The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This was a slow-burn thriller that was atmospheric and a bit highbrow due to the art emphasis. The setting played an active role in this book, and I found that highly successful. The characters, while not lovable, were interesting and moved the story along. I felt that most of them were pretty surface level, but it didn’t bother me. I enjoyed the dialogue around art, autonomy, male violence, and love.

The end of the book felt like it came to a screeching halt. I didn’t mind the ending itself, but I did feel like a lot of loose ends were not finished. I had more questions than answers about some of the other subplots.

There were a lot of good things in this book like the tension and tone, but I do wish more things were wrapped up. Fans of locked-in thrillers, spooky settings that play an integral part of the story, and art commentary will enjoy this one.

Paula Hawkins became a household name nearly 10 years ago when her novel The Girl on the Train became a smash hit. While her subsequent efforts haven’t enjoyed quite the same level of success, she’s still remained a reliably popular writer of moody mysteries. Her latest, The Blue Hour, is a slow-burning and cerebral examination of art, legacy, and obsession that, while not perfect, should keep her fans happy and possibly earn her some new ones.

After her death from cancer, artist Vanessa Chapman left her small home on an isolated island to her friend Grace and bequeathed all of her work to the Fairburn House foundation, where it is now exhibited and researched. James Becker is Fairburn’s resident expert on Chapman, quite literally as he also lives with his wife Helena in the estate’s Gamekeeper’s Lodge. One morning he receives a call from the Tate Modern art museum which has some of their collection on loan. It has been discovered that in the found object sculpture Division II, what was thought to be a rib bone from a deer may actually be human in origin.

Becker informs his boss and the heir to the property, Sebastian Lennox, about the news and is surprised to find him pleased about it, thinking it might juice their attendance numbers. His wife and Sebastian, themselves former lovers, suggest that he travel out to Eris Island to visit Grace, see if she can impart any information about the bone, and perhaps remind her that she still owes Fairburn a variety of Chapman’s pieces and documents. While initially cooperative, Grace had since grown hostile towards Fairburn, likely due to Vanessa’s tricky past with Sebastian’s father, and is very likely withholding material from them. Becker agrees to go, having long been curious to meet Grace and see the island in person, thinking that he can take a kinder touch with her and stabilize her relationship with his employer.

When he arrives, Grace is unsurprisingly standoffish, but she does see something in him that softens her stance and so she agrees to talk, filling Becker in on details about Vanessa’s life, including her contentious, on-again / off-again relationship with her husband Julian, who went missing two decades prior and who certainly sounds like a strong candidate to be the originator of the mysterious human bone in her sculpture. James also takes a liking to Grace, finding her to be sad and lonely rather than hostile as he was led to believe, though as he learns more about her and her life, he does begin to wonder if her version of events can be entirely trusted.

The set up of The Blue Hour is genius, and immediately hooks the reader. Eris Island where Chapman set up residence isn’t technically an island, as there is actually a slender strip of land that connects it to the mainland, but due to the tides it is untraversable for 12 hours every day, effectively trapping its inhabitants for 6 hours at a time.

The majority of the time we follow Becker, who seems to have some secrets of his own, as he tries to piece together everything he can about his favorite artist’s life and figure out the provenance of the mysterious bone. But we also get excerpts from Vanessa’s diaries and flashbacks to Grace’s past as Hawkins expertly puts the puzzle pieces together, leading us to the dark truth of just what took place on Eris Island over the years.

Hawkins’ writing is elegant and she intelligently discusses ideas about what artists put into their creations, what we all leave behind, gender bias, and the possible dangers of infatuation. The ending does offer up answers to all of the novel’s mysteries, but still feels a bit abrupt and vague, to the point that I was wondering if another chapter might have been missing. However, that isn’t enough to ruin what is otherwise a highly engaging and satisfying story. Once The Blue Hour gets its hooks in you it’s hard to put down, so make sure to clear some time on your calendar!

I could tell right away that this would be a slow burn and it was. The writing was enjoyable to read and I was eager to learn more about the characters. In the end, I’m reminded that artists are kind of the worst. This wasn’t my favorite book from the author, but I will continue to read her future works.

Paula Hawkins is back with possibly her best book so far - The Blue Hour.

