Lewis is moving to the small town of Barrow with his family as his father is desperate for him to gain a scholarship to Elksbridge Collegiate School (or 'THE Elksbridge Collegiate School' as his dad says). Lewis is less keen on the idea, especially when they arrive at their new home (which is far from ready to live in) and he can't escape the strange feeling that he has, not to mention the mysterious rooks keen appearing. Not long after their arrival, Lewis and his family attend The Peering of the Goblet ceremony, an annual tradition in the town which forecasts the weather due to a curse the villagers believe had been put on the town by the Barrow Bogwitch. Shortly after, Moira, a friend of the family unexpectedly turns up in the middle of the night. Lewis' parents take her in but Lewis feels there is something unusual about her, however, puts it down to the fact that he hasn't seen her for years. It quickly become apparent to Lewis that Moira doesn't know her own name or where she is from. Together, they are determined to get to the bottom of what is going on, but time is running out - can they the answers they need before it's too late?
The Midnight Switch is the sort of book I love reading: full of mystery with just the right amount of adventure and a good sprinkling of darkness thrown in to keep the reader gripped. Having been part of the cover reveal, I was excited to dive beyond and find out exactly what was going to happen.
Lewis clearly doesn't want to move house and certainly doesn't seem to want to join Elksbridge School but his father's desperation for him to do makes him unable to say anything. The relationship between Lewis and his father is an interesting one: they are clearly a close family but his father is grieving the loss of his own father and is just trying to do what he thinks is best for his son; however, he fails to do one thing: ask Lewis what he wants. The result is the adventure that unfolds in the book.
Like The Peculiar Pegs of Riddling Wood, Samuel knows how to include just the right amount of darkness in the plot: a small town with annual rituals; legends of old woven into the pages; a character who doesn't know anything about themselves, not to mention an ending that will have you literally hanging on to the edge of your seat. The Midnight Switch is a book that drew me in and kept me gripped until after I'd finished the book.
Perfect for fans of the Eerie-on-Sea series or Michelle Harrison book, The Midnight Switch publishes on the 12th October and is begging to be read under a cosy blanket with a hot chocolate.
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