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The Dark Hour
“Deliciously creepy!”
—Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury
Mark Norman can’t catch a break—until he’s hired as a live-in home health aide for two elderly siblings who live at Alden Manor, a run-down mansion mired in the past. His charges, former stage magicians Roy and Alma Walgrave, give off an eerie vibe, but they are also wealthy and careless with their money. Seizing the opportunity, Mark soon makes himself indispensable to the old folks, losing himself in fantasies of inheriting the Walgrave fortune upon their deaths. When another employee, a young woman named Lisa, shares her dark premonitions and insists that evil lurks in the house, Mark thinks she’s paranoid and unstable.
Until he begins to notice odd, unsettling things himself.
When nightmares begin to plague him and the house gradually reveals a web of lies and twisted secrets, he can no longer deny the possibility that Alden Manor is pervaded by some sinister force. He’s terrified of losing his mind—or worse, his life. But he’s so close to landing a big financial windfall that walking away is not an option.
—Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury
Mark Norman can’t catch a break—until he’s hired as a live-in home health aide for two elderly siblings who live at Alden Manor, a run-down mansion mired in the past. His charges, former stage magicians Roy and Alma Walgrave, give off an eerie vibe, but they are also wealthy and careless with their money. Seizing the opportunity, Mark soon makes himself indispensable to the old folks, losing himself in fantasies of inheriting the Walgrave fortune upon their deaths. When another employee, a young woman named Lisa, shares her dark premonitions and insists that evil lurks in the house, Mark thinks she’s paranoid and unstable.
Until he begins to notice odd, unsettling things himself.
When nightmares begin to plague him and the house gradually reveals a web of lies and twisted secrets, he can no longer deny the possibility that Alden Manor is pervaded by some sinister force. He’s terrified of losing his mind—or worse, his life. But he’s so close to landing a big financial windfall that walking away is not an option.
268 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2021
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May 4, 2021Happy Publication Day! 🎉 This book is now available and also FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
I should’ve known when I received my Personalized Reviewer Box and while opening it a fake crow’s foot poked me and scared the living BEEJUS out of me that this book would be one to look out for. ( See my YouTube video Mail Call for this lovely reaction 😆 - Link In Bio.)
Again, after reading the opening message “For Those Who Sleep With a Nightlight ...” you’d think that I would’ve gotten the message but NOPE. ( Note: I sleep with the lights on!) I’m like Drew Barrymore in Scream that gets taken out within the first few minutes! It also didn’t help that I straight binged this book in one setting on a dark and stormy night when I was home alone. Real smart.
I can’t even begin to describe the eeriness that you feel while reading The Dark Hour, I was constantly looking over my shoulder or waiting for a crow to come smashing into my window. I felt like I was taken back to my childhood reading “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.” Did anyone else read that book when they were little and freak themselves out? This is the adult version of that exact feeling.
Mark Norman is desperate for a decent paying job after owing his girlfriend Monica two months of back rent, but when he arrives in a decrepit and creepy old neighborhood he considers turning around and leaving.
“His day starts with a job interview. If he gets the position, it will change his life.”
But, when he meets the elderly brother and sister, Alma and Roy, things aren’t at all what he expected... There’s something sinister behind the man’s eyes and the woman’s requests are extremely bizarre despite being told he should just be agreeable. Plus, why would they need to hire someone handsome and strong versus a medical professional?
After accepting the job offer thats 5x the minimum wage he begins to live his days in luxury. Mark drives an Excalibur, drinks only the best alcohol, is bought one-thousand dollar tailored suits and has the world at his fingertips under Roy’s wing.
“Your time as a home health aide will be a brief chapter in your life, but I’d like to think my influence on you will live on.”
But, their personal assistant, Lisa, is a big problem. Although she’s friendly and helpful, she’s constantly getting in Mark’s way. For he thinks that he’s found a way to become heir to the Waldegrave fortune.
“He knows opportunity when he sees it, and this pair is a mine that hasn’t yet been tapped.”
Mark is an extremely unlikable character, but the reader is made to hate him from the get go. It is immediately clear that he is only out for himself and he deserves everything that may or may not be coming to him.
“People go in that house, they don’t come out the same.”
“You’ll find out there’s so much more that meets the eye.”
“I tried to do it, but God help me I just couldn’t.”
“The first floor is the ONLY a floor in use.”
