While I did find this to be a somewhat compelling read, mostly because of the beautiful writing, I found it very much lacking in suspense and mystery. The characters for the most part also did not feel fleshed out, nor were they very likable. I also hated the ending, but I will get to that in a minute.

The story is told through three characters. Grace and Becker tell the story in the present, with some flashbacks from Grace’s point of view. Vanessa’s story is told through small excerpts from her journals and letters. All three of these storylines wove together to create a many layered narrative that contained many secrets that were slowly revealed over the course of the book. Unfortunately there were no big surprises or twists in the narrative.

I did very much like Becker, his passion for Vanessa’s art was personal and believable. I would have liked more time with him and his wife and their complicated relationship with his boss, but that was a story that didn’t really add to the main plot, so I’m not sure why it was included at all. Becker really wanted to be kind and understanding with Grace, but she made it so hard for him to do that.

Grace and Vanessa have such a toxic friendship that I am surprised that they kept it up for as long as they did. Grace really wasn’t a very likable person, she had a lot of anger, some deserved, but much was just about who she was as a person. As a doctor she probably didn’t have much of a bedside manner, but we didn’t see much of that part of her life. She is also controlling and manipulative, especially with Vanessa, which really made it hard to sympathize with her character.

The writing was absolutely the best part of this story. It was so atmospheric, especially in its descriptions of Eris Island. The way the story was layered throughout the different narratives was also very well done. But the pacing was pretty slow throughout most of the book which made it a bit of a slog to get through. I am also not a fan of open endings to stories, but I can be ok if there is some closure. This story just ended with so many questions left unanswered that it really turned me off to the whole book. The build up to the ending was done well, even though it didn’t really end.

If you like very slow moving mysteries that are beautifully written and have a bit of a gothic feel, then this might be a book that will work for you. Also if you loved this author’s other works, then certainly give this one a try.

Thanks once again to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. The opinions here stated are my own.
I went into this book with no expectations as I haven’t read anything by this author before, but have heard much about some of her titles.
I found this to be an atmospheric, slow-burning thriller (?). It read very much like a movie would unfold in front of you. The island is a character in its own right, and it was easy to feel the mood of the island, the house, the causeway.
I found it slow in the middle and the book nearly lost me, but it picked up to a thrilling pace toward the end.
For me, it was an enjoyable read, but not one I would shout from the rooftops.
3*

I wasn't a fan of this one. I hated the "intermediary" chapters. I just felt annoyed with the artist and the wealthy people in the book. I definitely skimmed to the end.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Eris the island is the setting of this novel is really its own character. The seclusion of the island and only being accessible for a a portion of the day really brings this book up a notch. I liked the character development but wasn't 100% sure why Becker's relationship played into the story so much. I don't feel like it added anything to the story and would have preferred more information on Vanessa and Douglas Fairburn's relationship. Grace definitely gave Annie vibes from Misery. It wasn't a thriller but more of a slow burn which worked well for this novel.

An isolated Scottish island, Eris is only accessible twelve hours a day. Vanessa, a famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared after visiting her twenty years ago. A present-day discovery that intimately connects three people and unveils a web of secrets and lies. Now Grace is the only resident of the island after Vanessa left it to her while all of her art went to Douglas Fairburn. Becker that works for the art gallery arrives ton the island after Douglas's son Sebastian noticed that not all of the works of art arrived and has gone seeking answers, but Becker finds out way more than he bargained for.

I always love books with a strong sense of place and here the island of Eris is definitely a main character. The tension built by the ebb and flow of the tide was intense, but the slow reveal of the mysterious characters really kept me reading.

I was drawn to the synopsis of the book because I’ve read a few trapped on a island type of thrillers but I didn’t like this one as much. I had a really hard time getting into the book and it definitely dragged at times. I connect with Becker’s character at alland what was going on with his wife and her old fiance. I don’t have a problem with unlikable characters but they all felt disjointed. I understand that he was the one to unravel the mystery and murders/missing people but it felt a bit messy and a bit forced. Vanessa fit the reclusive yet unstable artist role. Her relationship with Grace was odd at first until you understand how it all weaves into the story along with her husband Julian. The ending did speed up and the last few scenes on the island and the house were engaging but not enough to make it past a 3 star read for me. Also, the book left me hanging way too much, I needed it to give me more closure especially with Becker and his wife. It was hard to understand how it all fit in to the story and then the reader doesn’t even get more of an explanation into their relationship. I loved The Girl on the Train but this unfortunately this one didn’t live up to my expectations.

