An Irish mystery that doesn't disapppoint. Julia is retired from the police and seeks an anonymous refuge away from the killer that she put away, presently incarcerated in a facility for the criminally insane. His death brings up many past issues and she is pulled back as a consultant for murders that have the same MO.

This was a pretty good book. I hope it becomes a series. I love the fact that it takes place in Ireland and that it invokes a detective. I love those types of books. Go read it!

Amy Jordan’s debut thriller, "The Dark Hours," is a gripping, atmospheric crime novel that masterfully explores trauma and justice. Retired detective Julia Harte, haunted by her past, is drawn back into a chilling case when a copycat killer mimics the crimes of the murderer she helped catch decades ago. Jordan weaves a compelling dual-timeline narrative, balancing procedural detail with psychological depth. Though some secondary characters feel underdeveloped and the resolution slightly rushed, the novel’s rich setting, suspenseful pacing, and complex protagonist make it a standout debut. A must-read for fans of gritty, character-driven crime fiction.

Folks who read my reviews know who infrequently I award five stars for a mystery. So make a note because this is definitely a five star read!
The Dark Hours is an atmospheric debut mystery about a retired police detective brought back to help with a copycat serial killer. Thirty years earlier, Julia Harte was a young Gardia who helped in the search for a serial killer. It led to a successful career including the publication of a bestseller. Now, she’s retired and in hiding on a small Irish island.
The book is told along two timelines - then and now. In the earlier storyline, we see Julia’s fight to be a part of the investigation that killed her partner along with two young women. In the present day, her participation is not uniformly desired but she knows she can help. Dual timelines often suffer from one being duller than the other. But not here. I was drawn to both stories. Jordan does a good job of seamlessly switching between the two.
Julia was a fascinating main character. I’m partial to older MCs and Julia is a well developed one. As the blurb says, she’s no longer naive. But it’s more than that, she’s become a safety obsessed recluse. A sense of suspense comes from what brought about this change in her. But she’s also no one’s patsy and has always been one to stand up to get what she wants.
This isn’t a fast paced thriller. It’s a character rich, in depth study of two police investigations. Jordan does a good job of tying everything up without straying into the realm of the unbelievable which is so often the downfall of many a mystery.
I hate comparisons because they’re so often unrealistic. But comparisons to Tana French are valid.
My thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for an advance copy of this book.

The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan is a tense, atmospheric thriller that weaves together a gripping tale of revenge, guilt, and the haunting shadows of the past. The story follows Julia Harte, a former officer who helped bring down a notorious serial killer thirty years ago. Now living in quiet seclusion in the coastal village of Cuan Beag, Julia has built a new life under a false name, hoping to escape the memories that continue to plague her. But when a copycat killer emerges, Julia is drawn back into the darkness she thought she left behind.

The novel is a masterclass in suspense, with Jordan expertly creating a chilling atmosphere that mirrors Julia's internal struggles. As the tension builds and the body count rises, Julia must confront the ghosts of her past while trying to outsmart a killer who is eerily familiar. With rich, evocative descriptions of Ireland's remote landscape and an unflinching exploration of the psychological toll of past trauma, The Dark Hours keeps readers on the edge of their seat.

Julia is a complex, deeply flawed protagonist, making her determination to stop the killer both compelling and relatable. The stakes are high, and Jordan does a fantastic job of maintaining the suspense right up until the final pages. For fans of dark, character-driven thrillers, The Dark Hours delivers a deeply satisfying and unpredictable ride.

This gripping crime novel follows detective Julia as she works two cases—one in the present and one from 1994. Set against an atmospheric Irish setting, it feels authentic but not overly gritty or dry.

For a debut, this is seriously impressive! The flashbacks to 1994 are gripping, though they come with a dose of period-accurate sexism. Both timelines were equally engaging, and the way past and present connected kept me hooked.

I loved how Julia’s character evolved between the two cases, pushing it in a character-driven direction, rather than a typical police procedural.