This is a story that you won’t soon forget, and you’ll turn the pages as fast as you can to find out what in the world could possibly be going on behind closed doors. Have you ever met a brother and sister that sleep in bed naked together? Me neither!
What a whirlwind! Bravo 👏!
I should’ve known when I received my Personalized Reviewer Box and while opening it a fake crow’s foot poked me and scared the living BEEJUS out of me that this book would be one to look out for. ( See my YouTube video Mail Call for this lovely reaction 😆 - Link In Bio.)
Again, after reading the opening message “For Those Who Sleep With a Nightlight ...” you’d think that I would’ve gotten the message but NOPE. ( Note: I sleep with the lights on!) I’m like Drew Barrymore in Scream that gets taken out within the first few minutes! It also didn’t help that I straight binged this book in one setting on a dark and stormy night when I was home alone. Real smart.
I can’t even begin to describe the eeriness that you feel while reading The Dark Hour, I was constantly looking over my shoulder or waiting for a crow to come smashing into my window. I felt like I was taken back to my childhood reading “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.” Did anyone else read that book when they were little and freak themselves out? This is the adult version of that exact feeling.
Mark Norman is desperate for a decent paying job after owing his girlfriend Monica two months of back rent, but when he arrives in a decrepit and creepy old neighborhood he considers turning around and leaving.
“His day starts with a job interview. If he gets the position, it will change his life.”
But, when he meets the elderly brother and sister, Alma and Roy, things aren’t at all what he expected... There’s something sinister behind the man’s eyes and the woman’s requests are extremely bizarre despite being told he should just be agreeable. Plus, why would they need to hire someone handsome and strong versus a medical professional?
After accepting the job offer thats 5x the minimum wage he begins to live his days in luxury. Mark drives an Excalibur, drinks only the best alcohol, is bought one-thousand dollar tailored suits and has the world at his fingertips under Roy’s wing.
“Your time as a home health aide will be a brief chapter in your life, but I’d like to think my influence on you will live on.”
But, their personal assistant, Lisa, is a big problem. Although she’s friendly and helpful, she’s constantly getting in Mark’s way. For he thinks that he’s found a way to become heir to the Waldegrave fortune.
“He knows opportunity when he sees it, and this pair is a mine that hasn’t yet been tapped.”
Mark is an extremely unlikable character, but the reader is made to hate him from the get go. It is immediately clear that he is only out for himself and he deserves everything that may or may not be coming to him.
“People go in that house, they don’t come out the same.”
“You’ll find out there’s so much more that meets the eye.”
“I tried to do it, but God help me I just couldn’t.”
“The first floor is the ONLY a floor in use.”
This is a story that you won’t soon forget, and you’ll turn the pages as fast as you can to find out what in the world could possibly be going on behind closed doors. Have you ever met a brother and sister that sleep in bed naked together? Me neither!
What a whirlwind! Bravo 👏!
May 22, 2021
This was a chilling thriller, a little creepy and very thrilling. I love a good thriller. It was very well executed and and I was impressed with the suspense and great descriptions.
This is not a book for those who sleep with a night light.
I would not read it at bed time If you are not into creepy thrillers.
4 stars and I can't wait for K.J.'s next book.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
This is not a book for those who sleep with a night light.
I would not read it at bed time If you are not into creepy thrillers.
4 stars and I can't wait for K.J.'s next book.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
March 31, 2021
Mark Norman is hired as an aide for two elderly siblings who live at Alden Manor, a run-down mansion. His employers are wealthy and careless with their money so Mark sees an opportunity to profit from them. When another employee insists that evil lurks in the house, Mark thinks she’s paranoid and unstable until he begins to notice odd, unsettling things himself.
This book is fast-paced, eerie and unnerving, it reminded me a bit of Polanski's Rosemary's' Baby and The Tenant. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Nightsky Press for the opportunity to read this book and to share my honest review.
This book is fast-paced, eerie and unnerving, it reminded me a bit of Polanski's Rosemary's' Baby and The Tenant. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Nightsky Press for the opportunity to read this book and to share my honest review.
April 16, 2021
I went into this somewhat apprehensively due to some underwhelming reviews. And what do you know…a pleasant surprise. Way to manage expectations, me.
