this!!! 4mo

See All 19 Comments

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This chapter was a bit of a turning point for me that I now wonder if the man in the houndstooth coat was following her for George to protect her from danger. He might not have cared about her as much as he wanted to protect his asset, but I now think it's not George behind all this. 4mo

Karisa Out in the field a cold cigarette butt could be anyone‘s. I have the mom instinct to think “Yucka! Put that down!” when she mentions cigarette stubs. 😂 4mo

Karisa @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Yeah, if the houndstooth guy was hired by George he didn‘t seem to be there to hurt her. But are we even sure he was connected to George? Could houndstooth have been Scotland Yard? How can a book with so many loose threads still be so satisfying???🤔😅 4mo

Sargar114 @Karisa totally gross! I still have to know!!! 4mo

Karisa @Sargar114 😂😂😂 4mo

JaclynW The cigarette is key!! 4mo

BookwormAHN Key or not I wouldn't touch someone's cigarette bud 🙀 4mo

katy4peas @BookwormAHN COVID! 🤢 4mo

katy4peas @Karisa right?! George could still be the killer and the other guy could be protecting her from George! And houndstooth knew she could see from the cig so he lit one to help her out knowing he might get shot in saving her at some point? 😳😮 i need to finish this story 😱 4mo

DebinHawaii Houndstooth was there to protect her & probably under George‘s direction. George isn‘t the murderer but knows what is going on & used Ellie to draw the murderer out. As I said in other answers, I think this is all a cover up for something that happened in the war &/or is tied to the news of factory bombings that have popped up-because why mention those if they aren‘t involved? Some government conspiracy involving MI5, spies, etc. & Gloria got ⬇️ (edited) 4mo

DebinHawaii … info she shouldn‘t have or saw something from Harry maybe involving one of her other brothers & that‘s why she was killed. And that‘s all I got! 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

TheBookHippie @Karisa We know nothing and yet I love it so. 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii 🤷🏻‍♀️ it‘s more than I‘ve got!!! I suspect everyone 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ 4mo

TheBookHippie @BookwormAHN even pre covid and or possibly my youth- just no. Why do people share cigarettes or joints?! No just gross😩 4mo

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle ME EITHER!!! I won't see my book until Wednesday BAHAHAHA. 4mo

mollyrotondo The cigarette! So unfair to stop there 😂 but yeah I feel like George was trying to just get to the bottom of some spy or terrorist plot and didn‘t care who got hurt in the process. But definitely can‘t wait to finish! Such a great St James mystery! 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Bicycle ! CRAASH…
Houndstooth jacket man DEAD
PROTECTED HER?
Black dog?

📸I just like it😂

AmyG Ha...I love the dog. She saved the dog and the dog will save her. 4mo

vlwelser I also like the pic. 4mo

vlwelser Maybe it's the ghosts or the fact that these books don't have to follow a traditional logic path, but I never know what St James is up to until she decides to tell me. 4mo

See All 15 Comments

Librarybelle This was a creepy scene! 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick St James likes including animals. I was tickled that Pickwick was trotting up the hill alongside Ellie. This question didn't show a moment ago so I kind of answered in the next one, but if houndstooth coat guy was working for George as suspected, George isn't our guy. We met Paul, but did we need to? Would he be introduced just to show he waning powers? I think he's playing a role here... especially with James telling Ellie he's done there. 4mo

Karisa @vlwelser 😂 I feel the same way about most Doctor Who episodes! You‘ve thrown so much out there; I‘m just going to wait until the end for the pieces to click together. The ride has been a lot of fun though! 4mo

Sargar114 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick good point re George! I wonder if Black Dog is a code name or word to signal trouble in case someone is following him? I too love this relationship with the dog. The second she brought him with her, I knew he‘d be important in helping her one way or another. 4mo

JaclynW Pickwick is my favorite! So cute! This bicycle scene was quite scary! @Sargar114 I started thinking black dog was code too. 4mo

JaclynW @Karisa @vlwelser Definitely wait for the pieces to fall together! My approach too. (I mean i still TRY to poece it together but always feel im probably way off! Ha!) Such a fun ride. 4mo

BookwormAHN That chapter was nuts. I just need to finish the book now. 4mo

katy4peas @BookwormAHN ha! Me too! 4mo

katy4peas @JaclynW @Sargar114 I thought that too. Maybe that is the code name of the bad guy! And the houndstooth jacket guy had ID‘d him? 4mo

DebinHawaii I think code word for sure & again, I really think it is connected back to the war somehow & to the current bombings that have been brought up. And yes, Pickwick is the best. 💜 4mo

mollyrotondo I am assuming houndstooth guy is some sort of agent trying to track down this killer who is involved in some international espionage crime or something? I don‘t know but it killed me to stop at this part 😆 4mo

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo how the chapters divided without my knowledge is a tad creepy 😂😩 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

The mermaid card
The walk together
“I‘m not ashamed I‘m living my life”
Change your opinion of Gloria?

tpixie Lovely illustration ♥️ 4mo

AmyG I have never been too sure about Gloria...whether she was good or bad. I always just got the feeling she was looking out for herself. (edited) 4mo

vlwelser This seems to be more about Ellie's missed opportunity. 4mo

See All 21 Comments

Librarybelle It did not change my opinion of Gloria. I agree with @AmyG that she seemed to be looking out for herself. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I think Gloria was rather selfish, in that she had to look out for herself, but I think she saw Ellie as her sheltered opposite. Being that they're both young women with this unique gift, I think Gloria wanted Ellie to come ot of her shell a bit more. I liked the mermaid imagery. 4mo

Karisa I liked the way they both thought of mermaids as a symbol. It was a beautiful idea. I‘ve liked the character of Gloria throughout the book. She was brave, smart, and independent (women didn‘t even have the right to vote until 1928 in the UK). As for the tests, it felt like Ellie‘s mom had wanted the tests too and had a say in it. I didn‘t really hold it against Gloria. It‘s too bad they couldn‘t have stayed close. 4mo

Sargar114 @Karisa I agree, I loved that symbolism. Gloria seemed true to herself and looking out for herself knowing no one else would 4mo

JaclynW I loved the mermaid bit. Quite moving. I've liked Gloria the whole way through. Selfish, yes possibly, but I think she had to/was looking out for herself because no one else was. I still think she's a caring person. She's a strong female character which is what I love. @Sargar114 @Karisa @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @Librarybelle @vlwelser @amyg 4mo

