I really enjoyed this police procedural and was amazed to read it’s a debut novel as it kept me on my toes throughout. The plot is an intricate and intriguing one told in both the past and the present and to be honest I enjoyed the parts in the past more than the future ones. The characters were extremely well written and not all likeable and for me that’s always the sign that I’m going to enjoy the read ! I did however get a bit confused at times as who was who but by rereading certain parts all soon became clear and the pace of the book was very good also keeping me guessing throughout.
There are a lot of twists in the story most of which I didn’t see coming and that again is a good sign as when you read a lot of mystery thrillers things can become a bit stale but not in this read I’m pleased to say.
So a read I really did enjoy and I look forward to more from Amy Jordan in the future and can highly recommend this one also.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this novel set in Ireland. I loved the strong female lead character of Julie Harte and the dual timelines of 1994 and 2024 which added depth to the story. I liked the author's writing style and look forward to reading more of her work.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, publishers TorHQ and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Former Detective Inspector Julia Harte is pulled from retirement in rural Ireland to advise on a case which appears to be a copycat to the one which tore her life apart.

The main character Julia is well-developed and engaging, but the plot doesn’t quite reach the same standard. The story flips back and forth between the original case in the 1990s and the modern day potential copycat. It’s a format that often works well. The difficulty for me though is that the original case was far more compelling than the modern day. Which, when the whodunnit of the old case is wrapped up in the flashbacks three-quarters of the way through, leaves the final section more of an anticlimax. Despite the attempt at a twist in the motivation, it isn’t strong enough to make the end feel satisfying.

It’s a shame, because if the story had stuck to the original case and the start of Julia’s career, I think I’d be raving about this and keenly looking forward to more.

A Gripping Thriller That Keeps You Hooked

Amy Jordan’s The Dark Hours is a great first novel of suspense and storytelling. This powerful police thriller weaves two timelines seamlessly, keeping you on the edge of your seat as the mysteries unfold. Each chapter is packed with tension, and I couldn’t put it down.

The characters are compelling, the twists are sharp, and the pacing is flawless. I loved every moment of the journey, and I’m already hoping there’s more to come from Jordan. If you’re a fan of thrillers that keep you guessing, this is an absolute must-read!

This book was a slow burn for me, it took me longer to get through it than usual. I still really enjoyed the storyline and didn't predict the ending fully. It piqued my interest just enough to continue reading to the end.

I enjoyed switching timelines, and how the past events shaped the future as time went on. I really liked the protagonist Julia, and admired her determination to stop the past repeating itself.

Overall, it was a good book, but not quite as attention grabbing as I would like. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Ireland, Amy Jordan creates a world of fear, revenge, and death in her novel ‘The Dark Hours’. Julia Harte, a retired detective inspector, has relocated to the quiet town of Cuan Beag to escape the ghosts of her former life. But when history catches up with her, Harte is faced with a choice: stay hidden or return to Cork to help solve a chilling case involving a copycat killer.

The dual timeline style, spanning from 1994 to 2024, builds tension and mystery throughout the novel. In 1994, Harte is plunged into the investigation of two missing girls, and in 2024, history repeats itself with a similar case. Jordan weaves the two timelines together, creating a sense of foreboding.

Character development is a strong feature in Jordan’s work. Julia Harte, a strong but complex protagonist, is a character readers warm up to instantly. Characters like Riordan and Armstrong (Harte’s colleagues) are equally well-crafted, adding emotion and complexity to the cases and the story.

Jordan succeeds in creating a gripping story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with strong character development and a haunting atmosphere that stays with you after the book is finished.

Former detective now retired Julia Harte moved to a remote island, Cuan Beag of the east coast of Ireland to escape the nightmares that still haunt her from thirty years ago. In 1994 she was investigating a missing child with her partner Adrian died in the hands of a killer. The killer was caught and jailed.
Her former boss now rings her up and tells her that the killer now recently died but there is a copycat killer out there and he needs her help to find them. She agrees to come out to help them bringing her dog called Mutt with her.
The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan is an excellent debut novel. From the very first page I though this was gripping, suspenseful thriller with a great storyline and likeable characters, especially Julia and her dog. I can’t wait to hear more from this author. I would say she is a one ‘to watch’ in future novels. 5 stars from me.

Thirty years ago James Cox left a message to Garda Julia Hart thirty years ago. After a prison sentence he dies but is someone copying his murderous technique?

I am not sure about this long gap in time but the book is a well written police procedural one and Julia is an excellent character. with a strong female lead, The dual timeline narrative was not for me eventually, but worth 4 stars.

Thanks to Net Galley and HQ Books for the chance to read and review..