An atmospheric setting, an island accessible when the tide is out, is a perfect studio for a reclusive artist. When a gallery wants to hold a posthumous showing of the artist's work, which they now own, they send out a man to follow up on some missing pieces. He, and the reader, are drawn into a mystery when one of the works is found to contain some questionable material. The artist's companion is by turns helpful and concealing. What starts to be a congenial exploration turns into a darker, compelling tale. Paula Hawkins takes us by the hand into a world where the truth hides even as the people reveal themselves.

Vanessa Chapman, celebrated and mysterious artist, leaves her life’s work to gallery owner Douglas Lennox’s foundation. Sebastian, Douglas’ son, and friend, James Becker, are working with the estates executor, or at least trying to, to tie up the loose ends and gather all of Chapman’s remaining artwork. A sculpture made by Chapman catches the eye of an expert, who proclaims that a bone that is part of the sculpture is a human bone, not animal. Sebastian and Beck each have their own challenges, including Sebastian’s elderly mother and Beck’s pregnant wife. As Beck works with Grace, the executor, he hears about a different perspective about the artist he has devoted his life to studying. But she has secrets, secrets that she shouldn’t share.

This is an atmospheric, spooky book, perfect as an October Halloween season read. The author, Hawkins, does a great job of setting the scene and putting the reader right in it. I could almost see the dog, hear the rain, and smell the salty air of the sea. The overall plot was interesting the characters were well developed.

Problem was, I just didn’t like the characters. I found their personalities to be boring in the case of Beck, out of touch in regards to Sebastian, just unlikeable when it came to Helena, and Grace. Oh Grace. Grace was just clearly not a good person. Nothing about her story arc was shocking. Her actions were predictable, making parts of the book kind of Ho-hum to read rather than great twists and turns that make me drop my kindle in shock. The story tied together well, but with unlikeable characters and a predictable plot, this one fell short for me.

This is a mystery with art at its heart and will definitely appeal to art lovers.
I'm of two minds about this book. I enjoyed parts of it but found my attention wandering at times.
It is a story about friendship and love, about wanting to be accepted, and what rejection can make people do.

A sculpture by the renowned artist Vanessa Chapman was lent to the Tate Modern in London by the Fairburn Museum, which inherited all of her art after her death.
But then James Becker, curator at the Fairburn Museum, gets a very concerning call saying that a bone that was used in the work and labelled as an artiodactyl rib is actually human.

Is it a coincidence that her husband disappeared in 2002 and this sculpture is dated 2005?

James decides to go to Eris, a small Scottish island that is only accessible from the mainland for 12 hours a day. This is where Vanessa lived with her friend Grace. He wants to learn more about his idol and see if he can find out more about where the bone could have come from.

I think one of the problems for me is that I will always compare all her books to The Girl on a Train, and this one did not live up to that expectation.

This book took me a little time to get into, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down! It’s told through three distinct voices: Vanessa, a famous artist whose cheating husband mysteriously disappeared years ago; Grace, her obsessive and solitary friend; and Becker, an art lover in the present day. At first, it felt like there were a lot of moving parts, but once the story began to unfold, everything clicked into place. The layered narrative had a slow, steady build that kept me intrigued.

I absolutely loved the setting. Eris Island, this remote and storm-battered Scottish isle, felt like a character in itself. The isolation, the wildness of the landscape—it all added to the eerie atmosphere and made me feel as though I was right there, trapped with the characters in their web of secrets. Hawkins does a fantastic job using the island's moods to mirror the tension in the story.

What really pulled me in was how the drama between the characters slowly unraveled. It’s not a thriller that bombards you with twists, but rather one that reveals its secrets at just the right pace. The domestic tensions and hidden truths added so much depth, and by the end, I was fully invested in discovering what really happened.

