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Natalie Lockhart #2
The Wicked Hour
The day after Burning Lake’s notorious, debauched Halloween celebration, Detective Natalie Lockhart uncovers a heartbreaking scene—a young woman, dead and lying in a dumpster. There’s no clue to who she is, save for a mystifying tattoo on her arm, and a callus underneath her chin. She’s not from around here. No one knows who she is.
As Natalie retraces the young woman’s steps leading up to her death, she uncovers a deeper, darker horror—a string of murders and disappearances, seemingly unconnected, that may have ties to each other—and explain the abrupt disappearance of her best friend years ago.
As she digs deeper within the mind of the hunter, Natalie finds a darkness she could never have imagined. And as she draws closer to the truth, the killer is weaving a trap for her that may prove inescapable.
As Natalie retraces the young woman’s steps leading up to her death, she uncovers a deeper, darker horror—a string of murders and disappearances, seemingly unconnected, that may have ties to each other—and explain the abrupt disappearance of her best friend years ago.
As she digs deeper within the mind of the hunter, Natalie finds a darkness she could never have imagined. And as she draws closer to the truth, the killer is weaving a trap for her that may prove inescapable.
290 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2020
50 people are currently reading
1148 people want to read
About the author
Alice Blanchard
11 books752 followersAlice Blanchard is an award-winning author of psychological thrillers, mysteries, crime thrillers and dark fantasy.
Her bestselling thriller, “The Breathtaker,” was an official selection of NBC’s Today Show Book Club, and her debut mystery, “Darkness Peering,” was a New York Times’ Notable Book. "Trace of Evil” was selected as an Amazon Best Mystery and an Indie Next Pick.
Her story collection won the Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Short Fiction, and she has received a PEN Fiction Award, a Centrum Artists award and a New Letters Literary Award, among other honors for her writing. Her books have been published in 16 countries.
Alice's Amazon Page: amazon.com/author/alice-blanchard
Website: www.aliceblanchard.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aliceblanchard.author/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alicebooks33...
Twitter: twitter.com/AliceBooks333
Her bestselling thriller, “The Breathtaker,” was an official selection of NBC’s Today Show Book Club, and her debut mystery, “Darkness Peering,” was a New York Times’ Notable Book. "Trace of Evil” was selected as an Amazon Best Mystery and an Indie Next Pick.
Her story collection won the Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Short Fiction, and she has received a PEN Fiction Award, a Centrum Artists award and a New Letters Literary Award, among other honors for her writing. Her books have been published in 16 countries.
Alice's Amazon Page: amazon.com/author/alice-blanchard
Website: www.aliceblanchard.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aliceblanchard.author/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alicebooks33...
Twitter: twitter.com/AliceBooks333
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
November 8, 2020
3 stars for an entertaining mystery with flaws. This is book 2 in the Natalie Lockhart series and it would have been better if I read book 1 first. There was a murder of a Lockhart family member which took place in book 1 and Natalie is still grieving. She has pushed away friends who offered her support.
Natalie is a detective in the Burning Lake Police Department. She and the whole police force are on duty for the town's annual Halloween celebration, which draws about 100,000 tourists and is a huge moneymaker for the town. Burning Lake is a fictional town located south of New York state's Adirondack Park, the largest park in the continental US(bigger than Yellowstone NP). The fictional town condemned to death 3 women as witches in 1712 and now proclaims itself as the epicenter of Halloween and witchcraft.
Natalie volunteers for the annual cleanup on Nov 1 which lasts a whole week, because of the tremendous amount of trash left by the revelers. But then Natalie discovers the body of a naked woman in a dumpster. Natalie does solve the murder with the help of the team at the BLPD.
Pros: I liked the plot and the way it moved along briskly with several suspects. I was not sure who the killer was until the end. The characters were believable.
Cons: I have lived in New York state my whole life. Although this is a work of fiction, set in a fictional town, there were several things that bothered me. Natalie mentions that Detective Lenny Abruzzo has sent the dead girl's fingerprints to the DMV database. DMV stands for NYS Department of Motor vehicles. I have never had to give my fingerprints for my standard drivers license. This year I was given the option of renewing by mail or upgrading to a REAL ID DL. I upgraded and had to give a thumbprint. NYS does have a fingerprint database. It is maintained by the NYS Dept. of Criminal Justice.
Second, Natalie comments that Burning Lake has 10 historic wooden covered bridges. NY has 17 historic covered bridges in the entire state, and my wife and I have visited all of them. No county, much less a town, has 10. According to our WGCB(World Guide to Covered Bridges), Ulster County has the most with 5. Ulster County is closer to NYC than the southern boundary of Adirondack Park, going from the Catskill mountains to the Hudson river.
Third, she mentions driving on Route 17 out of town. Route 17 is actually the Southern Tier Expressway, just north of Pennsylvania, now being converted into I-86.
My wife read this book before me, and these items bothered her also. My wife also noticed many grammatical errors,but this is an uncorrected proof copy, so this is forgivable.
#TheWickedHour #NetGalley
Thanks to Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for sending me this eARC through Net Galley.
Natalie is a detective in the Burning Lake Police Department. She and the whole police force are on duty for the town's annual Halloween celebration, which draws about 100,000 tourists and is a huge moneymaker for the town. Burning Lake is a fictional town located south of New York state's Adirondack Park, the largest park in the continental US(bigger than Yellowstone NP). The fictional town condemned to death 3 women as witches in 1712 and now proclaims itself as the epicenter of Halloween and witchcraft.
Natalie volunteers for the annual cleanup on Nov 1 which lasts a whole week, because of the tremendous amount of trash left by the revelers. But then Natalie discovers the body of a naked woman in a dumpster. Natalie does solve the murder with the help of the team at the BLPD.
Pros: I liked the plot and the way it moved along briskly with several suspects. I was not sure who the killer was until the end. The characters were believable.
Cons: I have lived in New York state my whole life. Although this is a work of fiction, set in a fictional town, there were several things that bothered me. Natalie mentions that Detective Lenny Abruzzo has sent the dead girl's fingerprints to the DMV database. DMV stands for NYS Department of Motor vehicles. I have never had to give my fingerprints for my standard drivers license. This year I was given the option of renewing by mail or upgrading to a REAL ID DL. I upgraded and had to give a thumbprint. NYS does have a fingerprint database. It is maintained by the NYS Dept. of Criminal Justice.
Second, Natalie comments that Burning Lake has 10 historic wooden covered bridges. NY has 17 historic covered bridges in the entire state, and my wife and I have visited all of them. No county, much less a town, has 10. According to our WGCB(World Guide to Covered Bridges), Ulster County has the most with 5. Ulster County is closer to NYC than the southern boundary of Adirondack Park, going from the Catskill mountains to the Hudson river.
