Vanessa Chapman is a reclusive artist that spends her days in a home on an isolated tidal island. When she dies, she bequeaths all her artistic works to the Lennox family, with whom she has had a longstanding disagreement over the exhibition of some of her works. Becker is the curator of Chapman’s works for the Lennox family.

When one of Vanessa’s works is on display, a paleontologist notices the bone in the sculpture is actually human and not an animal bone as the description suggests. Becker must go to Eris island and meet up with Vanessa’s long time friend, Grace, to uncover the artist’s secrets. Could the bone be that of Vanessa’s long lost husband, Julian?

This book sucked me right in. I have been a Paula Hawkins fan ever since I read Girl on the Train and A Slow Fire Burning. This book although entirely different has that same psychological thrill that I love. It is paced well and I also enjoyed the letters from Vanessa mixed in to the story.

The characters in this are so rich and the setting of this tidal island so atmospheric that you will feel like you know them all and that you have been transported to this beautifully gloomy place You may even feel a brisk chill coming off the water and traveling up your spine.

Pick this up for a well paced psychological thrill

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt different than other Paula Hawkins books I’ve read. It still had mystery and lot of complex characters, but something was missing for me. I didn’t feel the need to find out anything but kept going and was pleased with the way everything turned out. I would recommend if you like psychological thrillers about murder mysteries and fine art taking place on a private island!

Same as Hawkins' previous book, The Blue Hour was a VERY slow burn. I don't think I'd classify it as a thriller, but there is a hefty dose of atmospheric suspense. I loved the setting: a remote island off the coast of Scotland, where a famous artist's former companion lives in isolation. Our main character Becker makes frequent trips out to the island to try to learn more about the deceased artist.

Vanessa's history is laid out in an interesting way: Grace tells Becker some portions in the main text, and the reader learns a bit more through passages from Vanessa's diary. As multiple secrets were introduced I was excited to see how it all came together, but I found the ending to be somewhat lackluster.

In The Blue Hour, Paula Hawkins has perfected the art of the unreliable narrator. Only this time she did it so subtly we barely saw it coming.

It took me until about halfway through to become fully immersed in the book, because the use of letters interspersed throughout had the feel of an older style of writing, as though the book was written in the early 1900s. So I was thrown whenever someone took out a cell phone or used the internet! Having said that, the book was atmospheric, with most of the action taking place on Eris, an island off the coast of Scotland, accessible only twice a day when the tide goes out. I've read other books about islands like that, but this was chilling based on the fact that there is only one house there, belonging to reclusive artist Vanessa. Her friend, protector, and secret-keeper Grace lives there too, off and on. When Vanessa's art and archives are left to a museum instead of Grace, trouble ensues!

I had to check back in the final chapter to see if I missed something, since the ending for me was so unsatisfactory, but that could just be me. I prefer happy endings (I need that catharsis!) and I'm not a fan of open-ended, cliffhangers, or ambiguous endings. But I think Ms. Hawkins intended it to be an ending that leaves you thinking, and I am sure this one will stay with me for a while.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advance reader's copy.

Books like these are exactly why I like reading literary suspense! You get the writing, you get the plot, you get the characters. You might have to be a little bit more patient with them, as is the case with The Blue Hour, but when it’s well done the payoff is worth it. I won't lie- I had to wait until about 55% to be fully invested, but once I got to these last pages I could not put it down. I was furiously turning the pages to figure out what was going to happen and lets just say I am NOT disappointed. This is the best Hawkins by far.

Moody and atmospheric, THE BLUE HOUR takes the reader on a slow journey to discover the mystery surrounding a reclusive artist.

Vanessa Chapman is a talented artist living on an isolated tidal island in remote Scotland. The only thing bigger than her talent is the intrigue that surrounds her life. Her husband’s mysterious disappearance and her rumored assignations become more curious when she bequeaths her body of work to her former lover and arch enemy upon her death. When an irregularity is discovered in one of her most famous pieces, an investigation is launched and Vanessa’s secrets are slowly revealed.