I’ve read Hawkins’ other novels, and this one felt a bit different—in a good way. The writing had a more poetic, reflective quality, but she still delivered that signature twisty ending that left me thinking long after I’d finished.

If you enjoy atmospheric mysteries with a slow-burn unraveling of secrets, this is a must-read. It’s perfect for fans of Hawkins and anyone who loves a good, moody thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Mariner Books for the gifted copy!

I unfortunately decided to DNF this one about 20% in. I wasn't connecting with the characters or the story and the heavy emphasis on the art world just couldn't hold my attention.

I ultimately really enjoy this author and won't hesitate to pick up one of her novels in the future.

I will not review this anywhere outside of NetGalley as I don't rate books I do not finish.

I really enjoyed this one by Paula Hawkins! Her other books (to me) have been more straight-up psychological thrillers, but this one was more of a literary thriller. Set primarily on a remote Scottish island that’s unreachable at certain times of the day due to the tide,* it’s a moody and atmospheric read that takes you into the complicated life of a famous artist who’s recently passed away. Her papers, her legacy and her remaining (unaccounted for) work is closely guarded by her friend, who’s inherited the remote island house—and who has secrets she’d prefer to *keep* secret. Told in multiple perspectives by the friend and by a curator who’s trying to acquire the missing artworks, it’s a perfect moody fall read. Curl up on the couch on a rainy day (with a cup of tea, of course) and enjoy!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Mariner Books for my review copy!

*The whole island-that’s-unreachable-at-certain-times-of-the-day-due-to-the-tides thing IS a bit of a trope, but it’s one that I personally enjoy.

I finished this book a few days ago and am still at a loss as to how to describe it. It is very well written and the tension is palpable, it's just that I didn't like the characters. That certainly didn't stop me from reading because I had to know what happened!

Vanessa Chapman is a well-known artist who has passed away and her companion of many years, Grace, is living in Vanessa's house on a tidal island off the Scottish coast. Vanessa's art was left to a foundation run by a past love of hers. When there is a question of a human bone being in one of her sculptures, Julian Becker, who is employed by the foundation is dispatched to talk to Grace and see if they can find out where the bone came from.

Through multiple POV's we learn about Grace's life with Vanessa; it's unhealthy. We also learn about Becker's love triangle with his wife and his boss. Not to mention the boss's mom, a real pleasure. There truly isn't much to like about any of them besides Becker, but his obsession with Vanessa's art rules his life and takes him into danger.

Again, it was so well written that I had to give it 4 stars, Hawkins certainly knows how to write villainess characters. The ending surprised me although it followed the rest of the book, I didn't like it much.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was a slow burn for me but in a good way. I'm already a Paula Hawkins fan, so I was looking forward to reading this book and it didn't disappoint. This book is full of twists. I loved the characters in this book. It goes to show not everyone is what they seem. The author also made me feel like I was on this island with her descriptions and made me feel like a part of this story. I liked it and would recommend this read.

Thank you to #netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book pubishes 10/29

What to expect in this book:

-Coastal island setting
-Journal entries
-Short chapters
-More drama than mystery
-Obsessive characters
-Slow burn plotline

Thoughts

I have always enjoyed Paula Hawkins' books since reading The Girl on the Train many years ago. I was excited to see her set a book on the coast of Scotland, however I was thinking that this would be much more of a "closed-door" or locked on the island mystery. Elusive artist Vanessa Chapman lived on Eris island, an island where the tide determines if people can enter or exit. When she passes away her work is placed in the care of an art curator and a secret is discovered: among her displays is a human bone. This story takes place during present day with the keeper of her island and art, Grace, and told through journal entires from the past. When a visitor comes calling to discover the secrets found within this art, even more secrets are revealed.

As with her past books, I expected mystery and suspense. While there was the element of the mysterious bone and disappearance of Vanessa's husband, this story really lacked much thrills at all. It took up until 90% into the book to even see much plot movement with anything related to thrills at all. Ultimately, I feel hijinked. I enjoyed reading the book and it felt very atmospheric with the tides coming in, but it ultimately was a let down. I kept waiting for the big twist or moment to happen and it never came.

