I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A famous artist with a somewhat scandalous reputation leaves behind an impressive body of work. A curator stumbles across evidence of missing pieces of her collection and ends up caught up in a web of deceit. I wasn't expecting the ending.

Twenty years ago, Julian Chapman disappeared without a trace, never to be found. His wife, Vanessa—a brilliant and enigmatic artist—never showed much remorse as Julian was known to be a serial cheater. But now Vanessa has passed and her estate—all seven million dollars worth—is left to the Fairburn Foundation which art curator, James Becker, is tasked with handling. Grace Haswell, executor of Vanessa’s will and companion for twenty years is less than happy about it. When unlikely circumstances bring James and Grace together, questions about Julian’s disappearance are brought back to the surface.

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. It’s fast paced, INTENSE, twisty, and will have readers on the edge of their seat. My nerves are frayed.

Thank you Mariner Books and NetGalley for the digital copy! Out 10/29/2024!

As a huge fan of Hawkins, I was beyond excited to dive into the ARC of "The Blue Hour", especially with a comparison to Shirley Jackson. "The Blue Hour" did take a slow start but once I managed to sort the characters and the plot started to intertwine together I could not put down the book. I absolutely love how Hawkins writing style had a small change up compared to her other novels but kept true to the twists she produces with an unforgettable ending. Fans will not be disappointed with this newest novel and I cannot wait to reread the final product to catch pieces I know I missed and listen to this on audio. "The Blue Hour" is definitely a set close to the fire, late at night read that you will want to discuss. Would be a perfect selection for book clubs.

A true page turner a storyline that kept me guessing.A haunting mesmerizing storyline a book I could not put down.#netgalley #Thebluehour

Amazing and disturbing. Brilliantly drawn characters who come to life before our eyes. The setting of Eris Island is a character unto itself with its history and shifts of mood. This is another page-turner from Hawkins. Her fans will not be disappointed. Even as the story unfolds and you begin to think you know what happened, you realize there is more to come. I couldn't put it down. And when I was down it stuck with me for a long time. Highly recommend!

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins takes readers on a gripping journey to an isolated Scottish island, where secrets buried for two decades are unearthed. The story revolves around a renowned artist whose husband vanished mysteriously during a visit to her. When a present day discovery links three individuals, a web of deceit and betrayal is revealed, questioning notions of ambition, power, and perception. Good read!

A deceased artist, her companion, and a curator are the characters in this thriller. Add a remote and isolated Scottish island , accessible only during low tide and you have additional intrigue. Soon after the death of a famous artist a curator comes to gather the remaining pieces of art and then the craziness ensues. I must admit it wasnt the usual Paula Hawkins that I am used to and it took me a while to get into it. But I am so glad that I did.

A gut-wrenching tour-de-force that made me wish, above anything else, I could read it for the first time again, and again...

I was so excited to receive this ARC from queen of suspense Paula Hawkins. I must confess that I had a little trouble getting into this at first because there seemed to be a lot of characters and a lot going on. Once I reread the beginning, it all made sense and I was hooked. I loved the remote Scottish island setting and the storms. Hawkins’s characters are raw and real and the plot and interactions are complex. A few nice twists pull off a stellar ending. Fans will not be disappointed.