Sargar114 @JaclynW St James always does a great job with her female characters 4mo

BookwormAHN Love the mermaid pic. I think Gloria has had to look out for herself and has major and justified trust issues. 4mo

katy4peas @JaclynW @BookwormAHN @Karisa @Sargar114 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I agree. I do like Gloria overall. She seems selfish at times, but she is living on her own and has been disowned from her family. She has to look out for herself and this is how she has learned to do it. I think she thinks she is looking out for Ellie in a way by helping her learn independice 4mo

DebinHawaii I am ok with Gloria, she did what she needed to do to get by & while I think she cares for herself more, I think she cares for Ellie & for her brothers. 4mo

TheBookHippie @BookwormAHN I love a good mermaid pic 🧜🏻‍♀️ 4mo

TheBookHippie @tpixie I love mermaids ! 4mo

TheBookHippie @AmyG Survival mode. 4mo

AmyG @TheBookHippie Yep. 4mo

tpixie @TheBookHippie- speaking of mermaids 🧜‍♀️ I just saw the movie, The King‘s Daughter. It didn‘t quite hit the mark, but I still enjoyed it. You may watch for it to hit streaming, if you don‘t want to risk the $$ in the theater. 🧜‍♀️ (edited) 4mo

BookwormAHN @tpixie Thanks for the heads up. I do eventually want to see it. 4mo

TheBookHippie @tpixie Ooo thanks!!! 4mo

tpixie @BookwormAHN @TheBookHippie 👍🏻🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️ (edited) 4mo

mollyrotondo So I really loved Gloria‘s reasoning for continuing to work and live her own life. Everything she said about how these two very young women were given an extraordinary gift by some higher power when this world on earth gives women nothing was very powerful. I can‘t say I like Gloria but I do believe she is so correct in continuing to use her gift for her own benefit and success. 4mo

10 likes21 comments

TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Octavia-
“Gloria was AFRAID”

and made her pay …

Was Gloria‘s fiancé -the brother - saying a message?

AmyG Maybe. Or just the set up for the end. 4mo

vlwelser Could the living brother be the bad guy? I can't wait to finish. 4mo

Librarybelle I was a little confused by the “darling” comment. What if she saw someone else that has led to her death??? It could have been Harry, though. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

See All 14 Comments

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick The war ended in 1919. We're in 1925? Would Octavia's dad really let her be single and mourn her fiancé for 6 years? It's probably unrelated but just something in my mind. I can't conjure up what message the brother would be sending Gloria. 4mo

Karisa It is difficult to know with 3 brothers dead which one came to her. I would guess it had been Harry too though because of the proximity to Octavia. Octavia and her father were booking it out of there when Ellie came to see her. Felt like something was going on there too. So many untrustworthy characters in this book! Either they are working altogether or a ton of red herrings! 4mo

Sargar114 Part of me wonders if she saw Ellie‘s mom. I feel like I remember her calling her darling or maybe she just called Ellie that. Possibly why she sent George to find Ellie…if he‘s not the suspect 4mo

JaclynW @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Good point. 4mo

JaclynW Such a suspenseful moment! I had no guesses as to who! 4mo

BookwormAHN Maybe one of her brothers isn't really dead? 4mo

BookwormAHN I mean I can't believe she wouldn't have tried to contact them. 4mo

katy4peas @Sargar114 that would be a good twist. Especially since they aren‘t able to or supposed to or can‘t easily contact their own dead family members 🤔 Gloria thought it was Harry, but it wasn‘t 4mo

DebinHawaii I feel like her brother (& probably Harry) was who she called darling & he told or showed her something that scared her & that‘s what she was trying to cover up. Like @BookwormAHN I am wondering if all 3 brothers are even dead. Was one or more involved in something traitorous in the war? Who‘s trying to cover it up? Does it have anything to do with the current bombings that have come up a couple times? (edited) 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii SOMETHING. Has to be that 🤷🏻‍♀️😩 4mo

mollyrotondo @DebinHawaii @BookwormAHN I am starting to wonder about the brothers myself. Is one of them not really dead? But I have no idea why or how. Still completely in the dark 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Fritz and the set up and all those lies!!
What the world? What man is behind all this? And why?

AmyG No clue. I can‘t wait to just finish this and find out! 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick He's useless.I'm still at a loss as to who is behind all of this. I'm starting to suspect Paul Golding. George is shady but would the most obvious throughout really be the culprit? Being a lead investigator at the New Society, Paul might have secrets these clairvoyants found out. Would Davies & Ramona trust him enough to allow him to get close enough for murder or in Davies case, cooperation? Does he just want Ellie to think she's losing power? 4mo

Librarybelle This is definitely more pieces of the puzzle, but how do they all fit?!?! 4mo

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Karisa @Librarybelle Exactly! 🧩🤔🧩🤔🧩🧐 4mo

Sargar114 I love how St James is slowly revealing pieces of the puzzle. With this story it also makes sense why it wouldn‘t come out all at once, so I‘m really enjoying it. Fitz seems too incompetent to be involved more than as a red herring. I‘m suspecting George or after this week‘s discussion possibly Davies. 4mo

BookwormAHN I think Fitz is just entitled trouble but too much of a wimp for real harm. 4mo

katy4peas @BookwormAHN agree, he isn‘t the smartest either. Too much of an ego. 4mo

DebinHawaii I feel Fitz is just a patsy in the whole thing & used like the Dubbes. We know Ramona saw something & that‘s why she died. I don‘t think we have seen enough of Paul Golding for him to be the murderer. I think he was there to bring Ellie to the power-loss idea. I think it has to do with a secret from the war & it somehow involved at least one of Gloria‘s brothers & George may know what it is & trying to hide it/keep it covered up maybe? 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

mollyrotondo Fitz is so annoying. How could you not say to someone hey there was a man trying to lure Gloria out to some house especially after Gloria ended up dead?! The man has to be a mystery person that no one still alive truly knows. Maybe it‘s one of Gloria‘s brothers and one of the dead brothers isn‘t really dead? I have no clue. I‘m just overthinking things now lol 4mo

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo is he an addict did I miss that or just bad with money? He is definitely a patsy but who knew that much to use him other than Davies? 4mo

mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie I think Fitz was selling drugs to Ramona. I‘m sure he used too but it sounds like he was supplying drugs to her. So he didn‘t want his dad finding out so he stayed quiet which is just totally wrong. 4mo

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I think you‘re right. Ugh. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Gloria needing money - maybe losing her powers?!