Third, she mentions driving on Route 17 out of town. Route 17 is actually the Southern Tier Expressway, just north of Pennsylvania, now being converted into I-86.
My wife read this book before me, and these items bothered her also. My wife also noticed many grammatical errors,but this is an uncorrected proof copy, so this is forgivable.
#TheWickedHour #NetGalley
Thanks to Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for sending me this eARC through Net Galley.
August 13, 2021
This is book two of the Natalie Lockhart series.
When the body of a young woman is found in a dumpster it is up to Natalie to put the pieces of the mystery together to identify the girl and find her killer. She may end up finding more than she bargained for.
I have to admit I enjoyed book one A Trace of Evil a whole lot more. In this latest release, I lacked the connection with Natalie that I previously felt. The mystery behind the killing didn’t hold my attention and I felt my mind wandering throughout. Seems the magic from book one just wasn’t there this time.☹️
I attempted the audio version along the way hoping that would give me a better experience. And though the narrator did a fantastic job I still struggled to stay focused.
Perhaps this was just one of those…it’s the reader and not the book.🤷🏻♀️
Will I continue with the series? Hmmm🤔… to be determined.
A buddy read with Susanne.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
When the body of a young woman is found in a dumpster it is up to Natalie to put the pieces of the mystery together to identify the girl and find her killer. She may end up finding more than she bargained for.
I have to admit I enjoyed book one A Trace of Evil a whole lot more. In this latest release, I lacked the connection with Natalie that I previously felt. The mystery behind the killing didn’t hold my attention and I felt my mind wandering throughout. Seems the magic from book one just wasn’t there this time.☹️
I attempted the audio version along the way hoping that would give me a better experience. And though the narrator did a fantastic job I still struggled to stay focused.
Perhaps this was just one of those…it’s the reader and not the book.🤷🏻♀️
Will I continue with the series? Hmmm🤔… to be determined.
A buddy read with Susanne.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
August 11, 2020
THE WICKED HOUR by Alice Blanchard is a police procedural and the second book in the Natalie Lockhart series. To get the most enjoyment from this novel, the first book in the series (TRACE OF EVIL) should be read before starting this one. This is a town that makes the most of its history with witchcraft and has a large tourist trade around it that culminates with the Halloween celebration.
Natalie Lockhart is a rookie detective in the Burning Lake, New York police department and is still dealing with the tragic events that occurred in book one. She is working clean-up on November first when the body of a violinist is found in a dumpster and she get the case.
Natalie is a strong female protagonist who is definitely someone you can root for. Her character felt real with clear goals and believable motivations. This novel is more character-driven and police procedural driven than books one and has less action. However, I thought her introspection while dealing with the case actually worked better for me than book one. I was quickly drawn into the story and stayed engaged throughout the book.
The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The stakes were high throughout the novel and kept me fully invested in the story. The world-building enhanced the setting and gave me a clear sense of place. There were plenty of suspects and twists as well as a sub-plot that did not get resolved. Will that be part of book three? Themes include death, grief, family relationships, parental pressure on children to succeed, depression and much more.
Overall, the plot was complex, absorbing and well-paced. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Alice Blanchard for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Natalie Lockhart is a rookie detective in the Burning Lake, New York police department and is still dealing with the tragic events that occurred in book one. She is working clean-up on November first when the body of a violinist is found in a dumpster and she get the case.
Natalie is a strong female protagonist who is definitely someone you can root for. Her character felt real with clear goals and believable motivations. This novel is more character-driven and police procedural driven than books one and has less action. However, I thought her introspection while dealing with the case actually worked better for me than book one. I was quickly drawn into the story and stayed engaged throughout the book.
The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The stakes were high throughout the novel and kept me fully invested in the story. The world-building enhanced the setting and gave me a clear sense of place. There were plenty of suspects and twists as well as a sub-plot that did not get resolved. Will that be part of book three? Themes include death, grief, family relationships, parental pressure on children to succeed, depression and much more.
Overall, the plot was complex, absorbing and well-paced. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Alice Blanchard for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
November 5, 2020
Once again, I find myself reading a crime series book out of order. At least this time, it’s only the second in the Natalie Lockhart series. But I still felt the loss of all the background from the first book initially. Still, once the book moved into the murder investigation, I felt at home.
Burning Lake, upstate NY, is home to a huge Halloween festival based on their history with witches in the early 18th century. During the clean up on November 1st, a young woman’s body is discovered in a dumpster. She was a violinist, there for a musical contest. Turns out, she’s not the first young violinist to go missing.
This is a realistic police procedural. Blanchard puts us firmly in time and place with a small town, a music conservatory trying to protect its reputation, even a closed fun town. The pace is swift with lots of potential suspects to pick from. Natalie is doubting herself after not picking up on a murderer until it was too late (in book one). So, her thoughts bounce between all the suspects. And mine bounced right along with hers.
There are some irritating sections where Blanchard literally repeats herself verbatim. But overall, I found this an enjoyable story and I would seek out book three.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
Burning Lake, upstate NY, is home to a huge Halloween festival based on their history with witches in the early 18th century. During the clean up on November 1st, a young woman’s body is discovered in a dumpster. She was a violinist, there for a musical contest. Turns out, she’s not the first young violinist to go missing.
This is a realistic police procedural. Blanchard puts us firmly in time and place with a small town, a music conservatory trying to protect its reputation, even a closed fun town. The pace is swift with lots of potential suspects to pick from. Natalie is doubting herself after not picking up on a murderer until it was too late (in book one). So, her thoughts bounce between all the suspects. And mine bounced right along with hers.
There are some irritating sections where Blanchard literally repeats herself verbatim. But overall, I found this an enjoyable story and I would seek out book three.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
September 14, 2020
"In a world filled with evil, being a good person is an act of defiance." (Unknown)
And nothing brings out all the baddies like the sole night of the year...... the witching hour. Costumed or just plain clever in attire, the edgy evil doers mingle with the rest of us. They'll serve up more than just bobbin' for apples near midnight.
Detective Natalie Lockhart has been assigned a heavy-duty job on Halloween night. It's Burning Lake, New York where this little town relishes the hauntings viewed in decorated store windows and the local bars sliding Zombies across the bar....the drinks....and maybe a few of the real ones. Throngs of people in costumes clog the streets as the merriment begins. Corraling these party-goers is like herding cats all at once. Next to impossible.
As the streets begin to clear in the wee hours, a barrista makes a horrendous discovery while taking out the trash. The body of a young woman dressed as Wonder Woman is found scrunched down and dead in a dumpster behind the bar.
Natalie and her fellow detectives have their hands full trying to identify the woman. Once the identification is made, all hell will break loose. There will be undeniable connections here and there with dangling ends like on the tassels of Dracula's cape. Why this young woman and why here in Burning Lake?
