sundaybuddyread

Readathon: Occasional List : Geleentheidslys | Gauteng (South Africa). Education Media Service

Finished the first weekend of the #JoyousJanuary #readathon & did pretty well on my goals. I read about 7 hours total over the 2 days, finished the 2 books I had started (reviews are posted) read & participated in the discussion for my readalongs for #sundaybuddyread & #PemberLittens & started 2 more books. ✔️📚

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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! 🤗 2d

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I am serious loving it!!! 1d

kspenmoll Starting next section now!!!‘ 17h

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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!!!! 2d

Librarybelle What a way to end the week‘s reading! 😮😱 2d

Karisa Still so many more questions than answers! It‘s fun 😅 2d

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Kdgordon88 I read last night and didn‘t realize I went a chapter past….it‘s hard to put down. 2d

vlwelser That's quite the cliffhanger to end the week on. 2d

TheBookHippie @vlwelser made me yell at myself! I purely use number of pages to divide it! What a happenstance ! 😱 @Librarybelle (edited) 2d

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! 2d

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii My mind has been trying to figure it out constantly !! 2d

BookwormAHN I love a good cliffhanger even though it's driving me nuts. 1d

TheBookHippie @BookwormAHN I love that I have no clue what‘s going on 😂🤷🏻‍♀️! 1d

Sargar114 Such a fantastic end to this week‘s section. Glad I procrastinated so I‘ll be able to continue right away 😂🤣😂🤣 1d

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 😂🎉 21h

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick With each chapter I'm blaming someone new. 🤣 I have no solid theories and am still guessing. 19h

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 😂😂 19h

kspenmoll This book is taunting me with each chapter…!!! 17h

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll I AGREE! 17h

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 😆 15h

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo 😝 so much more to read. I agree I love it. 13h

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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? 2d

Librarybelle My heart was pounding during this scene! So spooky and so suspenseful! 2d

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? 2d

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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? 2d

vlwelser I love this picture you found. This is how I'll be picturing Ramona in my head from now on. 2d

TheBookHippie @vlwelser I love trying to find the picture in my mind! This one was like YES THAT IS IT! 2d

TheBookHippie @Karisa I‘m thinking he knew her but she may not know him?? 2d

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle I was like DO NOT BREATHE! Or sneeze! So well written! 2d

TheBookHippie @AmyG 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2d

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. 2d

Kimberlone Definitely wasn‘t expecting this twist! (edited) 2d

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. 2d

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I agree! 2d

BookwormAHN Nice twist 1d

Sargar114 @DebinHawaii that‘s how I read this as well 1d

Sargar114 Such a fantastic scene! 1d

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... 19h

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 🤷🏻‍♀️ The brother ? It‘s all so bizarre. Brazen for sure! 18h

kspenmoll What a great photo!! Not surprised either that Ramona was murdered but I have no clue who did it 17h

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! 15h

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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? 2d

Librarybelle Exactly, @AmyG . Gloria said she was competitive. And, we know she‘s struggled with money… 2d

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) 2d

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Librarybelle @AmyG Oh! Good thought!!! 2d

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 2d

TheBookHippie @Karisa definitely a gut punch! 2d

TheBookHippie @AmyG I‘ve wondered what did she know that got her killed?! @Librarybelle 2d

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? 2d

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? 2d

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie Yes! What did she know??? 2d

TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 🤷🏻‍♀️ did Ellie suspect or know and then saw she was correct? 2d

TheBookHippie @vlwelser Anything is possible. 2d

AmyG @Kdgordon88 oooo, I didn‘t think about the Mom failing on purpose. Ery interesting. 2d

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. 2d

BookwormAHN @DebinHawaii exactly 1d

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii That‘s how I read it as well. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1d

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 1d

Sargar114 Oh and Gloria was totally trying to get rid of her competition 1d

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 it‘s starting to remind me of middle school mean girl 😅 21h

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. 19h

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. 17h

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. 15h

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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) 2d

Librarybelle Oh! I didn‘t make the connection, @AmyG , but I thought the name was familiar! 2d

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? 2d

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

Lost Among the Living

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. 😊 2d

vlwelser What! How did I miss that? 2d

TheBookHippie @Karisa Oh I‘d love that! 2d

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. 2d

BookwormAHN I really enjoyed seeing him again. 1d

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. 19h

kspenmoll He is open minded due to past experiences we read about. 17h

mollyrotondo So I totally missed the connection 🤦🏻‍♀️ but I love that St James has a crossover character. 15h

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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? 2d

Librarybelle Not sure… 2d

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) 2d

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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. 2d

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 2d

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. 2d

TheBookHippie @vlwelser I have zero clues😝 2d

TheBookHippie @Karisa So awful. 2d

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? 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2d

BookwormAHN I didn't get that either. 1d

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? 19h

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. 17h

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. 15h

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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. 🤔 2d

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.” 2d

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)? 2d

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TheBookHippie @Karisa I had those thoughts too! 2d

Karisa @TheBookHippie So many questions! St. James manages to keep the mystery going but still be satisfying! 2d

vlwelser Poor Pickwick. I like his name, btw. 2d

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.😱 2d

BookwormAHN @Karisa I also wondered about Pickwick's name. 1d

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 1d

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. 19h

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. 17h

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. 15h

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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???? 2d

Librarybelle There‘s WAY more about what happened that night that we need to find out!! 2d

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? 2d

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vlwelser They seem to be fake. It all seems like a setup. 2d

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. 2d

BookwormAHN I wonder who they owe money to 😼 1d

Sargar114 They are quite suspicious! Follow the money @BookwormAHN 1d

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. 20h

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 🤷🏻‍♀️ 19h

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. 17h

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! 15h

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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. 2d

Librarybelle Agreed, @AmyG ! 2d

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 2d

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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. 2d

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! 2d

BookwormAHN I really enjoyed seeing Merriken again. And St. James does like men with a troubled past. 1d

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” 1d

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. 20h

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 😂😂😂😂 19h

kspenmoll @BookwormAHN Totally agree. Troubled but nice men- often with PSTD 17h

kspenmoll @Karisa Thanks for pointing this connection out- 17h

Karisa @Sargar114 That would be so devilish of St. James! I would kind of love it too! 😅😅 16h

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 16h

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. 15h

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