Black Hour audiobook

Wow!! I’d have to say this is my favorite book I’ve read in a while. Definitely didn’t expect that going in! It’s different then my usual psychological thriller, its more straight up. There are 2 narrators- but where sometimes 1 will be better then the other, that’s not the case here.. These people (& the University itself) were real, they were complicated- I felt what they felt.. But not in a draining, “why am I doing this to myself” way. I was completely absorbed in their lives.. & their relationships- which were both perfectly shitty & wonderful. & then, icing on the cake of what could’ve been successful as “just” a character study, I got my suspense as well (the authentic, scratch your head, wtf-is-going-on-here kind!) After all, the true driving force of the story is, “why??” Did I mention the end was perfect? Maybe I can’t put my finger on it, but I couldn’t put it down. (I listened to the audio & really enjoyed both narrators.) Totally recommend it..

Lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of this. Clear your day once you start reading, because you won’t want to put this down. Here are some of my favorite things about this book… 1. Characters full of flaws. Who wants to read something with perfect, unrealistic characters? Better to be able to identify with their fears and snarkiness. Especially the snarkiness. Right? 2. At one point in the book, I suspected EVERYBODY. WTF? I love it when I can’t predict where a book is going. 3. The fast-paced, thrilling climax. This is when you don’t want to put the book down people. Let me tell you, I was reading this at lunch. And someone came in and interrupted me right at the end of Chapter 43. Once you read this, you will realize why I was considering lunging across the lunch table. I ended up having to finish it on my commute home. My train arrived when I was so close to the end that I sat in my car and finished it before I left the station. Definitely reminded me of some of my favorite authors… Gillian Flynn, Kate Atkinson, Sophie Hannah. When this comes out in July, get yourself to a bookstore, pronto.

This is an early book by Lori Rader-Day, and I liked it as much as I liked Under a Dark Sky. Both are set in the Midwest (The Black Hour is at a recognizable university in a recognizable Chicago suburb). Under a Dark Sky is set in Michigan.What I especially liked (and didn't expect to) was the change in the protagonist over the course of the book, from a fairly unsympathetic woman (despite being shot) to one that recovers her memories, humanity, courage, grace, and stability as she heals both physically and mentally. Ms. Rader-Day put considerable thought into how her MC and assistant would evolve through their setbacks, while also constructing a very fine mystery set in academia.Highly recommended to mystery readers.

The Black Hour is the best debut novel I have read in a while. I was blown away by it.The Black Hour is about a professor, Amelia Emmet, at a university who was shot in the gut the year before by a student who shot her and then himself. It’s about a graduate student, Nath Barber, who becomes her TA and wants to do his dissertation on what happened to her. It is about those two people, but it is about so much more. The Black Hour is about going through some of the most difficult things in your life and hoping to make it through to the other side. Amelia didn’t know the student who shot her nor why he did it, but no one believes that. It is only through her connection to Nath and a little-bit-obsessive reporter that she begins the journey to the truth. I’ve got to say that I thought I knew where this book was going to go, and I was pleasantly surprised shocked. It keeps you in suspense the whole time and all of the twists and turns in the story kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages (okay, pushing the “next page” button on my Kindle). The plot was so well thought-out and nothing is out of place. Rader-Day’s prose is wonderful: gripping, tight, and completely compelling. One of my favorite things about this book is how flawed these characters are and how wholly believable they feel. They are complex. They are human. Rader-Day has created characters that you could meet on the street. I was blown away by how REAL they felt to me. It’s hard to categorize The Black Hour. It’s a perfect combination of mystery, thriller, crime, and literary fiction. The best part is that you don’t have to be a fan of all of those things to enjoy it. You don’t have to be a crime fiction fan to enjoy this book. It was practically unputdownable for me. Not only was I in suspense the entire time, but I also found myself laughing out loud several times as well. I honestly can’t believe that this is Rader-Day’s debut novel. It’s easy to tell that she’s been writing for a long time. Her prose felt comfortable, polished. I read an e-ARC of The Black Hour, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be buying myself a physical copy after the novel comes out. I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author.If you want to learn a little more about The Black Hour, I discussed two of my favorite quotes from the book on my blog, Caught Read Handed.

