Day Shift: A Novel of Midnight, Texas

I enjoyed this book. And I like the narration on this series. I think the main character is quirky enough to be very entertaining, yet not so far out there that he is totally un-relatable to a real reader. I would like to see some of the secondary characters roles expanded. Several of them should be be quite interesting.

This book brings back a couple of the major characters of several of the Sookie Stackhouse series. They weren't characters I particularly liked in that series, but I enjoyed their participation in this book. It actual gave more depth to at least one of the characters and made him more sympathetic.

I hope there are more books in this series. I will definitely read them. I recommend the series to Charlaine Harris fans. So far it isn't as funny as the Sookie series, but I think it is a little more complex and closer in form and structure to the Harper Connelly series.

I really appreciated the number of new characters included in this series.
All are unique and have what I call book appeal (you would want to meet them outside of the written page) .

Keep up the great word smithing Ms. Harris. Keep us fans wondering if you've cast a spell on us too.

I have tried other books by Charlaine Harris, but the Midnight series is the only one that I have really enjoyed reading. The difference for me is the fact that the author is very successful at world building in this novel. Blue ribbon world building seems to be reserved for high sci-fi or epic fantasy (like King's, "The Talisman"), but Harris accomplishes it by providing the reader with intense imagery of the tiny town of Midnight. There is a cat that needs to experience it's 9th life, but other than that, suspension of belief is easy.

I am such a picky reader that it embarrasses me, so I always try to shout out if an Audible selection holds my attention from the first page to the last. This paranormal mystery will hold your attention from page one, and you will step into the story.

This series is definitely worth your time, and is best read in order.

The second book in the series was better than the first. The characters are further developed and you get a better understanding of the town. This series is just not as fast moving as her previous series. Characters do overlap between The Sookie Stackhouse series and the Midnight series, which is entertaining.

Listened for Fun/Read for Review (Audible/First Read Program)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 3.75

Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)

First Thought when Finished: Day Shift by Charlaine Harris really had 2 good mysteries but left me with some character questions.

Overall Thoughts: People ask me if they liked Sookie would they like this series? The answer I give them is always the same: If you liked the mystery part of Sookie then I think you will like this series more. If you were more invested in the romance then I would skip Midnight Texas. Me, I am a fan of Charlaine's ability to write a solid, fun, twisty mystery with just a bit of "Oh my did that just happen" thrown in. Day Shift had 2 mysteries and I liked them both. That being said, I do have character questions left but I am guessing those will be answered in the next (final) book of the series. I really enjoy my time in Midnight!

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated By Susan Bennett / Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins


Susan does a solid job with the narration but her male voices (2 of them) are a little too high pitched for me. I do love the emotion and cadence she brings to the table though. Her pacing is stellar and I will continue with this series on audio.

Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews

Quirky wonderful piece of nonsense. The story keeps you interested with out even trying
Sometimes you just need this type of entertainment. Charlaine you are my hero.

I haven't laughed so much while listening to a book in a long time. This may be my favorite series of Charlaine Harris. I've read all the others but this is utterly fantastic. If you are a fan of Harris's work, I would suggest reading the Midnight series. You'll see some familiar names/faces. It's a wonderful pleasure.

Not a lot of purpose in these particular tales, but there's enough weaving of characters from other stories into the plotline to make this offbeat tale worth hearing.

Cast includes the following other-story players:
- Manfred Bernardo (from the Harper Connelly series) - main character
- Arthur Smith (cop from the Aurora Teagarden series)
- Barry Bellboy (telepath from the Sookie Stackhouse series)
- Quinn (werelion from the Sookie Stackhouse series)

The narrator is wonderful, Susan Bennett did an excellent job bringing life to the characters!
Charlaine Harris did it again! I love this book! I have fallen in love with the characters, the story line, the town, I love everything about this book! I absolutely loved that some characters from another series have joined this one! I'm going to listen to this one again and again! The first book in the series was great and this one is even better! Thank you Charlaine Harris!

In my opinion this is the author's best work. The featured characters are under sharper focus. The storyline is interesting, and not at all
predictable. The narration is perfect.

My understanding is that this is only going to be a three book series. That would be a terrible shame as I feel the Midnight TX stories are a cut above Mrs Harris' Southern Vampire Series.