We are back with detective Natalie Lockhart of Burning Lake, New York and this time she has discovered a young woman lying dead in a dumpster. There is no clue as to who she is but with a mystifying tattoo on her arm, and a callus under her chin, Natalie retraces the woman’s steps leading up to her death. As Natalie dives deeper into this woman’s mysterious death she starts to uncover something dark and sinister in Burning Lake.

I would definitely suggest that since this is book two in the Natalie Lockhart series, everyone read book one first! Mainly because it’s amazing but also because in this one there are several references to the first which is only expected since it had such a impact on Natalie and her life.

While my favourite remains book one, I still found this one to be a great mystery and a solid follow up! Very dark and creepy but a lot of great elements added in and I always like to get to know more of the townspeople of Burning Lake. I’m still craving more from Natalie and her possible romance with one of her colleagues as well so I pray in future books I see that come to life!

This one comes out today! So happy pub day to Alice Blanchard and I already can’t wait for book three!

The Wicked Hour is the second book in a series featuring rookie detective, Natalie Lockhart. You will enjoy this novel more if you read the first book in the series before reading this one as it does not stand very well on its own.

I won't recap the publisher's book description as they did a fine job and I don't want to chance inadvertantly introducing a spoiler. Blanchard has set up a good cast of characters for the series; Natalie Lockhart is a strong and relatable lead and the numerous secondary characters are well-drawn. Blanchard's writing style is crisp which keeps things moving along, and there are plenty of suspects to hold the reader's attention.

I didn't like or understand the author's choice of endings, but that's probably intentional - the "What!?!" will lead nicely into Book 3 of the series.

My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read a copy of the book prior to it's publication on 12/1/2020.

So this is the second in the series, and while I loved the first one, I am a bit more lukewarm about this one. It's not the mystery. I thought the mystery was great. And like the first one, there is a great autumnal/Halloweeny/witchy vibe that I think the author does a spectacular job in conveying. I also love her insights into the main character and her flaws, and particularly her grief in this book.
Unfortunately, I thought this book jumped around with the backstory (and did so with much vague innuendo) that it felt almost disjointed and, even though I had read the first one, I felt a little confused at times. I would have to say to anyone interested in reading this one, to definitely read the first one. If you have read the first one, I would still recommend this one. It has all the great components of the first one.

"The Wicked Hour: A Natalie Lockhart Novel," by Alice Blanchard, St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books, 304 pages, December 1, 2020.

Natalie Lockhart is a rookie detective in the Burning Lake, New York police department. She is still dealing with the events that occurred in book one, "A Trace of Evil," when she shot a serial killer.

Her relationships with Lieutenant Luke Pittman and Detective Brandon Buckner, previously close friends, are now tense. The city goes all out for Halloween and an estimated 100,00 people are attending events. Detectives are working undercover.

Natalie volunteers to work on cleanup the following day. She works several hours before she is waved down by a public works employee. He found the body of a young woman in a dumpster.

Her only identifying features are an unusual tattoo on her arm and a callus underneath her chin. Because she also has calluses on her left hand, Natalie realizes the young woman played the violin.

The woman's purse with ID is found. Her name is Morgan Chambers, 24, of Chaste Falls. She worked part time at the town library. Samantha Dreyfus was her roommate. Her parents are Lawrence and Heather Chambers. Her father is a professor of music at the conservatory.

Then the sheriff of Chaste Falls tells Natalie a violinist, Lily Kingsley, who went to the conservatory has been missing for six months.

While the characters are good, "The Wicked Hour" is repetitious and slow-moving until the last third of the book. While I really enjoyed "A Trace of Evil," this isn't as good.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This book would have been easier to understand if I had read the previous one, yet it still deserves a nice rating. It’s a fast paced police procedural with a lot of mystery and a wonderful twist. I really enjoyed it. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review

Detective Natalie Lockhart has uncovered a string of murders in her town. She is fighting her own demons as she is searching for the murderer. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she realizes the murderer is someone she would never suspect. Or maybe not!

There are quite a few missteps in this book. The author repeats herself several times about several things. If she says once…she says MULTIPLE times about her friend disappearing in high school and the person who was accused of her death kills himself. I also recommend reading the first in this series. I have not read the first one and that may have helped me follow some of this story.

I did enjoy the suspense built around these disappearances. I also connected with Natalie. She is struggling to overcome the death of her sister (this is where reading the first book would have been helpful). The author did a great job with Natalie’s pain and with her strength to overcome. Plus, the mystery surrounding the murders is intense and unique.

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

The Wicked Hour by Alice Blanchard is a police procedural and the second book in the Natalie Lockhart series. To understand more of what is happening in the book, it is best to read the first book in the series, Trace of Evil, before starting The Wicked Hour. A fast-paced mystery thriller set in a town that makes the most of its history with witchcraft and the large tourist trade around their Halloween celebration.  The characters are well-written, helping the story develop at a smooth, steady pace. The Wicked Hour is an absorbing read that you will not want to put down!