My only frustration? The reveal. The format and mystery were so strong but I wanted a fair shot at guessing the culprit, but I don’t think it was possible here. Still, the journey more than made up for it! If you love layered crime fiction with strong character development, this one is worth picking up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review

Her penance has been to live in fear

Thirty years ago Julia Harte was a Garda working in Cork. She had ambitions, wanting to become a detective although she had thus far remained very much on the lower rungs of the career ladder, in large part due to the ingrained sexism she encountered from within the hierarchy. As the force at large mobilized to find two missing young women, she and her partner are tasked with responding to a neighborhood over a complaint of noisy neighbors. What seemed like a nuisance call turned out to be a turning point in her career and in her life as a whole. It would be her first, but not last, encounter with a psychopath who first marked and then killed his victims, and more would die before he would be brought to justice. Julia rose through the ranks to Detective Inspector and even published a book that became a surprise bestseller, but she is still haunted by that case. She has retired to Cuan Beag, a small and secluded village on the eastern coast of Ireland, looking to escape her old life and the unwelcome notoriety she had endured. She hears on the news that James Cox, the killer from that first major case, has just died, and is greatly relieved...but only for a short time. Soon after she receives a phone call from Des Riordan, her chief superintendent back in the day, asking that she return to Cork at once. Two young women have been found dead, killed in exactly the manner which Cox had used all those years ago. Someone is apparently recreating the earlier crimes, using details not made public, and the current Garda have few clues with which to work. If she returns to the city and delves back into the case during which her life fell apart and nearly ended, can Julia prevent more innocent people from dying and maybe even make amends to those whom she had failed to save so many years ago?
The Dark Hours introduces the reader to an intriguing female protagonist in Julia Harte. She worked in a male-dominated career at a time when women were regularly overlooked for promotion and in general deemed not sufficiently tough to handle the rigors of the job. She felt the
pressure on the home front as well, with her husband Philip husband eager to start a family and pushing for Julia to let go of her ambitions in a job that took so much of her time and exposed her to (in his mind) unnecessary dangers. The determination that Philip had so admired in her early in their relationship he now considers unwelcome stubbornness. With a full complement of well-developed characters author Amy Jordan does a great job of portraying the life of a woman in law enforcement, the dangers and dark side of humanity which she encounters every day and the toll that it inevitably takes on her over the course of years. The premise of the story is also excellent, although suspicions I had early on about a couple of characters proved valid, and a plot twist or two amongst the many felt a bit contrived. The relationship between Julia and Des, how it began and how it evolved, is a strong one and which adds to the story. The one character who annoyed me was Philip, but otherwise I found the storyline intriguing and the novel a satisfying read. Fans of authors like Jenny O'Brien, Claire Mackintosh and John Connelly should give this mystery a try. My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for allowing me access to The Dark Hours in exchange for my honest review.

The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan is a gripping thriller.
This one will definitely keep you reading well into the night.
A story that had me on the edge of my seat. I love a tale that has me guessing.
This book was fantastic! It was engaging and it draws you in, you just want to settle in and rip through the pages.

This is a thriller/procedural about an Irish detective that must confront a case from her past to solve a current crime. I liked the way the book flashed between past and present; however, the characters and the story itself didn’t quite grab and hold my attention. Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this stunning ARC by a new author. I devoured this book, both in print and audio format. The narrator was fantastic and when I couldn't listen, I was reading and finished it in two days. I found both time periods to be very intriguing and both kept my interest, which is not always the case. This one will definitely keep you reading or listening well into the night. I will remember Julia Harte and the rest of her team for a while and I will be ordering several copies for our library! Great job to Amy Jordan for her debut title.

It’s the last Wednesday of January, so it’s that time again. Book review time! This month, I went for more of a mystery thriller type book. I was looking for something engaging and quick paced like thrillers should be. The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan was released yesterday (the 28th) from MIRA Books. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for giving me access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s do the thing!