It seems the consensus with those underwhelming reviews is the unlikeable protagonist and sure enough he is at the very least a scoundrel. A 25 year old deadbeat with a short trigger and unimpressive resume he gets clued in on a job far outside of his skills and talents and, desperate for money, applies and gets it. Turns out it’s a job he is indeed specifically suited for, only not in a way he ever expected.
Now he’s a caretaker for an elderly brother and sister, who live in a dilapidated mansion in a wrong area of town, a pair that once upon a time were famous magicians (the advertising poster of the Walgraves prefacing the book was a nice trick, definitely grabbed my attention) and now are being slowly beaten down by old age. They have money (lots of it) and friends (a Redevine social club they belong to), but in the end of the day they have…other needs.
And a handsome, greedy and not all that bright albeit accommodating Mr. Norman might just meet those needs.
To be fair, I understand the importance of a likeable protagonist, it’s usually very important for my enjoyment of the book, but every so often it just doesn’t matter or the book doesn’t need one. Not if it’s a book about nasty people taking advantage of one another. So this one worked for me just as it was, amoral all around. It might even be read as a morality story on greed, since greed in various shapes and forms is the main motivator for most of the cast of these reprehensibles.
Also, the writing’s quite good. I’ve never read the author or, since she is pseudonymed, I don’t think so, but it’s fun and atmospheric and dark in all the right ways and has some nicely realized creepiness. It is, after all, a scary story, and it does what it’s supposed to, nightmarishly so.
There isn’t ton of suspense in the narrative, it’s very easy to figure out what’s going on pretty quickly, though for the protagonist who is up to his shoulders in it and has no outside omnipotent perspective that the readers do, it’s all pretty freaking surprising, stunning and deadly. So it’s one of those stories, you know what’s up and you watch the characters get clued in. At least that’s how it read for me. But it read well, surprisingly so for a random genre book from an unknown author. And yes, the general idea behind it isn’t a most original one, it’s been done many times before, but it was done nicely here and the magician thing was a nice twisted cherry on top. So I say abandon your conventional character likability presets and enjoy the ride. The Walgraves are just dying to meet you. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
It seems the consensus with those underwhelming reviews is the unlikeable protagonist and sure enough he is at the very least a scoundrel. A 25 year old deadbeat with a short trigger and unimpressive resume he gets clued in on a job far outside of his skills and talents and, desperate for money, applies and gets it. Turns out it’s a job he is indeed specifically suited for, only not in a way he ever expected.
Now he’s a caretaker for an elderly brother and sister, who live in a dilapidated mansion in a wrong area of town, a pair that once upon a time were famous magicians (the advertising poster of the Walgraves prefacing the book was a nice trick, definitely grabbed my attention) and now are being slowly beaten down by old age. They have money (lots of it) and friends (a Redevine social club they belong to), but in the end of the day they have…other needs.
And a handsome, greedy and not all that bright albeit accommodating Mr. Norman might just meet those needs.
To be fair, I understand the importance of a likeable protagonist, it’s usually very important for my enjoyment of the book, but every so often it just doesn’t matter or the book doesn’t need one. Not if it’s a book about nasty people taking advantage of one another. So this one worked for me just as it was, amoral all around. It might even be read as a morality story on greed, since greed in various shapes and forms is the main motivator for most of the cast of these reprehensibles.
Also, the writing’s quite good. I’ve never read the author or, since she is pseudonymed, I don’t think so, but it’s fun and atmospheric and dark in all the right ways and has some nicely realized creepiness. It is, after all, a scary story, and it does what it’s supposed to, nightmarishly so.
There isn’t ton of suspense in the narrative, it’s very easy to figure out what’s going on pretty quickly, though for the protagonist who is up to his shoulders in it and has no outside omnipotent perspective that the readers do, it’s all pretty freaking surprising, stunning and deadly. So it’s one of those stories, you know what’s up and you watch the characters get clued in. At least that’s how it read for me. But it read well, surprisingly so for a random genre book from an unknown author. And yes, the general idea behind it isn’t a most original one, it’s been done many times before, but it was done nicely here and the magician thing was a nice twisted cherry on top. So I say abandon your conventional character likability presets and enjoy the ride. The Walgraves are just dying to meet you. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
March 13, 2021
Sincere thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy to review.
This novel has a pretty intriguing premise and is written fairly well.
