Even though this is the second book in the Natalie Lockhart series it is the first I have read and I was blown away with how relatable she is and loved her dynamic with the other characters. This story is thought-provoking, had me on the edge of my seat and unable to put the book down from the first word until I read the last. I now realize I need to read the first book for her backstory and will look forward to more thrillers from the folks in Burning Lake, New York. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This is the second book in the series (?), so TECHNICALLY, you can read this one without reading the first one, Trace of Evil, but you'll be missing out on some pretty vital background information about why the characters react the way that they do. 

That being said, this is a series about Natalie Lockhart, a rookie detective in the town of Burning Lake. Historically this town saw the burnings of witches so they have a tourist industry surrounding it. Each of these books follows a different case as the BLPD solves it. 

Overall, I felt like the mystery was good and well thought out. The characters are fleshed out, but I felt like the middle of this one was a little slow, at least compared to the first one.  This one also ended with a cliffhanger that makes me think that there is going to be more books in this series. Since this is a mystery/thriller book, I don't want to say more due to spoilers, but I'd definitely recommend this to those who are into cozy mysteries or crime/police thrillers.

A puzzling book. This story takes place right after the Halloween celebration that takes place at Burning lake. Detective Natalie Lockhart discovers a truly terrifying scene. A young woman who appears lifeless in a dump. No one knows the identity of this girl. The only clue is the mystical tattoo that she has on her arm and a callus under her chin. Natalie believes that this girl is not from her city, and she will not stop until this case is solved. But, it won't be that simple because researching this crime can be dangerous. This book intrigued me because one of the characters has a profession that I love. I couldn't stop reading because I needed to know what was going to happen next. I like Nathalie's dedication to desiring to solve this seemingly impossible and dangerous mystery. I thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the first one in this series and was really looking forward to reading what happened next. Just like Traces of Evil this one will keep you guessing! Another great one from Alice Blanchard.

I really like Alice Blanchards “Natalie Lockhart” series.   The Wicked Hour is the second book in the series.  I have read the first book Trace of Evil and recommend you start with this first book.  There is a lot of back story you will be glad to know.  I have to say, I liked the first book much better.  I had a hard time connecting with Natalie.
The main character, Natalie, has gone through a lot in the past year and is having a hard time coping with life in general.  She seems to be having serious doubts of depression and anxiety.  As a police detective, this does not bode well.  
The ending was just meh.  I found myself feeling a bit of confusion as the story jumped around a lot.  With that said, I didn’t dislike the book.  It just didn’t grab me like the first book did.
This series is a good police procedural mystery suspense.  I hope to read the next book in the series.  I need to know what is going on with Bella!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.  All opinions expressed are my own.

:  Natalie is a wounded warrior, a police detective recovering from her own traumas.  Setting out to do a routine assignment volunteering to clean up the Burning Lake community after an extensive Halloween celebration.  But her routine is disrupted when she discovers a body in the debris.  Then, it appears that this discovery has links to Natalie’s traumatic past.  

How Natalie deals with her own anxieties to solve a difficult case makes for a riveting read.  My thanks to author, publisher and Net Galley for providing an advance copy to read and review

ove this series!! I can't wait to find out vat's next for Natalie Lockhart. The biggest part of the book that I can't believe, is all the garbage left in town. Do the tourist throw everything on the ground? The whole month of October is Burning Lake's busiest time with the lead up to Halloween. I would think by Halloween there wouldn't be any place for people to walk around town. It takes a week to remove all the garbage, I'm surprised they were actually able to find a dead body so soon. I hated how Natalie pushed Luke away. She never eats, lost a bunch of weight and works non stop. She's still grieving for her sister and needs to have a friend or two for support. There were so many twists and turns throughout the book. I suspected so many people and was completely surprised when the killer was revealed. I hope we find out what happened to Bella in the next book. I wasn't expecting who Natalie ended up in bed with at the end of the book. 

Definitely recommend the book. It's easier to follow the story if you read the first book in the series. Can't wait to read more about Detective Natalie Lockhart. There's bound to be another murder in Burning Lake. Look forward to reading more books by the author. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I read Trace of Evil, the first book in this series, last year, and I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this follow-up as much.

If you haven't read the first book, I highly recommend doing so before reading this one. A lot happened in Trace of Evil, and all of it is frequently referenced though not explained throughout this book. Even for me, having read the first one more than a year ago, I struggled to remember the details to all the events referenced.

I enjoyed the atmosphere and setting. The characters are unique and interesting.

Pacing is erratic. Natalie isn't quite the strong, independent female of the first book. Here she wallows more, falling into random depressions and mood swings. Her behavior is due to the events that happened in the first book, which took place one year prior, so her imbalance, to me, seemed too raw given the passage of time.