The Dark Hours follows Garda (Irish policeperson) Julia Harte as both a young woman and as a retired Detective Inspector. It’s a braided narrative where two storylines play out by alternating back and forth. In 1994, Julia’s partner has been murdered by someone who has just killed two young women and has set his sights on Julia for some reason. In 2024, after Julia has retired to a small town, it’s announced that the original perpetrator is dead, but why have two young women just been found murdered in similar circumstances to the 1994 murders? Can Julia figure out what’s going on and why she seems to be in the middle of both these cases?

I didn’t realize this was a braided narrative with present and past storylines or else I wouldn’t have requested it. I’m always bored with at least one of them in crime fiction. This was no exception. The present storyline gives things away about the past and vice versa, but not in a good way. In the past, the main character can be in mortal danger, but there’s absolutely no tension because you already know she survives. It just ruins a lot for me. But aside from that, both plotlines were fairly standard. Retired detective gets on the nerves of the current detective who doesn’t think he needs assistance. Random past cases somehow merge into one convoluted Frankencase. No real twists if you have any experience with mystery thrillers. It was standard and that’s okay. Not bad, but not great.

The main problem I had with this book was that none of the characters were particularly likeable. Young Julia was an idiot with zero sense of self-preservation. Old Julia was stuck pining over someone who wasn’t worth her time. I know I was supposed to feel bad about what happened to her husband, but he was a douchebag. She insists he was wonderful, but every time we see him, his whole vibe boils down to “I knew you wanted to be a cop and focus on your career, so I supported you until we got married, at which point you were supposed to quit and start popping out kids, and since you didn’t do what I wanted, you’re a bitch.” Like, dude… get over yourself. Everyone else were cardboard cutouts. There was no one to really root for or get attached to.

I also had issues with the way the story unfolded. I knew who the murderers were as soon as they were introduced, which isn’t a problem, but their motives just felt random and weak. I think this was because all of the aha moments were pretty random as well. In good crime fiction, you can usually trace a thread of connected events that is subtly woven in with red herrings and character development and all the other stuff that makes a book a book. But once in a while, a book will throw random major plot points at you without the thread. There’s nothing you can look back at and say “oh, that makes sense now.” It’s disconcerting and dissatisfying. This book does the latter and hopes the reader will be satisfied with the explanation that “it’s got to do with one of hundreds of past cases that aren’t connected and weren’t mentioned earlier.” I, for one, wasn’t happy with that.

The writing style was fine. I was hoping for a more exciting story, but it was a pretty quick read, so I can’t really complain about the writing.

Ultimately, The Dark Hours was not for me. It had potential, but the execution was mediocre across the board. If another book by Amy Jordan fell in my lap, I’d give it a shot, but it’s nothing I’m going to look for.

Overall, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. A lot of the reviews love it, so maybe I’m being too harsh. I wouldn’t recommend it to a fellow writer since a lot of my complaints come from that angle, but if you’re super into mysteries, check it out and tell me if I’m wrong.

I enjoyed this debut thriller. This story is told in alternating timelines of 1994 and the present. In chapter one we meet Julia and her partner Adrian who are investigating a serial killer. Fast forward to now and Julia finds herself in the middle of a copycat serial killer. Can I just say how happy I was to read about a 60 year old woman still out in the world doing amazing things?? I don't want to give the story away but this was an action packed thrill ride! Thanks you HTP and netgalley for the book to read and review!

The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan is a gripping thriller that follows Julia Harte, who’s been living in hiding in a quiet Irish village after her role in capturing one of the country’s most notorious serial killers. For thirty years, she’s been haunted by the case that made her famous and ruined her life. But when a copycat killer emerges, Julia is forced out of her isolation and back into the world she left behind. This time, she’s not the same naive officer—she’s battle-worn, determined, and ready to stop the killer at any cost. The eerie coastal setting, combined with Julia’s personal demons and the high-stakes hunt for a murderer, makes this an intense, unputdownable read.

