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!

After finishing the first book I couldn't wait for book two. For me, this wasn't as fast paced or compelling as the first, and there were a lot of references to the first book which would leave you wondering if you hadn't read the first. That being said, it's well written and an enjoyable read. I'll be interested in reading more of the series.

Some books in a series work well as a stand-alone. For me, this wasn't one of them. I hadn't read the first book and felt I was really at a disadvantage reading this one. Names were thrown in like I should know who they were and what happened to them. I gradually (I think!) figured it all out, but it was wasted energy that took away from the enjoyment of THIS book. Who was Willow? Who was Grace? Ok - her sisters - but who killed who? And now they're both dead? And why did Natalie feel guilty? Why do so many people come to town for Halloween? What's the connection with witchcraft? I'm sure all these things were explained in the first book but it would have been beneficial to have a brief synopsis of some sort for this book

I liked the character of Natalie and the mystery was good. The ending seemed a bit rushed after the slower pace of the whole book. Surprise ending!! I'm only giving 3 stars because though I liked the book, it was too confusing to give it four. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.

5 out of 5

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review..

Last year I was lucky enough to be able to read the ARC of Trace of Evil, the first novel in the Natalie Lockhart series. It was in my top five books that I read last year. I fell in love with Natalie and Luke and the town of Burning Lake.

The Wicked Hour was not a disappointment at all. I really enjoyed the actual mystery. There seemed to be enough suspects to keep me guessing until the end. Natalie grieving not only the loss of her sister Grace but also the loss of a friendship and the potential love of her life. Her grieving feels real to me.

I think the only thing in this book that felt a little off to me is the moments in the book when Natalie thinks of her Mother. In the first book we know that Natalie and her sister Grace were basically unwanted. That her mother wanted one child and Willow(the eldest sister) was more than enough for her and that the younger sisters were basically ignored. In this book Natalie goes upstairs and all of the girl's photos and things were all wrapped and packed away in the attack. It makes no sense if you happen to red the books back to back.

This is the second in the Natalie Lockhart series, and I LOVED the first book Trace of Evil, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. Plus, I love a good police procedural and this one didn't disappoint.

This book is set at Burning Lake again, right after their month-long Halloween celebrations. A dead girl is found in a dumpster, naked. She has a strange tattoo and a violinist's callus under her chin, and Detective Lockhart sets about trying to solve the mystery of what happened to her.

The deeper she digs, the more horrifying the picture becomes. There is a series of murders and disappearances, but can she tie them together? And do they explain the disappearance of her own best friend all those years ago?

I love Natalie Lockhart’s character. She’s strong and determined but her grief and vulnerabilities aren’t glossed over, they’re an integral part of who she is and how she views the world.

I have chills all over again just thinking about the story and how it ends! If you're not planning on reading the first book then I feel like this works really well as a stand-alone, but there are spoilers for the first book, so just be aware of that going in. (And personally I think the first book is too good not to read anyway).

Fantastic and a great follow up to her previous book. I remember read the last book and keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel. So happy the author was on the same page - this did not disappoint.

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.
Natalie is not going to give up on uncovering this mystery and she finds more clues that link to other murders and disappearances. We also find out that Natalie's best friend from high school had gone missing without any clue as to where she is.
I know I will continue on with this series as we learn more about Natalie and I think eventually the clue about her best friend, Belle's disappearance.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for this book to review.

My Mini Thoughts

I really enjoyed the authors first book, Trace of Evil (Natalie Lockhart #2), so I was excited to see the second book coming out.  Unfortunately I found this one not as good as the first.

I like Natalie's character, and in this story she is still reeling after learning all the secrets that came before and after her sister Grace's death.  She's also upset about losing Luke, her long time best friend turned love interest.  So I was invested in the story up until they found a woman's body in the trash the day after Halloween.  I felt the investigation dragged after that.  

I was left with more questions and answers after finishing the book which drives me crazy.  That said, I will try the next book in the series if there is one.  

All though this one wasn't for me, it may be for you!  This one is out now!  Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my #copy.

Book Rating: 3/5

Wine Pairing: The Collection Cabernet Sauvignon

Okay, let me start by saying there's a very good story here, however, it's buried under the detritus of info dumps, lists, and weird similes and metaphors. I didn't realize this was a book two when I agreed to review this book, which is normally okay if the author gives you a clue of what happened in the previous book. This author did that, but not until the very end unless you count the glut of names thrown at you at the beginning with no explanation as to who they are and what they have to do with anything. Maybe it's just me because this book has a number very good reviews. I'm not sure if this was an uncorrected ARC or not, it didn't say, but this book needs a developmental edit badly. I'll give a few examples. The lists: so many items listed and listed in this book, two examples, she listed four brand names of clothes and four brand names of shoes that were in a closet and listed numerous toys from her childhood in the attic. Seriously, who cares after one or two, it has nothing do with story. Weird descriptions: she could hear the blood squishing through her heart, prickly upholstered chair, the puckered pockets of her brain hurt. ??? I gave three stars because the story is good, it just needs some editing fixes, well and one more thing there's an issue with the final conclusion, that's all I'll say.
I will not share this with other sites because I don't like hurting someone's chances, especially if the things I mentioned get fixed before the book's released.

Detective Natalie Lockhart was not really looking forward to the yearly Halloween celebration thrown by the town of Burning Lake, but dressed as a zombie cop, she patrolled the downtown area with her fellow officers. The evening’s highlight was the concert, performed by a collection of guest musicians. Volunteering for clean-up the next morning, Natalie was on hand when a young woman’s body was discovered inside a dumpster. Based on her history, Natalie was able to theorize that the young woman was a violinist because of the calluses on her fingers. Once they identified the young woman, Natalie was determined to solve the mystery.

This is the second book in a series, and it did not read well as a stand-alone. I got confused about some of the situations and characters, and wish I had had the opportunity to read Book 1. Overall, I found the mystery interesting, though I had trouble relating to Natalie at different times throughout the story. Again, I chalked that up to not knowing anyone’s backstory. There was a lot going on, many twists and turns, and a little something was left unresolved. Maybe in Book 3?

I had no idea The Wicked Hour was book two of a new series and now that I've read this one, I'll definitely need to read book one as The Wicked Hour was a very good suspenseful read. From the beginning it had me hooked and I knew right away that it would be one I didn't want to put down. A good story with some twists and an ending that I did not see coming at all. A very good book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.