Or something else?

kspenmoll It seems Gloria spent lavishly so always needed money. But if Ellie‘s Mom could lose her powers I wonder if Gloria was experiencing times when her powers did not cone instantly. We may never know because she was murdered. 4mo

AmyG I was thinking, too, hat maybe Gloria was losing her powers. That now was the time to cash in. But....I still think she was powerfull and could still see things. Or maybe she wS afraid that if Ellie‘s Mom could lose hers then she was afraid of losing hers too. 4mo

vlwelser Again not sure what's going on here.... 4mo

See All 15 Comments

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I think Gloria was partaking in a lavish lifestyle but also that jobs were drying up. Many people who would want to talk to their dead sons from the war have likely done so. She may have also felt her powers waning. 4mo

Librarybelle I think Gloria was losing her powers, plus living such a lavish lifestyle, she was almost spiraling out of control. 4mo

Karisa @Librarybelle Yeah, all the drinking and partying probably did not help her use her powers well. It seems to take a lot out of Ellie when she uses her powers. Gloria‘s actions right before she died seem desperate. 4mo

Karisa Still wondering about the note Gloria supposedly left Ellie that set it all off too… Did she really know something was about to happen to her? Gloria seems to smart to willingly walk into a trap. 4mo

Sargar114 Lol @TheBookHippie I stumbled into this line of thought in the last question. But given the fact that it seems to be happening with Ellie and it happened to her mom, it would reason to believe it could happen with Gloria. It seems her last few weeks were a bit more risky and scattered so losing her powers could make sense and support why she didn‘t do the reading on her normal terms 4mo

JaclynW The author leads us to believe that a loss of powers is what Gloria is experiencing. I think Gloria spent lavishly, but for some reason I get the feeling she was still careful with money. I'm thinking that she's concerned more about the long term. 4mo

BookwormAHN @JaclynW I agree. I think she was preparing for when she would have to retire although I get the sense that she probably would have tried to fake it for awhile. 4mo

katy4peas @Sargar114 I feel the same 4mo

DebinHawaii I think much or at least part of Gloria‘s desperation was feeling like she was losing her powers. There‘s also something with her brothers—did she only want to see them to get money from Octavia or did she feel her time was running out to do so? And then this is probably in a future question, but what did she see? I feel like the deaths of her brothers/something & with the war are factors in her death—someone is trying to hide or cover up. 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser I have zero clues this time! NOT ONE CLUE! ha. 4mo

vlwelser @TheBookHippie I finished. 🤐 4mo

mollyrotondo I do believe she was losing her powers because she had fewer appointments each week. But there is definitely something up with her dead brothers and I don‘t have any idea how it‘s connected lol 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

The MOM WAS TRUE? But lost her powers?
Thoughts ?

kspenmoll I think the Mom was true but lost her powers. So she relied on Ellie. That‘s why I wonder if Gloria was losing hers. 4mo

AmyG Agreed @kspenmoll 4mo

vlwelser I thought she was faking not having powers. But somehow losing them seems worse. 4mo

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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I never thought the mom was a full on fraud but I hadn't considered that they still could lose power as they age. Is linked to usage or age or other factors? I have a feeling that I'm going to have unanswered questions about their powers. 4mo

Karisa @kspenmoll Agreed. 4mo

Librarybelle Agreed, @kspenmoll ! 4mo

Karisa I‘d never heard of this with psychics before. Is this pure St. James‘s spin on pyschic powers? It does make some sense with how people say children can see otherworldly things adults can‘t. Muscle mass lessens with age… Why not with psychics too? Guess I‘d always just thought of it as a skill set or wisdom though that would grow stronger. 🤔 (edited) 4mo

Sargar114 @Karisa I hadn‘t heard of that either but I found it to be an interesting spin. @vlwelser I agree, it does make it sadder. I wonder if Gloria was being more risky because she thought her powers were on the decline 4mo

JaclynW @Karisa @Sargar114 Very interesting spin. I've never heard this take before on that type of power. It sounds plausible...maybe the mom's illness played a part on the decline? Losing that kind of power would be shocking and sad. You would wonder why and what is happening. Earth shattering really. @vlwelser 4mo

BookwormAHN @Karisa @Sargar114 I've never heard of either but if you look at it from the prospective of children being more sensitive it would make sense. 4mo

Karisa @JaclynW oh yeah! Good point about her mother‘s illness perhaps playing a part in her decline in powers. It would be sad to lose a sense like that especially when such a big part of her identity 4mo

DebinHawaii I find this twist interesting. I really thought her mom was totally faking to get Ellie out as she knew she was dying, but the losing of the powers thing is interesting. James seemed knowledgeable about it being a “natural function of age” & it does seem like it could have pushed Gloria too. 4mo

mollyrotondo I loved this. It was so different from anything I‘ve ever read on psychics and mediums. Really good St James world fact. Very sad but I definitely didn‘t think Ellie‘s mom was a fake. I just thought she was feeling weak from being ill. But Ellie messed up the guy‘s lost pen (was it a pen?) reading and now we know Gloria was doing less seances per week so it really is just something that can disappear over time. Very sad 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Davis missing ?!

UM SHE IS STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR YES?!