Alice Blanchard creates a tale perfect for this time of year. The Wicked Hour is the second book in this series. Although she fills in gaps to set the stage for this one, I'd encourage reading Trace of Evil to get a better feel for Det. Natalie Lockhart. Not necessary, but I want to know ol' Natalie better. I've already got my hands on this first one. That's a sign that this series has life to it and is worth investing in. Can't wait to see where Blanchard takes us in her next offering. Good stuff.
I received a copy of The Wicked Hour through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Alice Blanchard for the opportunity.
And nothing brings out all the baddies like the sole night of the year...... the witching hour. Costumed or just plain clever in attire, the edgy evil doers mingle with the rest of us. They'll serve up more than just bobbin' for apples near midnight.
Detective Natalie Lockhart has been assigned a heavy-duty job on Halloween night. It's Burning Lake, New York where this little town relishes the hauntings viewed in decorated store windows and the local bars sliding Zombies across the bar....the drinks....and maybe a few of the real ones. Throngs of people in costumes clog the streets as the merriment begins. Corraling these party-goers is like herding cats all at once. Next to impossible.
As the streets begin to clear in the wee hours, a barrista makes a horrendous discovery while taking out the trash. The body of a young woman dressed as Wonder Woman is found scrunched down and dead in a dumpster behind the bar.
Natalie and her fellow detectives have their hands full trying to identify the woman. Once the identification is made, all hell will break loose. There will be undeniable connections here and there with dangling ends like on the tassels of Dracula's cape. Why this young woman and why here in Burning Lake?
Alice Blanchard creates a tale perfect for this time of year. The Wicked Hour is the second book in this series. Although she fills in gaps to set the stage for this one, I'd encourage reading Trace of Evil to get a better feel for Det. Natalie Lockhart. Not necessary, but I want to know ol' Natalie better. I've already got my hands on this first one. That's a sign that this series has life to it and is worth investing in. Can't wait to see where Blanchard takes us in her next offering. Good stuff.
I received a copy of The Wicked Hour through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Alice Blanchard for the opportunity.
April 5, 2025
I discovered this series last year when the first installment became a part of my 2024 Cleaning Out the Closet challenge; it had been languishing on my to-read list for nearly four years. I discovered a few really great series through that challenge and I highly recommend the challenge to my GR friends. Anyway, after the last installment (what a doozy of read), Burning Lake Det. Natalie Lockhart is still struggling to move on from the events of six months ago and the effects that the fallout has had on her. She’s depressed, not sleeping well and possibly having random panic attacks. Additionally, her personal relationships with co-worker, Brandon, a Burning Lake police officer and her Lt, Luke, are strained, to say the least, and will never be the same again. Natalie and Luke grew up in Burning Lake and have known each other since they were kids. This would NOT make a good standalone read.
The book summary lays out the primary storyline of a dead body being found in a trash dumpster after Burning Lake’s annual Halloween festival. Burning Lake is infamous for its history of persecuting suspected witches, and its current reputation and marketing of its occult history and its numerous Wiccan covens. Kind of like NY’s own version of Salem, MA. Anyway, it’s discovered that the dead woman, Morgan, was a violinist and former graduate of a well-known conservatory not far from Burning Lake. Sporting a Wiccan tattoo, it’s also suspected that Morgan was interested in the occult.
While Natalie investigates Morgan’s last movements, she is reminded of a childhood friend, Bella, whose life was eerily similar to Morgan’s life. Bella went missing 12yrs ago and Natalie begins to see coincidences between Morgan and Bella. Once again, by the halfway point, my armchair detective has narrowed in on two suspects, maybe three or four (in other words, still pretty clueless). However, I’m onto Blanchard this time, because she did this to me last time too and I was completely thrown off base with a shocking end that I never saw coming. I blame it on Blanchard being just a tad stingy with clues and leads.
This time, I’m keeping an open mind to a whole other scenario that may come to fruition. However, deep into the second half, when the investigation and the story start to go off in a completely different direction, I’m having doubts about my suspicions. It’s starting to look like, once again, I am way off base and Blanchard has caught me off guard – AGAIN!!! This leads to some really scary and intense scenes for Natalie and the killer.
The continuing development of Natalie and her circle of loved ones was good, especially for Natalie. Natalie is a complicated woman with a lot of family baggage that anyone would struggle to deal with. The pacing and storyline were steady and very interesting, respectively. I love all the history of Burning Lake and its occult reputation that attracts all kinds of unusual characters to the place. The writing is well done, but I still think that Blanchard is kind of stingy with clues and leads. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.2 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.
The book summary lays out the primary storyline of a dead body being found in a trash dumpster after Burning Lake’s annual Halloween festival. Burning Lake is infamous for its history of persecuting suspected witches, and its current reputation and marketing of its occult history and its numerous Wiccan covens. Kind of like NY’s own version of Salem, MA. Anyway, it’s discovered that the dead woman, Morgan, was a violinist and former graduate of a well-known conservatory not far from Burning Lake. Sporting a Wiccan tattoo, it’s also suspected that Morgan was interested in the occult.
While Natalie investigates Morgan’s last movements, she is reminded of a childhood friend, Bella, whose life was eerily similar to Morgan’s life. Bella went missing 12yrs ago and Natalie begins to see coincidences between Morgan and Bella. Once again, by the halfway point, my armchair detective has narrowed in on two suspects, maybe three or four (in other words, still pretty clueless). However, I’m onto Blanchard this time, because she did this to me last time too and I was completely thrown off base with a shocking end that I never saw coming. I blame it on Blanchard being just a tad stingy with clues and leads.
This time, I’m keeping an open mind to a whole other scenario that may come to fruition. However, deep into the second half, when the investigation and the story start to go off in a completely different direction, I’m having doubts about my suspicions. It’s starting to look like, once again, I am way off base and Blanchard has caught me off guard – AGAIN!!! This leads to some really scary and intense scenes for Natalie and the killer.
The continuing development of Natalie and her circle of loved ones was good, especially for Natalie. Natalie is a complicated woman with a lot of family baggage that anyone would struggle to deal with. The pacing and storyline were steady and very interesting, respectively. I love all the history of Burning Lake and its occult reputation that attracts all kinds of unusual characters to the place. The writing is well done, but I still think that Blanchard is kind of stingy with clues and leads. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.2 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.
December 9, 2020
The Wicked Hour is the second book in the Natalie Lockhart series, and just like Trace Of Evil, it will keep you guessing... (Ps. Don't go into this one without having read the first book)
Detective Natalie Lockhart is back on the scene with another chilling case. A young woman is found dead in a dumpster the day after Halloween. With no clue as to who this young woman is except for a tattoo on her arm and callus underneath her chin, the department has their work cut out for them.
Nobody could have ever guessed just how deep this case would go...
