i DID NOT LIKE THE BOOK OR THE CHARACTERS. tHE STORY WAS CREEPY AND i THINK i AM DONE WITH THIS AUTHOR. fOR NOW ANYWAY! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

Title: The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: October 29, 2024

⭐️ 3.5/5

Dual POV
Multiple Timelines
Remote Scottish Island
Deceased Artist
Unreliable Narrator
Spousal Infidelity

My Review:

The Blue Hour was a moody, fast-paced thriller with an interesting setting and a little bit of crazy. I'm a sucker for multiple POV/timelines since it makes the plot fly by, and while the twist was not necessarily unexpected, I still enjoyed the way things came together. I felt the end was a bit rushed, and I would've loved some sort of epilogue.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Mariner Books, and Harper Collins Publishing, for the digital review copy ❣️

I had a hard time getting into the first few chapters. I felt lost as to what was going on. However, I stuck with and was glad I did. The story is told in present day, diary entries and in the past. I loved how the story unfolded!

The Blue Hour is told in past and present timelines—set on a remote Scottish island, only accessible at low tide. The story involves artist Vanessa and her estate handling after her death (very vague to not give any spoilers!). It was an excellent read, I'm a fan of Paula Hawkins and appreciate the ARC

This was an interesting book. Wasn’t my favorite, but still left me wanting to read more and find out what happens!

Paula Hawkins does it again!! I am never disappointed by her books, and the next new one is always my favorite. She does an excellent job keeping the story original, and not a spin off or like whatever popular thriller is out at the time. It is really hard for me to write a review without giving any spoilers because it was just that good.

A special thank you to Paula Hawkins, NetGalley, and Mariner Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Paul Hawkins does it again! The Blue Hour is a beautifully written, original thriller. I read a lot of thrillers and this one was completely unique, complex, and written in a way that made me think about it day and night until I completed it. She is one incredible story teller.

Without going into much detail, ( I don’t want to give out any spoilers) I will mention that The Blue Hour is based around an artist, an art dealership, and a mystery involving a claim made about the artists last sculpture before her death. Ever moment of this book is a discovery that I will let the reader uncover on their own. It was my favorite read so far this year. If I could give it a million stars I would.

A taut thriller, Paula Hawkins' "The Blue Hour" is sure to either enchant or repel readers. In the beginning, the protagonist appears to be a famous painter who spent years living on an isolated island in Scotland only accessible for 12 hours a day due to the tide and the mystery of how her husband died on the island twenty years ago. Lo and behold, as the story tightens the focus narrows to two characters who are isolated on the island either by choice or circumstances one of them creates. There will be a number of reviews of this novel which will provide more details, however as a reader who appreciates pealing back the layers of a thriller,

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

3.5, rounded up-- because this is Hawkins's best work published since her hit breakout.

Each time Paula Hawkins releases a new book, I pick it up with eager anticipation, hoping it will match The Girl on the Train. Maybe that's not fair, to forever compare someone to their former glory-- especially when said former glory was a runaway bestseller, a rare anomale in an overcrowded market which continues to repeat the same, tired tropes. I will say, at least Hawkins takes risks. Unlike others in her space, her books do not feel like copycats of themselves, endlessly repeating the same formulae and devices in a poor attempt to capture the same magic. Rather, her books are unique in their characters and plots... For better or for worse.

The Blue Hour is moody, set on a sometimes-island in remote and weatherbeaten Scotland, and follows the artistic and personal life of the mostly-reclusive, late Vanessa Chapman as curators seek to discover the mystery of what appears to be a human bone used in a piece of her art. I will say, the first few chapters are excellent, as each ends with an abrupt turn that sets in motion the inquiry into Chapman, who it is quickly revealed, may or may not have killed her estranged husband.
After the opening chapters, things get a bit murky as numerous characters are introduced and I found myself confused for a while at how everyone was related (Vanessa-Julian-Becker-Sebastian-Duncan-Emmeline-Celia). The relationships are clarified in relatively short order, but had things been clearer from the outset, it wouldn't have taken me out of the narrative. Similarly, the interwoven timelines can at times be confusing, though I think that is purposeful, a common but lazy slight of hand in these mystery/thrillers to obscure what's happening.

Clarity aside, the main problem, for me, is that I never liked Grace, Chapman's caregiver, confidant, and manager of her estate. Luckily, the book is told in quick chapters, switching between POVs frequently enough to give it pacing to power through the weak bits. The one character I really wanted more of was Vanessa herself, but we're only ever treated to her artsy-chaotic diary entries and letters.