The plot kept me wondering about the whodunit, though I wasn't wowed by any of it. Some of the investigative details are questionable at best, and the steady stream of Natalie's personal drama detracted from the case.

In the end, this was just an okay read for me.*

This is a fun new series to get into- this is book 2 and I plan on getting book 1 (Trace of Evil) over the holidays! Burning Lake sounds like a fun place to settle into, and Natalie is a modern policewoman in a small town. She has the burdens of marriage and children, so she is highly relatable. This page-turner will keep you up long into the night, thanks to the red herrings that make you think you have solved the case, only to fin in the next chapter that you hadn't, and Natalie has to sort through more clues and find hidden meanings, to see the truth that has been right in front of the town for years and years. The fast pace conclusion will leave you closing the book with satisfaction, so make you add this new series to your reading lists too

I was interested in this book because I love mysteries, and I am from upstate NY, so the premise was intriguing.  My only real complaint is that this story made so many references to the prior book it was hard to keep track.  This is a series that really does need to be read in order, if only to avoid confusion.

That being said, I did enjoy the overall story, and getting to know the main characters.  While I did see the end coming, there was enough of a twist to leave me satisfied.  There were some slow spots - again, if I'd read the first book they may not have felt that way - but when the action picked up it was swift, and kept you engaged.

I would recommend this series to anyone who likes a puzzle with tons of interesting characters.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the second book in Alice Blanchard's Natalie Lockard series and it is just as good as the first one, Trace of Evil. This series, part mystery, part police procedural has such a unique feel to it and that's what I love about it - it really helps set it apart from all the other series I read.

I really feel that it's important that you read this series in order. There is a lot that happens in the first book that is carried over to the second book. While it doesn't have anything to do with the case that Detective Natalie Lockhart is working on, it does have to do with Natalie herself, and you will have a richer reading experience for having done so. There are many references made to events that happen in the first book, some that might be potential spoilers.

Once again, we have a completely atmospheric, tense read. When a body is found in a dumpster right after Halloween, Natalie can't help but be reminded of her best friend that went missing so many years ago. As she starts trying to find out who this young woman is, another body is found, and the more she digs into things, she starts to wonder just how well she really knows those that are close to her.

I love how while investigating the case, we end up learning more about Natalie herself. She really is quite the complex character who has been dealt a tough hand in life. In this book, she is quite introspective and it was refreshing to see that. It was interesting to see that Natalie's missing friend, Bella, still affects her all these years later. 

This book had me hooked from the beginning and the twists and turns kept me flipping the pages until the very end. I hope there is going to be more in this series...I am not ready to say goodbye to Natalie just yet!

Burning Lake is known for its Halloween celebration but this year one person's evening did not turn out as planned. The day after Halloween, as town clean up goes on, the body a young woman is found in a dumpster. Natalie Lockhart is assigned to investigate what occurred. Natalie quickly realizes that the victim is a violin player and this brings up memories of her childhood friend who disappeared shortly after high school graduation. Are these cases some how connected or is it just a feeling.

The Wicked Hour is the second in the Natalie Lockhart series was just as enjoyable as the first book. Now if you have not read the first one you need to because that story drives a lot of the relationships in this novel and you might feel lost.

"The day after Burning Lake’s notorious, debauched Halloween celebration, Detective Natalie Lockhart uncovers a heartbreaking scene - a young woman, dead and lying in a dumpster. There’s no clue to who she is, save for a mystifying tattoo on her arm, and a callus underneath her chin. She’s not from around here. No one knows who she is.

As Natalie retraces the young woman’s steps leading up to her death, she uncovers a deeper, darker horror - a string of murders and disappearances, seemingly unconnected, that may have ties to each other - and explain the abrupt disappearance of her best friend years ago.

As she digs deeper within the mind of the hunter, Natalie finds a darkness she could never have imagined. And as she draws closer to the truth, the killer is weaving a trap for her that may prove inescapable."

A book perfect for the waning year with melancholy and murder.

I recently posted about Trace of Evil, the first book in the Natalie Lockhart series. Now, I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on the second installment, The Wicked Hour, which came out last Tuesday!

This book starts six months after the shocking and devastating events in the first book. We find Natalie battling her emotions and trying to reset her life. She doesn’t have much time before the body of a young woman is found in a dumpster after the town’s annual Halloween festivities. There is no indication as to the woman’s identity and the only things Natalie notices are an odd tattoo and a callus under the woman’s chin.

Using what little information she has, Natalie begins working to solve the case. She keeps being reminded that Burning Lake counts on its tourism and murder does nothing to encourage visitors. As she digs deeper into the case she uncovers a string of missing women that just might be connected to her best friend that disappeared several years ago.