Overall I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and one I haven't read in other books which is always a win. The ending was such a surprise - another win!! The book is well written and the descriptions are so so good. And with that final sentence I'm really hoping there's a book three!!
Huge thank you so St. Martin's Press for my review copy!
Detective Natalie Lockhart is back on the scene with another chilling case. A young woman is found dead in a dumpster the day after Halloween. With no clue as to who this young woman is except for a tattoo on her arm and callus underneath her chin, the department has their work cut out for them.
Nobody could have ever guessed just how deep this case would go...
Overall I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and one I haven't read in other books which is always a win. The ending was such a surprise - another win!! The book is well written and the descriptions are so so good. And with that final sentence I'm really hoping there's a book three!!
Huge thank you so St. Martin's Press for my review copy!
August 9, 2021
Review posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
It's The Wicked Hour, in Burning Lake, with Halloween in full force. For Detective Natalie Lockhart, that means patrolling throughout the night. As heavy-duty clean-up from the Halloween festivities is required, Detective Lockhart volunteers and happens upon the dead body of a local woman. An investigation ensues, putting her in the spotlight, which is the last thing she wants.
You see, Detective Lockhart is still reeling from the events of her past, from which she is traumatized.
Though the case puts her through the wringer, Natalie is tenacious and wants justice.
A complex, well-written twisty turny mystery that kept me glued to the storyline. I was, however, vexed greatly by the ending. One can always hold out hope, however.
A buddy read with Kaceey.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
It's The Wicked Hour, in Burning Lake, with Halloween in full force. For Detective Natalie Lockhart, that means patrolling throughout the night. As heavy-duty clean-up from the Halloween festivities is required, Detective Lockhart volunteers and happens upon the dead body of a local woman. An investigation ensues, putting her in the spotlight, which is the last thing she wants.
You see, Detective Lockhart is still reeling from the events of her past, from which she is traumatized.
Though the case puts her through the wringer, Natalie is tenacious and wants justice.
A complex, well-written twisty turny mystery that kept me glued to the storyline. I was, however, vexed greatly by the ending. One can always hold out hope, however.
A buddy read with Kaceey.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
October 27, 2020
Dropped into this series after missing the first one, and I think it would have been better to have the background before diving into this one. However, I enjoyed this police procedural regardless (but now I'm curious about some things so I need to go back and read that first book!).
Natalie Lockhart is a young detective in Burning Lake, New York. The town is apparently a hot spot during October due to a history of witchcraft, but this book isn't about witches. After a long, hard night dealing with the crowds and revelry of Halloween, a local business owner finds the body of a naked young woman in an alley dumpster. Natalie is nearby and is notified immediately. This begins an intriguing investigation trying to find out who the woman is and whether her death is a suicide or murder. Diving into the woman's background turns up some surprising discoveries and there are several suspect possibilities.
I had fun reading this book. It wasn't too gory and focused on Natalie and some problems she is dealing with (which apparently occurred in the first book). Natalie is a good person and a strong protagonist, but she does have some issues to work through. There's a little romance, but that is not the main part of the story. I can't wait to grab the first book in the series to get the answers to some of my questions.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.
Natalie Lockhart is a young detective in Burning Lake, New York. The town is apparently a hot spot during October due to a history of witchcraft, but this book isn't about witches. After a long, hard night dealing with the crowds and revelry of Halloween, a local business owner finds the body of a naked young woman in an alley dumpster. Natalie is nearby and is notified immediately. This begins an intriguing investigation trying to find out who the woman is and whether her death is a suicide or murder. Diving into the woman's background turns up some surprising discoveries and there are several suspect possibilities.
I had fun reading this book. It wasn't too gory and focused on Natalie and some problems she is dealing with (which apparently occurred in the first book). Natalie is a good person and a strong protagonist, but she does have some issues to work through. There's a little romance, but that is not the main part of the story. I can't wait to grab the first book in the series to get the answers to some of my questions.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.
January 25, 2021
The Wicked Hour by Alice Blanchard is a solid sequel to Trace of Evil. Although it is not as haunting and creepy, The Wicked Hour deals with the darker side of grief.
I absolutely love how Alice Blanchard does not shy away from the tragedy Natalie faced in Trace of Evil. She does not gloss over it. In the time between the ending of Trace of Evil and the beginning of The Wicked Hour, Natalie's life has changed dramatically. She is still grieving and is not living her life. She is alone and barely holding on. Honestly, I appreciate all of this. Not glossing over the pure mess of the first novel makes Natalie so much more relatable and I enjoyed watching her develop as a character throughout the entire novel.
I love how there are quite a few suspects in Natalie's newest case. My head was constantly spinning. There are a good number of twists and turns to keep readers entertained. I did not see the identity of the killer coming nor did I anticipate that very shocking ending (LOVE THAT ENDING).
Why not five stars? The writing is a bit choppy and I felt at times I was repeatedly reading the same back story of Natalie's friend, Bella. Granted, I read an ARC so these issues may very well be corrected when The Wicked Hour is released. I will be reading the finished copy. My only other reason for a lower rating is Luke. However, I cannot rant about Luke without providing spoilers. Just note that he did not develop in this book as much as Natalie and I may or may not have had the urge to throw a book at him on more than one occasion.
The Wicked Hour is a must read for mystery fans. It's entertaining. It's dark. It's real. I am officially obsessed with this series and am already anxiously awaiting for the next book!
I absolutely love how Alice Blanchard does not shy away from the tragedy Natalie faced in Trace of Evil. She does not gloss over it. In the time between the ending of Trace of Evil and the beginning of The Wicked Hour, Natalie's life has changed dramatically. She is still grieving and is not living her life. She is alone and barely holding on. Honestly, I appreciate all of this. Not glossing over the pure mess of the first novel makes Natalie so much more relatable and I enjoyed watching her develop as a character throughout the entire novel.
I love how there are quite a few suspects in Natalie's newest case. My head was constantly spinning. There are a good number of twists and turns to keep readers entertained. I did not see the identity of the killer coming nor did I anticipate that very shocking ending (LOVE THAT ENDING).
Why not five stars? The writing is a bit choppy and I felt at times I was repeatedly reading the same back story of Natalie's friend, Bella. Granted, I read an ARC so these issues may very well be corrected when The Wicked Hour is released. I will be reading the finished copy. My only other reason for a lower rating is Luke. However, I cannot rant about Luke without providing spoilers. Just note that he did not develop in this book as much as Natalie and I may or may not have had the urge to throw a book at him on more than one occasion.
The Wicked Hour is a must read for mystery fans. It's entertaining. It's dark. It's real. I am officially obsessed with this series and am already anxiously awaiting for the next book!
November 5, 2020
The Wicked Hour is a suspenseful police procedural novel. With a varied cast of characters, The Wicked Hour proved to be an interesting read. However, readers will probably enjoy this novel a lot more if they read the first novel, Trace of Evil.