This pic makes me think of her😂☑️

kspenmoll Great photo!!! Is she dead? Because of her connection/knowledge of Gloria? 4mo

AmyG I am not so sure she is dead. Just one of my (usually wrong) feelings. 4mo

vlwelser I think she's the bad guy somehow. 4mo

See All 15 Comments

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick She's very suspicious so I think she's involved with Gloria's death. I would think we would've heard of her death by now. I don't know why I pictured her looking more like Etta Candy from the first Wonder Woman movie. 4mo

Karisa That is strange! She did seem to be helping Ellie but also was giving off a possessive vibe about Gloria. Then was waiting at the cafe but went willingly with the guy so perhaps knew him? Are they working together? Maybe she‘d been trying to get Ellie there so the mysterious man would be able to follow Ellie. But then they left when she was late? 4mo

Karisa @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Yeah, I pictured Davies as schlumpy too. 😂 4mo

Librarybelle It seems weird she is still gone. I‘m not convinced she‘s dead - Ellie hasn‘t “seen” her yet as a dead person - but who knows??? 4mo

Sargar114 It would be a good twist to have her involved somehow. I would think she wouldn‘t be a target due to her lack of involvement or psychic ability so why kidnap her? 4mo

JaclynW Worrisome! 4mo

BookwormAHN I don't trust her but I don't think she's dead either. 4mo

katy4peas I think she‘s in trouble and the bad guys think she knows something since she was Gloria‘s bestie/secretary/sidekick 4mo

DebinHawaii I don‘t think she‘s dead because Ellie hasn‘t seen her. I think she ran like the Dubbes. Did she run because of something the man said or is he helping her to get away? 4mo

mollyrotondo I am suspicious of Davies. We haven‘t seen her in a long while and like everyone said above Ellie hasn‘t seen her spirit and no one has found her dead body. The killer doesn‘t do a great job hiding bodies so I just feel like she is “missing” because she‘s working with the killer and laying low until the job is done and she can get away with the killer. Could totally be completely wrong though lol 4mo

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo Right? Was it a jealous rage? Or is she dead? Or just hiding? Will we find out? 4mo

mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie we must find out! Lol she seemed to be a pretty important character throughout so hopefully her story gets a conclusion. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

The kiss😂😝😅and then… our awaited awkward …um scene … IS she getting any better at this?!?!
At this point it‘s a good laugh, every book, think it could be purposeful?

So, how do we like this coupling ?

kspenmoll I like James‘character- author slowly reveals him over time. Although he was part of the organization & literal testing of Ellie & her Mom, it seems like he regrets his role. If author thought she needed romance, he was the a good character for Ellie- her depiction of damaged war veterans is compelling in her books. 4mo

AmyG I skip over her sex scenes. And I like her couples....the brooding, tortured man from the war and the woman who wants to be there for him. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I thought this was actually well done. As someone who doesn't mind a sex scene, it was tasteful, consensual, and they've revealed that there's been an attraction, despite his role in the testing. This is St James's 4th book. I do declare she's gotten better at the sex scenes/ romance or the editor got more comfortable with making changes. 🤣 4mo

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vlwelser I thought this was kind of cute even if it was a bit cheesy. 4mo

Karisa Yes, still a little awkward but less so than in her other books. I was worried she‘d go into another psychic reading with him during it. So glad that didn‘t happen 😅 4mo

Librarybelle I think this was a bit more believable than the others we have read. 4mo

Sargar114 Agree, there has been improvement. I also like this coupling. I almost had more eye rolls to the many references to her evening such as how sore she was etc 4mo

JaclynW @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Agreed! 4mo

JaclynW @Karisa 🤣A pyschic reading during! 🤣🤣🤣 That would have been something! 4mo

BookwormAHN It's a little less awkward but they are cute together. 4mo

Kimberlone Let‘s just say love scenes and romantic buildup are not Simone‘s strong points as a writer, but I do like this couple more than some of the others 4mo

katy4peas I think her writing has improved. Definitely not as cringy as her first! 4mo

DebinHawaii I agree with everyone—not quite as awkward as some of the earlier scenes, but still not St. James‘ strong point & I am OK with that! 😉🤣 And I do like them as a couple.👫🏻 4mo

mollyrotondo I definitely like them as a couple. The sex scene was a bit better than her other books but it was still a bit clunky. But definitely love how she writes war torn male characters and James and Ellie fit well together. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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The Dubbses GONE.

They had to have been a decoy? Or didn‘t even exist? Or what? Theories? Did I miss a clue ??

kspenmoll That was unexpected to me. Not sure what to think. Did they kill Gloria & slip out of the country? What is their real name? Something very fishy here. 4mo

AmyG I think they called for the seance because they were paid to do so. I just wonder if they left after Gloria was killed because they were afraid....that they would be next or accused of being involved in her murder. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I think they truly existed as the Dubbses but I wondered if they really left or were murdered. They likely had financial trouble or were mixed up in something that opened the door to become pawns in a bigger scheme. 4mo

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vlwelser I think they're a blind. Like they were paid somehow to draw Gloria in. Or they could be straight up fake. Not totally sure. 4mo

Karisa Yeah, we haven‘t been given much to go on with the Dubbses yet. Feels like they are a big piece of the puzzle though… Agreed that money must be involved somehow. 4mo

Librarybelle Totally agree, @Karisa . I think we‘ll find out a bit more, but they are a big piece of the puzzle. 4mo

Sargar114 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I was thinking song these lines. Like they owed something to the men that Fitz was telling Ellie about. 4mo

JaclynW Of course they are gone! It adds to the mystery! 4mo

BookwormAHN I think they were decoys. 4mo

katy4peas Nobody seems to know much about them. I feel like if they have money, the community would know who they are in some way or would have heard of them. 4mo

DebinHawaii They were plants and/or set up like Fitz. Like @AmyG I wonder if they left because they were scared of the person who set them up when it turned to murder or if they were paid to leave to get out of town. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

mollyrotondo Definitely a couple who had some sort of money trouble and were paid to hold the seance and then got the hell out of town after the murder. I don‘t think they killed Gloria. They were just pawns. 4mo

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I‘m thinking so! 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Ellie resigned… over the phone…

Oy. It all seemed fishy the having to message etc
What is behind that you think? Evil or is he really a spy ?

https://thekingsbay.com/the-history-of-the-british-phone-box/

kspenmoll There is something sinister about him. It feels like he is trying to control her from afar. Her instincts are right I think. Love your phone booth picture and article! 4mo

AmyG Iagree wi5 @kspenmoll ....he just doesn‘t feel like a completely good guy. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick In a time before cell phones, I imagine many businesses had operators & secretaries to take messages but this still fell shady. No greeting? No pleasantries? I get why she resigned, but she's still looking into Gloria's death & George hardly seems like the sort of guy to let her resign so it's all for show. 4mo

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Karisa @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Agreed. He‘s pulled her into this for something and won‘t let her back out. I felt like it was just her way of making sure he‘s watching while she lured him to the Dubbes. 4mo

vlwelser I still can't figure out what's happening here. I'm excited to finish 4mo

