It's been awhile since Hawkins' last book, but it's been worth the wait!! Once again she starts you on a roller coaster ride and leaves you hanging at the top until the very end. I gave this book 4 stars only because it dragged on a little too long, but otherwise great book. Thanks for the advanced copy!!

Two decades ago, Julian Chapman vanished into thin air, leaving behind a mystery that remained unsolved. His spouse, Vanessa, an artist of remarkable talent and mystery, displayed little sorrow at his disappearance, given Julian's reputation as a chronic philanderer. However, Vanessa's demise changes the game, bequeathing her substantial estate—valued at a staggering seven million dollars—to the Fairburn Foundation. Enter James Becker, an art curator entrusted with managing Vanessa's legacy, much to the chagrin of Grace Haswell, Vanessa's companion for two decades.

When unforeseen circumstances thrust James and Grace together, the long-buried questions surrounding Julian's disappearance resurface. With intertwining timelines, epistolary elements, and the backdrop of a secluded Scottish isle accessible only at low tide, this narrative unfolds as a gripping locked-room mystery.

The pace is relentless, the tension palpable, and the twists keep readers guessing until the final page. My nerves are shot through, a testament to the narrative's gripping intensity.

A heartfelt thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to delve into this digital copy!

When friendship becomes toxic is the theme of this book. A friend becomes jealous and angry their benenevolent intentions can quickly become malevolent.

DNF @ 24%--too slowly paced, couldn't connect with any of the unlikable characters, wasn't hooked on the mystery, just didn't come together for me

What a classic Paula Hawkins ride! I loved the dead artist’s letter and journal entries and the obsessive friend/estate manager angle. Plus all on an island. I did see one twist coming but was shocked at how it unfolded. Very dark and twisty and satisfying.

The Blue Hour starts out slowly and continues slowly for a while, but it does finally catch and did not disappoint. It follows a man, Becker, who has devoted his working life to the artistic endeavors of Vanessa Chapman, and a woman who was obsessed with the artist in life and devoted her life to caring for Vanessa. From the beginning the tone is forbidding, tense, with a growing sense of dread. Something is going to happen, but what and to whom is the question, and it takes a while to get there, but I found it interesting enough to want to keep going.

The island, Eris, where the author lived and created and where Becker becomes trapped was a fascinating setting and provided so much to the story. The complex, flawed characters, who you barely understand and barely connect with or even like, are intriguing. Really there isn't a character that I truly understood or liked a lot, but I was fascinated with their motivations and stories, so I wanted to keep reading.

The story begins because of a human bone found in a sculpture by the artist Vanessa Chapman and of course she was famous for her art, and the unsolved mystery of her unfaithful husband Julian Chapman’s disappearance into thin air. So of course there are so many questions as we dive into the story of her life and the scandals and tragic events that have occurred for all the characters in the book. We go between the two timelines with flashbacks and diary entries from Vanessa Chapman. The ending was a little unexpected and matches the entire dark sinister tone that was foreshadowed at the beginning of the novel. I would give this novel a 3.5-4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this digital arc copy.

I really enjoyed this one right up until the end, which I found a little too bleak, but that is probably more a matter of personal taste than an actual problem with the book. I was quickly and fully drawn into the mystery around the enigmatic artist, and all the flawed yet still likeable characters. The setting was also fantastic, the island being periodically cut off from the main land by the tides was such an interesting and compelling source of tension throughout.

The Blue Hour
by Paula Hawkins
Pub Date: October 29, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A stylish and immersive new novel of ambition, legacy, and betrayal from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train.
A masterful and propulsive novel that asks searing questions of ambition, power, gender and perception, The Blue Hour recalls the very best of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith and cements Hawkins’s place among the very best of our most nuanced, powerful and stylish storytellers.
In this story we have past and present timelines, some epistolary formatting, and a sort of locked-room-mystery—set on a remote Scottish island, only accessible at low tide. Can’t say I liked these characters, I really didn’t, but the author is skillful enough in her storytelling, for that to matter much. One can at least identify with some of their feelings, without approving of their actions. Patience is required of the reader, especially in the first part. Another solid read by Hawkins.

4/5. Wow, what a lonely and isolating story! “The Blue Hour” by Paula Hawkins tells the story of an infamous artist who has isolated herself to an island accessible only by one causeway for roughly twelve hours a day due to the ebb and flow of the tides. An intimate discovery in one of the artist’s pieces on debut at a prestigious museum unravels a series of secrets, lies, and half-truths. Even though I had my suspicions from the beginning I was still blown away by the last ten percent of the book. This novel was a slow burn, perhaps even a little too slow for my liking. Nevertheless, I was so intrigued by Vanessa, the artist, and Eris, the largely inaccessible island. “Thank God…for Eris.” The detail in Hawkins describes Eris, Vanessa, and their art is fascinating—Eris is certainly more than just an island. Thank God for Vanessa, because other than her, I found myself hating everyone else in this story. It was the lore and mystery of Eris and Vanessa that kept me reading and wanting more. The weaving of the secrets and the eerie storytelling make this book worth reading in my opinion—and the ending was delightfully sinister! “The Blue Hour” has left me with one haunting echo…“Now it’s blue. Now it’s blue.” Thank you to Mariner Books, HarperCollinsPublishers, Paula Hawkins, and NetGalley for providing and e-ARC for review!

