This is something of a slow and atmospheric read. It revolves largely around a, now dead, artist, Vanessa Chapman, whose husband Julian disappeared twenty years ago from the small island where she lived. The island of Eris is off the coast of Scotland, having only one house and is cut off from the mainland by the tide for half of each day. Vanessa lived there mainly alone, sometimes with her friend, Grace, who lives there now and occupies the house, territorial about Vanessa's work and papers.

Although Grace has the house, Vanessa's artwork was left to the Fairburn Foundation, owned by Vanessa's former lover, Douglas Fairburn. Douglas is now dead and so we meet employee Becker, who is tasked with dealing with the taciturn Grace. Becker is, like Grace, obsessed by Vanessa and so is keen to get Grace on side. Becker works for the Fairburn Foundation, now run by her son, Sebastian. However, relations are difficult, as Sebastian's former fiancée is now pregnant by him and Sebastian's aristocratic mother is wonderfully snippy.

I do like novels which are slow, I loved the setting, but I still found this something of a struggle. On reflection, I think it was the characters I struggled with. I found Becker difficult to understand or sympathise with. He seemed to let things happen to him, rather than address the issues he is asked to look into. Mainly, whether there is a human bone used in one of Vanessa's previous sculptures, whether it is linked to her missing spouse being central to the storyline, and what artwork is available for the foundation. I found him somewhat passive and that seemed to make the novel lack focus. So, yes, I enjoyed it, but I was not gripped. I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.

Eris is an island with only one house, one inhabitant, and only one way out, unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day. The island was once home to Vanessa, a famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago. It is now home to Grace, a solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation. But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling and the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge…

After reading previous titles from this author, with the favourite being the popular Girl On The Train, I was of course looking forward to her latest title. This slow-paced thriller definitely keeps you guessing from the very beginning, the diary entries from the mysterious artist Vanessa, guiding you through the twists and turns that have resulted in the current day situation.

Despite the pace of the book it still manages to keep you turning those pages, eager to find out what comes next. The remoteness of the island as a setting is beautifully described and really sets the scene perfectly for the drama to unfold. The characters are a difficult one, I feel Becker takes centre stage and is the most connectable due to his passion for the artistic collection from Vanessa, with Grace slowly building up in the background.

I enjoyed this title and the classic writing style from this author is evident, I must however admit I was left a little underwhelmed by the ending (no spoilers!) as I just felt there was a little bit more needed to be able to tie everything up completely.

An intriguing and chilling read by author Paula Hawkins. Having loved The Girl on the Train, I was super excited to get started on The Blue Hour.

It did take me a while to get into The Blue Hour, as I found it quite a slow burner, but glad I did finish it.

There are quite a fair few characters in this novel, and the story is told via multiple points of views which I did find quite confusing and the characters were quite woven together in a relatable way.

Main character Vanessa, is quite unique in my opinion and I did enjoy her character.

I did actually nearly give up on this novel but I stuck with it and really had to concentrate.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and author for allowing me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved the setting and the characters but I did struggle to stay engaged.

“The Blue Hour” is the latest atmospheric mystery by author Paula Hawkins. Like most people I loved ‘ Girl on a Train’ and I suppose after such an outstanding novel it was always going to be difficult to follow. In my opinion this has proven to the case as I have mainly felt disappointed with subsequent novels. With the bar set so high it is difficult, this is a decent read but if you are expecting similar dizzy heights then I fear you may be disappointed.

Set on the desolate island of Eris, the novel mixes past and present. Eris is only accessible to the mainland twelve hours a day and is the is home to a reclusive woman named Grace who appears to welcome the isolation offered by the island. This solitude is broken when a London art gallery discovers a connection between Grace and a famous artist, Vanessa, who once lived on the island two decades earlier. Vanessa’s life was clouded in scandal, notably, the disappearance of her unfaithful husband, leaving behind a sea of rumours, suspicions and unresolved questions.

This was a decent read and maybe I am been a little harsh with my 3 star rating.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

‘Girl On The Train’ was/is one of my favourite books and so am aware it is then difficult to better that with any of the authors other books,this book though very well written was not for me,too literary maybe?,am not sure but I just didn’t get on with it,which is a shame,apologies as really wanted to love it

WELCOME TO ERIS - AN ISLAND WITH ONLY ONE HOUSE, ONE INHABITANT. . . ONE WAY OUT.

Unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day. Once home to Vanessa. A famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.
Now home to Grace. A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.
But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling.
And the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge . . .

This what I consider a “slow burn” and it did take me a while to get into it. It is, however, very atmospheric. Creepy even. As you would expect from Paula Hawkins, it’s well written with solid characters. Like all good stories it give the impression that something sinister is bubbling under the surface. Great ending too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An art gallery in London is the recipient of many pieces of the late artist Vanessa Champman and they find that one of her sculptures, thought to contain bones of an animal actually contains human bones. Beck, who handles the art collection travels to the Scottish island where Vanessa used to live to learn more about the collection from her friend and sometimes roomate Grace.

I loved The Girl on the Train. I have now read two other novels from this author and I think I have read my last. This book was mediocre at best. There were a lot of characters that I had a hard time keeping straight. The timeline was all over the place. I wasn't very engaged in the story, probably because I didn't like any of the characters. When it was all over, I wasn't particularly shocked at what I had read. It seemed somewhat predictable. There was one twist I didn't see coming, but I didn't care enough to get too excited about it. In summary, it was ok.

A beautifully crafted atmospheric story that is based on the works of a somewhat reclusive artist, Vanessa Chapman. No longer alive, her works are left to a previous lover with whom she fell out but knew he would respect and honour her work. Her home was on a small island, only accessible when the tide was low. Her companion, Grace was a lonely woman, a GP who struggled with normal relationships and enjoyed the solitude and attention from Vanessa. Becker is the curator of the Fairburn collection, the rightful owners of Vanessa’s works and is tasked with visiting Eris Island and the unhelpful Grace to persuade her to release what has been left to them. When one of Vanessa’s works is deemed to contain a human bone, the need for answers becomes more urgent. With several difficult relationships, past and present and dark secrets this book has many layers and gradually unwinds its bleak history to reveal its horrifying truth.

One of my favourite things about Paula Hawkins’ books is how difficult it is to know which of its characters you can trust. The lead characters and narrators of the books are often unreliable and there’s a real sense of their own feelings in their perceptions of others, making it hard to know what to believe. I have enjoyed all her previous works and, once it got going, this was another excellent read.

I will admit that it took a little time for me to feel engaged in the story. Having essentially two lead characters, Becker and Grace, each of them with their own messy lives, made it hard to know which way to focus. Vanessa Chapman, the late artist in the background who brings them together over what is to be done with her works, is a shadowy figure and its hard to get a grip on her as a person since we only know her through other’s recollections of and feeling towards her. As I became more involved in the story though, that became a strength. The characters are believable and flawed and I loved the way your sympathy, suspicions and distrust moved between them throughout.

The setting of a lonely Scottish island accessed only through a causeway and with only one house on it, gave this the feeling of a Daphne Du Maurier story, particularly with the descriptions of the isolation, the landscape and the weather. The sense of foreboding and tension is very well done and builds well and I will say absolutely nothing about the ending so it’s not spoiled!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I've read a couple of Paula Hawkins' previous books, notably The Girl on the Train, and enjoyed them. However, this one felt as if it was a 'step up' somehow in the quality of the writing.

The story brings together two sets of lives. We first get to know Becker, who is curating an art exhibition by an artist he greatly admires, Vanessa Chapman. However there's an issue with the exhibition - it appears to include a human bone. This obviously causes much panic, but is also an excuse for Becker's boss, Sebastian, to pressure him to contact Vanessa's executor, Grace, once again and try and resolve some problems with her estate. Vanessa left her art to Sebastian's family's organisation, but he's convinced they haven't been given everything.

I loved the character of Becker. He is so believable and very sympathetic. He's clearly from a lower class than Sebastian and regularly feels inferior - despite having much better knowledge and understanding of art. His feelings are further compounded by the fact that his pregnant wife, Helena, used to be engaged to Sebastian, and in fact Becker is the reason they are no longer together. I really enjoyed reading about how his insecurities play out - worrying that Helena secretly wants to be with Sebastian, or is maybe even having an affair.

Helena herself is a great character, although we don't get to know her as well as Becker. But it's refreshing to have a female character who is so straightforward and direct, and seems to manage to do whatever she likes despite being pregnant. Vanessa is another - despite being dead in the book we learn about her through her diaries and through others' recollections of her. She is very convincing - a woman who has independence but also a weakness for her less than perfect husband, Julian.

Becker has to visit the remote island that Vanessa once owned in order to speak to her executor, Grace. Here is another intriguing character who, as the novel progresses, we are more and more perturbed by. She also, like Becker, seems to have insecurities about 'fitting in' and it's interesting to read about her past experiences.

The presence of the human bone gradually exposes secrets that have been long hidden. There are a number of overlapping stories in Vanessa and Grace's history that in finding out about we also uncover more about their characters and relationship.

Without wanting to give too much away, it's a fascinating read and very well plotted - the true nature of Grace's character only being revealed at the end.