Detective Natalie Lockhart is assigned to investigate the death of a budding violinist, Morgan Chambers. Morgan was found buried under a pile of garbage in a dumpster. Naked and without obvious signs of blunt force trauma or other signs of foul play, it's up to Natalie and her team to conduct a full investigation into the who, what, when, and where of Morgan's demise.
Without going into too much detail and spoiling the story, there were some aspects of the plot that didn't quite fit logically. Perhaps certain aspects of the plot were overlooked as I probably spent too much time trying to figure out the background into Detective Lockhart's depression and her relationship with her father and sisters. That being said, I probably missed out on a few key moments.
Overall, The Wicked Hour is a novel that will be appreciated by fans of the mystery & thriller genre. Three stars. I liked it.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Detective Natalie Lockhart is assigned to investigate the death of a budding violinist, Morgan Chambers. Morgan was found buried under a pile of garbage in a dumpster. Naked and without obvious signs of blunt force trauma or other signs of foul play, it's up to Natalie and her team to conduct a full investigation into the who, what, when, and where of Morgan's demise.
Without going into too much detail and spoiling the story, there were some aspects of the plot that didn't quite fit logically. Perhaps certain aspects of the plot were overlooked as I probably spent too much time trying to figure out the background into Detective Lockhart's depression and her relationship with her father and sisters. That being said, I probably missed out on a few key moments.
Overall, The Wicked Hour is a novel that will be appreciated by fans of the mystery & thriller genre. Three stars. I liked it.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
October 4, 2020
Some towns cash in on their holiday connections. Welcome to Burning Lake, where their history with witchcraft makes for some pretty exciting Halloween celebrations, until a mysterious murder victim brings a far deeper horror that proves that evil has been lurking for years.
Detective Natalie Lockhart is determined to find justice for the victim, but finds herself drawn into a trap that could cost her her life. THE WICKED HOUR by Alice Blanchard is a hair-raising, edge-of-your-seat tale of dark suspense. Well-developed, Natalie is a strong character with a past that makes this murder feel like a déjà vu of a time she would rather forget.
I would suggest that readers read book one first for relevant background. On its own, it IS a good read, but when I was invited to read an ARC, I was not told this was book two and felt I was missing something vital.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Minotaur Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Natalie Lockhart - Book 2
Publisher : Minotaur Books (December 1, 2020)
Genre: Police Procedural
Print Length : 304 pages
Available from : Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Detective Natalie Lockhart is determined to find justice for the victim, but finds herself drawn into a trap that could cost her her life. THE WICKED HOUR by Alice Blanchard is a hair-raising, edge-of-your-seat tale of dark suspense. Well-developed, Natalie is a strong character with a past that makes this murder feel like a déjà vu of a time she would rather forget.
I would suggest that readers read book one first for relevant background. On its own, it IS a good read, but when I was invited to read an ARC, I was not told this was book two and felt I was missing something vital.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Minotaur Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Natalie Lockhart - Book 2
Publisher : Minotaur Books (December 1, 2020)
Genre: Police Procedural
Print Length : 304 pages
Available from : Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 30, 2020
This was the perfect read for fall. The second book in the Natalie Lockhart series begins on Halloween in Burning Lake, a town known to have a “witchy” history. The setting was perfect for the story.
After the big celebration on Halloween night, a young woman’s body is discovered in a dumpster. Natalie is immediately on the case as she tracks down clues to find out who the woman is and what happened to her just hours before.
I enjoyed this second book in the series much more than the first. Although I thought there were a few loose ends left, I am hoping that Alice Blanchard will address those in her next Natalie Lockhart book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
After the big celebration on Halloween night, a young woman’s body is discovered in a dumpster. Natalie is immediately on the case as she tracks down clues to find out who the woman is and what happened to her just hours before.
I enjoyed this second book in the series much more than the first. Although I thought there were a few loose ends left, I am hoping that Alice Blanchard will address those in her next Natalie Lockhart book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
December 3, 2020
The day after Burning Lake’s notorious, debauched Halloween celebration, Detective Natalie Lockhart uncovers a heartbreaking scene—a young woman, dead and lying in a dumpster. There’s no clue to who she is, save for a mystifying tattoo on her arm, and a callus underneath her chin. She’s not from around here. No one knows who she is.
Natalie is not going to give up on uncovering this mystery and she finds more clues that link to other murders and disappearances. We also find out that Natalie's best friend from high school had gone missing without any clue as to where she is.
I know I will continue on with this series as we learn more about Natalie and I think eventually the clue about her best friend, Belle's disappearance.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for this book to review.
Natalie is not going to give up on uncovering this mystery and she finds more clues that link to other murders and disappearances. We also find out that Natalie's best friend from high school had gone missing without any clue as to where she is.
I know I will continue on with this series as we learn more about Natalie and I think eventually the clue about her best friend, Belle's disappearance.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for this book to review.
July 29, 2020
I was so excited to have been given an advanced readers copy of The Wicked Hour. I loved Traces of Evil and when that ended I couldn’t wait for a sequel. Well here it is! We are back in Burning Lake and Natalie Lockhart is back! Natalie has been through a lot in her life and you learn all about that in the first book. The Wicked Hour picks up several months after the events in Traces of Evil. I loved that you get see where Natalie is and how she is coping. You also get to see her get into another case. Natalie’s determination to solve this latest case has her pushing herself and facing more events of her past. I really love this series and couldn’t wait for this one. And now I can’t wait for the next one, because the way this one ended there better be a next one!! I don’t want to give anything anyway but when I read the last line and went to the next page I was not expecting that to be the last line of the book. I believe I shouted “COME ON! IT CANT BE OVER!” Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books for ARC! And to Alice Blanchard for writing such an amazing series! There will be a book three right?
June 25, 2020
This book did not disappoint! The first book was incredible and so is this one! I cant get enough of this series.
February 24, 2021
Whew, I enjoyed The Wicked Hour by Alice Blanchard so much more than book one! This book had a faster pace, and I was fully invested in the mystery and what was happening. The first chapter hooked me immediately and the last chapter left me wanting more, which is always a great combination in my opinion. I also loved that there was a subplot that seems to be a setup for future books to come and I am dying to know what is going to happen. Trace of Evil gave a lot of background on Natalie and even though I don't think you have to read that book first, it would be a good idea if you want to know more about her as a person and more about her family.
