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.

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.