Detective Natalie Lockhart is a strong female lead and badass detective. She notices small details others miss and doesn’t hesitate to ask the tough questions. I love reading about a kickass female who makes no apologies for her actions.

Trace of Evil and The Wicked Hour were exactly what I needed to reignite my passion for the mystery genre. The only downside is now I have to wait for the next installment!

Note - I highly recommend reading Trace of Evil first because it provides important background about Natalie.

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur for my advanced copy.  All opinions are my own.

The Wicked Hour is the second book in the Natalie Lockhart series, and just like Trace Of Evil, it will keep you guessing... (Ps. Don't go into this one without having read the first book) 

Detective Natalie Lockhart is back on the scene with another chilling case. A young woman is found dead in a dumpster the day after Halloween. With no clue as to who this young woman is except for a tattoo on her arm and callus underneath her chin, the department has their work cut out for them. 

Nobody could have ever guessed just how deep this case would go... 

Overall I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and one I haven't read in other books which is always a win. The ending was such a surprise - another win!! The book is well written and the descriptions are so so good. And with that final sentence I'm really hoping there's a book three!! 

Huge thank you so St. Martin's Press for my review copy!

I love this quote from this book: "Tell her that the longing and sadness will be there like the tide, rolling in and out, awakening and then quieting down. It will come and go, but eventually it won't hurt so much."
This book pulled me right in from the very start.  I loved Trace of Evil and was really looking forward to reading this one. It did not disappoint. From start to dramatic ending it held me captive. It's an edge of your seat thriller. A whodunnit from the first. From the first page you will be hooked.

Very likable characters. Plot is great. Edge of your seat good. Natalie Lockhart is not a girly girl when it comes to her job. She's a hard to beat cop. She does her job without second thought. She's still recovering from the events of the past and has a lot on her plate but she does not waver on the job. In her heart she wants to have a life too. A love and family. She's a bit crazy about her boss, Luke. He's been her friend since she was a child. But they keep their distance. They are looking for a killer. Possibly a serial killer. Who killed a young woman and tossed her into a dumpster? 

There is a murderer in Burning Lake. A young woman's body is found in a dumpster after a huge halloween street party. She was a violin player like Natalie's best friend from the past. Natalie is in charge of the case and doesn't leave anything undone. She is a very intense detective who leaves not stone unturned. She has a few clues and is also dealing with personal things. She is a very likable person you meet in the first book. Natalie has her work cut out for her as she is fighting against several things to get to the truth of what happened to this young woman.

This book will keep you guessing all the way through. From the very beginning when you get a glimpse into the killers mind you will start guessing. But you will be wrong. This one is very hard to figure out. There are many suspects. From a rich party boy/man to a very well respected physician. I even suspected the victims family member. I won't say which one and not I didn't get it. It's told in a way that gives you a few clues but not exactly enough to figure out who did it. Until you do. There is a lot going on in this story but it's easy to keep up. 

The scenes in this book are very vividly written. The people are friendly and very nice. Understanding that the town is the setting for a lot of Wiccan related people. There are several references to past witch killings. Is the town maybe haunted? I don't think so but who knows. This is just an all around good story of a smallish town where a murder takes place and where two murders will be solved. The characters are all very well developed and likable. The plot is great. It builds at just the right speed and the finale is great. You will be holding your breath in a few places for sure.

This is as good as the first book. You don't have to read the first one to enjoy this one but it does help you get to know some of the past characters better if you do. I would advise reading it but use your own judgement. I do hope there will be another book. I want to know what happened too Ellie, Natalie's best friend. Is she alive and well or did something sinister happen to her? 

Thank you #NetGalley, #AliceBlanchard, #StMartin'sPress for this ARC. This is my own review as I see it.

5/5 stars and a high recommendation.

I read the first story in this series and really enjoyed it - not a favorite, but definitely worth getting excited about the next installment coming out. I didn't love this one as much as the first. I felt like it was a little forced and rushed, especially trying to cover events, relationships, and emotions that had passed since the last book but not trying to bring so much attention to them. The ending leaves a great opening for a third book which I still feel like I would want to read after this one! The Halloween setting was absolutely perfect if I do say so myself!

The Wicked Hour is the second book in Alice Blanchard's riveting Natalie Lockhart series.  The first book, Trace of Evil, absolutely blew me away.  Though I don't think anything could beat that book for excitement, I found this one to be quite thrilling also.  This story stands alone, but you will benefit greatly if you read Trace of Evil First to fully understand the lead character.  If you love suspense, you need to read this series.

Burning Lake, New York is famous for its month-long Halloween celebration; after all, three "witches" were burned at the stake in the 1700's.  The day after the closing celebration, Detective Natalie Lockhart gets her next case:  a beautiful young woman is found in a dumpster, covered in trash.  What's the significance of her unusual tattoo, and what caused the callus under her chin?  As Natalie digs deeper, she discovers other odd disappearances and deaths.  Could they be connected to the current case?  And what about her best friend, who disappeared years ago?  As Natalie searches for the truth, she begins to wonder if she will survive to find it.