I really enjoyed this book - once I started reading I was hooked! I was rooting for Julia and I loved the use of dual timelines. I felt like I was right there with her as she worked to uncover the truth.

I felt like I can’t reveal anything specific about the plot, but I can say if you love books that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I would give this a read!!

✨What To Expect:
⁉️Mystery/Suspense
🔍Crime Thriller
🕵️‍♀️Retired Female Detective
🔪Copycat Serial Unaliver
🦮She Has A Rescue Dog
🇮🇪Ireland Setting
⏰Dual Timelines

Thriller lovers, buckle up because The Dark Hours is the kind of debut that grips you by the throat and refuses to let go. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers drenched in atmosphere, true crime vibes, and serial killer intrigue, this one is an absolute must-read.

Amy Jordan masterfully weaves a dual-timeline narrative that keeps you teetering on the edge of uncertainty, questioning everything. I loved the way the past and present collided, each revelation adding another chilling layer to the mystery. The setting? Perfection. The kind of dark, moody backdrop that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Every twist and turn felt like a fresh jolt of adrenaline, and just when I thought I had it figured out—BAM—Jordan proved me wrong.

This debut is stunning in every sense of the word. The psychological depth, the slow unraveling of truth, and the eerie intensity reminded me of works by Dot Hutchinson or Ashley Flowers, yet Jordan brings her own unique, haunting voice to the genre.

If you love your thrillers deeply psychological, unsettling, and packed with an air of true crime, The Dark Hours is your next obsession. Do yourself a favor—read it. And then come find me so we can scream about that ending. 😱

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and MIRA Books for allowing me to read and review this banger.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thirty years ago, Julia Harte was a young Garda officer whose courageous actions helped take down James Cox, a prolific serial killer who had been preying on young women. After a successful detective career and a bestselling book, Julia retired to a remote village, still haunted by the past and all alone except for her beloved dog Mutt. When two women are found murdered in the exact manner as the old killings, Julia returns to Cork to help solve the case and catch a copycat killer.

I am so impressed by Amy Jordan’s debut thriller! Julia’s story is told over two timelines, each of them tightly plotted and equally compelling. I’ve been loving this trend toward more mature FMCs, and Julia is such a great protagonist, dedicated and daring even when it may cost her everything. The serial killer/police procedural aspect is action packed and propulsive, but it was Julia’s personal relationships that delivered a surprisingly emotional touch that really elevated this novel. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publlishing, and Mira Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Amy Jordan’s The Dark Hours caught me by surprise. I knew, from the early synopsis alone, that it was my kind of read, but I didn’t know how absolutely riveted I would be. Serial killers in dual timelines, connected by some unknown thread, but definitely involving Julia in some way…perfection. I only hope that we haven’t seen the last of Julia Harte.

Oh! I loved Julia. She is retired now. But, she is brought back to help with this case because she was the one to catch the killer the first time. Now, the original killer has died and someone is copying his MO!

The original killings haunted Julia through most of her life. Now, she thinks she can breathe. But this thought is short lived. She has pulled back into her memories when she is asked to assist. She is just not sure she can handle all the emotions.

This is a story that had me on the edge of my seat. I love a tale that has me guessing. I couldn’t figure out if it was a copycat or if the original killer really was not dead. And the way the author incorporates the two timelines together will keep you twisted up in knots!

Need a good police drama guessing game…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This was such a wild ride! The pacing and dual timeline really helped propel this one forward for me. I loved the cast and the two cases connection was really well done. I'd love to read more from this author!

The Dark Hours by @amyjordanbooks is a dark and moody serial killer thriller. The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover, it’s gorgeous! In the book we follow the main character Julia in dual timelines as she’s dealing with a serial killer and her own personal challenges related to her job and her relationships. I was definitely on the edge of my seat at times!