Ok, so here’s the thing. This book convinced me that slow burn thrillers with not much thrill are not really my thing. I zipped through the first two-thirds of the book while the pieces were being excruciatingly laid out waiting for the inevitable twists, turns, and big reveal. And then I waited. And kept waiting. Eventually I got to the end and was left with a predictable conclusion that fell flat. In my opinion, the payoff did not justify the investment required of me to get there. It’s a me thing. Others will love the pace and texture of this book and delight in the slow unraveling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Would you voluntarily purchase a home on an island that can only be reached twelve hours a day?

Vanessa, a notable artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago, snags the chance to make Eris Island her own. This is where she was her most content and where creation flowed freely to her. And, this is where she became friends with Grace, a solitary creature of the tides and local villager. Their friendship was a balm to the isolation each felt.

But when a bone is found in one of Vanessa’s pieces in a London art gallery, a visitor comes calling to Eris looking for answers that only Grace holds.

This gave off Daisy Darker vibes to me and is perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson. I enjoyed the atmospheric, slow-burn build-up, but didn’t feel like it was as twisty and thriller-ish as The Girl on the Train. It felt like the build up was leading to a huge ending, but it felt a little too abrupt for me. I was left wanting more, which maybe was what the author was going for? Who knows? All I know is that it was a solid read that kept me going right through to the end.

Thank you to Paula Hawkins, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of the book for an honest review.

Thank you so much Mariner for the ARC!

This one was so unique! I think it's my favorite of the three Hawkins books I've read so far!

If you have any interest in art/painting, I think you will especially like this one. I've seen some people complain about how heavily focused this book was on the art aspect, but that's what I liked about it! It didn't feel cookie cutter to me at all!

While I did guess almost every outcome before it happened, it didn't take away from the fun of the ride. I thought the characters were all well done and described in such detail that I really felt like I knew them which is typically not easy for me.

I definitely recommend!

Thank you Mariner for the review copy of The Blue Hour!
TLDR: Liked it, great writing and moody tone and setting, let down by the slow build to a less than satisfying end. four stars for writing and style, 3 for overall plot/story

This atmospheric, slow-burn mystery set on a secluded island pulls readers into a tense, layered story full of unease and psychological depth. Though it’s not a thriller, the novel builds suspense through vivid descriptions and complex character dynamics that bring the eerie setting and plot to life. Despite the engaging buildup and well-developed characters, the ambiguous ending leaves much to be desired. While the final twist is powerful and the characters' responses feel satisfyingly realistic, the unresolved conclusion detracts from the story’s impact, leaving unanswered questions that feel disconnected from the rest of the narrative. The author skillfully explores human nature through artistic layers woven into the suspense, and for many, these insights will resonate deeply. However, readers who prefer a clear resolution may find the ending frustrating, making this an immersive yet ultimately unsatisfying read.

I was hoping for so much more from this one.

More atmosphere - A tidal island is such a great setting, but it was definitely under utilized.
More from the characters - I didn't develop any strong feelings about any of them. Not even the murderer. They were all just kind of meh.
More from the plot - I guessed the bad guy pretty early on and spent the rest of the book having that guess confirmed - no twists or turns or red herrings.
More from the ending - I kept flipping back and forth on my Kindle because I was convinced I'd missed something. But nope, that's how it really ends.

This psychological thriller was atmospheric and fully engaging. It read easily and kept me entertained through out. My only issue was that there were too many unanswered questions once the book ended. Perhaps that’s what the author wanted.

The Blue Hour is an atmospheric somber story. I was looking forward to Hawkins' writing style and a slow burn story. As expected it was captivating and Hawkins' talent pulled me in to this sad, somewhat lonely story with moments of beauty. Overall, a 4-star book, but the ending seemed too abrupt, I wanted a stronger more conclusive ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great mystery! Engaging without being scary, which I appreciate! Would definitely purchase for the branch and think it would be an engaging book discussion title.

If you liked "The guestlist" and "daisy darker" you will like this one

This is a middle of the road thriller for me, well written and lots of twists and turns but this did not top my list as the end was not as much as I would expect for the amount of slow burn that this book had —however when you have a slow burn that’s very obviously building up to the end, the ending will then make or break the book for you. In this sense I felt like the ending didn't give me enough and I was flipping through asking if I missed a chapter.