I had no idea how this book was going to end, and there is a lot of action in the last quarter of the book. The majority of The Wicked Hour reads like a police procedural and I really enjoyed the number of suspects and all of Natalie's interviews that she conducts. I do think Blanchard's writing isn't as smooth and concise as it could be, but I liked the way she wrote this one and it was a solid mystery that I enjoyed. This isn't a gory series either so it would be good for the squeamish readers out there. I also loved the audiobook, which is narrated by Sophie Amoss. She was a great improvement over the narrator for book one and I really hope she comes back for future books!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance listening copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I had no idea how this book was going to end, and there is a lot of action in the last quarter of the book. The majority of The Wicked Hour reads like a police procedural and I really enjoyed the number of suspects and all of Natalie's interviews that she conducts. I do think Blanchard's writing isn't as smooth and concise as it could be, but I liked the way she wrote this one and it was a solid mystery that I enjoyed. This isn't a gory series either so it would be good for the squeamish readers out there. I also loved the audiobook, which is narrated by Sophie Amoss. She was a great improvement over the narrator for book one and I really hope she comes back for future books!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance listening copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
December 1, 2020
I received a free electronic ARC of this police procedural novel from Netgalley, author Alice Blanchard, and publisher, St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The Wicked Hour of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. The second novel in a series, The Wicked Hour is completely stand-alone, but this tale is told so smoothly, wrapped up so tight, that I will want to read all of this series. Alice Blanchard is an author I will follow.
Natalie Lockhart is a native of Burning Lake, and a detective in the employ of the city of Burning Lake, New York, a tourist town with a well-publicized 17th-century history of hanging witches and a renowned school of music. Summer is a fairly busy time for Burning Lake businesses, but residents make most of their annual income in the month of October, basically closing their doors on November 1st due to iffy weather and lack of interest. Their witchy reputation brings in the odd crazy person hidden among the waves of sunburned, hungry tourists, and this year is no exception. Halloween night brings masses of tourists - and one woman, found nude and dead in a trash dumpster downtown during the massive clean-up beginning on November first is the exception that proves the rule. But Natalie recognizes the callus under the chin and on the left-hand fingers of this woman as the well earned results of endless practice time spent on the violin. Natalie's best friend, Bella, bearing those same scars, had gone missing just after high school graduation, and Natalie recognized them again in a murder taking place six months ago right here in Burning Lake.
Bella's disappearance was written off as a runaway months later when a few letters and polaroid photos, posted from cities across the country, were received by Natalie and by Bella's family. But with the summer murder and now this Halloween murder, that is two women with violin histories, and Burning Lake has a world-class music school. And what about Bella? Is she really traveling the world? She hasn't been heard from in years. Perhaps the murderer isn't a visiting tourist, after all. He could be home-grown...
pub date December 1, 2020
Reviewed on November 22, 2020, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed on December 1, 2020, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Natalie Lockhart is a native of Burning Lake, and a detective in the employ of the city of Burning Lake, New York, a tourist town with a well-publicized 17th-century history of hanging witches and a renowned school of music. Summer is a fairly busy time for Burning Lake businesses, but residents make most of their annual income in the month of October, basically closing their doors on November 1st due to iffy weather and lack of interest. Their witchy reputation brings in the odd crazy person hidden among the waves of sunburned, hungry tourists, and this year is no exception. Halloween night brings masses of tourists - and one woman, found nude and dead in a trash dumpster downtown during the massive clean-up beginning on November first is the exception that proves the rule. But Natalie recognizes the callus under the chin and on the left-hand fingers of this woman as the well earned results of endless practice time spent on the violin. Natalie's best friend, Bella, bearing those same scars, had gone missing just after high school graduation, and Natalie recognized them again in a murder taking place six months ago right here in Burning Lake.
Bella's disappearance was written off as a runaway months later when a few letters and polaroid photos, posted from cities across the country, were received by Natalie and by Bella's family. But with the summer murder and now this Halloween murder, that is two women with violin histories, and Burning Lake has a world-class music school. And what about Bella? Is she really traveling the world? She hasn't been heard from in years. Perhaps the murderer isn't a visiting tourist, after all. He could be home-grown...
pub date December 1, 2020
Reviewed on November 22, 2020, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed on December 1, 2020, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
January 9, 2021
Natalie Lockhart always seems to amaze me with her strength and resilience.
Kind of like Alice Blanchard does with her profound writing.
I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this book since hearing of its release and thanks to (Minotaur Books) I was able to read and review this almost as soon as I received a copy (Thank you for the gifted copy)!!
It’s no secret that I loved Trace of Evil, so naturally I was going to love this one and boy did I!!
I get lost when I read a really good book and this was one of those books I got lost in. I fully submerged myself into Burning Lake and it’s towns mysteries.
Alice makes that easy as a reader with her easy to like characters, which make the twist even more bigger when you don’t suspect anyone.
That cliff hanger though! I was completely at loss for words.
With that said, I hope and I mean REALLY hope that there will be another Natalie Lockhart novel because it was too good to be left hanging like that.
Kind of like Alice Blanchard does with her profound writing.
I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this book since hearing of its release and thanks to (Minotaur Books) I was able to read and review this almost as soon as I received a copy (Thank you for the gifted copy)!!
It’s no secret that I loved Trace of Evil, so naturally I was going to love this one and boy did I!!
I get lost when I read a really good book and this was one of those books I got lost in. I fully submerged myself into Burning Lake and it’s towns mysteries.
Alice makes that easy as a reader with her easy to like characters, which make the twist even more bigger when you don’t suspect anyone.
That cliff hanger though! I was completely at loss for words.
With that said, I hope and I mean REALLY hope that there will be another Natalie Lockhart novel because it was too good to be left hanging like that.
May 8, 2021
Entertaining mystery, fun right to the end.
November 25, 2020
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is book two in the Detective Natalie Lockhart series. I really enjoyed the first book and it is best if you read that book before diving into this one. It's been six months since the events of the first book happened and Natalie is still grieving. She is barely sleeping or eating and just getting by.
When a body of a young female is found in a dumpster the day after Halloween, Natalie has a new case to solve. I enjoyed the case and the all the suspects. I really didn't care for how Natalie kept remembering her friend, Bella, throughout the whole book. For me, it took away from the current case she was trying to solve.
I like how Natalie seemed to realize what she wanted in life in this book. (a family, children). I didn't think the scenes with Luke showed any potential in this book, which was really depressing. She invited him in and he shut her down! And the ending...totally out in left field. Never saw that coming and not sure how I feel about it. I do know that there had better be a third book now!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is book two in the Detective Natalie Lockhart series. I really enjoyed the first book and it is best if you read that book before diving into this one. It's been six months since the events of the first book happened and Natalie is still grieving. She is barely sleeping or eating and just getting by.
When a body of a young female is found in a dumpster the day after Halloween, Natalie has a new case to solve. I enjoyed the case and the all the suspects. I really didn't care for how Natalie kept remembering her friend, Bella, throughout the whole book. For me, it took away from the current case she was trying to solve.
I like how Natalie seemed to realize what she wanted in life in this book. (a family, children). I didn't think the scenes with Luke showed any potential in this book, which was really depressing. She invited him in and he shut her down! And the ending...totally out in left field. Never saw that coming and not sure how I feel about it. I do know that there had better be a third book now!