Glad that I was able to read this early. Grace was creepy. Overall, it was just OK like all of the books after Girl on the Train. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

A mystery novel filled with obsession, ambition, love, and a missing body. Add to that the descriptions where the story takes place, and it’s easy to become immersed in the world she has created.

I loved the premise of this book, and I was so excited to see multiple references to Daphne du Maurier! However, without spoiling anything, the end left me so unfulfilled! I feel like reading the last page was the equivalent to taking a deep breath in and holding it.... forever.

This might be one of my favorite titles by Paula Hawkins. While the ending is not necessarily a surprise, the journey there was both beautiful and tragic. My favorite book this year by far.

I loved this book! Woods perfectly curates a group of women - some friends, some frenemies, some coworkers - & perfectly tells this story from the perspective of three of them. I really loved all of the "perfectly imperfect" characters; so much so that I was nervous for the ending as so many times before I've been let down in the last 50-100 pages or so (this was NOT the case here).

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins.

The Blue Hour is more of a slow burn than Hawkins' other novels, but incredibly smart and sinister. I really enjoyed the aspects of the art world, the remote island, etc. The Blue Hour might be her best yet!

I loved Girl on the Train and Into the Water, but The Blue Hour was one of the most boring mystery novels I've read to date.
I would blame my lack of knowledge and interest in art, but I believe it is the author's job to make all hobbies and careers interesting in their books, and I wasn't feeling it at all.
Everything, from the storyline, to the characters, to the writing, to the plot "twists" was underwhelming.
I would only read this if you're brand new to thrillers/mysteries.

Paula Hawkins' latest novel, The Blue Hour, explores the intriguing life and mysterious past of artist Vanessa Chapman, set on a remote Scottish island. While the book captivates with its atmospheric setting and initial premise, it ultimately falls short in several areas, warranting a 3 out of 5 stars rating.

The story kicks off with a compelling mystery: a startling find in one of Vanessa's artworks raises questions about the fate of her estranged husband, Julian, who vanished twenty years earlier. Hawkins excels at creating a moody and immersive environment, with rich descriptions that bring the isolated island to life. The opening chapters successfully draw readers in with their sudden twists and engaging character introductions. However, as the plot unfolds, the proliferation of characters and intertwined timelines becomes muddled, affecting the story's overall clarity.

A significant issue with The Blue Hour is the difficulty in connecting with its characters. The relationships, while intricate, are often hard to relate to or empathize with. Grace Haswell, Vanessa's confidant and estate manager, is particularly challenging to engage with, and her interactions with other characters frequently feel forced. Moreover, the book's middle section drags, causing the narrative to lose momentum. Despite a few surprises, the ending feels abrupt and somewhat disjointed, leaving some plot threads unresolved and the conclusion feeling hastily added.

Overall, The Blue Hour is a dark and atmospheric thriller that highlights Paula Hawkins' talent for unique storytelling. The novel's primary strengths lie in its evocative setting and initial intrigue, but its shortcomings in character development, pacing, and narrative clarity prevent it from achieving its full potential. Fans of Hawkins and those who appreciate moody literary fiction with a hint of mystery might still find it worth a read, even if it doesn't quite match the impact of her earlier works.

This was a slow-burn mystery that tells a tale of an artist's life and the ripple effects that spread even after her death. Dual timelines and many different lives are shown here, as well as love in many forms, good and bad. This was written beautifully and was not afraid to sway from a unique type of ending, following its own beat. Keep in mind that this is a mystery, not a thriller. If you love great character development and intricate but flawed stories of peculiar people's lives, you will love this one. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley, and Mariner Books for this ARC.

Definitely pulled in by the atmospheric setting and intriguing story of artistic process, but I stalled out a little with the lack of tension in the plot. The characters are interesting, and Hawkins does a great job with several levels of conflict between them. The ending and resolution felt very rushed and a bit tricky (seemed like the subplot that leads to the identity of the remains was a little thin in comparison to the rest of the story). I'd rate this somewhere in the middle of this author's books--a solid read with a slow pace and low tension. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read The Blue Hour!

Really interesting character development and mystery. The author did well with showing the perspectives and introducing enough art to keep it interesting without going over my head. I enjoyed it and will recommend!