A great debut mystery! This is a well-plotted and well-written novel that focuses on Julia Harte, a former Garda detective. Now in her 60s, Julia comes out of sort-of-retirement and back to her old stomping grounds in Cork to help track down a serial killer, one who seems to have the same MO as the killer whom Julia tracked down thirty years earlier — and who died in prison. The intricately woven plot and the realistic characters makes this a compelling and interesting page turner —and a very enjoyable read. I hope that this is just the beginning of a new series highlighting Julia and her further adventures.

Irish Detective Julia Harte will always remember her worst case thirty years ago that took her partner and now someone is back with a copycat murder. She's moved away from Cork and is living in isolation, but she and her old boss are called back in to consult. The killer let her live last time, but she might not be so lucky this time.

This book was suggested for readers of Tana French and Jane Harper and for once, I totally agree with the comp. I really enjoyed this Irish police procedure from a debut author. I ended up reading this in one day as I couldn't put it down. I will definitely be watching to read more by Amy Jordan.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. Julia Harte, a former investigator who helped bring down one of Ireland’s most notorious serial killers, has chosen the quiet coastal village of Cuan Beag to disappear. But peace is fleeting, and when a copycat killer begins terrorizing the village, Julia is reluctantly thrust back into the world she tried to escape.

Jordan excels in creating a tense, atmospheric narrative that keeps readers hooked from the first page. The small village setting adds a layer of claustrophobic unease, and Julia’s complex character—haunted by past events and her own personal losses—feels real and relatable. As she steps back into the investigation, it’s clear that she’s no longer the naïve rookie she once was. She's now a woman driven by a fierce determination to stop the killer at all costs.

The plot is a masterclass in pacing, with just the right amount of twists to keep you guessing, but never feeling manipulated. Jordan also delves deeply into the psychology of both the killer and Julia, making for an emotionally resonant read. This is a story that’s not just about catching a killer; it’s about facing one's past and confronting the darkness inside.

With taut prose, chilling suspense, and a multi-layered protagonist, The Dark Hours is a must-read for thriller fans. Just be warned: once you start, you might find it hard to put down.

A taut and twisty dual time line thriller that sees retired Garda DI Julia Harte pulled from her quiet life in 2024 to deal with what appears to be a copycat of a serial killer she stopped in 1994. What makes this most interesting is seeing the growth in Julia over time-not only in her detective skills but better in her humanity. This has good atmospherics and is well paced (not always the case in this genre). Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read.

"For just a few minutes more she needed to pretend that everything was normal. And most of all, she needed to push the question, the one that wouldn't quit, out of her mind. Why had she been allowed to survive the night?"

4/5 ⭐

WOW, WHAT A DEBUT!!!
This book is such a wild ride that I think it’s more fun to go in blind—but here’s a little teaser to tempt you:

+ a retired police officer haunted by a case that just won’t let go
+ an Irish crime thriller that’ll keep you guessing
+ dual timeline that adds layers of intrigue
+ chilling copycat serial killer

Reading this felt like watching an episode of Criminal Minds—it was gripping, intense, and well paced. It unfolds really really well and it had me hooked the entire time!

If you’re looking for a sharp, edge-of-your-seat thriller, this is one I’ll absolutely be recommending!

While this was a twisty before and now timeline tale.

While you read and think you have thinks figured out... you do not have it figured out. This author keeps little fact out of your reach and you will get thrown for a curve.

Great job.. this is how it should be done.

This was an amazingly dark first debut novel,

That was a quick read that keep me to the edge of my seat all night long.

I really wanted to like this book based on the publicity that I read and I thought it had potential but if I read one more time about Julia telling people to call her by her name I thought I’d scream. So, repetitive characteristics of the main characters, better character development needed-better editing? And the last page was abrupt as though the author knew how she wanted to end it but just threw something at the ending.

In 1994 Detective Inspector Julia Harte was instrumental in catching a killer. However the case changed her life forever and now, 30 years later, a new killer seems to be copying the old crimes. Now 60 years old, Julia's former boss contacts her about coming out of retirement to consult with the Garda on this new case. With each new development there are more links to the 1994 murders and to Julia herself. Once again 2 girls have been killed and the police need to Julia's insight to prevent more deaths. Jumping back and forth between both cases, this book immediately pulls you in and the action is non-stop. Julia and and the other characters in this novel were really interesting and I would love to read a sequel. #NetGalley. #TheDarkHours

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: January 28, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

This was such a great dark and eerie fast paced thriller that has you on your toes at all times. I loved how our author used dual timelines and they did it very very well, no confusion, gaps etc (we get the serial killer and the copycat in this book and so well done), I loved it as I do considering I’m a sucker for a book with multiple timelines. This was incredibly written, I felt so many emotions and at the end I got what I was hoping for. I will now continue to watch for more by Amy Jordan, a wonderful way to start off the 2025 reading season with a 5 star!

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Police Procedural, Dual Timelines, Strong Villian, Multilayered, Dark, Fast Paced, Serial Killer

Unfortunately, I DNF’d this book at 25% in. I found the plot to be very slow moving, and I felt that, by the 25% mark, all we had seen our main character do was drink brandy and remember a bit of what happened to her in 1994. Things had progressed so slowly that I just didn’t care what happened next. I found it very hard to connect to our main character Julia, as she didn’t feel like a real person I should care about. Maybe if we had known a bit more about her as a person this would have been different.

