A well written, slow paced mystery rather than a thriller with multi POV, timelines and settings. All the characters are flawed and show some unattractive behaviour. The main character, Vanessa, an artist, is particularly vile at times. The location on a remote Scottish island which is cut off twice a day by the tide, gives a semi locked room aspect. The ending may prove to be controversial. I am firmly in the dislike camp.

This book was at a solid 4 star read for me, but the ending left me feeling disappointed. The sinister build up throughout was well executed, and whilst I started off not caring too much about the characters I quickly became engrossed and desperate to know more. Overall and enjoyable read

Eris is a tiny, isolated island off the Scottish coast and for years it was home to the enigmatic artist, Vanessa Chapman. Now it is the solitary home to her companion and carer, Grace and whilst it has become a place of sanctuary, it is also filled with shadows from the past. With memories of her time with Vanessa constantly on her mind Grace must face her greatest challenge namely that of protecting Vanessa’s legacy and the secrets she took with her to the grave. With Vanessa’s artistic collection finding recognition, it also opens her private life to scrutiny and when a shocking discovery is made concerning one of her more memorable artistic pieces, there are suddenly serious questions to be answered.

The story takes a while to gain its pace which I think is entirely in keeping with the disquieting nature of the plot, the place and the people. It takes a while to warm to the characters particularly Vanessa whose distinctive voice we hear in snippets from her letters and diary entries. Grace also is a strange character to like although there were times when I felt sorry for her and I think that’s the strength of the novel in that unlikeable people become the pivotal focus. I enjoyed getting to know Becker, his obsession with Vanessa’s work really helps to bring the art to life and I was sorry I couldn’t actually see the paintings and ceramics which help to form such a vivid backdrop.

The Blue Hour is well crafted, quite sparse in places and as mercurial as the tides which crash upon the wild shores of Eris. It brings into focus a life of willful obsession and of those people who would do anything to protect Vanessa's memory. I have a feeling that this may well be something of a marmite book but I enjoyed it’s slow and measured pace and the brooding atmosphere brought it all together in a convincing way

A slow burner which is worth the wait.

Becker visits an isolated island to get answers from Grace, the friend of deceased artist Vanessa Chapman when a human bone is found amongst one of her sculptures.

It took me a while to sort who the characters were in my head and where they fit into the story, once I did I settled in and enjoyed the way the plot unfolded.
Grace is a really interesting character and how she fits into the plot is very clever. The island itself is atmospheric and I could imagine being stuck on the island which adds to the tension.

Having enjoyed The Girl On The Train and A Slow Fire Burning I had been really looking forward to digging into another Hawkins thriller but unfortunately this one fell a little flat for me in comparison.

Whilst the setting was undeniably eerie, I felt the pacing was more of a slow burn mystery than a fast paced thriller I had incorrectly anticipated.

Although this was still an intriguing , I didn’t find myself hooked like I have done with Hawkins’ previous works.

This book started with promise promise when a piece of work by a deceased artist appears to include a human bone. My "this is going to be a good thriller" instinct was sadly off. I found the characters to be bland at the very least and the storyline dragged. I really struggled reading it and found the best parts were Vanessa's diary. Not one for me I'm afraid.

Told from the viewpoint of Vanessa - her story and her diary, Beck and Grace - this story is a slow burner. An island reached by a causeway only so many hours a day - the descriptions of the isle seen through the artist - her pictures, her photos and descriptions are very atmospheric.
Beck is fascinated by Vanessa's work and is a curator who is employed to sort through her collection. His obsession with her work and his dedication to his wife pull him two ways.
Grace has inherited Vanessa's house but not her work. She is fiercely loyal to Vanessa and her memory.
This story is about obsession, loyalty, anger, control, love.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Paula Hawkins/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

When an artist dies what happens to their as yet unsold art? When Vanessa Chapman died of cancer — nothing suspicious — her will left everything, paintings, ceramics, notebooks, diaries, correspondence, to the Fairburn Foundation, set up by her gallerist, the late Sir Douglas Lennox. It is now run by his son, Sebastian, but the curator is James Becker, the world authority on the artist. Transfer of materials from Vanessa’s studio on Eris Island, a tidal island off the Irish Sea coast of Scotland, is under the control of Grace Haswell, her executor and closest (and possibly more intimate) friend. Although most material has been delivered, she is still editing the paper based items; and there is the small matter of a number of artefacts promised to Sir Douglas which have disappeared, plus there’s the small matter of Julian, Vanessa’s husband, who disappeared seven years ago. But the bone of contention that kicks off the story is the discovery of a (possibly human) bone which she had used in one of her mixed media sculptures. To resolve all of this, Becker has to go to Eris Island to negotiate with Grace. Is she simply being thorough or are there deeper waters here, deeper even than the sea which covers the causeway to the island twice a day and so providing a partial locked-room aspect?

