I went into The Buried Hours blind, and I’m glad I did because this was a dark, twisted ride that kept me turning the pages! I’ve followed Rachel Grant for years now and have read her Concrete Evidence series, which I liked, but at some points felt cliche and predictable. The Buried Hours was a step up. Definitely more gritty and intriguing. I also loved loved LOVED the Yosemite backdrop. I’m a sucker for suspense books set in a National Park. Will definitely be reading more of Grant’s books under this pen name!

DARK!! This novel is dark. For lovers of crime and suspense, this is perfect. Dark and twisty with the perfect Yosemite scenery. You couldn’t ask for a better backdrop for this novel. There are things that may be triggering to some, but overall a must read!!

The Buried Hours is Rachel Grant's debut under the pen name R.S. Grant and I really hope we see more from her under it because this book was 🔥 It is a crazy dark storyline, so I highly recommend checking triggers before going into it, but man, it was expertly done, and I was glued to the pages. I didn't want to put this down, so I didn't, and the pace moves along quite quickly as Signe works to discover what happened during her missing hours. There are plenty of twists and turns as the story progresses and some made my jaw drop with how shocking they were.

The audiobook for The Buried Hours is top-notch and as of this writing available on Kindle Unlimited along with the eBook. Kathleen Early, Tim Lounibos, & Thor Knai narrate and believe me when I say they were all excellent. Despite what happened to her, or maybe because of it, Signe is an exceptionally strong FMC and will probably go down as one of my favorite non-reoccurring characters. Minus the triggers, I think it is good to go into this one blind if you can, and if you are a fan of authors like Karin Slaughter and Louisa Luna, I think you will enjoy this book!

OMS! I can even begin to explain how this book affected me. I felt like I was right there in the midst of all the action. To say this was a page-turner is a disservice to the story. It was that and so much more. The characters were complex and you didn't know what direction everything was going. You had to be sus about everything and every single character. It seemed everyone had their own agenda and just when you thought you had it figured out, you got turned on your head again. It was the type of book that you are thrilled to read, but at the same time the subject matter makes you so sad. It pulled a lot of strong emotions from me. I'm horrified at the things that happened, but I was so happy at the end. I was crying tears of deep sadness in the beginning, but the end of the story filled my heart with happiness. The epilogue was the best. It was an amazing romantic suspense among a dark topic. The author did a wonderful job of describing every element of this story. I can't wait to read her next book. I was given a copy, but all opinions are my very own.

The Buried Hours by R.S. Grant

Dark, gritty and compelling ~ engaged on page one and couldn’t stop reading till the very end

What I liked:
* Signe Gates: crime journalist, lost 48 hours in which she was raped on tape and threatened afterward, divorced, has PTSD, decides to follow a lead that might give her information on “the lost hours”
* Cole Banner: archaeologist, climbing and hiking skills, hired by Leo for upcoming series, attractive, engaging, more than what he appears to be, a good friend, strong, and intriguing
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That I was drawn in, became part of the story, and was rooting for justice and exposure of the criminals
* Learning more about human trafficking without the graphic details
* Being able to hate the bad guys
* Meeting Jasper and hoping he will have a book of his own
* That not everything was black and white
* That it made me think about the five W’s of journalism as I contemplated the characters of the book and their actions
* Wondering if there will be more books in this genre by this author

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about why criminals become criminals and feel entitled to do what they do
* Wonder about Signe’s ethics in producing the journalistic films she did

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I have mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand it is amazing with great action and suspense. On the other hand, there are parts that are really hard to read. Even as a work of fiction, I cannot believe the things people will do to each other just because they can. I had to stop reading several times because I was so mad, sad, or disgusted with the scene. Don't let this deter you from reading this book, just be ready for the rollercoaster you are embarking upon.

I really liked this book! Full of suspense, twists and turns, and a gripping storyline that made it hard to put down. I liked the story being told through the two different POVs, and how the mystery of Signe's missing hours all came together in the end. Definitely recommend!

This was a fast-paced thriller that kept me turning pages long into the night. You could never be sure who to trust or what was going to be revealed next. Unfortunately, I experienced whiplash with how fast Signe and Cole go back and forth from lust to hate, from full trust to no trust. However, I would definitely love to read another thriller from R.S. Grant.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Intriguing book with engaging characters and an interesting storyline. There's plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing what would happen next, who to trust.
This is Rachel Grant's first book written as R. S. Grant. She did a wonderful job as always.

Many thanks to the author, Thomas and Mercer, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I really enjoyed this! The writing style was really enjoyable. The suspense is built up really well and it has loads of twists and turns. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to R.S. Grant, Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so well written, and so engrossing that I kept losing track of time.
A wonderful mix of suspense, mystery, and a smidge of romance.
5 stars from me!
This author also writes under the name Rachel Grant, so I'm definitely going to look up her other books.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

Signe Gates is an investigative crime journalist .
Two years ago, she was drugged & kidnapped while on a job, and the 48 hrs of her captivity are, unfortunately or mercifully, still a blank.
She knows something really bad happened but she can't remember what!

When Signe gets a tip that two men who recently died in Yosemite might somehow be connected to her missing hours, all her old fears and anxieties re-surface!
But she needs answers more than anything else so she heads into the wilderness with a seasoned hiker as her guide!
Trouble is, she isn't entirely sure if she can trust her guide!