My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Amy Jordan and Netgalley.
Man oh man was this book dark! I loved it!
It seems like this might be a new series. "I'm not sure" but boy howdy am I hoping!
I loved the story and characters. Recommended.

Amy Jordan’s “The Dark Hours” is a debut crime thriller. Set in Ireland, the story follows retired Detective Inspector Julia Harte. Thirty years after capturing a prolific serial killer, Julia is living in Cuan Beag, a small coastal town on the east coast of Ireland. It’s hours away from Cork where she worked.

Soon after the book begins, Julia receives a call from her old mentor. He and she have been asked to consult on a recent double murder. The case is eerily similar to the serial killer she captured and who she (and the reader) knows died recently while incarcerated.

Julia decides to travel back to Cork to help consult on the case. As she works with the investigators to determine the motive and identify the killer, she struggles with the memories of the initial killings.

The chapters alternated, at times, between the 1994 events, as well as the present-day of 2024. I thought I had figured out the motive and identity of the present-day killer, but I was pleasantly surprised and happy to be wrong.

Based on how it was written and how it ended, I could see this book becoming the first book in a series. It was also nice to have Julia be older than most main characters are in thrillers and suspense novels.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

THE DARK HOURS - I enjoyed this story, its interesting characters and intriguing story lines. I like the author's writing style and the lack of hollywood-style drama. Although the vulgar language was at a minimum, I could have done without it. The copycat was a total surprise. Source: Netgalley. 4*

Amy Jordan's The Dark Hours is a deliciously creepy debut thriller from an exciting new voice in Irish crime fiction. Retired police detective Julia Harte finds her peace shattered when a horrific event from her past seems to be repeating itself. I loved the use of alternating timelines (1994 and 2024) and appreciated the novel's focus on an older protagonist. While I had an inkling about one or two of the twists, I was quite happily in the dark otherwise and found the novel unputdownable. Fans of Dervla McTiernan, Tana French, etc. will enjoy Jordan's writing. And I am already eagerly anticipating seeing what she writes next!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Well I'll start with the positives. The story line was great, it was something different, interesting and intriguing. I also really enjoyed the back stories of the characters, it was well thought out and thorough. However, I found myself really struggling to get into this book. I just couldn't seem to get interested or invested in reading it. It didn't feel very exciting to me? Or maybe I'm in a reading slump? I'm not sure why I didn't love this book. There were so many different names and characters thrown in, it was hard for me to keep track. I was confused many times when names were mentioned and was like wait, what, who is that? Throughout the book it was made very clear that the main character doesn't believe in coincidence. But then the ending was one? I'm just confused, I have lots of questions and the end just didn't really come together for me. This may be a book I need to reread in the future because I feel like it has so much potential and I missed out on something.

Solid Irish crime fiction and an impressive debut. Much like the other reviewers I enjoyed this one and I like that the protagonist is a middle aged woman. Told in dual timelines 30 years apart with a copycat killer and a past that haunts a female detective. It is very dark so fair warning if that is a trigger for you. I did think setting would play more of a role in this one and it did not especially with the Tana French and Jane Harper comps but I did enjoy this one.

After her career as a retired detective Julia’s only desire is to live a quiet life tucked away in a small Irish town. When the serial killer she put away dies in prison and a copycat killer emerges, Julia is thrust away from her life of solitude and back into the unrelenting world of solving crimes.

This police procedural features dual timeline mysteries set in 1994 and present day as Julia seeks to confront the echoes of the past. Debut author Amy Jordan touches on women in the workforce and the sexism they are so often confronted with. THE DARK HOURS is a riveting debut mystery to add to your TBR.

READ THIS IF YOU:
-get spooked when the power goes out
-are drawn to Irish crime fiction
-appreciate a middle-aged protagonist

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: January 28, 2025

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book! Julie is a main character we can all relate to- she's pulled into her shell, in a safe zone, along with a dog that she rescued from being abused by a fellow villager. Life is good, if a bit boring. But then she sees the news- the serial killer she put away has died. But has he? When she gets a call from her former boss, asking her to step back into her old life and see what she can offer to the new investigation team, with a possible copy cat killer, she knows things will never be the same. As she strives to give info and flee back to her safe zone, she realizes that this copy cat was trying to pull her out, and only she can solve the crime, and find the killer. A tight procedural, this one will have you reading pages long into the night!

The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan is a standalone mystery set in Ireland. Retired DI Julia Harte is relieved when a murdered she had put away 30 years ago dies in prison- that is until she learns that a copycat has started up and the local police are asking her to come out of retirement and consult. She packs up her dog, Mutt, and heads back to Cork.

The story alternates between the original crime in 1994 and the present copycat, so it’s like two mysteries unfolding at once. Julia is joined by Des, her old captain, as they try to make sense of the new crimes. The 1994 murder spree revolved around Julia and her partner: how does this one fit in?

I enjoyed this mystery. Thanks to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley for this ARC on exchange for my honest review.