It has a third person POV and is written in the present tense, which at first was a little jarring as a reader. Especially as in the first few chapters there was a slip or two in tense and abrupt POV shifts making the story a little hard to read. However throughout the book Young makes the writing style work my only other nitpick is although the main plot seems thriller like there are some gothic vibes in the setting and overall narrative and imo the mash up between genres/story elements could have been smoother, or eliminate the gothic style altogether. Anyhow a story of a magician brother and sister team and their caretaker (not most likeable MC) is entertaining and worthwhile read.
This novel has a pretty intriguing premise and is written fairly well.
It has a third person POV and is written in the present tense, which at first was a little jarring as a reader. Especially as in the first few chapters there was a slip or two in tense and abrupt POV shifts making the story a little hard to read. However throughout the book Young makes the writing style work my only other nitpick is although the main plot seems thriller like there are some gothic vibes in the setting and overall narrative and imo the mash up between genres/story elements could have been smoother, or eliminate the gothic style altogether. Anyhow a story of a magician brother and sister team and their caretaker (not most likeable MC) is entertaining and worthwhile read.
June 26, 2021
This was a short creepy read with highly unlikable characters but occasionally I'd get invested when incidents occurred with them. It was an enjoyable creepy read.
March 7, 2021
Find my reviews at Feminist Quill
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
Synopsis: Mark Norman believes his luck is turning when he lands a cushy job as a home “health aide” for two elderly siblings. But he can’t deny how wrong things start to feel, as the mysterious occurrences pile up.
Set in the 1970s, The Dark Hour tries to draw us into the perspective of the most unlikeable protagonist of all time – Mark Norman. Mark is a caricature of arrogant, obnoxious men everywhere – he thinks of everything in terms of money and aesthetic beauty, and his superficiality is remarked on by other characters throughout the book.
Mark is made unlikeable on purpose – the reader isn’t meant to root for him any more than they are meant to root for the antagonists. But the way he’s written does not smack of an authentic jackass as much as what someone else imagines a jackass’ mind to look like.
The book stretches on with weird subplots that seem rather unnecessary, and the frustrating plot device of Mark repeatedly refusing to believe warnings because the warnings are (a) vague and devoid of any actual information; and (b) coming from a human being that Mark refuses to respect (‘prudish’ female colleague prone to ‘hysterics’; ‘ageing hippy’ neighbour ‘who’s probably a druggie.’) In addition to all this, the book also suffers from Proto-Damon Syndrome (my name for random things that are inserted to enhance the aura of mystery/ intrigue/ horror and which remain unexplained by the rules of the book’s universe.)
(Remember when Damon Salvatore could manipulate the fog and turn into a crow in Season 1 and then they just… dropped it a couple of episodes in with no explanation?)
The central mystery of the book is also obvious right off the bat, and waiting until the end just to find out whether the villainous plan will go through got boring. It wasn’t as though the reader could be invested in the hero’s survival. We couldn’t care less what happens to Mark – indeed, I found myself hoping something terrible would happen to him. Any other characters we could have rooted for are mercilessly taken off the board as the book trundles inexorably towards its inevitable conclusion.
Unless relentless ageism and sexism count as horror, The Dark Hour doesn’t really deliver.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
Synopsis: Mark Norman believes his luck is turning when he lands a cushy job as a home “health aide” for two elderly siblings. But he can’t deny how wrong things start to feel, as the mysterious occurrences pile up.
Set in the 1970s, The Dark Hour tries to draw us into the perspective of the most unlikeable protagonist of all time – Mark Norman. Mark is a caricature of arrogant, obnoxious men everywhere – he thinks of everything in terms of money and aesthetic beauty, and his superficiality is remarked on by other characters throughout the book.
Mark is made unlikeable on purpose – the reader isn’t meant to root for him any more than they are meant to root for the antagonists. But the way he’s written does not smack of an authentic jackass as much as what someone else imagines a jackass’ mind to look like.
The book stretches on with weird subplots that seem rather unnecessary, and the frustrating plot device of Mark repeatedly refusing to believe warnings because the warnings are (a) vague and devoid of any actual information; and (b) coming from a human being that Mark refuses to respect (‘prudish’ female colleague prone to ‘hysterics’; ‘ageing hippy’ neighbour ‘who’s probably a druggie.’) In addition to all this, the book also suffers from Proto-Damon Syndrome (my name for random things that are inserted to enhance the aura of mystery/ intrigue/ horror and which remain unexplained by the rules of the book’s universe.)