Librarybelle This whole thing is strange. I don‘t trust George. Cannot wait to find out what happens! 4mo

Sargar114 @Librarybelle agreed! I don‘t know what to think about this specifically but I know George is suspicious! 4mo

JaclynW Cool history on phone boxes. I definitely have a few pictures of those iconic things! George has some secrets that's for sure. I wondered if it was wise of her to quit. Like does it put her at a disadvantage? 4mo

BookwormAHN I definitely don't trust George. 4mo

katy4peas I still feel like he is the murderer and wants to see if she can figure it out. 🤷‍♀️ he is more involved somehow. Or maybe he actually isn‘t Gloria‘s brother like he says. Ellie says she gets a strange feeling about the brothers… 🤔 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @Karisa @Librarybelle @JaclynW @Sargar114 @BookwormAHN @vlwelser @kspenmoll @AmyG 4mo

Karisa @katy4peas Yeah, I have wondered if he was actually Gloria‘s brother too. He just doesn‘t quite add up 4mo

AmyG @katy4peas I, too, feel he is involved in the murder somehow. And that he knew Gloria had powers-but like you said…perhaps he wants to see what Ellie knows (whether she knows it‘s him and he would have to kill her too). (edited) 4mo

DebinHawaii For some reason I still don‘tI think he is the murderer or involved in the murder but knows more than he is revealing and maybe suspects who is & is using Ellie for bait to draw the person out. The question is why? I feel like it has something to do with the brothers & their deaths but I am not sure. She got this one nice & twisty-tied up.🤔 (edited) 4mo

mollyrotondo Well I believe James has it right and George is using Ellie as bait to lure the killer out. He knows the killer is targeting psychics and figured Ellie would help since she knew Gloria. But what he‘s going to do once he gets his eye on the killer is still unclear. 4mo

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Sargar114

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

Just when you thought the weekly section couldn‘t end on a more suspenseful moment…then I read this week‘s section of #sundaybuddyread @TheBookHippie

TheBookHippie RIGHT?!?!?! OMG!!!! How do I keep doing this unknowingly ?!?! Jeezch. 4mo

vlwelser I don't know how @TheBookHippie keeps doing this. I suspect St James's writing may have a hand in it also. 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser I am seriously freaked right out. 4mo

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Sargar114 @vlwelser you may be right… @TheBookHippie I seriously NEED to know what that cigarette divulges!!! 4mo

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 RIGHT?!?! Sunday is almost here 😂😝 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I likely won't get to read it until Sunday morning but I'm excited to see what the hell is happening. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick SERIOUSLY I have no clue!! 4mo

17 likes7 comments

TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

Well. I'll see you SUNDAY to discuss! (SHHHHHHHHH) Not a WORD until then.

Mary Pickford (pictured) is referenced a lot. My Grandma loved her. So it's a fun thing to keep reading our main character looks like her!

https://www.npr.org/2018/02/27/589061990/mary-pickford-darling-of-the-silver-scr...

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

ALSO ... How I split that up just WOW .....

JaclynW I'm almost done with this book! And wow! Love it! I will try to catch up with discussions. Thanks for picking such great books! I missed December because my library didn't have the book, plus my trip. I just found it on audio, so I may go back to it. 4mo

TheBookHippie @JaclynW 🎉🎉🎉🎉 4mo

JaclynW Also. Cool article about Mary Pickford. I have heard of her but didn't know much about her. I want to know more. 4mo

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TheBookHippie @JaclynW I‘m ready to search the library for books on her. 4mo

JaclynW @TheBookHippie Let me know what you find! 4mo

katy4peas @TheBookHippie will you please repost the book title schedule for the next few months? I can‘t find it! 😊📚📚 4mo

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kspenmoll

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

“ Suspicion, I discovered,works like a lens.Once you have looked through it, and seen everything you thought you knew in a different way, its version of the truth does not recede. Once you can see through that lens, you can no longer ignore it.”

TheBookHippie

SRWCF Great layout! 4mo

kspenmoll @SRWCF Thanks! 4mo

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kspenmoll

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

#coffeeandbooks #mugtour

Whenever I visit Harwich on the Cape, coffee at the Snowy Owl & a book or two from the Owl‘s next door neighbor, Brewster Book Store is THE ritual. So many memories of a multitude of coffee klatch‘s with my sibs & books we purchased. After all, we must support indie bookstores & coffee shops! The next generation of adults also participates. 📚💜☕️

Amiable I love every single thing about this post. Every word. 🥰 4mo

kspenmoll @Amiable Awww thank you for your kindness! 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

On we go! Chapters 23-28 😅

DebinHawaii Can‘t wait! It‘s so good so far! 🤗 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I am serious loving it!!! 4mo

kspenmoll Starting next section now!!!‘ 4mo

katy4peas I just binge listened to the whole book up till now so I am caught up for Sunday! WOW! 4mo

TheBookHippie @katy4peas 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 I think this is going to be my new favorite ! 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

What THE WHAT?!

AmyG I am enjoying this one. Great secrets!!!! 4mo

Librarybelle What a way to end the week‘s reading! 😮😱 4mo

Karisa Still so many more questions than answers! It‘s fun 😅 4mo

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Kdgordon88 I read last night and didn‘t realize I went a chapter past….it‘s hard to put down. 4mo

vlwelser That's quite the cliffhanger to end the week on. 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser made me yell at myself! I purely use number of pages to divide it! What a happenstance ! 😱 @Librarybelle (edited) 4mo

DebinHawaii Total cliffhanger! It was hard not to keep reading. I made myself put it down & switch to another book but then thought about it all last night! 😆Can‘t wait until next week! 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii My mind has been trying to figure it out constantly !! 4mo

BookwormAHN I love a good cliffhanger even though it's driving me nuts. 4mo

TheBookHippie @BookwormAHN I love that I have no clue what‘s going on 😂🤷🏻‍♀️! 4mo

Sargar114 Such a fantastic end to this week‘s section. Glad I procrastinated so I‘ll be able to continue right away 😂🤣😂🤣 4mo

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 😂🎉 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick With each chapter I'm blaming someone new. 🤣 I have no solid theories and am still guessing. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 😂😂 4mo

kspenmoll This book is taunting me with each chapter…!!! 4mo

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll I AGREE! 4mo

mollyrotondo Absolutely love this one. This one is right up there with it‘s connected book Inquiry into Love and Death. Love it so much! There are so many good secrets and unknowns! This book doesn‘t slow down at all! Loving it! Can‘t believe we still have two more sections left 😆 4mo

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo 😝 so much more to read. I agree I love it. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Ramona!!!!! Who killed her?!
He KNEW Ellie!!
So many QUESTIONS.