I can't say this was filled with suspense or riveting action, but I couldn't put it down this weekend. The Black Hour is a psychological drama that unfolds slowly as the thoughts of the two central characters (who alternate voices throughout the novel) are revealed - along with self-doubt and self-loathing. The answers aren't revealed until nearly the end of the novel and I was guessing the whole way through - and my guesses were wrong. I like the surprising, but subtle twists in the novel. A strong first novel. I look forward to reading more of Rader-Day's work in the future.

Lori Rader-Day's debut about a sociology professor's return to campus after being the sole victim of a school shooting (aside from the shooter himself) is a brilliant read. It's a page-turner for sure, but it's also a fascinating take on the traditional "whodunnit" mystery because the real driving question to the story is "why"? Why this student, and why this professor his victim? The novel is told from the point of view of Dr. Amelia Emmett and her teaching assistant, Nathaniel Barber (who has his own secret interest in her shooting), and the author vividly brings both to life. I was impressed by the strength of each character's voice, and how clearly we as the readers could see their secrets, their desires, their motivations and baggage, while they themselves could not. It made for a terrific character study in tandem with the mystery's unfolding of events, in addition to a whip-smart commentary on our times and our relationship to violence. You'll definitely keep thinking about this one long after you've turned the final page.

A fascinating mystery that looks backwards and forwards.Sociology professor Amelia Emmet is returning to teaching at Rothberg College after a 10-month absence. The absence was not by choice. Ten months ago a young student shot her and then shot himself. She didn't know him and has no idea why he did it. But no one believes that. Why would Leo Lehane target her specifically? In the months that she has been slowly, painfully trying to gain a semblance of her old life, the speculation on campus has been running rampant. So her transition back into her job is not easy. Not least because she still has so many questions herself.It is her connection with new graduate student, Nathaniel Barber, and a local reporter that give Amelia the push she needs to try and figure out just why she was attacked.Suspenseful and well-written, this is a great debut.

Seriously could NOT put it down!

I loved The Black Hour. As the book begins, the worst has already happened: a sociology professor has been shot by a student. In less skilled hands, the fact that we know who did it from page one could have killed the story, but Rader-Day manages to make the question of “why” so compelling that I found myself racing ahead, trying to tease out the dark motives of this group of characters. At the center of it all is Professor Amelia Emmet, cranky, smart, and damaged not quite beyond repair by both the bullet and other people’s suspicions about why she was shot and whether she deserved it. Amelia’s struggles with her body, her mind, and the truth about what was really behind the attack make her a very real and very compelling, and I admired her as she pushed through pain and trouble over and over again. With great writing, a true-to-life claustrophobic academic setting, and a pair of narrators who might be too damaged to be trusted, The Black Hour is great storytelling.This review is based on a galley of the book

** spoiler alert ** Lori Rader-Day knows the academic setting, and she captures the angst and envy lurking behind every campus doorway – unrelenting competition among overblown egos and the insecure, professors and students alike, together in a quest for larger truths amid distracting temptations to focus on one’s own personal problems. Most impressive about this suspense debut: the unfolding tale of how easily an individual can goad another into hatred, suicide, or murder.

I'm telling everyone I know to read this. It crosses several genres like mystery, thriller and true crime, but you don't have to be a devotee to any one of those to easily fall into this book. Rader-Day has an acerbic wit and a comfortable writing style I thoroughly enjoyed. The story was pretty good, too.

I can't wait for everyone else to get a chance to read this book. Lori is one of the best fiction writers I've ever come across. Her writing is tight, plots well thought-out, and always keep you wanting to read more. I couldn't put this down.

An extraordinary debut. Breathtaking prose, pacing, depth. I'll be reading more of this author's work.