The Dark Hours is a very impressive debut novel. I will admit, the first half was very much a slow burn and just as I was becoming a little frustrated, bam, the action ramps up and so much was packed into the second half.

Told in dual timelines, linking 1994 and 2024, retired detective Julia Harte is talked into consulting on a copycat case. In 1994 Julia was involved in a serial killer case that cost her her marriage and left her deeply traumatized. Now in 2024 young women are once again being targeted. But the original perpetrator is dead.

High stakes tension and plenty of brilliant characterisation make this an engaging read. I was invested and had my own list of suspects worked out. It did tick a lot of boxes in that it wasn't predictable and kept my attention. But there was no way of the reader being able to piece all the parts of the puzzle together as there'd been no hints in the book as to who the new copycat killer could be. I like thrillers which allow the reader to work it out with the right clues put together, but there was no way of doing that with this storyline. Which doesn't make it a bad story, just slightly dissatisfying for me.

Overall a brilliant debut.

The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan is a debut crime thriller by the author and is an outstanding crime thriller to read.
Julia Harte is a retired police detective who must try to capture a vicious killer and quieten. the memories that haunt her, thirty years after capturing one of Ireland’s most prolific serial killers.
After her retirement Julia found the perfect spot to disappear,Cuan Beag, a secluded coastal village on the east coast of Ireland. Whilst it is a secluded place to escape from the hustle and bustle of police life, it is in the dark hours of the night that the memories surface.
Thirty years ago Julia helped to capture a serial killer, James Cox and then had a successful career in the police force, wrote a text book on police procedures and was divorced by her husband Philip, after he had been attacked by James Cox.
Now her and her mentor, Des Riordan have been asked to assist with another series of deaths, that resemble the killings of James Cox, who has recently died in prison.
There are so many similarities to the killings thirty years ago which bring back so many memories and Julia has to wonder whether they will be able to solve this case before more people die.
Highly recommended

I loved the format of this - it was giving me proper ITV drama vibes and I think if this was a TV show it would a good one.

This type of narrative style with the mix of past and present is my favourite, especially in this genre as it just makes it that little bit more exciting and intriguing for me.

Full of twists and exciting events as the case investigations go on, it's hard not to feel for the former detective as she steps back into the life that she ran away from.

Definitely one to keep an eye out for and I will be recommending this to everyone I know that likes a thriller type novel!

Reclusive former Garda officer Julia Harte is scared of the dark, haunted by a case from 30 years earlier. When news comes through that the killer she caught has died, Julia thinks she can rest easy until the copycat killings start. She is pulled into the new investigation and as she thinks about the past, she begins to see a new picture.
This is a really great debut novel. I loved the dual time line although I found the 1994 case far more satisfying, mainly because, to my mind, the denouement of the 2024 case is slightly disappointing. However that is a minor quibble as this is really strong writing for a police procedural.

Irish Crime Fiction is not a genre I’ve had much experience of but Liz Nugent certainly knocked me for six last year with “Strange Sally Diamond” becoming my 2024 Book Of The Year. With Irish Literary Fiction so strong in recent years there’s bound to be a knock-on to other areas of the Irish publishing world and this debut from a Cork resident reflects the quality of writing I’ve come to expect from the Emerald Isle.
Julia Harte is enjoying retirement in a secluded village on Ireland’s east coast with her dog, Mutt. The tranquility is soon shattered when back in Cork, a copycat killer is retreading a crime spree from 30 years earlier which had life changing effects for Julia. Her involvement then leads her old boss to enlist her help, putting these two ex-police back into a world they’d departed and experiencing how it has changed as well as placing them in the firing line with these connected crimes.
There are two third-person narratives, one from 1994 when Julia is a Garda at the beginning of her distinguished career running alongside the modern-day strand. It is strong as a dual police procedural but also as a thriller where it is dark and at times very intense. There’s definite skill in the timing of plot twists, on more than occasion I was shocked by the turns things had taken. Characterisation is solid, the younger Julia, especially, will frustrate readers but her occasional recklessness is understandable. I’m actually hoping that this is a stand-alone because by the end this main character has been through quite enough, but it is certainly an unpredictable thrilling and well-written ride.
The Dark Hours is published on 30th January 2025 by HQ books, an imprint of Harper Collins. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

Considering this is a debut novel, it is written brilliantly with depth of characters and a gripping storyline.
The story is set in the present day and in 1994.

In 1994 Julia Harte is working a serial killer case and boy is it gruesome the killer definitely doesn't hold out!

2024, Julia is now retired but has been asked to consult the Cork Garda police with hunting down a serial killer that has links to her past.

A very enjoyable read.

Julia Harte, a former Garda, has settled into a quiet life in rural Ireland. But when her old boss calls for help, she is drawn back to Cork City to hunt down a murderer that imitates a killer who once shattered her world.
The story flows between 1994 and 2024, with the author deliberately withholding key details, slowly unraveling the past and keeping the reader guessing before they can fully grasp what transpired.
Quiet atmospheric and enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me this ARC.

Told in 2 timeperiods, 30 years apart and set in Cork. The main character is Julia, in 1994 a Gardai and in 2024 retired, but asked to advise after 2 girls are killed in a copycat killing which is a carbon copy of a case she solved. Julia is a determined character and although she retired to a coastal village of the East coast, she is restless. She has mixed feelings about returning to Cork. The details of the cases are gradually revealed and the suspense builds up as the book goes on. The crimes are bloody and cryptic and if I had a criticism the twists and turns are such that as they are being wound up, totally new information comes to light ( you are definately not going to guess who the perpetrator is)
I loved the writing style, Julia is a no nonsense character and I appreciated that she is an older woman who still has something to contribute to society. The crimes are and the reasons behind them are believable, the pacing just right, it picks up as the book progresses. More reliance on old fashioned policing rather than technology. Characterizations also done well . Definately a must read author for me in the future and suprised that such a brilliant book is her debut.
Thanks to Net Galley for a great read

Julia found a place to just hide and be herself but the peace doesn't last. She soon finds herself dragged back to her past. KIllings similar to a murderer from years ago are happening in the same location. Can she figure it out or is history set to repeat itself.

Well this was very dark and thrilling. Its a little slow to start but once i got into it. I was hooked. Its told in past and present throughout the book, slowly building up all the connections. I found the plot really interesting and the big reveal was clever if rather twisted. This deals with a lot of trauma and grief so its tough going at times. The ending was really good. Bittersweet and sad. Yet just a hint of hope for the future which I liked. A brilliant thriller.

A pacy domestic police procedural that will have you turning the pages. There are many things I enjoyed about Amy Jordan's novel "The Dark Hours", but I especially enjoyed the dual timeline of 1994 and 2024, both focusing on Garda/Retired Detective Julia Harte; the fact that we meet her as a retired, middle-aged woman, as well as her younger, career-climbing self, is a welcome change from the usual focus on just younger characters. The narrative from 30 years ago is also engrossing as Harte has to contend with having her ambition stifled in a male-dominated career (plus, from a logistical point of view, it is nice to read about cases that are not tech-reliant every so often).
We are curious about her immediately, hidden away in a self-imposed exile in the West. However, as she is drawn back into a particular past case, the defining one of her career, we understand her need to be alone, to get through 'the dark hours'. The local references are engaging (and we all know us Cork people love reading about Cork, to be fair!) The plotline concerning her book is a pointed look at the whole 'armchair sleuth' movement and the negative repercussions of such unwanted meddling.
I flew through this book in a few days; it is well-paced overall, with plenty of the twists and turns you'd hope for in such a novel. I am already looking forward to reading the next instalment with Ms Harte.

#Netgalley #Gifted

The Dark Hours is the debut novel from Irish author Amy Jordan. It’s out this week, and if you love a creepy thriller mixed with a police procedural, then you’ll love this. My nerves were shot!

Set in Cork over two timelines, we meet retired Detective Inspector Julia Harte in the modern day setting. She lives a quiet life in a secluded coastal village with her dog, she keeps to herself and always has a golf club on hand in case someone very dangerous comes back from her past.

This brings us back to the second timeline; 1994, where Julia is a young Garda embroiled in an investigation of what turns out to be the worst serial killer Ireland has ever known.
She is profoundly affected by this case and so is horrified but willing to help when she’s asked as a retired detective to return to Cork city and help in what appears to be a copy cat killer of the 1994 murders. One big problem with that is Julia appears to be a target herself, can she stop this new threat before they stop her?

This is a seriously well written, gripping thriller. A word of warning; it’s dark. I feel like if you’ve enjoyed the Kay Scarpetta books, and the tv shows Silent Witness and Luther, you’ll appreciate The Dark Hours too. I’m hoping someone in RTE is a reader and picks this one up because I think it would make excellent tv; I love that our protagonist is both a plucky young garda trying to make her way in a sexist institution, and later, a seasoned professional, wise and no-nonsense in her approach. A badass, either way. We need more female characters like Julia.

Highly recommend this one, I was glued to my kindle! With many thanks @netgalley for my early copy. All opinions are my own, as always.

I’m going against the average review here I’m afraid I wasn’t convinced by a reclusive retired police officer being brought back into action along side an even older detective. It was fairly slow moving but that’s not to say it didn’t have a decent storyline because it did. I preferred the older Julia probably because she was a more rounded character. A good idea and a good debut book.

It is a compelling and immersive crime thriller set in Ireland that immediately draws the reader into an atmospheric and menacing ethos. Julia is a retired Irish police detective living in a remote village trying to escape her past and ever-present nightmares. Alone, except for a rescue dog, she finds the solace she seeks. Unexpected news allows her to integrate with the small community, but when she receives a phone call from her ex-boss, she has to face her worst fears. I empathised and invested in Julia, and this connection intensified as her past story unfolded. I like the dual timeline that informs Julia's present state of mind. I also liked the intensifying suspense and the dynamic between the investigating teams, which makes the story authentic. The quality of the characters and the gradual revelations make this an addictive book that I read long into the night.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I loved the premise of this novel - seeing a police officer at the very start of her career in 1994, then when she's called back as a retired detective in 2024 to pick up a case that has echoes of that traumatic first one.

The novel is set in Ireland and we see the young Gardai Julia Harte walking into a horrific crime scene - one where women are killed and their bodies staged, and where tragedy strikes at the heart of her police team. An investigation follows where Julia helps to bring down a prolific and brutal serial killer. This turns out to be the case she can't forget, so it comes as no surprise that (in 2024) she's retired and living in a small, safe community in order to get over the events of her past. When new murders start with the old modus operandi, Julia is called back into the police team and is forced to face her demons. It's an older, wiser Julia who picks up the modern-day investigation, but can she meet the challenge?

I was really impressed by this twisty crime novel, especially given that it is a debut from Amy Jordan. It's definitely quite dark, dealing with graphic crime scenes, brutal murders and psychological trauma. However, it's also well written and definitely one you won't want to put down once you start reading. I'd definitely be interested in reading more from this new writer.

This is almost two stories running in parallel, one set in 1994 and one in 2024.

Julia Harte is a Garda in Ireland, and in 1994 she was called out with her partner Adrian to respond to a complaint of noise at a housing estate - the call turned very sour as two young women were found, fatally injured, and her partner is attacked. Julia built up her career from here but the case shadows her and eventually she retires to a secluded area.

However, her former superintendent gets in touch as a series of murders has taken place and the methodology reflects what happened years ago and the Gardai would like their input and experience.

The result is a fast paced and interesting read, although I found the time switching rather distracting. The author cleverly builds tension and doesn't give away all the background information too quickly but leaves the reader to guess and work things out, which was great. Overall a very good read. Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book by Amy Jordan!!
Great characters with the story unfolding across a dual time-line, this is a very good crime novel. The fact that the lead character is an older retired detective adds an extra element to the story and the twists in the investigation kept me hooked to the end. An interesting new voice in Irish crime writing!

A brilliant read told over two timelines , 1994 and 2024
Julia Harte, an ambitious Garda in 1994 dealing with a vicious case that involves the murder of her partner and which will go on to define her life and change it irrevocably.
Julia Hatre a retired Detective Inspector who lives a quiet life and thought she’d left her former Garda life behind her.
Two cases, three decades, and one excellent read from an author I hope to hear more from in the future.

Oh my goodness, this book was tense! Right from the start I was on the edge of my seat and I never left it! Two different time lines and complex characters but easy to follow. I love a police procedural novel and this is a good one! I was surprised to learn it was a debut novel as it really did feel accomplished and written with the confidence and skill of an author with a few books under her belt. I really do hope this is the start of a series for Julia Harte.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Publishing for an eARC of this book.

I’ll be honest, the blurb might not inspire too much. The “serial killer has died but someone is killing in the same way” is probably Serial Killer Plot B (Plot A is just “there’s a serial killer”). What makes a difference here is the split narrative. We follow both the 1994 and 2024 investigations in parallel, with the author doing a good job in the present day narrative of masking the conclusion to the 1994 case. So we see two versions of Julia – the less experienced officer pushing her way into an investigation that has rapidly become very personal to her and the older, wiser version who is determined not to make the same mistakes. Her development between the stories – and in the two strands – is very interesting to follow.

It works very well. It’s a very readable book and Julia is a good focus for the story. There are a couple of good reveals in the two finales and a very interesting motive for the modern day killings.

I’m putting this caveat in my reviews at the moment – this isn’t a clued mystery, and the motives in particular, unless I missed something, seemed to come out of nowhere. So this does fit firmly into the thriller genre, despite having a whodunit element to the story. Not a bad thing, just so you know what you’re getting.

An interesting read – the split narrative is a good structure – so if you like this sort of thriller, do check it out.

The Dark Hours is a gripping, suspenseful novel with an amazing lead character who retired from the her position as a detective some years prior. She gets a call from her former DCI who believes they should help on a new case years after they worked a similar case.

Jordan creates a cast of believable characters and her plotting is brilliant with one of two clever twists.