This was a quick read and I was able to knock this one out pretty quickly but overall I wish this one hit a little bit better

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found the mixed media helped to create a perfect pace. Through journal entries, news articles, and multiple POVs & timelines, The Blue Hour leads the reader on a journey into an artist’s history and the obsession surrounding her.

I am not a huge appreciator of art, but the way this was written fully immersed me into the world of Vanessa Chapman, a recently deceased artist who lived on an isolated island in Scotland. Just the idea of living on an island that is only accessible at low tide made me shiver a bit.

While a couple of the twists in this were a little predictable for anyone that reads thrillers regularly, I found that I liked the story and the journey enough to make up for it. I would also consider this more of a mystery book than a thriller, as it slowly unraveled over the course of the story vs. running along at breakneck speed.

Check this one out if you like mysteries, art, remote settings, and multiple timelines!

**Thank you to Mariner Books for the eARC of this incredible title!**

This was my first book by Paula Hawkins since The Girl on the Train which I absolutely loved! The Blue Hour definitely did not disappoint. Though it was a bit of a slow burn there was just enough action and suspense to keep me hooked throughout! It was an atmospheric suspenseful mystery with a perfect setting that will keep you on your toes. I love this authors writing style and can’t wait to read through her backlist and see what’s next!

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins is a perfect novel for those who love an atmospheric and character-driven literary mystery. A slow burn that builds to an explosive but maybe unsatisfying ending to some readers.

After a disturbing accusation is made regarding a piece of art produced by Vanessa, a deceased artist with her own scandalized background, art curator, Julian is tasked with making contact with Grace, who was Vanessa's friend and care giver. Grace now lives in Vanessa's island home and may hold the answers to everyone's questions.

The novel is an exploration of what lengths a person will go to to protect the ones they love. And what happens when that love crosses over into obsession.

Dark and deceptive. Unlikable characters. Remote setting.

A note for those who, like me, loved, The Girl on the Train. The Blue Hour isn't similar in the pacing or suspense. The Blue Hour aligns more with A Slow Fire Burning or Into the Water. I think I get let down thinking I'm picking up a fast-paced suspense filled novel and maybe have finally learned that's not quite Paula Hawkins' normal style.

This book was OK. It was not a favorite of mine from her. I loved Girl on the Train and went in with the expectation it was going to be written similarily. The plot was good and kept me engaged, but the characters fell flat for me. Just wanted a little bit more.

“The Blue Hour,” by Paula Hawkins, Mariner Books, 320 pages, Oct. 29, 2024.

James Becker works at Fairburn House in Scotland. He gets a call one morning from Will Goodwin, director of the Tate Modern museum in London. Fairburn loaned three art pieces to the Tate. A forensic anthropologist realized that one of the pieces contains a human bone.

Vanessa Chapman was the artist. Sebastian Lennox is the heir to the Fairburn Foundation which was set up by his late father, Douglas. Grace Haswell, Vanessa Chapman’s executor, lives on Eris Island, an isolated Scottish island accessible to the mainland only twelve hours a day. Vanessa’s husband, Julian, disappeared after visiting her 20 years earlier. Julian had financial difficulties and was frequently unfaithful to Vanessa.

Becker decides to drive to Eris Island to talk to Grace. She is a retired physician. He knows it will be difficult to gain her trust because Douglas sued her multiple times in the past over Vanessa’s diaries. Chapters of Vanessa’s diaries are interspersed with present day chapters.

It is difficult to like the characters. The plot is tense and dark as secrets are woven together. The reveal and the ending are shocking. Suspense novel fans will love it.

I rate it four out of five stars.

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.

From the author of “The Girl on the Train” comes “The Blue Hour,” an atmospheric, psychological thriller. From the first page, I was hooked and could not put it down. Although it was a bit of a slow burn, I absolutely devoured this addictive and compelling suspense novel. Hawkins is such a talented writer, and I will read anything she writes. The descriptions of Eris Island made me feel like I was there. The remote island was the perfect setting for this suspenseful thriller, so eerie and dark. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.