Would you want to go back?

Julia Harte, our main protagonist, has hidden away from her past. But a phone call drags her down a fearful memory lane.

You are whipped along with the plot, guessing won't help. Just read this. Breathtaking, heart-thumping. Couldn't put this down.

An old murder case brought back to life

I am afraid that I struggled with this book. I found it to be too slow, and it did not hold my attention. Hope other readers like it more.

I had mixed feelings for this book, which is told in dual timelines,I found one of the timelines interesting, but the other just didn't hold my attention,and the story was a bit drawn-out which didn't make for an enjoyable read.
Hopefully, others will enjoy more.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC.

Sadly I didn’t enjoy this book. I found it confusing being set in two time periods as the events were so similar. I didn’t warm to the characters. The plot was unbelievable and farfetched. I did like the cover and brief description but felt that the book itself didn’t live up to this.

I found myself really invested in this book.
It captivated me and throughout.
Packed with action and a great underlying story as well.
I found myself routing for and liking the main character, a retired investigator.

I would recommend.
A great story with backbone.

#TheDarkHours #NetGalley
5 ⭐
1994: When Gardas Julia Harte and Adrian Clancy are called out to a sleepy housing estate in Cork to investigate a noise complaint, they are entirely unprepared for what they find. What happens next will haunt Julia for the rest of her career, leaving her plagued with nightmares and terrified of the dark. There is a serial killer at work in Cork, one as clever as he is deadly. Julia may not be a detective yet, but after the harrowing events of that night, she is determined to be the one to catch him…
2024: Julia Harte has chosen just the right place to disappear. Now retired, with an illustrious career behind her, she has moved to a tiny cottage in a remote part of Ireland, where she hopes to find peace. But then she receives a phone call from her old superintendent—two women have been murdered, their bodies marked and staged, just like in ’94. It’s happening again. Only this time, the stakes are even higher. Julia must return to Cork to face a vicious killer and the memories that haunt her. Yet Julia is no longer a naive junior officer but a seasoned, tough professional who proves more than a match for any murderer…
It's an excellent debut. Loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me an advance copy.

Although a bit bit of slow burner, it is well worth sticking with this book. Beautifully written and truly a masterpiece.

Amy Jordan's The Dark Hours is a fantastic thriller. From the start to the last page, it is captivating. The pace is quick and relentless, and the plotting is flawless. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this! It did take a little while to get into but once the pace picked up I was hooked! I loved the hints into the past before getting into the flashbacks which were perfectly linked throughout! A shock twist at the end that I did not see coming at all! Well done on this one!

A quietly impressive crime novel which switches between the past and present as a retired officer gets drawn into a case with hallmarks from an earlier murder.

Competent writing underpinned by a good grip on plot and characterisation means that The Dark Hours is a satisfying read and much more than an ordinary police procedural. It deals with the brutality of murder in a realistic fashion without piling on the gore and explores the physical and psychological toll that violence - in its many forms - can have on people. The "dark hours" is an apt title for the book as characters struggle through their lives trying to deal with the after-effects of trauma.

After retiring from the police force Julia Harte moved to Cuan Beag on the east coast of Ireland to disappear. One case in particular had always upset her, 30 years ago whilst looking for a missing girl her police partner was killed. The murderer was eventually caught and jailed and has recently died but when she gets a phone call from a former boss she agrees to go to Dublin to help in the investigation of what appears to be a copy cat crime.
The suspense is gripping, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

What a clever and enjoyable book The Dark Hours is .Written in two timelines and set in Ireland I was gripped from the first chapter. The plot was brilliant and the characters likeable .I do hope we hear more about Julia Harte .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC

Murder, police procedural, set in Ireland, strong female protagonist - what’s not to like? Extremely well written, great characters, with lots of twists. I loved it!

A really good read, tense and thrilling, it keeps you turning the pages. I liked the way the book went backwards and forwards between two time periods. Julia, the main character, is likeable and easy to envisage. I very much enjoyed the author’s writing style and look forward to reading more from her.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and to the author for her excellent work.

Wow! An utterly fantastic crime, police thriller from a fresh new author that had me glued to my seat flipping the pages in anticipation or what or who was round the next corner.

Crikey, how true is it when you have to question if you ever truly know someone eek. This book gives me all the feelings from anxiety to sadness.

I truly felt for Julia at several points throughout the book. She was a fantastic protagonist, and the author developed her really well over the course of the book within the multiple timelines.

Talking of which the two timelines worked really well in this story as they gained more clues or knowledge of the crime at hand in the past and in the present.

A definite must-read for any and all thriller fans. Thank you to Netgalley & Harper Collins for a review copy.

I enjoyed the general storyline and the dual timelines which were interlinked well, I was surprised at the twist as I didn’t expect it at all!
There was something missing for me, it felt a bit dragged out at times but generally was a good book

Thanks to netgalley and HQ publisher's for this ARC. Due to be released on 30/01/2025.

The Dark Hours splits across two timelines but it's all cleverly intertwined. It runs very smoothly and I don't feel like you lose your way which is good as some time hops can make stories feel fragmented.

Julia's character is somewhat sad and I feel like she hasn't really lived due to the crime she worked on in 1994 and the way it has affected her and those around her. She readily admits that she ran away and I suppose she found comfort and company in Mutt. The story feels like it's as much about her closure to enable her to move on and live again as well as it being a thriller taking us along her journey to identify the killer.

I enjoyed going on Julia's journey with her. I didn't guess the initial killer or his connection to Julia but I did have manage to guess the second once they were introduced to us. Despite that, I did still feel the story offered a lot and I was invested in the motive behind it all and who else would be pulled into it.

By far the easiest 5 stars I’ve given this year! What a thriller!
I am so excited to read more from this author!
This book literally took me on the best rollercoaster ride- just when I thought it was going one way- it turned in a completely different direction! I am normally quite good at predicting the ending but had no clue!
Dual timelines were easy to navigate and made the suspense even wilder! This book has given me dark circles under my eyes from too much late night reading!
Excellent
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in return for honest feedback! Definitely the best ARC I’ve ever received!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I loved the way it time hopped from the case in 1994 to 2024. I absolutely loved Julia, what an amazingly complex and expertly crafted character! A very gripping story which manages to incorporate trauma and friendship into a gritty and gripping, serial killer book.

I am not sure what to say about this book other than – I loved it from start to finish. I sometimes find that slipping from one year to another in the future frustrating but in this case not only does it work really well but it makes for a great story. You get the feel of Julia as a young police woman working up the ranks, retirement and loneliness. The story is about murders, the person is caught and then is there a copycat out there many years later. Who could it be as the original killer had no family - interesting. The book takes you through the trauma of the original investigation and seamlessly into the next one. As a triller it stands up to this premise and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Great book