AmyG This was a good twist. Was it George Sutter? Davies? 4mo

Librarybelle My heart was pounding during this scene! So spooky and so suspenseful! 4mo

Karisa Creepiness! And then hiding behind the garbage and the guy just lurking there not even afraid of being caught! What? If it were someone Ellie knew she would have recognized him right? Who would want Ramona dead and why? Did she know more about Gloria‘s death or are they just killing psychics? 4mo

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Kdgordon88 Is the killer killing everyone that was there to cover tracks? Or maybe as @Karisa suggested ridding the world of psychics? 4mo

vlwelser I love this picture you found. This is how I'll be picturing Ramona in my head from now on. 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser I love trying to find the picture in my mind! This one was like YES THAT IS IT! 4mo

TheBookHippie @Karisa I‘m thinking he knew her but she may not know him?? 4mo

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle I was like DO NOT BREATHE! Or sneeze! So well written! 4mo

TheBookHippie @AmyG 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

AmyG Was the killer in disguise? Is he/she killing psychics he think have power to see things-to cover up for something? So many questions! I love it. 4mo

Kimberlone Definitely wasn‘t expecting this twist! (edited) 4mo

DebinHawaii That was an excellent scene—so tense. 😱 I think it is someone who knows who Ellie is but that she doesn‘t know them as she appeared not to recognize him. I think Ramona was killed for knowing too much or at least having a piece of the puzzle of why Gloria was killed. 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I agree! 4mo

BookwormAHN Nice twist 4mo

Sargar114 @DebinHawaii that‘s how I read this as well 4mo

Sargar114 Such a fantastic scene! 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This was suspenseful! I am not surprised Ramona was killed, but by who? Who is brazen enough to stand there, taunting Ellie like that? Fitz? No. Davies? Maybe. George? Absolutely. But now that seems like he's too obvious. James? Doubtful. But Paul, who heads up a society dedicated to disproving mediums? Could be... 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 🤷🏻‍♀️ The brother ? It‘s all so bizarre. Brazen for sure! 4mo

kspenmoll What a great photo!! Not surprised either that Ramona was murdered but I have no clue who did it 4mo

mollyrotondo So many suspects!! But what a frightening scene! Poor Ramona dead and haunting the place. Ellie needing to hide. The killer taking his time. So good! 4mo

JaclynW Poor Ramona! 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Ellie‘s mom went to see Gloria.
And so. The mom had no powers, but knew her daughter did and Gloria knew and exposed her?! WHYYYY?!

AmyG I am guessing Gloria is THAT greedy. And did that greediness lead to her demise? 4mo

Librarybelle Exactly, @AmyG . Gloria said she was competitive. And, we know she‘s struggled with money… 4mo

AmyG @Librarybelle It just occurred to me. If Gloria needs money, and she has the power, is she blackmailing someone with info she “saw” and did that person want her dead? (edited) 4mo

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Librarybelle @AmyG Oh! Good thought!!! 4mo

Karisa That flashback scene was awful. So sad. Why did her mother sign them up for that if she didn‘t have powers? Felt like her mother was holding back but why? Gut wrenching 4mo

TheBookHippie @Karisa definitely a gut punch! 4mo

TheBookHippie @AmyG I‘ve wondered what did she know that got her killed?! @Librarybelle 4mo

Kdgordon88 @AmyG finally a motive that makes sense! The whole testing scene is awful. Did mom really not have any powers or did she throw the test and if so, why? 4mo

vlwelser I felt bad for the mum. But I think she was just done. She may have bluffed during the tests also. Because if Ellie did is it so hard to believe that the mother did the same thing? 4mo

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie Yes! What did she know??? 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 🤷🏻‍♀️ did Ellie suspect or know and then saw she was correct? 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser Anything is possible. 4mo

AmyG @Kdgordon88 oooo, I didn‘t think about the Mom failing on purpose. Ery interesting. 4mo

DebinHawaii When I was reading it I felt like her mother had some gifts, just not as powerful as Ellie & that she knew she was sick & wouldn‘t be around long & she wanted them out of the business/spotlight so Ellie wouldn‘t be in that world alone. I feel like she threw it or didn‘t try. As for Gloria I think it was getting rid of the competition for the money. 4mo

BookwormAHN @DebinHawaii exactly 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii That‘s how I read it as well. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

Sargar114 @DebinHawaii that‘s how I read it as well. Otherwise how would she know what to teach Ellie. She seemed tired or was already feeling sick and trying to give Ellie and “out” of the industry 4mo

Sargar114 Oh and Gloria was totally trying to get rid of her competition 4mo

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 it‘s starting to remind me of middle school mean girl 😅 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I had the same thoughts about mom as did @DebinHawaii . As for Gloria, she was opportunistic and competitive. She was likely willing to do anything to be the only reputable "medium" in town. 4mo

kspenmoll @DebinHawaii I read it the same way. Her mom wanted her daughter out of this life. She purposely threw the test it seemed, especially when she told Ellie not to help. 4mo

mollyrotondo @DebinHawaii I read it the same way. Her mom did have powers but not as strong as Ellie and she threw the test on purpose as a way out and as a way to maybe protect Ellie from greedy Gloria. 4mo

JaclynW @DebinHawaii This is how I read it as well. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Inspector Merriken
And the questions and her reading him !
She could use her power then. Think she is an actual suspect or do they think she knows who did it?!

And this has to be our former inspector!

