The Blue Hour starts out slowly and continues slowly for a while, but it does finally catch and did not disappoint. It follows a man, Becker, who has devoted his working life to the artistic endeavors of Vanessa Chapman, and a woman who was obsessed with the artist in life and devoted her life to caring for Vanessa. From the beginning the tone is forbidding, tense, with a growing sense of dread. Something is going to happen, but what and to whom is the question, and it takes a while to get there, but I found it interesting enough to want to keep going.

The island, Eris, where the author lived and created and where Becker becomes trapped was a fascinating setting and provided so much to the story. The complex, flawed characters, who you barely understand and barely connect with or even like, are intriguing. Really there isn't a character that I truly understood or liked a lot, but I was fascinated with their motivations and stories, so I wanted to keep reading.

The story begins because of a human bone found in a sculpture by the artist Vanessa Chapman and of course she was famous for her art, and the unsolved mystery of her unfaithful husband Julian Chapman’s disappearance into thin air. So of course there are so many questions as we dive into the story of her life and the scandals and tragic events that have occurred for all the characters in the book. We go between the two timelines with flashbacks and diary entries from Vanessa Chapman. The ending was a little unexpected and matches the entire dark sinister tone that was foreshadowed at the beginning of the novel. I would give this novel a 3.5-4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this digital arc copy.

I really enjoyed this one right up until the end, which I found a little too bleak, but that is probably more a matter of personal taste than an actual problem with the book. I was quickly and fully drawn into the mystery around the enigmatic artist, and all the flawed yet still likeable characters. The setting was also fantastic, the island being periodically cut off from the main land by the tides was such an interesting and compelling source of tension throughout.

The Blue Hour
by Paula Hawkins
Pub Date: October 29, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A stylish and immersive new novel of ambition, legacy, and betrayal from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train.
A masterful and propulsive novel that asks searing questions of ambition, power, gender and perception, The Blue Hour recalls the very best of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith and cements Hawkins’s place among the very best of our most nuanced, powerful and stylish storytellers.
In this story we have past and present timelines, some epistolary formatting, and a sort of locked-room-mystery—set on a remote Scottish island, only accessible at low tide. Can’t say I liked these characters, I really didn’t, but the author is skillful enough in her storytelling, for that to matter much. One can at least identify with some of their feelings, without approving of their actions. Patience is required of the reader, especially in the first part. Another solid read by Hawkins.

4/5. Wow, what a lonely and isolating story! “The Blue Hour” by Paula Hawkins tells the story of an infamous artist who has isolated herself to an island accessible only by one causeway for roughly twelve hours a day due to the ebb and flow of the tides. An intimate discovery in one of the artist’s pieces on debut at a prestigious museum unravels a series of secrets, lies, and half-truths. Even though I had my suspicions from the beginning I was still blown away by the last ten percent of the book. This novel was a slow burn, perhaps even a little too slow for my liking. Nevertheless, I was so intrigued by Vanessa, the artist, and Eris, the largely inaccessible island. “Thank God…for Eris.” The detail in Hawkins describes Eris, Vanessa, and their art is fascinating—Eris is certainly more than just an island. Thank God for Vanessa, because other than her, I found myself hating everyone else in this story. It was the lore and mystery of Eris and Vanessa that kept me reading and wanting more. The weaving of the secrets and the eerie storytelling make this book worth reading in my opinion—and the ending was delightfully sinister! “The Blue Hour” has left me with one haunting echo…“Now it’s blue. Now it’s blue.” Thank you to Mariner Books, HarperCollinsPublishers, Paula Hawkins, and NetGalley for providing and e-ARC for review!

Glad that I was able to read this early. Grace was creepy. Overall, it was just OK like all of the books after Girl on the Train. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

A mystery novel filled with obsession, ambition, love, and a missing body. Add to that the descriptions where the story takes place, and it’s easy to become immersed in the world she has created.

I loved the premise of this book, and I was so excited to see multiple references to Daphne du Maurier! However, without spoiling anything, the end left me so unfulfilled! I feel like reading the last page was the equivalent to taking a deep breath in and holding it.... forever.

This might be one of my favorite titles by Paula Hawkins. While the ending is not necessarily a surprise, the journey there was both beautiful and tragic. My favorite book this year by far.

I loved this book! Woods perfectly curates a group of women - some friends, some frenemies, some coworkers - & perfectly tells this story from the perspective of three of them. I really loved all of the "perfectly imperfect" characters; so much so that I was nervous for the ending as so many times before I've been let down in the last 50-100 pages or so (this was NOT the case here).

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins.

The Blue Hour is more of a slow burn than Hawkins' other novels, but incredibly smart and sinister. I really enjoyed the aspects of the art world, the remote island, etc. The Blue Hour might be her best yet!