If you are a big thriller reader like me, I think you will be let down with this one. While I did not dislike it, I will not be quickly recommending it. I was hoping this would be more of a fall time read, but sadly just did not connect with any characters and was just disappointed with how it ended.

Very atmospheric book and Hawkins at her best. Eris Island has only one house, one resident and one way out. It is unreachable from the Scottish mainland for 12 hours a day .It is now home to Grace, but was previously owned by Vanessa, a famous artist. When a discovery is made in an art gallery in London, a visitor come to Eris and things begin to unravel.

I am usually a big fan of Paula Hawkins. I was so excited to get this ARC for the opportunity to read her new book before the release since it's been a good amount of time since she's released a new book. While the book seemed to start strong, the slow character buildup and big reveals were difficult to get to. I enjoyed Becker as a main character, and I thought that Grace could have a lot of potential. Unfortunately, by the end of the book, both characters fell short of what I thought they could be. I don't think that I would consider this book a thriller due to the lack of thrilling events or suspense. This book also had one of the most disappointing endings (or even lack of an ending) that I have experienced in a long time. I was finally getting interested in how the book was going to wrap up and was shocked that the following page was the acknowledgments page from the author. I was so surprised how poor the ending was that it negated most of the positive feelings that I had through the book. The book feels unfinished and could have had some potential if the author kept the story going, even just to wrap up a few loose ends.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I honestly can't say I enjoyed this book, it was extremely Slow with a constant Ominous tone to it, and kind of a Predictable ending. It was well-written and delves deeper into family and friend relationships, but it felt bogged down at times, even with super short chapters broken up by short diary entries.

I always enjoy a Paula Hawkins mystery, and this was no exception. I'm really into all the recent and forthcoming releases lately that are set on remote islands! So the setting of this novel -- a small Scottish island only accessible for half the day based on the tides -- was a highlight for me.

Our story starts when Becker, a curator working on an exhibit highlighting the late artist Vanessa Chapman, learns that a bone in her mixed media piece may be human. While waiting to learn more about the bone, Becker tries to work with the executor of Vanessa's will, her friend Grace, to acquire more art and papers for the museum. But Grace is not willing to give much up...

The other highlight for me was the theme of tangled, toxic platonic friendships, specifically the relationship between Vanessa and Grace. We get so many toxic romantic relationships in fiction, but not enough depictions of friendship.

Speaking of toxic... our main character lives on the same property with his friend and boss Sebastian, who also happens to be Becker's wife's ex-fiancé. For good measure, Sebastian's terrible mother Emmeline lives on the property as well.

The slow start and ambiguity at the end won't be for everyone, and I personally would've liked more time spent on the page with Becker's wife Helena, Sebastian, and Emmeline. But overall, The Blue Hour is a quick mystery full of beautifully atmospheric description.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced eARC.

THE BLUE HOUR
Paula Hawkins

I want to like her books, more than I do. I want my reading experiences to feel like I’m drinking to the point of drowning, all I am is thirsty.

“There’s nothing left here to decode.”
Sabrina Carpenter

THE BLUE HOUR stars Vanessa and Grace. There are other characters but these two are the only ones you need to remember. All that’s left of Vanessa are her journals, her art, a knot of unresolved yearning in Grace’s stomach, and now a mystery surrounding her life’s work. All of it feels like an exercise in grief, none of it will feel like a resolution.

The questions that are raised feel like tilling a grave and it’s Grace who dies a little every time. Will the truth ever be uncovered, or will it continue to be cast afloat, forever unmoored?

I keep going back to her although nothing has worked for me like THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN did. My reading experiences between now and then have been both cold (INTO THE WATER), and hot (A SLOW FIRE BURNING), this one is right in the middle.

The material is not that interesting to me. It felt tepid and uninspiring. The characters feel inauthentic, doing and saying things that don’t reconcile. The thriller, not thrilling, the mystery, not mysterious, the writing has nothing written between the lines.


Thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for the advanced copy!


THE BLUE HOUR…⭐️⭐️⭐️