As would be expected, Hawkins has produced a well written and quite twisty tale. There’s a strong undercurrent around the way in which the contemporary Art world operates which gives a suitable air of verisimilitude to the events depicted, especially those which happened since Julian vanished seven years ago. The characters are well drawn though a bit “painting by numbers”. The viewpoint is a bit fragmented: Vanessa’s features in diary entries, Grace’s is mostly internalised and somewhat romanticised (fantasised?), and Beker’s is coloured both by his vision of Vanessa — based on his academic research — and by his complicated personal life. I don’t have a problem with equivocal endings, but this one may annoy some readers. Overall, it’s not perfect but I good read, so 4 stars is fine.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

A story of loneliness, obsession and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets.

Vanessa Chapman, a beautiful but difficult artist left her life’s works to the Fairburn Foundation when she died. While her executor and close friend has been holding some works back, one of her sculptures is shown to contain human remains. While this gives Becker, the curator who is the expert on Vanessa Chapman, the opportunity to visit Vanessa’s former home on the atmospheric Eris Island, an tidal island off the coast of Scotland. But what secrets will be revealed when he does?

In this gripping thriller by Paula Hawkins, a sinister discovery surrounding one of Vanessa Chapman's installations at the Tate reignites investigations into her husband’s mysterious disappearance two decades prior. Following Vanessa's death, Becker, the manager of her donated artwork, embarks on a journey to Eris Island to uncover the truth about Vanessa’s past and the secrets she left behind.

Upon arriving on the island, Becker encounters Grace, Vanessa's enigmatic partner, whose ambiguous status adds layers of complexity to the narrative. Grace becomes an invaluable ally, granting Becker access to Vanessa's private diaries, which hold the key to understanding the enigmatic artist’s life and the events leading up to her husband's vanishing.

The isolated setting of Eris Island is masterfully crafted, creating a palpable atmosphere of suspense and intrigue. Cut off by the tide for twelve hours each day, the island serves as a perfect backdrop for the unfolding mystery, heightening the sense of isolation and danger. The relentless weather conditions mirror the turmoil within the characters, further intensifying the emotional stakes.

Hawkins' prose immerses the reader in this haunting landscape, where every shadow seems to whisper secrets and every gust of wind carries an unspoken threat. The atmospheric elements of the novel not only enhance the tension but also allow the island itself to emerge as a character in its own right, amplifying the suspense as Becker delves deeper into Vanessa's world.

As the investigation unfolds, readers are drawn into a web of deception, art, and the complexities of relationships, making this novel a compelling exploration of love, loss, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. The richly drawn characters, combined with the evocative setting, create a narrative that is both gripping and thought-provoking, ensuring that the pages turn quickly as secrets unravel. This is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and atmospheric mysteries alike.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

A slow burning,well written mystery surrounding an exhibit from a dead artist. It's an atmospheric story steeped in obsession and love. Although I loved the desolate island of Eris the same couldn't be said about the major characters. I'm afraid I didn't really like or engage with them very much. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an early read, just sorry it wasn't the right book for me.

Maybe I was expecting too much from this book but it really didn’t turn out to be anything like I thought it was going to be.
It was a steady read, nothing too dramatic although it did try to be atmospheric. The life story of a fairly reclusive artist told mainly to the curator of her work through her journals, letters and recollections of her long time companion. There was a bit of mystery thrown in regarding a possible human bone in one of her sculptures.
It was interesting enough and the characters were well described but not exactly the chilling thriller it was billed as.
I would have given four stars but I removed one for the ending as I like all ends tied and questions answered and this failed to do that.

We are first introduced to James Becker, as he makes his short commute to work from the Gamekeepers Lodge to Fairburn House, where he works as an art curator and advisor, specifically hired for his knowledge of the late artist Vanessa Chapman.

Upon arriving at his office, Becker receives a telephone call from the Director at the Tate Modern saying they were having to withdraw one of Chapmans sculptures that they had on display there on loan from Fairburn as they had been informed it contained a human bone.

