Book Review: The Vanishing Hour by Seraphina Nova Glass

My Rating: 3.5⭐

In Rock Harbor, Maine, “The Strip” on Hemlock Lane is a shady part of town that people tend to avoid after 10.00 p.m. (dubbed "the vanishing hour” by the locals) that earned its reputation partly on account of separate instances of the disappearance of several people who were last seen that vicinity. The recent disappearance is that of nineteen-year-old, Brooke Everett whose mother Kira is frantically searching for her missing daughter. Another recent disappearance is that of long-time resident, Martin Coleman, whose friend, an affluent businessman who was also reported missing, was recently discovered to have been murdered. The narrative is presented to us from three perspectives – Grace Holloway (third person limited PoV), a kidnapping survivor who is haunted by the traumatic events that occurred eight years ago and leads an otherwise reclusive life save for managing the local inn where Aden rents a room for the duration of his stay, Brooke’s mother Kira Everett (first person PoV) and Aden Coleman(third person limited PoV), who is called back home by his mother when his father disappears.

The Vanishing Hour by Seraphina Nova Glass is a dark, atmospheric and gritty thriller. Having read and loved the author’s On a Quiet Street, I was eager to read the author’s latest offering. I found the narrative disjointed for the larger part of the story. Perhaps using multiple perspectives wasn’t the best way to tell this story. Though it takes a while to weave the three narratives into a coherent narrative, I did not lose interest at any point and eagerly followed the narrative as the plot progressed. Plenty of red herrings and plot twists kept me engaged. However, I didn’t quite like the ending. As far as the identity of the culprit is concerned, I had my suspicions but I was surprised (which is a good thing) at how we got there. Having said that, I found the ending rushed and more than a tad unconvincing after the suspenseful build-up preceding it. Overall, while I did not dislike this thriller , I didn't enjoy it as much as "On a Quiet Street" .But I do look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. This book is due to be published on May 30, 2023.