(Remember when Damon Salvatore could manipulate the fog and turn into a crow in Season 1 and then they just… dropped it a couple of episodes in with no explanation?)
The central mystery of the book is also obvious right off the bat, and waiting until the end just to find out whether the villainous plan will go through got boring. It wasn’t as though the reader could be invested in the hero’s survival. We couldn’t care less what happens to Mark – indeed, I found myself hoping something terrible would happen to him. Any other characters we could have rooted for are mercilessly taken off the board as the book trundles inexorably towards its inevitable conclusion.
Unless relentless ageism and sexism count as horror, The Dark Hour doesn’t really deliver.
November 11, 2022
The Dark Hour is a story that had me anticipating a dark and twisted read, a spooky story that would have me turning the pages at a rapid pace, a tale filled with twists and turns. Unfortunately, the book did not deliver those things for me.
The Dark Hour had an interesting premise, and it was certainly one that kept me turning the pages. I was curious about how things would come together, but it did not have the intensity that such a story needed. Everything happened too easily. There were no shocks. Nothing ever left me feeling uneasy. It all felt very surface-level, which prevented me from falling deeply for the story. Add in the fact that I did not like the main character at all, and this ended up being one that did not tick the right boxes for me.
I’m sure this will work for others, but it did not work for me.
The Dark Hour had an interesting premise, and it was certainly one that kept me turning the pages. I was curious about how things would come together, but it did not have the intensity that such a story needed. Everything happened too easily. There were no shocks. Nothing ever left me feeling uneasy. It all felt very surface-level, which prevented me from falling deeply for the story. Add in the fact that I did not like the main character at all, and this ended up being one that did not tick the right boxes for me.
I’m sure this will work for others, but it did not work for me.
February 20, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the narration on this book! Craig A. Hart did a fantastic job embodying all of the characters, especially the older folks that Mark was caring for. I really liked how this story takes place in the past and revolves around an older brother and sister looking for home health care aids to help them. There’s also a lot of creepy aspects with the house and the siblings relationship that are slowly revealed as the book progresses. I kind of saw where the story was headed but enjoyed the writing and characters regardless. I would definitely recommend to anyone who like mysteries with magic involved!
I really enjoyed the narration on this book! Craig A. Hart did a fantastic job embodying all of the characters, especially the older folks that Mark was caring for. I really liked how this story takes place in the past and revolves around an older brother and sister looking for home health care aids to help them. There’s also a lot of creepy aspects with the house and the siblings relationship that are slowly revealed as the book progresses. I kind of saw where the story was headed but enjoyed the writing and characters regardless. I would definitely recommend to anyone who like mysteries with magic involved!
September 4, 2021
#FirstLine - His day starts with a job interview.
This book is amazing! Super spooky, original and one of a kind! You will be blown away by the level of story development which really fleshes out the plot and characters. It is so good and I was unable to put it down. It had me at the edge of my seat. Everything you want in a horror/thriller book is here for your reading pleasure. A must read book that you will not forget anytime soon. Also, if you read this book before bed you may end of dreaming about it! You have been warned!!!
This book is amazing! Super spooky, original and one of a kind! You will be blown away by the level of story development which really fleshes out the plot and characters. It is so good and I was unable to put it down. It had me at the edge of my seat. Everything you want in a horror/thriller book is here for your reading pleasure. A must read book that you will not forget anytime soon. Also, if you read this book before bed you may end of dreaming about it! You have been warned!!!
May 25, 2021
The Dark Hour by K.J. YoungIs a story of magician siblings and their caretaker.
Mark Norman can't walk away from the job he was offered as a Live-in home health aide at Alden Manor. He was desperate to find a proper paying job, he owed Monica, his girlfriend, 2 months’ rent, and he was tired of his current unstable financial situation.
When he went for his job interview in a creepy neighborhood, he considered to leave but things changed when he met Alma and Roy, an old couple who own the manor.
Upon accepting the job Mark moved to the mansion and started living his dream life and fantasies of inheriting the Walgrave fortune upon their deaths. Until unusual things begin to happen.
Unlike the message that came with the book, it is definitely not for those who sleep with a nightlight.
The story is set in the present and it goes to the past and future. The characters are dramatic, manipulative, and complex.it is a gothic style thriller and tantalizes the reader from the beginning till the end.