What I loved:-
OMG! You can't trust a single character in this book!
Just when you think you are beginning to understand a particular character, the author has you second guessing everything!

Secondly, the setting of this book is so unusual and exciting!

A visit to the amazing Arches National Park last year, had me adding most of the National Parks in USA to my list of places to visit.
Top of the list are Yellowstone and Yosemite!
When I saw that this mystery is set in Yosemite, I knew I had to put in a request to #netgalley!

After seeing tons of attractive and touristy pictures of Yosemite, it was a bit of a shock when this book made me also realise how vast and lonely these places can get and how easily you could actually just go off the grid!

A chilling, atmospheric thriller - this was a total page turner! Thankfully, the ending was believable and completely satisfying!

4.5⭐️

This book was incredible. Unable to tell who to trust from the beginning on until the very end, this was full of suspense and intrigue, dark mystery, trauma, and just a touch of romance. I loved it.

Thank you R.S. Grant, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! This story grabbed me on the first pages and kept me turning the pages until the end. There's plenty of action and suspense, which I love. And lots of twists and turns to keep things interesting. Signe is a fantastic heroine -- flawed, damaged, and strong-willed. I just loved her. This is definitely on my favorites of 2023.

Who is it, who did it, who are the good guys, who are the bad guys, who to trust and who not to trust, why did it happen and will Signe figure out what happened to her and why before it’s too late. These questions and more was a constant and the twists and turns, surprises, and characters kept me on my toes and flipping the pages.
A great thriller and a roller coaster of a ride, when I thought I had it figured out, the author throws another curveball and has me second guessing my theory and who to trust.
WOW WOW WOW an amazing read with amazing characters and that is all I can say as I don’t want to spoil anything for a reader as this is a must read with no hints or clues to fully enjoy the superb writing and the story that flowed seamlessly with descriptions that were spot on.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*

BOOK: THE BURIED HOURS- 4.5 stars
AUTHOR: R.S. GRANT
PUB DATE: 05 DEC 2023
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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At first, I didn't want to request this book because the posting schedule for this month was already filled. So, I read the review on Netgalley, and they all raved about the book, and I decided to get it. I'm so glad I did! The book was very good and amazing
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The book starts with our FMC, Signe Grant dealing with the trauma from her buried 48 hours and new info from her informant. I loved the character development of Signe. She started confused and traumatized, and she rediscovered herself and found the people who performed those horrible acts on her. Because I've read a lot of thrillers, I had an inkling as to whom the culprit was. I was hoping it wouldn't be true, but I was correct. I'm also glad that she thought about her career choice because I didn't like her job.
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The MMC, Cole, was also okay, although I had mixed feelings about him throughout the book. I didn't know if he was a good guy or a bad guy. You should read the book if you're curious.
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Now, the author was very, very good. The mystery was well detailed. From two unassuming murders to the large-scale crime, it was wonderful to read, and I commend the author. I never would have imagined some things that happened in the ending.
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All in all, this book was very good with an amazing storyline. Of you're a fan of thriller, you should definitely pick this up ASAP.
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The Buried Hours by RS Grant is a standalone, suspenseful, twists, turns, emotional, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, romance and so much more more..a lot to unpack but it keeps you turning the pages to see what happens..

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley . All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a dark and gritty thriller about investigative journalist Signe Gates and her journey to uncover what happened during 48 hours missing from her memory. The book has a lot of twists and turns that will keep you on your toes and fully immersed in the story. Yosemite itself is a character and Grant does an incredible job with everything.

This book does not shy away from dark subject matter so please look up trigger warnings and proceed with caution. I think it was smart of Rachel Grant to write this under a pen name as it does sway away from her usual MO and is a lot less romance heavy. Nonetheless, she proves she is a master at her craft.

The Buried Hours is a stand-alone read.

Signe Gates life became a nightmare the day she was kidnapped and drugged. She is missing 48 hours, but after waking she knows that she has been raped with plenty of bruises and scars to prove it. Her husband, Leo, doesn't believe her and calls her a whore. They divorce not long after. Signe has some memories, but most of all a warning from to tell no one what happened, or they will die. Every time she gets close to revealing what happened one of her informants dies. Signe has been haunted for two years and is terrified of what she doesn't remember.

An informant reaches out to her about two men recently found dead in Yosemite are connected to her missing hours. Signe still works with her ex-husband and tells him that she needs a camera man to work with her on a two-year-old case. He sends her Cole Banner. Cole is seasoned hiker who is not happy about his new assignment.

Together they climb in Yosemite in order to meet a deadline in order to get more information about the two men. But the past is quickly catching up to Signe and she begins to doubt the people closest to her, including Cole. Unbeknownst to Signe Cole is hiding secrets of his own and is not sure he can trust her either.

This is another fantastic story by R. S. Grant. It involves the dark world of human trafficking and crime lords. There are many twists and turns that keep the reader guessing in this riveting story. The writing is top notch as it grabs the reader right from the start.

I LOVE books set in national parks. This book is high on suspense, and the twists are good! I really enjoyed this book. I was expecting a little more romance, since the author writes romantic suspense under a different name, but there is just a touch of it in this book, and that's ok!