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Table of Contents
About The Book
For fans of Stuart Turton and Blake Crouch, a mind-bending locked-room thriller about eight strangers trapped in a remote Texas motel as they race against time to save their lives—from the acclaimed author of the “compelling, thought-provoking, page-turning” (Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World) No Road Home.
In the frigid west Texas desert, seven weary travelers converge on a lonely motel at the foot of a massive mountain. Ethan and Hunter have left behind a corpse, an arson, and a horrific act of violence. Kyla and Fernanda are making a desperate escape to the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are on their way back from Mexico with a mysterious man pursuing them on a motorcycle. All of them are on the run from something. All of them have something to hide.
And somehow, they’re all connected to the motel’s eighth guest, an enigmatic woman named Sarah Powers.
Within hours, Sarah is dead. The strange twins who run the motel inform the surviving guests that her murder demands justice. The guests are given an ultimatum: bring proof of who killed Sarah Powers by midnight or die when the protective lights around the motel go out.
Because something very old and very dangerous lurks in this corner of the desert. And it’s hungry.
But nothing at the Brake Inn Motel is quite as it seems. As time ticks away, alliances fracture, and secrets unravel, the guests will have to confront not just the violence of the past—they will need to face the darkness within themselves.
A masterful blend of psychological tension, supernatural horror, and intricate storytelling, The Midnight Knock pushes the boundaries of what a mystery can be. And with its unforgettable climax, this novel cements John Fram as a contemporary master of thrillers.
In the frigid west Texas desert, seven weary travelers converge on a lonely motel at the foot of a massive mountain. Ethan and Hunter have left behind a corpse, an arson, and a horrific act of violence. Kyla and Fernanda are making a desperate escape to the border. Stanley and his granddaughter are on their way back from Mexico with a mysterious man pursuing them on a motorcycle. All of them are on the run from something. All of them have something to hide.
And somehow, they’re all connected to the motel’s eighth guest, an enigmatic woman named Sarah Powers.
Within hours, Sarah is dead. The strange twins who run the motel inform the surviving guests that her murder demands justice. The guests are given an ultimatum: bring proof of who killed Sarah Powers by midnight or die when the protective lights around the motel go out.
Because something very old and very dangerous lurks in this corner of the desert. And it’s hungry.
But nothing at the Brake Inn Motel is quite as it seems. As time ticks away, alliances fracture, and secrets unravel, the guests will have to confront not just the violence of the past—they will need to face the darkness within themselves.
A masterful blend of psychological tension, supernatural horror, and intricate storytelling, The Midnight Knock pushes the boundaries of what a mystery can be. And with its unforgettable climax, this novel cements John Fram as a contemporary master of thrillers.
About The Author
Photograph by Luke Fontana
John Fram is the author of the critically acclaimed thrillers The Bright Lands, No Road Home, and The Midnight Knock. He has written for The Atlantic and The New York Times. A native of Texas, he lives in Waco and Austin. Find out more at JohnFram.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria Books (October 21, 2025)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668069424
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Raves and Reviews
Praise for No Road Home
"A tinge of gothic chill adds a frightening layer to Fram’s suspenseful thriller."—Washington Post
"By turns searing, soapy, and spine-tingling, Fram’s latest pays homage to Southern Gothic icons Michael McDowell and V.C. Andrews while also tipping its cap to modern horror great Jordan Peele...exquisitely rendered, realistically damaged characters lend credence to myriad mad twists, propelling the tale from portentous start to pulse-pounding finish. Trenchant, terrifying fun."—Kirkus Review
"Trapped in an opulent estate during a storm, a man must solve the murder of a Jerry Fallwell-esque patriarch before his new wife's family pins it on him. No Road Home is a whip-smart, horror-tinged whodunnit in the style of early Stephen King. Fram explores important themes of religion, family, wealth, race, and class--all within the confines of a fast-paced, locked room thriller."—Julia Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of The Writing Retreat
“No Road Home is a grand gothic story as enthralling as it is terrifying. John Fram swings for the fences and does not miss.” —S. A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author
"In the darkly spellbinding No Road Home, John Fram expertly mixes the Fall of the House of Usher and a twisty closed-room mystery into a unique kind of Texas gothic epic. A compelling, thought-provoking, page-turning read." —Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World and most recently, The Pallbearers Club
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- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Midnight Knock Hardcover 9781668069424
- Author Photo (jpg): John Fram Photograph by Luke Fontana(0.1 MB)
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