I was so excited to have been given an advanced readers copy of The Wicked Hour. I loved Traces of Evil and when that ended I couldn’t wait for a sequel. Well here it is! We are back in Burning Lake and Natalie Lockhart is back! Natalie has been through a lot in her life and you learn all about that in the first book. The Wicked Hour picks up several months after the events in Traces of Evil. I loved that you get see where Natalie is and how she is coping. You also get to see her get into another case. Natalie’s determination to solve this latest case has her pushing herself and facing more events of her past. I really love this series and couldn’t wait for this one. And now I can’t wait for the next one, because the way this one ended there better be a next one!! I don’t want to give anything anyway but when I read the last line and went to the next page I was not expecting that to be the last line of the book. I believe I shouted “COME ON! IT CANT BE OVER!” Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books for ARC! And to Alice Blanchard for writing such an amazing series! There will be a book three right?

It is the morning after Burning Lake’s tourist filled and wild Halloween celebration when Detective Natalie Lockhart discovers the body of an unknown girl dead in a dumpster. Her only identifying features are an unusual tattoo on her arm and a callus underneath her chin. Who is she and what happened to her?

Natalie’s investigation takes her on an unforseen path. One that leads to other murders previously unconnected and most shocking of all, possibly to the disappearance of her friend long ago.

This book has everything a thriller could want, an interesting mystery, a protagonist you really root for and twists and turns galore. I had absolutely no idea how the mystery would work itself out.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was thrilled to get my hands on the sequel. I do think it would be beneficial to read the previous book first as understanding the backstory is critical to the full enjoyment of this book. I wish this book were releasing in October and not December as it would make an amazing autumn Halloween read. I will encourage my patrons looking for a great dark suspense read to pick this one up.

Thanks to Nethalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

While a good read, this one didn't live up to the first. It picks up in a completely different place for the characters. With little to no explanation. Natalie is dealing with the fallout from events in book one, however, the distance between her and the others is not what readers were expecting from the end of A Trace of Evil. The case was interesting but lacked the action and tension of the Grace case. I didn't guess the killer but I didn't feel invested in the outcome either. The relationship reveal at the end was awesome and I was cheering Natalie along. A little explanation for how it came to be would have been nice.
Yes I was disappointed in this second book. It was good, but not one that held my attention. I will definitely give the next book a chance though. I loved the first one and I really enjoy the characters.

This second book in the Natalie Lockhart series begins where the first ending; Natalie is still reeling from the revelations about how one sister died and the suicide of another. She is experiencing symptoms of PTSD and depression, and she is seeing a doctor and taking a prescription for both. It's Halloween season in town, and the celebrations run for over a week. On the last night of the partying, Natalie discovers the body of murdered woman, a local violinist, in a dumpster. As the investigation unfolds, there is another missing woman, also a violinist, and it seems that both cases are related. Natalie, along with her boss (Sam), chase clues that seem to add unexpected suspects and complications. In the midst of the stress, Natalie is wrestling with her feelings for Sam, which are complicated by their working relationship. The case has a surprise ending, as does the book, with us wondering what will happen next for Natalie and a new love.

The Wicked Hour is the second Natalie Lockhart mystery but is easy to catch up with if you missed the first one. Natalie is haunted by her last case and her sister's death when she was young and is still dealing with the emotional fallout from it all. After volunteering for clean up on Halloween, she is called to a body in a dumpster. The case quickly takes a turn as it seems the young violinist was overdosed with GHB. The case brings up memories of Natalie's old friend, Bella also a violinist, who went missing before high school graduation. Natalie leaves no stone unturned until the twisty ending leaves you blindsided. The story starts a little rocky with past references that the author does not elaborate on but it all comes out in the wash as each reference is explained further farther along in the story for a satisfying ending. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Back with a second mystery, this was a nice follow up to the first and left me wanting for the third. I'm rooting for Natalie and have enjoyed watching her evolve as a character. I wasn't as big of a fan of the mystery portion of this one, but I still enjoyed going along for the ride with the character. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Life is too short to read bad books. As far as I got, this is a bad book. I'm not posting a review on Goodreads or anywhere else, because I read very little of this book before I gave up in disgust. ("His eyes were couched"? What does that even mean?) If you really want me to, I will.

Natalie Lockhart is still grieving after her sister was killed when she begins investigating a new case. Some of the subjects are people Natalie has known for years. Will she be able to find the killer? This was a great story and kept me guessing until the end!

This is book two in the Natalie Lockhart series, and I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read the first. This is generally a gripping story, but it took some time to get caught up. Natalie has a dark past with two dead sisters-- that story is covered in the first book--that forms the basis for her current PTSD and mind set. If you're planning to read this--and it is a good story--be sure to start from the beginning with book one.

I enjoy a book that takes place around Halloween and this book has a great sense of place in general. I really felt like I was in upstate NY in the fall. I didn't realize this was a series book at first and now I feel like I need to read the first one to fill in some gaps. That's fine but I do prefer series books to have a tiny bit more of a recap if the events of the prior book are going to loom large in the latest one like they do in this book. I feel like the book would have been more enjoyable if I had more knowledge about Natalie Lockhart. It was a satisfying mystery either way but it really did feel more like a part two of the first book than a fully realized second book in a series.