"Vanessa was a famous artist whose husband disappeared 20 years ago. He was last seen at Eris, Vanessa's island haven where she could paint without distraction. Eris is now home to Grace, Vanessa's former care giver and the executor of her estate. Vaness's will leaves all of her art to a gallery she once had a tumultuous relationship with. When a shocking discovery is made, many wonder what other secrets are hidden on the island."

Dual timelines here - it seems to be the format that Hawkins is comfortable with. I like the way she uses the tides as a character - all the way to the end. It almost creates a seemingly locked-door mystery at times. Grace is a complicated character. There are clues to her true nature - and it's a chilling one. This book is more psychological drama than thriller.
The writing is excellent. Hawkins reels you into this story a little at a time under you're hooked. And the ending will get you.

Great new story from Paula Hawkins.

An artist who lived a reclusive life as the lone inhabitant on an island accessible only during low tide dies and leaves her works to be exhibited by her former lover’s foundation rather than leaving them to a woman who had been a confidante for years. A bone believed to be human is discovered as part of one of her pieces. Could it belong to her ex husband who mysteriously disappeared years ago? To investigate that and the fact that there seem to be some of her works missing, a young employee of the foundation, enthralled with the artist, is dispatched to meet with the confidante. But, there is so much more to this story...

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for this e-arc.*

Come to this one for an intriguing, atmospheric, artsy mystery. Don't come to this one for a pacy, twisty story. There are some interesting characters involved in this one, and while I don't think it needed to be any longer than it was, there are a couple of characters that needed a little more development to understand them.

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins was an atmospheric slow burn mystery.
What a story!… filled with suspense, intrigue and an exciting story with lots of crazy twists and turns. I thought the suspense was well woven throughout the book and kept me turning pages. I thought the character development was excellent.
And the writing was very well done.

Thank You NetGalley and Mariner Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This started off well and was going well until it wasn’t/didn’t. I enjoyed the way the author lured readers in with snippets and tidbits that leaves you craving for more and turning the pages.

I love the idea of the isolated island and the secrets it held. The descriptions of the art world and the erratic nature of artists was on point too.

The suspense and mystery were good. I could only
make one correct guess about everything going on. The mixed media aspect was also a good thing. It provided enlightenment and insight.

Those were the good parts. I didn’t understand why the author chose the direction of the ending. For such a fine book, it certainly deserved better.
I have more questions than answers, not about the ending but other loose ends that the author has dangling.

If you don’t mind an open ended story then you might enjoy this.

The Blue Hour

I haven’t read a book by Paula Hawkins since her debut! I was excited to try this one. I have to say I wouldn’t say this was a thriller. It was a very very slow burn mystery with an atmospheric setting on an island.

I feel like all we see now is islands! Is it just me?! I’m a little over the island plot.

The writing I enjoyed but there wasn’t much pizazz for me and just somewhat suspenseful.

Overall, decent slow burn of a mystery.

3 stars

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins is an atmospheric thriller which draws readers in with an eerie setting, a story told from multiple points of view and in multiple time periods, and plenty of secrets just waiting to be uncovered.

Synopsis of the book blurb: "Eris is an isolated Scottish island which is only accessible at low tide. The island has one house on it, and one inhabitant. Once the home of Vanessa, a famous artist (whose philandering husband disappeared while visiting her 20 years ago), it now belongs to Grace, her longtime companion. An over-eager curator of the foundation which was the recipient of Vanessa's works comes to the island seeking answers after a gruesome discovery is made at a London art gallery. With the curator's arrival the long-hidden secrets of Eris threaten to emerge."

While I found the book a bit confusing at first, the read is definitely worth continuing. Hawkins knows how to build suspense and combined with her atmospheric descriptions the tension becomes palpable. Though none of the characters are very likeable, that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this thriller. I rate it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

My thanks to Mariner Books for allowing me to read a DRC of the book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

This story had me hooked, even though slow burns aren’t usually my thing. The author builds tension so deliberately, and it’s impossible not to get drawn in as each layer of mystery unfolds at just the right pace. Normally, I’m not a fan of love triangles or difficult characters, but here, these elements are handled with such skill that they add to the story’s richness.

I’m always drawn to stories featuring artists, and this one didn’t disappoint. The creative layers added depth to the characters, weaving art into the suspense in a way that felt fresh and fascinating. Despite my usual preferences, I found myself fully invested in the complex dynamics and the secrets that were so carefully revealed.