September 11, 2020
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the story.
I did not read the first book in this series - an oversight I will remedy this weekend!
Natalie Lockhart is intelligent, tenacious, quick on her feet and lugging around a whole lot of baggage emotionally.
The plot has a lot of twist and turns, I often thought I had it figured out - wrong! The story keeps you guessing to the end.
The characters are as entertaining, endearing, in turns evil and despicable like a good installment of Rizzoli & Isles!
Highly recommend this book - you'll re-read it to see what clues you could have possibly missed!
I did not read the first book in this series - an oversight I will remedy this weekend!
Natalie Lockhart is intelligent, tenacious, quick on her feet and lugging around a whole lot of baggage emotionally.
The plot has a lot of twist and turns, I often thought I had it figured out - wrong! The story keeps you guessing to the end.
The characters are as entertaining, endearing, in turns evil and despicable like a good installment of Rizzoli & Isles!
Highly recommend this book - you'll re-read it to see what clues you could have possibly missed!
September 27, 2020
Was not aware this was part of a series and felt a little lost at times, but the book eventually kind of caught me up, and while slow in the beginning to me, I enjoyed this book. It was well written and I felt connected to the characters. Pretty good Halloween themed who-done-it, and it kept me guessing with a surprise finish!
4 stars!
4 stars!
February 13, 2021
Burning Lake has survived a Halloween celebration... although not everyone who attended survived. Detective Lockhart is helping clean up afterwards and what she discovers is a body... dead and lying in a dumpster.
There's no identification and no one seems to know who she is. She has a tattoo on her arm, a callus under her chin.
Upon investigating, Lockhart discovers a string of murders and disappearances. Connection to each other? Connections to the body Lockhart found?
Lockhart can't help but remember a childhood friend... who disappeared many years ago.
As she gets closer to the truth, the killer is weaving a trap for her that may prove inescapable.
This sequel to TRACE OF EVIL is well-written. The intricate plot is filled with action beginning on the very first page. Suspense is maintained from start to finish with suspects that are many and varied. Characters are deftly drawn. Although 2nd in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone. I would recommend reading in order, as Lockhart's backstory is more explained in the first book. There is a very slight lciffhanger pointing to another exciting book in the future.
Many thanks to the author / St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction / police procedural. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
There's no identification and no one seems to know who she is. She has a tattoo on her arm, a callus under her chin.
Upon investigating, Lockhart discovers a string of murders and disappearances. Connection to each other? Connections to the body Lockhart found?
Lockhart can't help but remember a childhood friend... who disappeared many years ago.
As she gets closer to the truth, the killer is weaving a trap for her that may prove inescapable.
This sequel to TRACE OF EVIL is well-written. The intricate plot is filled with action beginning on the very first page. Suspense is maintained from start to finish with suspects that are many and varied. Characters are deftly drawn. Although 2nd in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone. I would recommend reading in order, as Lockhart's backstory is more explained in the first book. There is a very slight lciffhanger pointing to another exciting book in the future.
Many thanks to the author / St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction / police procedural. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 8, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Wicked Hour.
I enjoyed the first book in the series so I was excited when my request was approved.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
The book picks up not long after the end of the first book.
Detective Natalie Lockhart is now a celebrity after the events of the first book, but her notoriety is not something she relishes.
She is grieving the loss of her family, having trouble sleeping and is being weaned off her medication for depression.
When the body of a young woman is found after the Halloween festivities at Burning Lake, a celebration the entire town looks forward to for its financial boost to their local economy, Natalie is confronted with childhood memories of a BFF who had been (mistakenly) assumed to have been abducted...or was she?
This is a straight forward police procedural as Natalie pounds the pavement and investigates leads and interviews suspects but most of the narrative read like filler.
There was too much exposition on the locals, unnecessary information that didn't add anything to the story.
It felt like each person Natalie interviewed had to give a brief biography of his or her life and why they had ended in the position they now found themselves in.
Also, when the identity of the murderer is revealed, it felt abrupt, out of left field and no plausible explanation behind the murders were ever given.
The Wicked Hour was decently written yet read as unnecessarily wordy; I felt no emotional connection to the characters or to Natalie's growth as a detective.
I will read the next book in the series because I did enjoy the first book.
I enjoyed the first book in the series so I was excited when my request was approved.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
The book picks up not long after the end of the first book.
Detective Natalie Lockhart is now a celebrity after the events of the first book, but her notoriety is not something she relishes.
She is grieving the loss of her family, having trouble sleeping and is being weaned off her medication for depression.
When the body of a young woman is found after the Halloween festivities at Burning Lake, a celebration the entire town looks forward to for its financial boost to their local economy, Natalie is confronted with childhood memories of a BFF who had been (mistakenly) assumed to have been abducted...or was she?
This is a straight forward police procedural as Natalie pounds the pavement and investigates leads and interviews suspects but most of the narrative read like filler.
There was too much exposition on the locals, unnecessary information that didn't add anything to the story.
It felt like each person Natalie interviewed had to give a brief biography of his or her life and why they had ended in the position they now found themselves in.
Also, when the identity of the murderer is revealed, it felt abrupt, out of left field and no plausible explanation behind the murders were ever given.
The Wicked Hour was decently written yet read as unnecessarily wordy; I felt no emotional connection to the characters or to Natalie's growth as a detective.
I will read the next book in the series because I did enjoy the first book.
September 10, 2020
Burning Lake, New York is known for their lively Halloween celebrations. However, this Halloween it isn't your typical celebration and clean up afterward. The Wicked Hour by Alice Blanchard centers around Detecive Natalie Lockhart and her latest investigation.
While assisting with clean up after Halloween night, Natalie is waved down by a public works employee. He had made a gruesoms discovery in one of the alleys off Sarah Hutchins Drive. A naked young woman had been dumped in the large dumpster with mounds of trash placed over her.
As Natalie dives into discovering who this woman is, what brought her to Burning Lake, and who killed her, she is reminded of her infamous status after catching a serial killer. The path she is led down is filled with shady characters and the hidden secrets of the classical music world. After all, the woman found is a student at a local music conservatory where another violinist went missing within the last year.
With all the twists and turns of her current case, we get a glimpse into Natalie's past. Her complicated, psuedo-romantic relationship with her Leuitenant, her missing friend who isn't really missing, and the death of her sister, Grace. Alice Blanchard has done an incredible job developing the characters in this book.
Although,I found it to be very slow until the last third of the book, it was a great read. Lot of twists anf turns for any thriller reader to love. What I was shocked to find out it that this is the second book in a series! It completely read as a stand alone which is rare. I will definitely be checking out the first book, Trace of Evil very soon. Overall this book gets a solid 4 out of 5 from me.