An excellent detective story based in Southern Ireland. Former DI Julia Harte is now retired and living in a remote village in quiet seclusion with only her dog and dark memories to keep her company. Thirty years previously she was responsible for the imprisonment of serial killer James Cox. Fast forward to present day and word reaches her that Cox has passed away in prison but it seems a copycat killer has now surfaced. Her old boss Des Riordan insists they should help with the investigation as their knowledge could be vital. As the story alternates between the past and present, we begin to understand just how personal this is to Julia and how dangerous it is now becoming. Despite the current detectives resenting their input it become clear they can help find the perpetrator. Putting herself in extreme danger Julia needs answers and won’t rest until she has them. A very well woven story that has some excellent twists and believable characters. An excellent debut and I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

I’m sorry to say I could not get into this book. I read to 25%, but was rapidly losing interest. It’s too long and drawn out, and painfully slow. It also involves my pet hate, which is way too much introspection by the older, retired, terrified Julia. I could not believe that someone so pathologically afraid of everything, would voluntarily put herself back into the world which was the cause of her terror. A DNF for me.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

A retired detective inspector returns to her home town to consult on what looks like a copy cat killer, alongside her old colleague the story is set in 1994 and 2024, 2 man hunts in 2 different decades. A fast moving thriller with twists and turns throughout, I liked the backstory from 1994 runn8ng alongside the current investigation.

Amy Jordan is a new author to me, and has with one book become a new favourite of the crime police genre - up there with Peter James. I was hooked almost as soon as I read the first chapter - the narrative pulls you along at a great pace and leaves you wanting more at every page.

"I’ll see you again. I’ll find you in the dark"

Chilling words. Murderer James Cox said them to Garda Julia Hart thirty years ago and he was right, despite being locked away serving a life sentence she's still haunted by that case. And now he's dead. When she receives word from former friend and boss Des Riordan that a copycat killer is on the loose she knows she doesn't have a choice she has to go back and face her demons.

A well written police procedural with a strong female lead, The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan was a well paced and compelling read. The dual timeline narrative moving between the current case and the original one thirty years earlier worked well, kept me guessing and kept me interested enough to read it in one go.

My thanks to HQ an imprint of HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the advance copy, all opinions expressed are my own

A good read. I enjoyed this one and looked forward to going back to reading it. Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.

As a long time reader of crime thrillers and police procedural novels it is not very often that a new author has such an immediate impact on me.
This novel by Amy Jordan does just that written with great skill, the characterisations and plotting are excellent.
Julia Harte a retired detective is living in a quiet coastal village when she is contacted by an old colleague and is drawn back to Cork to consult on murders which appear to copycat those of a serial killer from her past. The story is told in two time frames fluctuating between 1994 and 2024 but without any of the confusion that can occur with this style of writing. At times chilling and at times moving this is a first class debut crime novel

As debut novels go, The Dark Hours is a pretty compelling, gripping read. From the opening chapters the reader is sucked in, and once started, the compulsion to continue reading is strong.

The main protagonist is retired garda inspector Julia Harte. If that makes you think of retirement homes and amateur sleuths, then allow me to disabuse you of that notion. This is not a cosy mystery.

In 1994, Julia was part of a team on the hunt for a serial killer. In 2024 she is assisting Cork gardaí hunt down a killer whose crimes mirror those from 1994.

The Dark Hours is well paced, with an intricately woven plot. Unfortunately, the characters aren't very likeable, although 2024 Julia is far more agreeable than 1994 Julia. My favourite character was Mutt, who is, erm, a dog. 🐕
I enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more by Amy Jordan.
Thanks to HQ Stories and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

A great read
A author I’ve never read before but will definitely be reading more of
This had me hooked from the first to the last page
Looking forward to her next book
Thanks NetGalley

It took me a little while to get into the story, picking it up and putting it down a couple of times. Once I got into it I was hooked. I liked the split timeline following the original case and the modern one. I enjoyed Julia as a main character and her interactions with the others. The plot was interesting and I didn’t guess the ending.

Set in two distinct time frames, The Dark Hours is a fast-paced and gripping thriller.
Back in 1994, Gardaí Julia Harte and Adrian Clancy are visiting a noise complaint at a house in Cork, when a horrific series of murders occurs.
Thirty years later, in 2024 another series of murders occurs that is worryingly similar to those previously and for retired Garda Julia, it's time to face her fears and join the investigation.
I enjoyed the use of two timelines as this allowed the reader to learn of the past crimes and follow the present day investigation easily. There are very clear similarities between the cases, and occasionally, I did have to recheck the timeline but once I was familiar with the characters, this was not longer an issue and I loved the pacing.
Julia is a sympathetic character and I was rooting for her from the first page.
The Dark Hours is disturbing, dark but engrossing.
Read it, you won't regret it!

Going into this I didnt know much. But once I started reading I found I didn't want to put it down.
The pacing is perfect. Just enough keeps happening to keep you wanting to read more.
With the jumping between two years you see the clear connection between the cases you just have to figure out who is behind it.
While I didnt figure that out. I am intrigued. Part of me wants another book following Julia. Especially due to that ending. I need more.