It Ends at Midnight

Deputy district judge Sylvie, the principal narrator of this tantalizing psychological thriller from Tyce (The Lies You Told), wants to focus on securing a position as a Crown Court judge and enjoying her new relationship with Edinburgh chef Gareth. Then Sylvie’s best friend, Tess, announces that she has brain cancer and asks Sylvie to help her with two things. The first is giving the bad news to her estranged husband, Marcus, so they can do a 20th anniversary renewal of wedding vows at Hogmanay (the Scottish New Year’s celebration), with Sylvie once again standing as sole bridesmaid. The other is finding and making amends to an old classmate of theirs, Linda, who served time for the death of Sylvie’s then boyfriend, largely on the basis of Tess and Sylvie’s false testimony. Scenes of tense interactions among Tess, Sylvie, Marcus, and Gareth alternate with Sylvie’s recollections of pivotal moments from their school days. Clues to what’s really going on are dropped at a perfect pace as Sylvie’s distrust of herself and others grows and the plot barrels toward its deadly conclusion at Hogmanay. Tyce is a writer to watch. Agent: Grainne Fox, Fletcher & Co. (Feb.)