Midnight Crossroad is capable of being read as a standalone novel, but I will warn potential readers that this book is best appreciated if you've read all of Harris's previous works or at least have an active knowledge of the mythos and various characters. Two of the characters mentioned here have appeared in some of Harris's Lily Bard and Harper Connely novels, and there's references to the Sookie Stackhouse series as well by way of a few supernatural characters. This doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the novel for what it is, but you will definitely feel like you're missing out on some character depth that had been more fully explored in the other novels. Not that Harris doesn't try to clue you in to past events, mind you, via some short infodumps. 
 That said, this is a fairly good novel. I listened to the audiobook version of this, which I whole heartedly recommend. I may not have enjoyed it as much, as there are a few things here and there that were endearing when read aloud (view spoiler)[Mr. Snuggly's lisp is just plain adorable as read by Bennett and it made me want to feed him salmon (hide spoiler)] that might not have been as cute if I'd read it. The characters here are fairly endearing for the most part, although I have to admit that occasionally the build up of the sexual tension between Fiji and Bobo had me wishing they'd just get their freak on already. It's likely to be a major plot point of a future book, hopefully the next one. I do enjoy it when it's drawn out and I understand why it didn't happen here (Bobo's girlfriend is dead), but I don't know that this is the type of thing that would do well if it was left unresolved for the entire trilogy. Now the other big "will they, won't they" couple, Manfred and Creek, that's something that would do well as a trilogy romance. 
 As far as the mystery goes, I have to admit that I didn't immediately figure out the whodunit. After a while readers will likely be able to figure it out, but then this isn't the type of mystery where the author is challenging the reader to solve an overly clever mystery. For this reason it'll likely disappoint a few people, but previous readers of the Sookie Stackhouse series will be fairly familiar with Harris's mystery styles. This is a little more character and romance driven than for mystery. The mystery is just sort of the thing that's there to be the impetus for everything here. 
 Overall this wasn't bad. It's made me curious to try to dive back into the Southern Mystery series, but offhand I have to say that part of me hopes this series remains a trilogy while the other half could see it being maybe 4-5 novels. There's enough here for a little more story, but there isn't quite enough here to do much more than that as it is with this entry novel. Still, fans of Harris's work will very much enjoy Midnight Crossroad.