Chapman had left all of her artistic work to Fairburn in her will, and her friend Grace had been appointed as the executor. Grace is suspected of withholding handing over papers, letters and works of art which were left to Fairburn. But what's most strange about this, is that Vanessa Chapman, and Douglas, the previous owner of Fairburn before his death, had been at odds for years in a costly legal battle. So why on earth would she leave all her most prised works of art to what essentially was her arch nemesis?

Chapman was a recluse, whose notoriously unfaithful husband, Julian, went missing over 20 years prior. Chapman lived on Eris island, where Grace now resides. However, it's not really an island, but attached to the mainland by a thin strip of land which makes Eris only reachable at certain points of the day depending on the tide. The feeling of isolation this island presents is palpable throughout the book.

The book is also told from Grace and Chapmans POV, and Chapman is not an incredibly likeable character. In fact, the more the story progresses and the more that is revealed about her, I found myself liking her less and less. But Grace seems to idolise her. She very much put Chapman on a pedestal during their friendship. Grace comes across as quite a likeable character, she keeps herself to herself and seems desperate to protect her late friends memory from being tarnished. It seems as if the two were chalk and cheese so I was most interested to see how the story was going to develop with these two characters.

The authors writing style is just sublime. The way she describes the landscape it's like I was there on Eris island myself with the wind whipping through my hair as the tide rushed in.

After finishing this book and reflecting, I think what my biggest takeaway is what an unusual plot the book has. I can say I've never read anything even remotely similar. This made a nice change and means the story will stay with me for a long time.

The story unfolds gently over the pages, with the backstory to the characters revealing themselves to a rather surprise ending. I would recommend this book for anyone that likes a slow burn read with an interesting and unique plot and great detailed writing.

This is a book which I read and am still not entirely sure if I loved it or wasn’t that sure. The writing is good and the plot is unusual and I couldn’t wait to see what happened as it was so almost unbelievable.

The book is essentially a story about an artist and her life and death; those that loved her, worshipped her and hated her and the fall out from the decision she and others then made. After her death her work is bequeathed to an unexpected party and the journey to gather this work and the provenance of it becomes an obsession that leads to more disaster for those involved.

Definitely an interesting concept and one that I will maybe try and read again as I’m still not sure if my thoughts.

A genuinely gripping story, which slowly unfolds. While I found there were not very many twists which surprised me, I found it really compelling. The lack of surprises was probably because I was so engaged; reflecting on what I had read, working out what was really happening. The letters and diaries tell us more and more about the characters. Often what is left unsaid is more revealing than anything else.

The Blue Hour is well paced and there is a depth to characters which can often be lacking in thrillers.

I enjoyed the setting immensely. It’s so well described that I could imagine being on Eris island, crossing the causeway, hiking up to the rock and back down through the woods.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I must be the only person to review this book who has not read Girl on a Train simply because of the amount of hype it got! That said I have read other Paula Hawkins books and enjoyed them. This one was no different. A very slow build up so much so you wondered where it was going for much of the book. Very mysterious and atmospheric dissolving eventually into darkness and murder. I loved the idea of a closed off island where all sorts of hidden things could happen. All the characters are well written but those of Becker and Grace especially so. They seem to jump off the page with their inadequacies and insecurities. Altogether a really enjoyable (perhaps not quite the right word) book that I relished reading and I am very happy to recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a mystery with art at its heart and will definitely appeal to art lovers.
I'm of two minds about this book. I enjoyed parts of it but found my attention wandering at times.
It is a story about friendship and love, about wanting to be accepted, and what rejection can make people do.

A sculpture by the renowned artist Vanessa Chapman was lent to the Tate Modern in London by the Fairburn Museum, which inherited all of her art after her death.
But then James Becker, curator at the Fairburn Museum, gets a very concerning call saying that a bone that was used in the work and labelled as an artiodactyl rib is actually human.

Is it a coincidence that her husband disappeared in 2002 and this sculpture is dated 2005?

James decides to go to Eris, a small Scottish island that is only accessible from the mainland for 12 hours a day. This is where Vanessa lived with her friend Grace. He wants to learn more about his idol and see if he can find out more about where the bone could have come from.

I think one of the problems for me is that I will always compare all her books to The Girl on a Train, and this one did not live up to that expectation.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and Paula Hawkins for the ARC. Well, what can I say that hasn't already been said about this book... I wish I wouldn't have kept reading it when I wanted to put it down at 30 pages in. Not enough to the actual 'mystery' to keep my attention, nor enough to care about how it ended. I requested this because I have moderately liked some of Ms. Hawkins previous books, but I'll have to be more selective when I request these ARC's, It just failed to deliver.

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.