AmyG It is! An Inquiry into Love and Death. I got a chuckle out of that. (edited) 4mo

Librarybelle Oh! I didn‘t make the connection, @AmyG , but I thought the name was familiar! 4mo

Karisa I like it when authors do that. Makes their “world” feel fuller. Many of her books are set in 1920s UK. Merriken being here left me wondering if their were crossover characters in Silence for the Dead or her other books too? 4mo

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TheBookHippie @Karisa I wonder as well! We have in May

Lost Among the Living

4mo

Karisa @TheBookHippie We‘ll have to keep an eye out. I wouldn‘t mind seeing Jillian or the one of the tough, yet sweet nurses from Silence for the Dead back. 😊 4mo

vlwelser What! How did I miss that? 4mo

TheBookHippie @Karisa Oh I‘d love that! 4mo

DebinHawaii I love the crossover. 💜 I thought it was just the same name until she starting talking about Jillian. I don‘t think they feel she is a suspect but think that maybe she can help since Merriken has experience with spirits. 4mo

BookwormAHN I really enjoyed seeing him again. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Since this is after Inquiry, I think Merriken's previous experiences with the supernatural allow him to be open-minded enough to consider that Ellie could have some insight on the case. Hell, maybe Jillian encouraged him to talk to Ellie. 4mo

kspenmoll He is open minded due to past experiences we read about. 4mo

mollyrotondo So I totally missed the connection 🤦🏻‍♀️ but I love that St James has a crossover character. 4mo

JaclynW 😱 I seriously missed this connection! But it's all flooding back in now. So cool! I love when this happens in a book! 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Why did Gloria get telegrams notifying her of her brothers deaths? If she was hated and loathed?

AmyG Was she on a list for next of kin? 4mo

Librarybelle Not sure… 4mo

Karisa Were they to her or her parents? Was she still in touch with her brothers? Octavia knew Gloria before fiancé who was one of the brothers died right (but wouldn‘t explain other two). I‘m wondering how common it was to lose 3 siblings in those wars. So sad (edited) 4mo

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TheBookHippie @Karisa it was common- both sides- in my family both my grandpa and his brother fought WWII- my dad and his brother Vietnam - sad beyond words for everyone. 4mo

Karisa @TheBookHippie Just horrible. My dad‘s older brother died in Vietnam but the rest did not get drafted (they were a bit younger). His death still haunts my father 4mo

vlwelser This also seems like a weird detail. I was surprised it turned up again tbh. But it must be important. Somehow. I haven't a clue. 4mo

TheBookHippie @vlwelser I have zero clues😝 4mo

TheBookHippie @Karisa So awful. 4mo

DebinHawaii That is an interesting point about her receiving the telegrams. I need to go back & read that again as I don‘t remember if it said that they were sent to her directly by the War Dept or sent by her family to her, or are they something she took from her parents or George so she would have something to contact them with? 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

BookwormAHN I didn't get that either. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This is partly why I find George so suspicious. We can't be certain just how estranged Gloria was from her family. She knew Octavia, who still sounds bothered by her fiancé's death, which is a few years ago, at least. Did the entire family get together to say they shunned Gloria but then each secretly see her? 4mo

kspenmoll @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I know. Either those brothers had her listed to notify at death or someone else alerted her. I agree in that we truly don‘t know how her family treated her. 4mo

mollyrotondo @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick my thoughts exactly. Did the brothers who died also shun Gloria or were they close to her and put her down as next of kin? Or did she take these telegrams from George? Her family relationships are still very unclear and someone doesn‘t seem to be telling the whole truth about Gloria‘s family relationship. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

The dog Pickwick her seeing Mr Bagwell, dead already… but didn‘t see the real happening… WHAT? She is unable to control the visions?

AmyG OR…she is realizing how much power she has and still has much to learn about controlling them. 🤔 4mo

Librarybelle This scene was so sad! I agree with @AmyG - she knows she has power, but I‘m not sure if she realizes how much power she does have. Her mother taught her what she could but was also not thrilled that Ellie had the “gift.” 4mo

Karisa Those scenes with her abilities taking over have been quite powerful. Poor Pickwick and Mr. Bagwell and Ramona. Ramona‘s death must be involved with Gloria‘s but was Mr. Bagwell‘s too? Or was his death just a sad side event to display Ellie‘s gift and give her Pickwick? Does Pickwick‘s name have significance (Dickens‘s Pickwick Papers or ten Boom‘s Hiding Place)? 4mo

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TheBookHippie @Karisa I had those thoughts too! 4mo

Karisa @TheBookHippie So many questions! St. James manages to keep the mystery going but still be satisfying! 4mo

vlwelser Poor Pickwick. I like his name, btw. 4mo

DebinHawaii That scene with Mr. Bagwell & Pickwick was so sad! 😥 i feel like Ramona was killed by whoever killed Gloria for sure but Mr. Bagwell‘s death just happened. Maybe as @Kariisaa said, to get her Pickwick. I think Ellie either doesn‘t realize how much power she truly has or has been in some kind of denial about it. How scary not to be able to control the visions.😱 4mo

BookwormAHN @Karisa I also wondered about Pickwick's name. 4mo

Sargar114 @Karisa I got the feeling Mr. Bagwells death and ghost was a bit of foreshadowing for Ramonas. I wonder if all of Ellie‘s distractions are causing her to lose control over her powers or maybe just being around so much death is amping her powers up 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This was such a sad scene. Poor Pickwick. I think this death was only related in that we're seeing that Ellie doesn't have full control over her powers. I think she's going to have to inadvertently see something, like her mother or Gloria. 4mo

kspenmoll @DebinHawaii It was so sad. And yes, Ellie is in situations where she is not in control of her powers which seems to terrify her. Ramona was murdered because she knew too much. 4mo

mollyrotondo This was such a sad scene. Definitely agree that it was just written to show that Ellie‘s powers are maybe growing as she starts to allow the ghosts in (because remember she has spent many years suppressing this ability and refusing to communicate with the dead) and possibly show that she‘s lost all control over the ability. 4mo

JaclynW Such an impactful and telling scene. This is what makes me love this author's work. 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDYYREAD

Davies. What strange man did she leave with ?

AmyG No clue. 4mo

Librarybelle Yet another mystery! 4mo

vlwelser No clue. Maybe she's the bad guy. But where would she have gotten the $? 4mo

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DebinHawaii I have no idea—was she lured away to be gotten rid of because she knows too much or is she involved somehow? 4mo

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii did someone lie and say they were taking her to Ellie?! 4mo

BookwormAHN Still so many questions. 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick George again? Dude seems to be everywhere. But I'm not sure if Davies is involved, knows George is Gloria's brother & is trying to cooperate, or if he threatened her along. 4mo

kspenmoll Yes, another mystery!! 4mo

mollyrotondo It could be George. George told her a lie to get her out of the cafe? Davies said she loved Gloria so I really don‘t think she would have wanted her dead. We also don‘t know her fate just yet. Is she alive or possibly kidnapped by this strange man? 4mo

JaclynW Not looking good....😬 4mo

9 likes10 comments

TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Dubbses… what is up with them?! WHERE ARE THEY?