A dead body in a dumpster is just one of the disturbing surprises in Alice Blanchard's skillfully woven THE WICKED HOUR. From its opening moments in the chaos and theatrical confusion of a Halloween night, this novel keeps delivering a read rich in character and unexpected twists. A four-star read only because the reader needs to have a greater insight into the earlier novel in the series.

I really enjoyed Trace of Evil, Alice Blanchard's first in this series. So when I saw a follow up, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. Natalie is trying to recover from the events of the previous book, as well as the losses of those she loves, both to death and to distance. A murder happens on Halloween and when the body is discovered in a dumpster, Natalie does everything she can to solve the case, as well as hopefully find some answers regarding her best friend's disappearance when they were 18.

This book is fast-paced, incredibly interesting, and impossible to put down. 5 stars!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Wicked Hour is a well written murder mystery. Unfortunately, I felt like I entered into a story already half told. Perhaps reading A Trace of Evil, the first book of this series, would have changed how I feel about this book. The characters are interesting. I liked Natalie Lockhart a detective in the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Burning Lake Police Department. The death of her sister Grace is one of the things that wasn't explained in The Wicked Hour. Burning Lake is known for it's Halloween celebrations and this year a young lady is found dead in a dumpster. The detectives begin the investigation into who the murder victim is.

I gave this book a three star rating because it didn't work as a standalone book for me.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Minotaur Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#TheWickedHour #NetGalley

This was definitely one that I knew I was going to like as soon as I started reading it. The main character definitely pulls you in and the storyline is phenomenal. A must read!

this is a revitting story to the end, Natalie is a detective that is called to the scene of a murder, the body is in a dumpster , as she tries to find out what happened the girl reminds her of her friend that went missing right after graduation. if you do not mind some adults words and like suspense you will want to read the book i was given a copy of the book but this is an honest review.

The author is new to me, but this will not be the last book I read by Ms. Blanchard. What a fun ride! A classic mystery that will easily be one of the "must-reads" this year. The only thing that kept it from a five star read for me, was there were several things left up in the air by the end of the book... Now I need to go ready the first Natalie Lockhart book!

Through out a portion of this book, I was lost. Part of the back story is missing, so I went in search of a previous book. There is one “Trace of Evil“. Might help with the storyline displacement. This a true “who done it “ with a small twist. The story is enjoyable, must admit, there is a definite need of some missing detail and how did the ending relationship happen? Hard to follow in places.

Not nearly as good as the first in this series. The author often repeated information for no reason, and didn't really give me a reason to care about Natalie and what was happening. I won't be reading another in this series.

I love a good Halloween-time thriller, and The Wicked Hour did not disappoint.

Natalie Lockhart is still reeling from a tragic series of events (which are covered in book 1 of this series). Depressed, alone, and confused, she throws herself into her work, a tactic that distracts her until she discovers a dead body in a dumpster the day after Halloween. With an assortment of leads and potential suspects, Natalie investigates the death despite political barriers and her own painful memories.

I really enjoyed this book. First, I will say that if you haven't read Trace of Evil, you might find the references and internal reflection a little confusing at first. That's not to say it's unreadable without knowing book one, but I can see where others might gain a deeper understanding of Natalie's character by taking the time to circle back.

Focusing on this book alone, Natalie is an interesting, nuanced MC with a mixed bag of emotions. She's real and raw and I loved the quiet moments the best, where she struggles to figure out what she wants and who she is at this pivotal time in her life. The supporting cast is vivid and dynamic, and the scenery changes pretty much every chapter which helps the pacing and the propulsive plot. We meet quirky lab techs and holistic shop keepers, elite musicians, and folk fiddlers. And as an upstate New Yorker, I loved the references to the ADKs. Give me a familiar setting any day, and I will be all the more excited.

There were a few details that I found distracting. First, and I understand this is a matter of personal preference, I dislike when characters think something to themselves and another character voices that same exact thought almost verbatim a minute later. That happens here a few times. Also, the dialogue was a bit repetitive, with several characters using the same odd turns of speech or phrasing anomalies.

The plot is intriguing, though, and I appreciated the insight and exploration of the world of competitive orchestra. I look forward to fleshing out more of the connections that are hinted to here in the next installment. Natalie's complicated past and recovery are deliciously loaded with potential avenues.

Overall, The Wicked Hour is a propulsive, engrossing story with plenty of twists. I'd recommend to anyone looking to start a new detective series or lovers of stories with Halloween backdrops.

Big thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

The Wicked Hour is the type of book that you can't put down, and I truly enjoyed this murder mystery. Blanchard's skillful writing made me like I was right alongside Detective Natalie Lockhart's shoes, as she attempted figure out who murdered two young violinists, which also grappling with painful issues from her past. The novel takes in a Burning Lake, a small town in New York whose historical connections to witchcraft make it a popular tourist destination during Halloween. The setting was artfully described, and provided a perfect backdrop for the plot of the novel. However, I didn't realize before reading that this is the second book in a series. There are numerous references of events and characters that take place in a previous novel, Trace of Evil, which I would recommend reading first.