Cold Midnight

From the roofs of town, Claire could see it all, but alone, she might never have guessed what it meant. As she and Ben begin to explore the evidence in front of them—the young man setting fires, the Chinese man at the card game, the shell shock from the Great War that made Claire’s father so easily upset—they see the patterns.


When the town hires its own detective, sleuthing turns riskier for the two teens. Who will be caught—the criminal, or Claire?


“Cold Midnight weaves a vivid adventure into the streetscape, climate, and culture of 1921 St. Johnsbury, Vermont. This wonderfully paced historical novel crafts both a compelling plot and a richly detailed portrait of a town.”

—Charles Browne, Executive Director, Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium


“Cold Midnight is a can’t-put-it-down mystery.  Kanell’s third historical novel for young adults is filled with excitement, unique characters, and the sometimes gritty truth of life in Vermont in the 1920s.”

—Lisa von Kann, Head Librarian, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum