My thanks to H.Q and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Dark Hours’ written by Amy Jordan in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Thirty years ago James Cox was locked up for killing Garda Adrian Clancy and the two teenage girls that he and Garda Julia Harte had been searching for. Now retired, Julia is relieved to learn that he’s died in a psychiatric hospital, but when her old Chief Superintendent Des Riordon phones to tell her that the bodies of two teenagers have been found dead Julia knows she must return to Cork as the murders are too similar to those carried out by Cox to be dismissed.

‘The Dark Hours’ is a gripping police thriller from a new writer of Irish crime fiction and I must congratulation her for writing such an exciting novel. It has two time-frames running parallel to each other, the first beginning in 2024 with retired Garda Julia Harte living in the secluded village of Cuan Beag where no one knows her past, then going back to 1994 as it tells of how James Cox was finally caught. This thriller has a fast-paced and complex plot with lots of tension, drama and twists that leaves Julia and Riordon with more questions than leads. It’s good to read of characters who are over retirement age and the plot was so intricately woven that I was hooked from page one and couldn’t stop reading until I’d reached the conclusion.

Many thanks to net Galley and HQ publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review
An outstanding debut novel.
A gripping twisty police thriller, fast paced and hard to put down.
Two timelines, a case from 1994, and a current case, two killers, a serial killer and a copycat killer, a great plot which keeps the reader engrossed.
I loved Julia, a retired detective inspector, what a complex character, I also loved her dog, Mutt.
The ending felt like there could be a series, featuring Julia, let’s hope so.
This is a 5 star read which I highly recommend, will be keen to read more by Amy Jordan.

Retired detective Julia Harte is dragged back into a murder investigation when it has disturbing similarities to a case she worked in and was personally involved with in 1994.
The story is told through a dual timeline both using Julia’s POV so as a reader you really feel like you get to know her. Both timelines (1994 and 2024) have their own intricate plots which then weave together to tell the overall story.

This is an amazing debut and compels you to keep reading to find out what happens both in the past and the present timelines. Really liked the character of Julia Harte and would enjoy reading more novels with her as the main character.

I would highly recommend this book and will be looking out for more from Amy Jorden,

This book is told over dual time zones - 1994 & 2024.
In 1994, during a case with 2 missing girls, Gardaí Julia Harte and Adrian Clancy are called out to a house in Cork. One of the girls runs out to their car and Adrian stays in the car to deal with her, while Julia heads inside to find the other girl. She finds nothing, and heads back out to find both her partner Adrian, and the girl have been murdered in the vehicle.
Forward to 2024 and Julia is called back into the force when a series of similar murders take place.
This was an amazing book, full of twists and turns, and is one not to miss. I couldn't read it fast enough as I wanted to find out who the killer was.
I will be on the look out for more from this author. A1

1994: When Gardaí 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 days, 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…

This is a well written, pacy story which I found hard to put down. The characters are three dimensional and relatable. In all it’s a great read with a satisfying ending. I enjoyed it.

Reading this its hard to believe it is a debut novel, it is written really well and the pace does not let up, The story grabs you and reals you in along the dual time lines, the main character is Julia Harte, a retired detective trying to live a quiet life after a prestigious career in the police force, but when she was starting out Julia attends a call out with her partner about a crying sound coming from a house, here she finds a injured missing girl and what happens next haunts her life, now 30 years on someone is copying the crimes and & Julia is reluctantly dragged into the current investigation.

This really is a great start to a writting career and I look forward to reading more from Amy Jordan.

In 1994 Garda Julia Harte and her partner Adrian Clancy are called out to investigate a noise complaint on a housing estate in Cork. When they arrive at the house a young girl runs from the house covered in blood. Sounds of crying are coming from the house and Julia goes to investigate while Adrian looks after the girl. Realising she's been set up Julia returns to the patrol car to discover that Adrian has had his throat cut and the young girl is dead. Julia is determined to bring the killer to justice and he is duly apprehended and convicted of murder. Fast forward to 2024 and Julia is retired and living quietly with just her dog Mutt for company James Cox the serial killer has just died in prison Then Julia's old boss contacts her to let her know that someone is copying Cox's crimes and they have both been asked to help the police in Cork. This was an immensely enjoyable read, told over two timelines, 1994 and 2024 with interesting characters and an unexpected ending. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity of reading an ARC of this book.

The Dark Hours Amy Jordan

5 star

A very impressive debut

This is one of those books that as soon as I started reading it I was absorbed not only by the plot but the actual writing. There are some authors who just seem to have a magic touch in their style of writing, Peter James springs to mind for me, and I feel that Ms Jordan has that same knack.

Julia Harte is a retired detective living a quiet life in Cuan Beag, her retirement place of choice. 30 years ago she had been involved in a horrific case where 2 young girls had been murdered. She had been called to the scene with her partner, Adrian Clancy, and when one of the girls rushes out from the house covered in blood Julia goes inside in search of the other girl who she can hear screaming. When she cannot find anything she emerges only to find both her partner and the girl have been savagely killed. Her determination to solve this crime has consumed her life ever since leading to the breakup of her marriage and even though she is now retired she is still haunted by this case.

It is now 2024 and the murderer that Julia had brought to justice, James Cox, has just died in prison. Finally Julia feels that she can find some peace and enjoy her retirement.

However a phone call from her previous boss Superintendent Les Riordan ruins all her plans. Two girls have been found murdered and another is missing but they have been killed in exactly the same way as 30 years ago and to make matters worse, Julia's book on criminal psychology has been found with the bodies. It is obvious that this cannot be the original killer but why is someone using exactly the same mode of killing and why are they targeting Julia?

Julia and Les feel that they have to assist in this case and the book jumps between the old crime and the new slowly bringing the two stories together. This is one of those books where you have to keep reading to find out what has happened and as in all good thrillers it is not who you think. The characters were very well described and the police procedures believable and I really enjoyed this book.

As stated before, I thought this was amazing for a debut and I will be looking out for any further books from Ms Jordan.


Karen Deborah
Netgalley

🖋5 HUGE 🌟review🖋
I am so lucky to have started the year with some fabulous reads and this one is definitely up there!!! It started with tension and the fast pace and events did not slow for the entire book!

To describe it as a ‘Police procedural’ does not really do justice to the dark events, the fear and emotions I felt as I read this book. The characters were flawlessly developed, totally relatable and felt so real, drawing my full empathy. Amy Jordan brings the story to life through her brilliant descriptions and astute observations of people.

This book has had me desperate to read on but conversely not wanting to reach the end as I was so absorbed, loving the dual timelines, 1984 and 2024. The plot was intrinsically twisted and layered with mysterious happenings gradually revealing the underlying story.

Julia Harte, the main protagonist, reveals a unique view on a police investigation and her personality and demeanour strongly endeared her to me. The final moments of the story are just glorious! Will there be a second book? I really hope so, I cannot recommend this highly enough!

Julia’s life changed dramatically following a case she worked as a young Garda with partner Clancy Now retired and living an isolated lifestyle little could she have own that that case would draw her and her dog Mutt to the place she had left

Brilliantly written keeping me totally engaged. Nice to see a book where the unlikely pairing of Julia and Des both retired are central to this case

This book means that they have to look back to have a chance of solving what’s happening now

Full of twists and turns.

Definitely an author to follow

An accomplished cliff hanger of a novel! Amy knows how to get you totally immersed trying to second guess how things will turn out- will th3 girls be found in time to save them and will Julia survive!

Well Amy, you kept me guessing till the end and I was still wrong.
Really enjoyable crime thriller, moving between 2 eras, with similar crimes. Don't let the fact that Julia has retired fool you into thinking this is cosy crime.
I hope there are other novels as I'd be keen to read them.

An extremely well written debut psychological thriller which is compelling and intense. There is a well integrated dual time line where the events of a seemingly routine call out in 1994 resonate down the years for the then inexperienced Garda Julia Harte. In 2024 when copycat crimes begin, Julia comes out of retirement and her reclusive life to offer her experience to the current team. The parallels being to mount and build into an intense climax and enable Julia to deal with the life long psychological trauma from the events of 1994. A fantastic book, one of the best I read in 2024 and highly recommend it.

'The Dark Hours' is an impressive first novel told between two time periods, 1994 and 2024. Retired policewoman Juliet Harte is faced with the terrifying prospect of a copycat serial killer. It's a gripping, exciting plot with a great cast of well written characters. Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early read, one I am happy to recommend. Look forward to more from this author soon.

What a brilliant debut. Just wow!
From the first pages it’s gripping, fast paced and suspenseful with a great storyline and likeable and believable characters, especially Julia and her dog Mutt. I loved the protagonist as an older woman. I couldn’t put this book down. It’s so addictive.
Told in dual timelines of Then 1994 and Today 2024. Retired detective Julia Harte receives a phone call from her old Superintendent about two women that have been murdered, just like in 1994. Julia returns to Cork to face a vicious killer and memories that haunt her.
It’s cleverly written, detailed and draws you right into the story. The best rollercoaster ride where the tension just keeps building with brilliant twists and an ending you don’t see coming and so full of emotions. I loved every second of it and I’m excited to read more from this author @amyjordanbooks.
A brilliant police procedural/crime fiction/thriller that’s so worth the read. Definitely recommend this one if you enjoy this genre.
With thanks to #NetGallery @hq @hqstories for an arc of #TheDarkHours in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 30 January 2025.