And the setting—a remote Scottish island—was just perfect. Scotland’s rugged beauty and haunting isolation set the mood for every twist, almost as if the landscape itself were a part of the plot. The island’s wild, moody atmosphere added so much to the suspense, pulling me even deeper into the mystery. The ending, though, left me a bit uncertain, but it intrigued me anyway.

Rather disappointing, expected more from Paula Hawkins. Best part of this book were the descriptions of the island and the sea around it. Very atmospheric. I disliked all the characters, not very interesting and deeply flawed.

This was a slow burn. I was hoping for some more action. It wasn't the right book at the right time for me. Moody and dark with characters that I never liked.

I was a huge fan of The Girl on the Train and all of the twists it produced, So when I saw Paula Hawkins new book, I gladly requested it. If you were expecting the same type of book as The Girl on the Train, this is not it. It does have potential as it is super atmospheric and takes place on an isolated Scottish island that once was home to a mysterious artist. Just those two things alone usually have me hooked. I love mystery and I love atmosphere. However, there is a ton of artsy speak that I just couldn’t get into and in my opinion hindered the plot. The storyline seemed kind of linear to me, The mystery is there, questions are asked and mystery is solved. There really is no deviation, everything is very straightforward. I think this will work for readers who like that style, but I kind of like a lot of twists and turns along the way that have me guessing and felt this did not really tick those boxes. This also alternates between past and present timelines and I have to say the past timeline interested me more than the present timeline. Overall, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would, but believe other readers will enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy this book. I think I might even like parts of it (the story, that is—not the characters). Atmospheric, cramped, & inescapable.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

Really enjoyed this arc of The Blue Hour! I’ve loved Paula Hawkins since reading The Girl on the Train back in 2015, so I was beyond excited to see she had another book coming out this year. It did not disappoint. While there were a few things I might have rearranged, the story was solid—moody and atmospheric, set on a dreary island in Scotland. The way you slowly piece together what’s really going on is just so satisfying. Estate dealings, art dealings, affairs, and what I can only describe as a vindictive vigilante who could definitely have used some therapy for her attachment issues. Very good! Huge thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an ARC of Hawkins’s new novel. Pub day is October 29th, and this one definitely scratched my thriller itch.

If atmospheric is your jam, this one is for you! An island that’s dark, remote, and creepy. An artist with a missing husband. A reclusive women living on her own on the island. A recent discovery that brings a stranger to the island. This book has vibes!

The pace of the book is a little slow. No fast past twist and turns but it works with establishing the creepy tone. Dual timelines and journal entries help move things along. All of the relationships are complicated to say the least. You never know who the believe but it adds to the suspenseful nature throughout.

I don’t typically change my reading habits seasonally and I definitely don’t partake in “spooky season”. The eeriness of this book, however, felt perfect for the darker days of fall.

A remote Scottish Island is the perfect, evocative setting for long-kept secrets, dark emotions and moody artwork. James Becker, our primary narrator is the creative director for an art foundation with deep connections to the provocative artist, Vannessa Chapman. When a human bone is identified in one of her sculptures, Becker travels to her island home to learn more about that work and others that are missing from her collection.

Hawkins does a masterful job, y creating a dynamic sense of place while allowing the reader to slowly peel back the layers of the central mystery. Along the way, we meet a unique cast of characters, with compelling back stories that help to shape and describe the diversity of individual, lived experiences.

Hawkins brought the unreliable narrator to center stage with The Girl on the Train. The Blue Hour builds on that suspenseful element that in a fresh, mature manner. This was an atmospheric suspense novel and is the perfect read for rainy, fall afternoon.

Paula Hawkins does it again! This story was told with amazing pacing and it was riveting. The premise was unique and was pieced together in a way tat kept me engaged throughout the book. This was a great story and thriller lovers will love it!

Thanks to Mariner books for The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins. I loved the postcards and painted canvas bookmark that I received with the book and it really helped me feel like I was on Eris Island. I love books with remote island settings, especially in Scotland which is why I was drawn to this book.

This book was so atmospheric and a slow burn. I was hooked trying to figure out what the characters could be hiding from each other and trying to unravel their history. They are all unlikeable and I wasn't sure who to trust. This was a quick read and the ending was both predictable and surprising at the same time. I really liked the diary elements from the past.

I enjoyed Paula Hawkins writing style and liked the mystery element. This isn't a thriller but more a suspenseful mystery with a great atmospheric setting.