It's a superb book that also makes much of the way that weather and the elements on the island create atmosphere and tension. The writing feels effortless and very much transports the reader to the scene. Highly recommended.

I haven't really managed to get into Paulas book apart from of course the infamous Girl on a train. This one though, I enjoyed, it gripped me straight away with the character switch and the cast of broadly unlikeable, questionable characters. As with Girl on the train, I wasn't able to guess what was going to happen, which is always a plus for someone who reads a lot of thrillers. I liked the added the added bonus of it being a sort of locked room, isolated island where it wasn't quite as black and white as some. Still no girl on the train, but enjoyed it a lot.

A slow burner literary thriller. There's no doubt it's well written. I found it too literary for what I was expecting, though. An interesting plot nonetheless.

Book Review: The Blue Hour

I recently had the pleasure of diving into The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins, and it left me utterly captivated. As a fan of thrillers, I was eager to see how Hawkins, known for The Girl on the Train, would weave her magic in this new setting.

The story unfolds on the isolated Scottish tidal island of Eris, which serves as both a haunting backdrop and a character in its own right. Grace, the solitary inhabitant, is perfectly content in her isolation, but the arrival of a shocking discovery elsewhere starts to unravel her quiet existence. I found myself drawn into the atmosphere of the island—its beauty and danger intertwined, just like the tides that control access to it.

Hawkins’ writing is as sharp as ever. The tension builds slowly, expertly crafting a sense of unease that kept me turning pages late into the night. The characters are richly developed, especially Grace, whose past and emotional depth make her journey compelling. The mystery surrounding the island and the secrets of its former resident, Vanessa, creates an intriguing dual narrative that intertwines their lives in unexpected ways.

The twists in The Blue Hour are masterfully executed. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Hawkins would pull the rug out from under me. The exploration of themes like isolation, betrayal, and the complexities of relationships added layers to the story that I truly appreciated.

Overall, I’d say this is Hawkins’ best work yet—a gripping, atmospheric thriller that left me thinking long after I turned the last page. If you’re in the mood for a read that’s both chilling and thought-provoking, The Blue Hour is a must-add to your bookshelf. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good mystery steeped in emotional depth.

A much more literary thriller this time, slow burning, intense and arty. A fascinating read that is very chilling but fans of girl on a train may be confused.

After a slowish start where the scene is set and the main characters are introduced, the tension begins to build up. Knowing that this is a thriller, I was constantly aware of the hovering shadow of doom which hung over the every word of the novel.

Unlike Girl on the Train, however, this didn’t quite grip me throughout. I did find the pace dragged a tad and I thought that the final event needed more ‘hold your breath’ moments. I so wanted to hang off the edge of my seat, and that didn’t quite happen for me. This is a good book, which I would recommend nevertheless.

A story set on a tiny Scottish island, I couldn’t resist. In actual fact the story travels between England and parts of Scotland and beyond, but keeps returning to the Isle of Eris. A tale that feeds you with a feeling of the wildness of Scotland coasts and rural life. Of life and artistic struggle. We might be enlightened or astray as the story is told in the now and flash backs. Most of the cast are not people you will like, but they are real for all that. They have passion. They have anger. They have guilt. They have secrets. Will you work them out or will the wind and waves of Eris sweep you away. Thank you to Random House UK, Trans World Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Having read Paula’s ‘Girl on the train’ I expected the same riveting read in this novel- it was not to be! I enjoyed it to a certain extent, but felt it slow and drawn out to begin with. Set on a remote island that gets cut off when the sea covers the causeway over, Vanessa works with a variety of mediums- paint, ceramics etc. Lots of untruths in the plot with an almost predicted ending.

In 'The Blue Hour' by Paula Hawkin's a human bone in an art installation forces the novel's characters to confront how the famous artist Vanessa Chapman's philandering husband Julian died. Set primarily on the isolated Scottish Island of Eris, Becker the curator at the Fairburn foundation where the artwork is bequeathed, visits Grace, Vanessa Chapman's friend and the person now living in her home, to try to make sense of what happened, and to discover where some missing items are.

Hawkins is famous for writing tense thrillers, such as 'The Girl on the Train'. For me this lacked the originality of that debut, but at the same time was an enjoyable read that kept me interested. Hawkin's uses different perspectives and diary excerpt to tell the story to good effect and the conclusion was satisfying if not terrible surprising.

An art exhibition &a human bone… Set on a remote Scottish island. Will the truth be uncovered!?

This atmospheric story interspersed with diary entries sucks you into the plot… Romance. Obsession. Jealousy… This book has it all! I can imagine it would make a good short TV series!

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Slow burn thrillers
- Mysteries
- Tension and drama
- Clever characterisation

With thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Doubleday and Netgalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.