AmyG Yeah. Something isn‘t right there. Were THEY paid to pretend they wanted this seance…to lure Gloria???? 4mo

Librarybelle There‘s WAY more about what happened that night that we need to find out!! 4mo

Karisa Yep, and then didn‘t Ramona say they seemed to want to back out of it all right before? They know more. Why hasn‘t the inspection focused on them? 4mo

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vlwelser They seem to be fake. It all seems like a setup. 4mo

DebinHawaii Yes, they definitely seem part of a set up whether they realize it or were just caught up in it, genuinely wanting to see their son but used by someone else. 4mo

BookwormAHN I wonder who they owe money to 😼 4mo

Sargar114 They are quite suspicious! Follow the money @BookwormAHN 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Could George be their seance's benefactor? Of he can have someone following Ellie, and seemingly knows all the whereabouts, he could have bought the Dubbses cooperation. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

kspenmoll Agree with you all- they somehow are connected with a set up for Gloria‘s death which is probably why they vanished. Ramona must know something. 4mo

mollyrotondo @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick this is genius. Maybe he paid the Dubbses to hold this seance, then he came in and killed his sister who he disowned anyway, and then gets Ellie involved to make the police suspicious of her which they are since they know Ellie and Gloria were rivals. George could be the mastermind here. Very interesting! It‘s crazy that we are more than halfway through and still haven‘t met these major players. Love it! 4mo

katy4peas @mollyrotondo plus the police don‘t seem to know anything about George either! 4mo

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TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

James apartment and all those letters…
His explanation of his being bothered by Ellie?

AmyG Based on past books read by this author, I am going to believe he is a decent guy-just very troubled by his past. 4mo

Librarybelle Agreed, @AmyG ! 4mo

Karisa @AmyG Yeah, like Inspector Merriken in the Inquiry into Love and Death novel. I like how he‘s showing up here again and there‘s a nod to his love for Jillian. So sweet. St. James likes these tough, complicated men characters 4mo

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vlwelser I'd be very surprised if the love interest turns out to be a bad dude. Just based on her previous books. The letters are a weird detail. 4mo

DebinHawaii I agree, he won‘t be the bad guy, just carrying around the baggage of his troubled past. @Karisa It is fun to see Merriken in this book! 4mo

BookwormAHN I really enjoyed seeing Merriken again. And St. James does like men with a troubled past. 4mo

Sargar114 @Karisa I liked that nod as well! I tend to agree that I don‘t suspect James, but what a fantastic twist that would be especially since he felt wrong about what happened with the “tests” 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Remember when I hoped Inspector A. Merriken was from the US? Good times...🤣 James is totally the tortured love interest here. He likely brings work home with him to better focus. 4mo

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 😂😂😂😂 4mo

kspenmoll @BookwormAHN Totally agree. Troubled but nice men- often with PSTD 4mo

kspenmoll @Karisa Thanks for pointing this connection out- 4mo

Karisa @Sargar114 That would be so devilish of St. James! I would kind of love it too! 😅😅 4mo

Karisa @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Oh yay! The name did sound like that was what was going on. You had me convinced he was a spy 😂 I bet the author had not even noticed she‘d done that 4mo

mollyrotondo I feel bad for James. Constantly working to distract himself and then feeling so bad about what he did to Ellie. Definitely don‘t think he‘s a murderer but just a tortured soul. 4mo

12 likes14 comments

TheBookHippie

The Other Side of Midnight | Simone St. James

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Paul Golding (Psychical Research)
Ellie was wrong about the watch?!
What?

AmyG I thought she wasn‘t exactly wrong..,but just saw it after the fact. 4mo

Librarybelle She wasn‘t exactly wrong, I thought, but I also think Paul caused her to be deflected somehow. Like, he focused on missing the watch but explicitly cleared his mind about actually finding the watch. 4mo

Karisa @Librarybelle Do you think he was purposely redirecting her? Maybe he was trying to hide something important from her? 4mo

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Librarybelle @Karisa I think he was purposely redirecting her. Maybe it was because he is hiding something??? It just seemed weird. 4mo

Karisa @Librarybelle Yeah, oh geez. Does that mean there‘s another suspect?! Could they all be working together? 4mo

vlwelser I think he did this on purpose as a test. I also don't trust this dude. 4mo

Librarybelle @Karisa So many questions left to answer!! I love St James for this slow building and red herrings 4mo

DebinHawaii @vlwelser I agree. I think he was testing her. I don‘t totally trust him but I don‘t feel like he is involved in the murder. (edited) 4mo

vlwelser @DebinHawaii good point! I actually have no idea which among this cast of shady people was actually involved in the murder. 4mo

BookwormAHN I definitely think he was testing her. 4mo

Sargar114 Oooh, interesting point about him intentionally deflecting her. I didn‘t that of that but very plausible. @Karisa @vlwelser @DebinHawaii Also don‘t really suspect him…but this line of thought could throw a wrench in that. (edited) 4mo

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Something about her interaction with Paul felt suspicious, but not in a he's the killer way. Given what he does for a living, I too wondered if he wanted Ellie to doubt her skills for some reason. Could be that he knows more about Gloria's death than we realize. 4mo

kspenmoll @Karisa @Librarybelle He did it purposely- why is the question. To test her, make her doubt herself? 4mo

Karisa @kspenmoll ooh, I hadn‘t considered that. That would just be mean. Does he actually hate psychics? Makes him more of a suspect if so 4mo

TheBookHippie @Karisa RIGHT?! Yet another plausible theory! 😂😅 4mo

mollyrotondo Wow I did not think Paul was purposely deflecting her but now my radar is up on that possibility. I honestly thought Ellie was starting to maybe lose her ability. But now as I‘m thinking more about it maybe Paul has a special ability that he doesn‘t want to admit to that puts ideas in people‘s heads. 🤔 St James‘s writing really encourages curiosity lol I love it! 4mo

Librarybelle @kspenmoll Good thought!!! 4mo

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