This is one of those books that I simply could not put down; it's a good thing I started it on the weekend!  Ms. Blanchard has a gift for writing scenes steeped in atmosphere.  At times the story felt eerie and very unsettling.  Natalie is quite an intriguing character.  She is suffering with PTSD from her last case in which she lost a loved one.  She is having trouble in her relationships, especially with her boss and best friend, Lt. Luke Pittman.  She's not in the best mindset to work on this new case, but yet she does and gives it her all.  The supporting characters were an interesting lot, especially Hunter Rose (a rich man with whom Natalie had a prior college fling), Luke, Dr. Russ Swinton (Natalie's physician) and Grace (Natalie's sister).  The most amazing character, however, was the town of  Burning Lake.  It had a life all its own, and I feel there are many eerie stories still to be found there.  The end of the book had my mouth hanging open.  I must read the next story!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.  I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This afternoon I went back to Burning Lake, New York, the "self-proclaimed epicenter for magic and witchcraft." This second crime thriller featuring Detective Natalie Lockhart was every bit as compelling as the first and I definitely suggest you read them in order to fully understand the backstory of everything that Natalie has gone through to this point. I read this over several hours, unable to put it down, as the excellent writing drew me in and the story line kept me guessing.

A body has been found in a dumpster the morning after Burning Lake's big Halloween bash. It's a young woman, a promising violinist, who was there for the Monster Mash -- a contest for the "spookiest Halloween musical act." As Natalie heads up the investigation, she finds, again, that even the townspeople she's known all her life are not above suspicion. As she chases leads and deals with her grief, Natalie begins to question other events that have happened in her town. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed this book and really like the details and descriptions the author relates about Burning Lake and its inhabitants. Natalie is a great character and fully believable as she navigates her personal losses while trying to become a better detective. Again, there are many red herrings so the big reveal is a bit of a surprise and I was pleased that the identity of the killer wasn't obvious. I was definitely glad that I was able to read the first two installments back-to-back but bummed now because I will have a long wait for the next one in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

I was thrilled when I randomly came across Alice Blanchard’s  Trace of evil this year, because it instantly became one of my favorite reads of 2020.  It was one of the most atmospheric, eerie books that I have read in a long time, and I immediately went into withdrawals upon finishing it, wanting to follow more of Natalie Lockhart’s journey and immerse myself deeper into the unsettling town of Burning Lake. So naturally, when I came across The Wicked Hour on Netgalley, I knew I had to read it ASAP no matter what it took to get my hands on it. And thank you so much publishers because I got my wish and within a few hours of receiving a copy, I was finished reading it.

Once again, I was instantly immersed in Natalie Lockhart’s life and the atmospherically spellbinding town of Burning Lake.  That town is just dripping with history and mystery, and I could honestly just read an entire book about the town and it’s lore alone. I am very drawn to it’s deeply rooted witchcraft, along with the other eerie happenings, and the way in which it’s woven into the storyline makes this series that much more intoxicating and creepy.  

This second installment had an added intoxicating factor to it, as it took place in Autumn, right smack on Halloween in fact. Halloween in Burning Lake with a murder mystery? Um hell yes! Although I didn’t find the mystery quite as compelling and spooky as the one that was in the first book, I still enjoyed it, and there was definitely a chill factor (this is Burning Lake we’re talking about after all!) and I eagerly jumped right into the pages of the story, wanting to feel like I was right there alongside Natalie solving the mystery. The suspects were plenty, and I was kept guessing right up until the very end.

Natalie’s personal storyline was also an important and interesting aspect to everything that was happening.  She is still very much traumatized and grieving over the events and her losses from the previous book, and the way in which she’s coping and trying to deal with everything that happened felt very real to me. She’s emotionally battered and vulnerable, a given due to everything she’s gone through in her past, yet that doesn’t make her any less driven, skillful, or determined. She’s strong and capable and throws herself into her work with a fierce determination. I love her character, flaws and scars and all, and I can’t wait to see where she ends up in the eerie world of Burning Lake.

The Wicked Hour was an excellent second installment in this series, and I am already dying for the third book. (Please give us a third book Alice!)

While this can technically can be read as a stand alone, I strongly urge you to read Trace of Evil first, not only because it was absolutely incredible, but it gives you an even stronger understanding of Natalie’s character and the town.

This book had mystery, atmosphere, emotional depth, and the perfect amount of chill factor.

Pick this one up! You won’t regret it!!

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for granting me the opportunity to read this book early. You truly made my year!