I loved Girl on the Train and Into the Water, but The Blue Hour was one of the most boring mystery novels I've read to date.
I would blame my lack of knowledge and interest in art, but I believe it is the author's job to make all hobbies and careers interesting in their books, and I wasn't feeling it at all.
Everything, from the storyline, to the characters, to the writing, to the plot "twists" was underwhelming.
I would only read this if you're brand new to thrillers/mysteries.

Paula Hawkins' latest novel, The Blue Hour, explores the intriguing life and mysterious past of artist Vanessa Chapman, set on a remote Scottish island. While the book captivates with its atmospheric setting and initial premise, it ultimately falls short in several areas, warranting a 3 out of 5 stars rating.

The story kicks off with a compelling mystery: a startling find in one of Vanessa's artworks raises questions about the fate of her estranged husband, Julian, who vanished twenty years earlier. Hawkins excels at creating a moody and immersive environment, with rich descriptions that bring the isolated island to life. The opening chapters successfully draw readers in with their sudden twists and engaging character introductions. However, as the plot unfolds, the proliferation of characters and intertwined timelines becomes muddled, affecting the story's overall clarity.

A significant issue with The Blue Hour is the difficulty in connecting with its characters. The relationships, while intricate, are often hard to relate to or empathize with. Grace Haswell, Vanessa's confidant and estate manager, is particularly challenging to engage with, and her interactions with other characters frequently feel forced. Moreover, the book's middle section drags, causing the narrative to lose momentum. Despite a few surprises, the ending feels abrupt and somewhat disjointed, leaving some plot threads unresolved and the conclusion feeling hastily added.

Overall, The Blue Hour is a dark and atmospheric thriller that highlights Paula Hawkins' talent for unique storytelling. The novel's primary strengths lie in its evocative setting and initial intrigue, but its shortcomings in character development, pacing, and narrative clarity prevent it from achieving its full potential. Fans of Hawkins and those who appreciate moody literary fiction with a hint of mystery might still find it worth a read, even if it doesn't quite match the impact of her earlier works.

This was a slow-burn mystery that tells a tale of an artist's life and the ripple effects that spread even after her death. Dual timelines and many different lives are shown here, as well as love in many forms, good and bad. This was written beautifully and was not afraid to sway from a unique type of ending, following its own beat. Keep in mind that this is a mystery, not a thriller. If you love great character development and intricate but flawed stories of peculiar people's lives, you will love this one. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley, and Mariner Books for this ARC.

Definitely pulled in by the atmospheric setting and intriguing story of artistic process, but I stalled out a little with the lack of tension in the plot. The characters are interesting, and Hawkins does a great job with several levels of conflict between them. The ending and resolution felt very rushed and a bit tricky (seemed like the subplot that leads to the identity of the remains was a little thin in comparison to the rest of the story). I'd rate this somewhere in the middle of this author's books--a solid read with a slow pace and low tension. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read The Blue Hour!

Really interesting character development and mystery. The author did well with showing the perspectives and introducing enough art to keep it interesting without going over my head. I enjoyed it and will recommend!

I enjoyed Paula Hawkins latest, the "Blue Hour" more than her previous couple, and I think it's more like her very famous debut, "Girl on the Train". A gothic & creepy remote island setting that's only accessible for half the day, mean rich people games, a mysterious & deceased famous artist, plus lots of twists kept me reading late at night. The author's really redeemed herself with me. My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the review copy - my pleasure to do so...

Like all of Hawkins’s other books, I found this one to be entertaining and just kind of ok. It didn’t blow my skirt up with its twists or turns. It kept me engaged but I didn’t feel the need to race back to it nonstop. It was a perfectly nice mystery - not really a thriller with surprises that didn’t really surprise me.

Two time periods - then and now. A mysterious and mercurial artist lives on an island separated from the mainland by the tide. She uses people when she needs them and has a reclusive quality that draws people to her. Her soon to be ex husband goes missing after a visit - never to be seen again.

An art curator and expert on the artists work finds himself working on her collection and becomes very entangled with her estate and its somewhat misanthropic executor - now living on the island. He is drawn there because an art piece on display is suspected of containing human remains.

Whoever could they belong to?

The Blue Hour title was perfect for this book and a bit of a mystery in itself. It describes the light on the ocean when the reclusive artist, Vanessa would paint. A magical time when the contrast would blur but it also describes the moods of the characters at different points in the story. The mystery unfolds slowly like the fog that creeps across the island and the waters that cut off the only way in or out. The relationships, friendships and lovers twist and turn upon themselves and are as mercurial as the ever-changing ocean. I've loved Paula Hawkins' mysteries for years but I think The Blue Hour is her masterpiece. Her characters are beautifully flawed and so real that I feel as if I've known them my whole life. I'm still guessing as the last pages fall and the characters have left the stage of my mind. As always, I can't wait to see what comes next.

Engaging and immersive. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

DNFed at 28%. I loved the author's first two books and was really hoping to enjoy this one as well. It was just so slow and very hard to get into for me. I'll probably be in the minority on this one. I was just really disappointed. All opinions stated are my own. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review.