Now, what I really liked about the book was art historian and Chapman aficionado James Becker's relationship with the artist, which more than borders obsession. I really liked the exploration into the personal life of someone who becomes consumed with unearthing the intricacies of the life of a dead woman, and who essentially falls in love with her in the process. I'd have liked the author to mine that even more, and I think had the book focused on that and on Vanessa-- somehow weaving together their narrative, as if star-crossed lovers, I'd have been much more on board.

Paula Hawkins has done it again, another perfectly thrilling novel written to perfection. Five stars and a must read for her fans!

Book: The Blue Hour
Author: Paula Hawkins
Publisher: Mariner Books
Pub Date: October 29, 2024

I loved this book! It took me awhile to adjust to her writing style and it felt very different from her other books. It’s one of those stories where I always felt like I was missing something but I wasn’t. It’s very tense and it builds as you read which I really like. I also appreciated the fact it wasn’t dropping twist after twist it’s just a steady story to uncover the truth. I enjoyed all the characters….not saying we would be friends in real life but they were well written. I felt like the relationships had depth and were complicated which all led to a disturbing story. And the ending was perfection. This is a must read for 2024.

Thank you Mariner Books and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is October 29, 2024.

A unique thriller beautifully written with wording that is poetic at times. The characters are vividly developed and relatable. The novel has exquisite description bringing the emotions to life.

Paula Hawkins is back! Absolutely loved the compelling thriller and could not put it down. Will be highly recommending as a great read for the fall.

Paula Hawkins is an auto read author for me and this one lives up to her standard! I loved the artistic bent and themes, the mysterious relationships that contribute to the overall suspense in the plot, and the way it all unfolds. I thought the ending did leave a slight bit to be desired in terms of closure but other than that I really enjoyed this from start to finish!

Thank you @marinerbooks and @netgalley for the eARC of The Blue Hour by @paulahawkins2010 in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 A shocking discovery in a renowned art piece at the Tate Modern leads to unanswered questions after the death of a famous artist. Vanessa Chapman was a polarizing character who led a quiet life creating art, living in solitude after the disappearance and presumed death of her husband, Julian. Paula Hawkins does an extraordinary job creating a beautifully immersive and atmospheric read, blending together nature and art in a perfect manner. The Blue Hour is an alluring read that captures the mystery and beauty of its people and its location, stunningly creating a beautiful thriller.

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date!

I liked this so much more than A Slow Fire Burning and Into The Water because this book isn’t full of GOTCHA thriller moments. I think maybe people won’t like that this is moody literary fiction and not a Sans Serif Thriller (™️ Sara Gran). I really loved it. I hope you do too, Thanks for the ARC.

Wow! Okay! It took me nearly an hour to gather my thoughts about this incredibly sinister, claustrophobic psychological thriller! Did I like it? I don’t know. I’m a mess right now.

Being trapped on an island where access to the mainland is limited to 12 hours, with tides determining your fate, is the product of a creative mind! The complex, flawed characters, who you barely understand and barely connect with or even like, are intriguing.

The whirlwind life story of an artist and the secrets she left behind also drew me into the story. But the lack of connection with the characters and the ending, like a hard slap against my cheek, made me question if I fully enjoyed this wild ride and the author’s choices for the fates of her broken characters.

Let’s talk more about the plot to give you a clear picture so you can decide to dive into this book and reconsider your hesitations. Before you do that, if you’re a big fan of the author, you should absolutely give it a try because it’s much more intriguing than “Slow Fire Burning” and somehow even better than “Into the Water” (although I admit, the problem might be with me because I didn’t enjoy the author's latest books since “The Girl on the Train”).

Imagine a secluded Scottish island where one of the most talented artists, painter, and ceramic sculptor Vanessa Chapman lived. Not only was she famous for her art, but also for the unsolved mystery of her unfaithful husband Julian Chapman’s disappearance into thin air.

Interestingly, when Vanessa loses her fight to cancer, her entire collection of paintings and ceramic sculptures is inherited by the Fairburn Foundation, owned by her arch-nemesis/lover Douglas Fairburn. Her house is left to her old friend Grace, who took care of her until the day she died. Grace might have been more than just her friend, with the authority to provide the art pieces to the foundation, Vanessa’s secret diary, and her entire correspondence via letters to anyone who touched her life.

Two tragic events follow each other: first, Douglas Fairburn is shot during a hunting trip by his own wife Emmeline (could she have done it intentionally to avenge her husband, who had a relationship with Vanessa Chapman?). Emmeline might be the most dislikable and vindictive character in the book. His son Sebastian postpones his wedding, and his fiancée Helena decides to unite her life with Julian Becker: the blue-collared art curator of the foundation who specializes in Vanessa Chapman’s works. When an anthropologist informs them that one of Vanessa’s works contains human bone, things escalate, forcing Becker to meet with Grace, who lives alone in Vanessa’s Eris Island home, to learn more about the mystery of the artwork and find out if the bone belongs to the late husband Julian, whose body has never been found by the authorities.

