The Midnight Knock
- Judith D Collins
- Oct 16
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 21
By: John Fram
Narrators: Angel Pean, Lee Osorio
ISBN: 9781668069424
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: 10/21/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 4 Stars (ARC)
For fans of Stuart Turton and Blake Crouch, a mind-bending locked-room thriller about eight strangers trapped in a remote Texas motel as they race against time to save their lives—from the acclaimed author of the “compelling, thought-provoking, page-turning” (Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World) No Road Home.
In the frigid west Texas desert, seven weary travelers converge on a lonely motel at the foot of a massive mountain. Ethan and Hunter have left behind a corpse, an arson, and a horrific act of violence. Kyla and Fernanda are making a desperate escape to the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are on their way back from Mexico with a mysterious man pursuing them on a motorcycle. All of them are on the run from something. All of them have something to hide.
And somehow, they’re all connected to the motel’s eighth guest, an enigmatic woman named Sarah Powers.
Within hours, Sarah is dead. The strange twins who run the motel inform the surviving guests that her murder demands justice. The guests are given an ultimatum: bring proof of who killed Sarah Powers by midnight or die when the protective lights around the motel go out.
Because something very old and very dangerous lurks in this corner of the desert. And it’s hungry.
But nothing at the Brake Inn Motel is quite as it seems. As time ticks away, alliances fracture, and secrets unravel, the guests will have to confront not just the violence of the past—they will need to face the darkness within themselves.
A masterful blend of psychological tension, supernatural horror, and intricate storytelling, The Midnight Knock pushes the boundaries of what a mystery can be. And with its unforgettable climax, this novel cements John Fram as a contemporary master of thrillers.
My Review
John Fram is back with his latest supernatural horror thriller, THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK, following the success of No Road Home (my top books of 2024).
This gripping psychological locked-room mystery unfolds as eight strangers, each harboring dark secrets, find themselves trapped in the eerie Brake Inn Motel, tucked away in the remote Texas desert.
Diabolical, clever, and inventive, Fram masterfully keeps you guessing until the very last page in this mind-bending tale that twists time and perception.
About the Story...
Setting and Characters:
Tucked away at the base of a majestic mountain in the remote stretches of West Texas, The Brake Inn Motel is managed by the intriguing twins, Thomas and Tabitha. This corner of the desert holds a hidden history, concealing an old and perilous secret just waiting to be uncovered.
Ethan and Hunter are on the run after leaving behind a corpse, a raging fire, and a violent act in their wake. Meanwhile, Kyla and Fernanda are desperately fleeing towards the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are returning from Mexico, pursued by a mysterious figure.
Each character is escaping from something, seeking refuge in this isolated motel, and they all have secrets to hide. Their fates intertwine with another guest, the enigmatic Sarah Powers.
The Ultimatum:
When Sarah turns up dead, the strange motel owners give the guests a chilling ultimatum: solve the murder by midnight or face a supernatural entity lurking outside, ready to hunt them down.
The Secrets:
As the guests band together to uncover the killer, they must also confront their own hidden truths and face their pasts in a race against time.
The Supernatural Element:
The true danger may not be among them; something sinister lurks outside—an otherworldly creature that preys on those who venture beyond the motel's protective lights. This supernatural being, along with the motel’s dark history, is central to the mystery and the time-sensitive challenge they face.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this isn’t just a random occurrence; it’s something far more sinister. The real question is: who will survive?
My Thoughts...
In THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK, nothing is quite what it seems, full of surprises and twists. This atmospheric and intricately layered supernatural horror thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat while delivering all the eerie vibes you crave.
John Fram ramps up the suspense, blending a locked-room mystery with horror elements, supernatural twists, time loops, and Native American lore.
As a reader, you'll find yourself questioning where the story is headed, especially as characters begin to remember and relive parts of the same night. This repetition forces them to shift their reactions and behaviors in a desperate attempt to break free from the cycle.
The human element:
The supernatural horror is intertwined with the human secrets and failures of the main characters. They are all running from something in their pasts and are forced to confront their own darkness to escape the cycle.
Native lore:
The time-bending supernatural phenomenon and the chilling supernatural phenomenon known only as 'the knock' are tied to Native lore and a long-buried history in the area.
High stakes:
The supernatural element elevates the story from a simple locked-room mystery into a battle for the fate of the world. If the guests fail to solve the murder and break the cycle, the monster will be unleashed.
In a climactic showdown, secrets are unveiled, and the supernatural events drive the resolution of the murder mystery—and determine whether they escape or meet their doom. With a chilling setting, a cast of characters steeped in mystery, murder, and time twists, this nightmarish tale will keep you turning pages long into the night with one eye closed.
While I'm not typically a big fan of supernatural or horror stories, I found myself really enjoying John Fram's writing, especially after reading "No Road Home," which I absolutely loved. For those who do enjoy this genre, I think you'll be in for a treat!
Recommendations...
THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK is a must-read for fans of John Fram, as well as those who enjoy the works of Blake Crouch, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Stuart Turton, Riley Sager, Paul Tremblay, and Alex Michaelides. If you love deliciously dark, creepy, sinister, twisted horror films and tales of things that go bump in the night, with a supernatural twist, this one’s for you!
Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for sharing an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 21, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
Praise
"And Then There Were None meets The Twilight Zone in Fram’s inventive latest. Fram keeps even savvy readers guessing about where he’s headed next and manages to flesh out each member of the book’s large cast. The result is wickedly satisfying."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Midnight Knock is a brilliant, trippy, gore-drenched western where everything is queer, including time and space. Like S.A. Cosby, Fram writes gorgeously about the tragedies and triumphs of Southern culture and masculinity (in Fram’s case, Southwestern); like Blake Crouch, he bends the laws of nature to explore big ideas. But The Midnight Knock is inventive and provocative in a way only Fram’s brain can produce, marking him as a horror-thriller writer par excellence.”
—Ashley Winstead, USA Today-bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me
"David Lynch meets Agatha Christie in this razor-sharp, nightmare of a thriller. John Fram delivers a diabolically smart, high-stakes puzzle wrapped in dread and accompanied by a ticking clock that ratchets the tension to unbearable levels! It's creepy, clever, and cinematic as hell. Hollywood won't be far behind."
—Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Edge Of Honor
"The Midnight Knock takes you on an eerie journey through the wide open and desolate landscape of Texas where everyone is a suspect. All the thrills of an escape room, all the chills of a Stephen King novel. You will be left guessing until the very last page!"
—Ashley Elston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins
About the Author
John Fram is the author of the critically acclaimed supernatural thriller THE BRIGHT LANDS and the queer Gothic chiller NO ROAD HOME, named a Washington Post notable book and a Most Anticipated Summer Read by Cosmopolitan. A native of Texas, he lives in Waco.
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