Twilight Hour

by arol Smith Carol Smith

There's a very good reason to be afraid of the dark... Alone on Dartmoor without a car, Erin O'Leary has gone to ground, hiding from Russian assassins. Her new neighbours are a disparate Gerald and Sylvia, whose social pretensions exceed their altered means; Ned and Lisa, newlyweds who only know each other from work; and embittered Auriol, abandoned along with the dog. Crazy Betty, who lives in the woods, guards the land she considers her own. And a ghost is seen in the windswept churchyard tending her own grave. Winter approaches; the nights draw in. Each has a secret they want to hide. And when the killing starts, each has a motive.

Genres: Crime, Thriller

343 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Michelle Stevenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each chapter alternates between numerous characters. I feel this technique needlessly drags out the story instead of propelling it along. Also at times, the author has a tendency to repeat plot points as if the reader is incapable of recalling them just because they were told to us in a different chapter.

[tinalouisereadsbooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's a very good reason to be afraid of the dark ...Alone on Dartmoor without a car, Erin O'Leary has gone to ground, hiding from Russian assassins. Her new neighbours are a disparate bunch: Gerald and Sylvia, whose social pretensions exceed their altered means; Ned and Lisa, newlyweds who only know each other from work and embittered Auriol, abandoned along with the dog. Crazy Betty, who lives in the woods, guards the land she considers her own. And a ghost is seen in the windswept churchyard tending her own grave. Winter approaches; the nights draw in. Each has a secret they want to hide. And when the killing starts, each has a motive.

I was given this book to read by my friend at work, who said she couldn’t get into it will I try reading it. So I tried and felt at first it wasn’t too bad but then I slowly was getting rather fed up with it as nothing happens. Yes there was a murder but nealy half way through. The first part of the book was character based but nothing much happens with them either. The characters all live in a complex and nobody really knows anybody very well and they all harbors secrets which aren’t very shocking. The first part of the book seems to be filled with garden parties and dog walking. I did what I don’t like doing and gave up after about 200 pages as it didn’t seem to be moving on. This is my second attempt at a book by this author and I feel that her books are really not for me.

[Cidney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't too keen on this book. Erin O'Leary is a journalist in hiding as she thinks she is being pursued by assassins from Russia. This was written in 2008. She is holed out on a newly built complex set in a wood, her neighbours are a disparate lot and if it wasn't for artistic neighbour Auriol she would be totally alone. Auriol has a cute dog. This complex must have cost a fortune to build and there is apparently a ghost which haunts the remains of the old manor house on the site. Well that wouldn't have made me buy a place there! The ghost gets too active and starts killing people. I don't think this can be really a ghost as they surely can't hold weapons, knives, ropes... so who is this ghost?

I realised just who the ghostly killer was very early on in the book and apart from the really in depth descriptions of the other inmates living in this very expensive compound the book just wasn't holding my attention. Too many descriptions, too little plot.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just okay and I usually really enjoy Carol Smith's books. The killer was almost immediately apparent and usually this author keeps me guessing until the end with lots of twists and turns. I did enjoy each chapter being written from a different character's perspective and that the chapters are a bit on the short side, which for me makes the story feel more fast-paced.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Carol Smith books I've read and it took me a little time to get used to it. I enjoyed the short chapters very much but found the constant changing of character disconcerting at first.

By far the best part of the book is the way Carol fully ties up all the loose ends and keeps you in total suspense while she does so. Reading it I found myself hopping from one murder suspect to the next and that takes some writing to achieve, so well done Carol.

Why I rate this book as four stars not five is simply because it was slow, particular in the beginning, and I didn't feel desperate to return to it after putting it down. Saying this I was intrigued enough to keep reading and was rewarded with a good ending that I felt satisfied with.

[Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.5/10
‘Twilight Hour’ is an ordinary thriller novel. The writing style of the author is alright, at times it is too slow, nevertheless Carol Smith puts suspension in the novel, which makes it gripping right to the end. I like the story line of the novel, because the history of the characters is explained thoroughly.

‘Hatred was a destructive force, the more so when it emerged from the embers of love.’ - Auriol

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book by Carol Smith that I have read and although this book wasn't to my taste, I will give another of her books a try.

[Merry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audio book

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twilight Hour is a chilling book, in terms of the weather. It is based in winter and I was cold the whole time I was reading it. It is a mystery with a little supernatural in it. It is a must read.

[Batool · Rating 4 out of 5]

gripping from the start till the end. good pace and to the point. carol smith is my favourite author for thrill series

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book got a bit confused with the characters at the start but I enjoyed the suspense .

[Lucy McLaurin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good. I liked the fact that I recognised many of the places featured. Felt close to home.