Author: Elizabeth Hall
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Date of publication: November 1,
2016
Elise Brooks dreams of a car accident on an icy road. Weeks
later, her beloved husband, Michael, is killed in just such a crash. Now,
overcome with grief and uncertainty, Elise believes his spirit may be following
her in the form of a raven, trying to tell her something from beyond the grave.
Desperate to understand the signs, Elise embraces both the
Native American wisdom she grew up with and the world of psychics and seers. So
when a tarot-card reader suggests she take a journey to the mysterious address
found in Michael’s old jacket, she embarks on a cross-country trek to follow
the clues.
Accompanied by Tom Dugan, an engineer and scientist who does
not believe in psychics, mediums, or the hoodoo “conjure woman” they encounter
on the road, Elise navigates the rituals and omens of the spirit world in an
attempt to unravel the mystery of her husband’s message.
In the Blue Hour was an interesting book and different from what I have read lately. I wouldn't really classify it as a ghost story. It's more of a mystical journey for widow trying to find her own way out of her grief. Elise lost her husband in a car accident 7months before. She beings to sense someone around her and wonders if he is trying to tell her something. She meets Celestina, a trot card reader, who tells her a man with dark eyes will help her and take her on a journey. Tom Dugan is running from his past and agrees to help Elise.
I won't talk too much about plot because it would ruin the ending for you. Instead, I'll talk about the book as a whole. For the most part, I liked the story. I empathized with Elsie and was eager to follow her on her journey. Her story was interesting commentary on how we can let someone else take over our life until we lose who we really once were. I was hoping she would end up finding herself again after living in Michael's shadow for so long without realizing she had. The part that stood out for me was when she walked into her house at one point and realized there really wasn't anyting in there that she picked out herself. What a sad realization to make. I also liked Tom. Being a science oriented person myself, I found myself nodding at his logical explanations for the things that happened to Elsie as well as to him.
Having said all that, I did find the pacing a bit slow and I did skim in a few places that were very bogged down in narration. There were a few changes in points of view that kind of threw me off because I was so immersed in Elsie's story that I wasn't expecting it so late into the book. I also thought the ending was a bit abrupt and would have liked more of an "after". Still, I do recommend giving this one a try. It was a quick and pleasant read.
About Elizabeth Hall
Elizabeth Hall, author of Miramont’s Ghost, has
worked as a teacher, communications consultant, and radio host. She spent many
years in the mountains of Colorado and now resides in the Pacific Northwest,
where she indulges in the fiber arts of knitting, beading, and weaving.
Elizabeth Hall’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS
Tuesday, November 1st: All
Roads Lead to the Kitchen
Wednesday, November 2nd: Thoughts
on This ‘n That
Thursday, November 3rd: Books
A La Mode (Guest Post/Giveaway)
Friday, November 4th: Bibliotica
Monday, November 7th: Kritter’s
Ramblings
Tuesday, November 8th: Bewitched
Bookworms
Wednesday, November 9th: Write Read Life
Thursday, November 10th: A Chick Who Reads
Monday, November 14th: Kahakai Kitchen
Tuesday, November 15th: Wall to Wall Books
Wednesday, November 16th: From the TBR Pile
Monday, November 21st: Chick Lit Central
Tuesday, November 22nd: Mama
Vicky Says
Wednesday, November 23rd: No More Grumpy Bookseller
TBD: Brooke Blogs
This sounds like such a fascinating story - very different than what I usually read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of the tour!