Trading Dreams at Midnight is the tale of three women and how mental illness has impacted their lives. Each woman has a different perspective and has been shaped differently by the same circumstances.

Nan, the grandmother, has stepped in to raise her grandchildren when her mentally ill daughter abandoned them. Nan has her own cross to bear as she has a few skeletons hanging in her closet, pertaining to her husband and her daughter. She has a hard time accepting and then dealing with her daughter’s mental illness.

The least developed character of the three is Tish. She seems to be little more than a secondary character. Tish’s issues are mentioned, but are not discussed in much detail. Most of the information we learn about Tish is through other characters’ conversations and/or thoughts.

Neena, sister of Tish and granddaughter of Nan is the most disturbed by their mother’s disappearances and has dedicated her life to finding her mother. She finances her search by any means necessary. Some of the things she has done have been questionable. One of the ghosts come back to haunt her and sends her back to Philadelphia, to face a disagreeable grandmother and a fragile sister.

McKinney-Whetstone is a master of description, and setting. She makes you feel as if you are walking around the streets of Philadelphia. Her word choice is always clever and thought provoking. Overall, the book was well written. However, the secondary characters lack depth. Also, while there was new information revealed at the end, there was no true conclusion. The book leaves you feeling like you need more information. Unless this is a marketing tool for a sequel, the book really needed more of a sense of finality. ( )