This is the 2nd volume in the Natalie Lockhart series. In the first book, Alice Blanchard introduced us to Natalie Lockhart and her family and friends. She is a detective in the Burning Lake Police Department. The first book, Trace of Evil, centered on a series of crimes committed upon Natalie's family. She captured the killer and has become a minor celebrity because of it. That is the back story that picks up a few months after the end of Trace of Evil.

Natalie is back on duty with lingering emotional issues from her capture of a killer. As a detective in a tourist town, she is often tasked to assist in community events. It's Halloween and the town's annual event draws huge crowds every year. This year the police are not only tasked with insuring the safety of the residents, they are assisting with the clean up. Natalie is first on the scene when a business man discovers the body of a young woman in the dumpster. With no ID present, police must first match the young woman to a missing person. When her tattoo and a scar give them a name, the investigation kicks into high gear.

The current crime has elements of a cold case involving a friend of Natalie's when she was young. So we now have 3 threads running through this thriller that will give us many a twist until some of them start running together. Ms Blanchard is building the next book as we work to solve this one. The threads from the first book continued into this one and at least one thread here will continue. This makes the series a much richer experience as you anticipate the release of the next book. An excellent reading experience written with skill and lots of suspense. That's what every reader is looking for and we seldom find all of the elements in one book. 5 stars.

After a week of celebrations for Halloween in Burning Lake, volunteers prepare for a massive clean-up effort. Among them is Detective Natalie Lockhart, who expects streets clogged with bags of trash but not a body in the dumpster. Other than scraped knees there are no other visible injuries or an obvious cause of death. Natalie observes a callus under the chin and on the fingers of one hand, a result of hours of practice with a violin. Examination of the dumpster’s contents give a name to their Jane Doe. She is Morgan Chambers, a recent graduate of a music conservatory in a nearby town.

Morgan had dreams of joining an orchestra but was unable to find a position. She entered the annual music competition in Burning Lake hoping to draw attention to her talent. Natalie traces her path to several bars as well as a party held by Hunter Rose, a wealthy member of the community. Videos obtained from shops in town also show Morgan entering an alley where the dumpster was located but no one else is seen entering or leaving the alley. Natalie is forced to question several people that had contact with Morgan in the hours leading to her death, but they have also played roles in Natalie’s life. A past relationship with Hunter and the discovery that her own doctor had treated Morgan and became her friend provide uncomfortable moments in her investigation. The question of a serial killer arises when a second student from the conservatory who had a similar appearance to Morgan and studied violin was reported missing.

Natalie had previously been involved in a brutal murder investigation and is also dealing with the death of her sister. As she deals with her grief she has pushed away or lost the support of the people closest to her. Only now is she realizing that it is time to come to terms with her loss. Help finally comes in the end from an unexpected source. Burning Lake is the town where Natalie grew up and she is familiar with many of the residents. When she finally discovers the person responsible for Morgan’s death it makes you consider how well you truly know the people in your life. Alice Blanchard presents a mystery that will keep you guessing and characters that you will look forward to seeing again in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of this book for my review.

Right from the start, the story has an eerie and haunting vibe to it. It kicks off with Halloween! I am so here for it.

We follow Natalie as she investigates a murder, all while dealing with grief she’s been carrying around from previous events. The pacing of the story was great. We had all kinds of interesting characters. I really had no clue who could be the suspect. I was along for the ride. I have to mention that this is book two in a series. I felt it could have been helpful to read book one prior to this. There are certain events and characters that are mentioned and we as the reader don’t know what has happened. That being said, this was a really great read despite not having read book one. I was engaged and the twists kept me guessing. I was surprised at that ending. Bravo Miss Blanchard!

This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be looking for book one! I really enjoyed her writing style. This is a fabulous start to the series and now I am a huge fan of Natalie Lockhart. More please! I give this 4 stars.

This was the perfect read for fall. The second book in the Natalie Lockhart series begins on Halloween in Burning Lake, a town known to have a “witchy” history. The setting was perfect for the story.

After the big celebration on Halloween night, a young woman’s body is discovered in a dumpster. Natalie is immediately on the case as she tracks down clues to find out who the woman is and what happened to her just hours before.

I enjoyed this second book in the series much more than the first. Although I thought there were a few loose ends left, I am hoping that Alice Blanchard will address those in her next Natalie Lockhart book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is book two in the Detective Natalie Lockhart series. I really enjoyed the first book and it is best if you read that book before diving into this one. It's been six months since the events of the first book happened and Natalie is still grieving. She is barely sleeping or eating and just getting by.

When a body of a young female is found in a dumpster the day after Halloween, Natalie has a new case to solve. I enjoyed the case and the all the suspects. I really didn't care for how Natalie kept remembering her friend, Bella, throughout the whole book. For me, it took away from the current case she was trying to solve.

I like how Natalie seemed to realize what she wanted in life in this book. (a family, children). I didn't think the scenes with Luke showed any potential in this book, which was really depressing. She invited him in and he shut her down! And the ending...totally out in left field. Never saw that coming and not sure how I feel about it. I do know that there had better be a third book now!