While assisting with clean up after Halloween night, Natalie is waved down by a public works employee. He had made a gruesoms discovery in one of the alleys off Sarah Hutchins Drive. A naked young woman had been dumped in the large dumpster with mounds of trash placed over her.
As Natalie dives into discovering who this woman is, what brought her to Burning Lake, and who killed her, she is reminded of her infamous status after catching a serial killer. The path she is led down is filled with shady characters and the hidden secrets of the classical music world. After all, the woman found is a student at a local music conservatory where another violinist went missing within the last year.
With all the twists and turns of her current case, we get a glimpse into Natalie's past. Her complicated, psuedo-romantic relationship with her Leuitenant, her missing friend who isn't really missing, and the death of her sister, Grace. Alice Blanchard has done an incredible job developing the characters in this book.
Although,I found it to be very slow until the last third of the book, it was a great read. Lot of twists anf turns for any thriller reader to love. What I was shocked to find out it that this is the second book in a series! It completely read as a stand alone which is rare. I will definitely be checking out the first book, Trace of Evil very soon. Overall this book gets a solid 4 out of 5 from me.
December 7, 2020
This afternoon I went back to Burning Lake, New York, the "self-proclaimed epicenter for magic and witchcraft." This second crime thriller featuring Detective Natalie Lockhart was every bit as compelling as the first and I definitely suggest you read them in order to fully understand the backstory of everything that Natalie has gone through to this point. I read this over several hours, unable to put it down, as the excellent writing drew me in and the story line kept me guessing.
A body has been found in a dumpster the morning after Burning Lake's big Halloween bash. It's a young woman, a promising violinist, who was there for the Monster Mash -- a contest for the "spookiest Halloween musical act." As Natalie heads up the investigation, she finds, again, that even the townspeople she's known all her life are not above suspicion. As she chases leads and deals with her grief, Natalie begins to question other events that have happened in her town. NO SPOILERS.
I enjoyed this book and really like the details and descriptions the author relates about Burning Lake and its inhabitants. Natalie is a great character and fully believable as she navigates her personal losses while trying to become a better detective. Again, there are many red herrings so the big reveal is a bit of a surprise and I was pleased that the identity of the killer wasn't obvious. I was definitely glad that I was able to read the first two installments back-to-back but bummed now because I will have a long wait for the next one in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
A body has been found in a dumpster the morning after Burning Lake's big Halloween bash. It's a young woman, a promising violinist, who was there for the Monster Mash -- a contest for the "spookiest Halloween musical act." As Natalie heads up the investigation, she finds, again, that even the townspeople she's known all her life are not above suspicion. As she chases leads and deals with her grief, Natalie begins to question other events that have happened in her town. NO SPOILERS.
I enjoyed this book and really like the details and descriptions the author relates about Burning Lake and its inhabitants. Natalie is a great character and fully believable as she navigates her personal losses while trying to become a better detective. Again, there are many red herrings so the big reveal is a bit of a surprise and I was pleased that the identity of the killer wasn't obvious. I was definitely glad that I was able to read the first two installments back-to-back but bummed now because I will have a long wait for the next one in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
September 22, 2020
It's Halloween night, and Burning Lake is overrun with a huge crowd in costume and Detective Natalie Lockhart is on foot patrol. Natalie is still struggling with the notoriety of being dubbed the crow killer, her sister, Grace, and some fallout with friends. Natalie in trying to escape ghosts, is working early and staying late.
Natalie volunteers for the post-Halloween cleanup, when she is flagged down, a body is found in the dumpster. A young unidentified woman with a tattoo and a mark under her chin that give Natalie a clue, because she's seen that mark on Bella, her best friend.
This becomes Natalie's case, to which she retraces the victim's steps, and each bit of information she follows leads to more questions and more victims. Also brings to mind memories of Bella, and leads Natalie to pull out old photos and notes with a clue missed years ago.
This is a good police procedural mystery. The town is steep in their traditions, and traditions that the Chef of Police would get involved to help protect the town's prominent citizens from the public eye. I did have to wonder how after being clubbed in the head and knocked out, how Natalie was able to get behind a wheel with a head injury. I did like the tense scene where Natalie is struggling, and gets a vision of her sister, to encourage her. The ending, definitely needs more explaining, I was totally surprised, and there's still questions left about Bella.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.
Natalie volunteers for the post-Halloween cleanup, when she is flagged down, a body is found in the dumpster. A young unidentified woman with a tattoo and a mark under her chin that give Natalie a clue, because she's seen that mark on Bella, her best friend.
This becomes Natalie's case, to which she retraces the victim's steps, and each bit of information she follows leads to more questions and more victims. Also brings to mind memories of Bella, and leads Natalie to pull out old photos and notes with a clue missed years ago.
This is a good police procedural mystery. The town is steep in their traditions, and traditions that the Chef of Police would get involved to help protect the town's prominent citizens from the public eye. I did have to wonder how after being clubbed in the head and knocked out, how Natalie was able to get behind a wheel with a head injury. I did like the tense scene where Natalie is struggling, and gets a vision of her sister, to encourage her. The ending, definitely needs more explaining, I was totally surprised, and there's still questions left about Bella.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.
July 1, 2020
This second book in the Natalie Lockhart series begins where the first ending; Natalie is still reeling from the revelations about how one sister died and the suicide of another. She is experiencing symptoms of PTSD and depression, and she is seeing a doctor and taking a prescription for both. It's Halloween season in town, and the celebrations run for over a week. On the last night of the partying, Natalie discovers the body of murdered woman, a local violinist, in a dumpster. As the investigation unfolds, there is another missing woman, also a violinist, and it seems that both cases are related. Natalie, along with her boss (Sam), chase clues that seem to add unexpected suspects and complications. In the midst of the stress, Natalie is wrestling with her feelings for Sam, which are complicated by their working relationship. The case has a surprise ending, as does the book, with us wondering what will happen next for Natalie and a new love.
November 29, 2020
The Wicked Hour is an excellent story! What an enticing prologue it starts with and the story continues to captivate you throughout its entirety.
I just really enjoy Detective Natalie Lockhart. She’s headstrong, has great instincts, is caring, and is a great Detective. Natalie is still grieving from her last case and this new case hits home to her as well. This story has a great deal of suspense and mystery and I loved following alongside Natalie and uncovering all the clues. There are some great twists and emotions and the story holds you captive to the end. Great series! I can’t wait for more!
I just really enjoy Detective Natalie Lockhart. She’s headstrong, has great instincts, is caring, and is a great Detective. Natalie is still grieving from her last case and this new case hits home to her as well. This story has a great deal of suspense and mystery and I loved following alongside Natalie and uncovering all the clues. There are some great twists and emotions and the story holds you captive to the end. Great series! I can’t wait for more!
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