But Becker has no idea that connecting with Grace may open Pandora’s box and reveal so many tragic secrets that ruin lives, even making him question his obsession with Vanessa’s art and his love triangle, which affects his self-esteem with gnawing doubts every day.

I can honestly say that the dysfunctional relationship and strange friendship between Grace and Becker reminded me of King’s Misery at some parts. I couldn’t feel pity for any of the characters, finding each of them too selfish or obsessed with other forms like Vanessa’s obsession with creating art, Becker’s obsession with Vanessa’s works that brings him closer to his mom who was lost at a young age, and of course Grace’s intense obsession with protecting Vanessa at all costs.

The ending also irritated me a little, but it is still unexpected and matches the entire sinister execution.

I also have to admit that despite this book’s dark and intense trajectory and dislikable characters who I didn’t care what will happen to them, it’s still riveting, luring you with a balanced pace and helping you reach the finish line a little easier. That’s why I didn’t get bored; nothing was dragging or extra slow-burn to make me yawn.

Overall, I weighed the opposite qualities of the book and rounded up my 3.5 stars to 4 artsy, obsessed, dark, capturing, claustrophobic stars.

Especially, I recommend it to the devoted fans of the author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy of one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year in exchange for my honest thoughts, which I truly appreciated.

3.5, rounded up-- because this is Hawkins's best work published since her hit breakout.

Each time Paula Hawkins releases a new book, I pick it up with eager anticipation, hoping it will match <i>The Girl on the Train</i>. Maybe that's not fair, to forever compare someone to their former glory-- especially when said former glory was a runaway bestseller, a rare anomale in an overcrowded market which continues to repeat the same, tired tropes. I will say, at least Hawkins takes risks. Unlike others in her space, her books do not feel like copycats of themselves, endlessly repeating the same formulae and devices in a poor attempt to capture the same magic. Rather, her books are unique in their characters and plots... For better or for worse.

<i>The Blue Hour</i> is moody, set on a sometimes-island in remote and weatherbeaten Scotland, and follows the artistic and personal life of the mostly-reclusive, late Vanessa Chapman as curators seek to discover the mystery of what appears to be a human bone used in a piece of her art. I will say, the first few chapters are excellent, as each ends with an abrupt turn that sets in motion the inquiry into Chapman, who it is quickly revealed, may or may not have killed her estranged husband.
After the opening chapters, things get a bit murky as numerous characters are introduced and I found myself confused for a while at how everyone was related (Vanessa-Julian-Becker-Sebastian-Duncan-Emmeline-Celia). The relationships are clarified in relatively short order, but had things been clearer from the outset, it wouldn't have taken me out of the narrative. Similarly, the interwoven timelines can at times be confusing, though I think that is purposeful, a common but lazy slight of hand in these mystery/thrillers to obscure what's happening.

Clarity aside, the main problem, for me, is that I never liked Grace, Chapman's caregiver, confidant, and manager of her estate. Luckily, the book is told in quick chapters, switching between POVs frequently enough to give it pacing to power through the weak bits. The one character I really wanted more of was Vanessa herself, but we're only ever treated to her artsy-chaotic diary entries and letters.

Now, what I really liked about the book was art historian and Chapman aficionado James Becker's relationship with the artist, which more than borders obsession. I really liked the exploration into the personal life of someone who becomes consumed with unearthing the intricacies of the life of a dead woman, and who essentially falls in love with her in the process. I'd have liked the author to mine that even more, and I think had the book focused on that and on Vanessa-- somehow weaving together their narrative, as if star-crossed lovers, I'd have been much more on board.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Exquisite from start to finish.

This is one of the best thrillers I've read. I was immediately hooked: is that human bone in the art installation?

I adored the setting: a remote Scottish island that is prone to storms. Speaking of the cast, the characters all felt extremely nuanced and believable. The twists and turns are paced perfectly. Once I hit the halfway point, I had to finish it in one sitting.

Could 100% see this being adapted to the screen.

**3.25**
first off, i want to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for the opporutnity to read this as an ARC!

this was an eerie, fast paced thriller with multiple POVs and timelines. usually, i struggle with these types of books, but it was done in a way that was still so easy to follow and kept me engaged during the entire story!
one of the plot twists in this book was extremely obvious, and i guessed it about 25% of the way in. with that being said, i think the book was purposely written this way because the second plot twist really got me.
overall this was a quick, easy read and i would recommend it! i am excited to read more from Paula!