I really enjoyed THE WICKED HOUR by @aliceblanchard.author , the second book in her Natalie Lockhart series. Thanks so much to @netgalley and @minotaur_books for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review! This one publishes tomorrow, December 1!

I would recommend reading the first book, Trace of Evil before this one, and The Wicked Hour talks about a murder that happened in TOE, that plays a heavy role in the main character, Natalie and how she goes through life now.

This book starts with the Halloween celebrations, which is a big deal in the town of Burning Lake. All the cops are out to monitor all the parties, especially after what happened earlier in the year. The next day, the town starts cleaning up as al lithe tourists that have been here for a month, have gone back home. One person, finds a dead girl in a dumpster. So Natalie has her next big case and is back in the spotlight. After IDing the dead girl, Natalie realizes this case hits a little close to home. The dead girl was a violinist, and Natalie had s childhood friend who was also a violinist, but then vanished the night of their high school graduation. Never to be seen again. Natalie can’t help thinking if her friend, as she dives headfirst into her current case. It’s imperative that she solves this case quickly, as Burning Lake doesn’t need their busiest time of year to get a bad rep. True to her skill and word, Natalie chases every lead, one of which is a very surprising suspect. But the real suspect, is even more surprising, same with his motives for why he killed not one but two missing young violinist players.

While I did really enjoy being back in the witchy world of Burning Lake, I enjoyed Trace of Evil a tad more. I wanted more witchy-ness! The murder investigation was really well done, Natalie really left no stone unturned. I also really enjoyed seeing Natalie’s growth, as she slowly comes to terms with her own grief. The mystery aspect was slightly lower than what I wanted, after reading TOE, but still enjoyable and I truly did not suspect the murderer at the end! Also, the ending was a bit of a wild ride, and full on creepy at times!

My rating: 📚📚📚📚

I was so excited that the second installment of the Natalie Lockhart series finally arrived!! I enjoyed the first in the series, Trace of Evil. This second novel takes place over Halloween in Burning Lake, NY., famous for their history with witches and witchcraft. A naked body is found in a dumpster, a young girl. Natalie is assigned to the case. It turns out that the girl was a student at a musical conservatory where another student had gone missing the previous year. Natalie is still coping with the repercussions of events from the first book. We learn a little more about Natalie's past as she investigates and works to solve the murder. We get some romance with Natalie and Luke. There are some twists until the murder is solved. A few things are left unresolved, a set up for book three, the fate of Natalie's friend Bella?

This novel can be read without having read the previous book, but I would recommend reading the first to better understand Natalie.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

From reading other reviews, I'm led to believe that I would have enjoyed this more, had I read the preceding one in the series. Because, truthfully, it was a little difficult to make it through. Natalie Lockhart is assigned to Halloween detail in a town which thrives on Halloween. It sounded like a fun place to be, albeit rather spooky.

When the celebrations begin to die down, a business owner discovers a dead body in his trash bin. The story involves, Natalie trying to, first, find out who the woman even is, and then to uncover various clues that pop up here and there. Usually, I love police procedurals but, not so much, this one.

The Wicked Hour is an excellent story! What an enticing prologue it starts with and the story continues to captivate you throughout its entirety.

I just really enjoy Detective Natalie Lockhart. She’s headstrong, has great instincts, is caring, and is a great Detective. Natalie is still grieving from her last case and this new case hits home to her as well. This story has a great deal of suspense and mystery and I loved following alongside Natalie and uncovering all the clues. There are some great twists and emotions and the story holds you captive to the end. Great series! I can’t wait for more!

The second book of the series after A Trace of Evil, by Alice Blanchard, set in Burning Lake NY, finds Detective Natalie Lockhart still grappling with the tragic results of her last case when the body of a young violinist is discovered following the annual Halloween music contest. What follows is an excellent mystery with plenty of twists and suspects as we follow Natalie as she conducts her investigation in to the brutal death of Morgan Chambers. The conclusion was exciting and totally unexpected. I love it when I can't guess the bad guy ahead of time!
I really like Natalie. She's not perfect and is dealing with alot of personal demons, but she fights her way through the pain that resulted from her last case and proves herself to be tough and honorable, with good instincts. I've read and enjoyed both books now and I look forward to more to come!
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m pausing this book until I have time to read book one, Trace of Evil, as I fully believe they need to be read in order.

The writing is incredible, and I’m so excited to get back to it soon.

This is the second book in the Natalie Lockhart series. I have not yet read the first one, but will go back and do so. There are plenty of references to it in this book that have me intrigued. Natalie has a complicated and grief-riddled past, but she is a very strong woman and detective. She is brave and instinctive and gets things done. I found this to be a very tight mystery and a page turner.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this book. I really liked the first book in this series, so I was very happy when I was chosen to read and review this book. In this story, the body of a young violinist is found in a dumpster. Even though Detective Natalie Lockhart is still struggling with some things that happened in book one, she is determined to find out what happened to this young lady. This book kept my attention right from the beginning-lots of twists and turns. I highly recommend it, and I can not wait for the next book in this series!