The Midnight Before Christmas
by William Bernhardt
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On Christmas Eve, a lawyer helps a battered wife search for her kidnapped sonAs ex-husbands go, they don't get much worse than Carl. He's violent, drunken, and possessive—and worst of all, he's an ex-cop. Bonnie has remarried, and done everything she can to keep their son away from his father, but when Carl comes to terrorize them—stinking drunk on Christmas Eve—she cannot call the cops for help. After years of living in fear, she visits a legal aid office to arrange a restraining show more order. But by the time the lawyer starts the paperwork, it's already too late: Carl has kidnapped their son.
Bonnie's lawyer, an ex-priest named Megan McGee, has too much Christian spirit to turn the woman's case over to the corrupt local police. Together they comb the city in search of the boy, racing to find him before his father's affections become violent, and turn this white Christmas into a bloody one.
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Member Reviews
BOTTOM-LINE:
Surprisingly light story given the dark nature of the case
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PLOT OR PREMISE:
Megan McGee is a 30-something lawyer facing a quiet Christmas with her dog when a new crying client Bonnie Cantrell comes asking for a restraining order.
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WHAT I LIKED:
The restraining order is against an abusive ex, Carl, who's also an ex-cop, and Bonnie is worried for the safety of not only herself but also her son and her new lover. The story starts as a simple textbook case, but starts to morph as it becomes evident that while Carl is unhinged, perhaps Bonnie isn't telling the whole truth.
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WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
A thread of Christmas presents runs through the story showing that sometimes little miracles do happen, but it's rather cliché.
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DISCLOSURE:
I show more received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him on social media. show less
Surprisingly light story given the dark nature of the case
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
Megan McGee is a 30-something lawyer facing a quiet Christmas with her dog when a new crying client Bonnie Cantrell comes asking for a restraining order.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
The restraining order is against an abusive ex, Carl, who's also an ex-cop, and Bonnie is worried for the safety of not only herself but also her son and her new lover. The story starts as a simple textbook case, but starts to morph as it becomes evident that while Carl is unhinged, perhaps Bonnie isn't telling the whole truth.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
A thread of Christmas presents runs through the story showing that sometimes little miracles do happen, but it's rather cliché.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I show more received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him on social media. show less
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Author Information
64+ Works 4,666 Members
William Bernhardt is the author of many books, including Primary Justice, Double Jeopardy, Silent Justice, Murder One, Criminal Intent, and Death Row. He has twice won the Oklahoma Book Award for Best Fiction, and in 2000 he was presented the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award "in recognition of an outstanding body of work in which we show more understand ourselves and American society at large." A former trial attorney, Bernhardt has received several awards for his public service. He lives in Tulsa with his children, Harry, Alice, and Ralph. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- The Midnight Before Christmas
- People/Characters
- Megan McGee; Bonnie Cantrell; Carl Cantrell
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Statistics
- Members
- 111
- Popularity
- 291,742
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.30)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 1