Mark Norman can't walk away from the job he was offered as a Live-in home health aide at Alden Manor. He was desperate to find a proper paying job, he owed Monica, his girlfriend, 2 months’ rent, and he was tired of his current unstable financial situation.
When he went for his job interview in a creepy neighborhood, he considered to leave but things changed when he met Alma and Roy, an old couple who own the manor.
Upon accepting the job Mark moved to the mansion and started living his dream life and fantasies of inheriting the Walgrave fortune upon their deaths. Until unusual things begin to happen.
Unlike the message that came with the book, it is definitely not for those who sleep with a nightlight.
The story is set in the present and it goes to the past and future. The characters are dramatic, manipulative, and complex.it is a gothic style thriller and tantalizes the reader from the beginning till the end.
May 1, 2021
I love a book with an unlikeable protagonist. The reader has the fun of wanting them to get their "come-uppance" and truthfully, this type of character forces us to confront our own less than stellar qualities. A sense of dread and foreboding was constantly in the background, and I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to see what was going to happen to Mark inside that house. A fast, satisfying read!
May 11, 2021
OMG! Wow! K.J. Young, the author of “The Dark Hour” has written a hauntingly, chilling thriller that is so extremely intense, suspenseful, and frightening. I would recommend not reading this novel before you go to sleep!! This novel is so edgy, twisted, and horrifying, it is really a thriller and horror reader’s dream come true. I would highly recommend this book for the vivid descriptions and storytelling. The genres for this story are thriller, suspense, horror, mystery, and fiction. The timeline is set in the author’s present and goes to the past and possible future when it pertains to the characters and events. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex, complicated, manipulative, greedy, aggressive, determined, quirky, and scary.
Marc Norman is thrilled that he is hired as a home health aid, especially with the money that he will be making. He is very manipulative and charming and is determined to become wealthy working for an older wealthy man and his sister. There is a doctor always on call and a society of friends at their beck and call. Mark comes from a dysfunctional family that doesn’t believe he can amount to anything. Marc is warned by another aid, and a stranger to be very careful what you wish for.
Although Roy and Alma Algrave are older, they have once had a spectacular magician show with unique performances. Are they really as frail, and needy as they seem?
The former aid is no longer at the older residence but kept telling Marc that she was having unusual, unbelievable dreams that felt that they were very real. When Marc starts noticing things and having dreams, he really tries to rationalize. Is this from his imagination, or is this real? The reader will have the same eerie feeling.
Oh, K.J. Young!, you can really write a very dark, creepy, story, that I highly recommend for readers that enjoy an amazing chilling thriller.
Marc Norman is thrilled that he is hired as a home health aid, especially with the money that he will be making. He is very manipulative and charming and is determined to become wealthy working for an older wealthy man and his sister. There is a doctor always on call and a society of friends at their beck and call. Mark comes from a dysfunctional family that doesn’t believe he can amount to anything. Marc is warned by another aid, and a stranger to be very careful what you wish for.
Although Roy and Alma Algrave are older, they have once had a spectacular magician show with unique performances. Are they really as frail, and needy as they seem?
The former aid is no longer at the older residence but kept telling Marc that she was having unusual, unbelievable dreams that felt that they were very real. When Marc starts noticing things and having dreams, he really tries to rationalize. Is this from his imagination, or is this real? The reader will have the same eerie feeling.
Oh, K.J. Young!, you can really write a very dark, creepy, story, that I highly recommend for readers that enjoy an amazing chilling thriller.
May 27, 2021
Mark Norman is ecstatic when he lands a job as a home health aide for Roy and Alma Waldegrave, two wealthy, elderly siblings. Is it strange he doesn’t have any prior experience, and their house, Alden Manor, is kinda creepy? Yes, but Mark is convinced this well-paying job will change his life. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.
Lisa, the young assistant to the Waldegraves, begins to share with Mark the concerns she has about odd occurrences within the home. She shows Mark posters and paraphernalia in the attic from when the Waldegraves were stage magicians. They performed ghoulish acts that seem impossible. Lisa also points out disturbing recordings she found, with chants and screams and photographs of a strange group called the Redevine Society.
Lisa warns Mark that things are not right in this house; something dark, even evil, lurks here, trapping her. But all Mark can see are dollar signs.
With the feel of the old black and white horror films, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫 will leave you unnerved. K.J. Young quickly has you second-guessing who are the ones losing their minds as you try to decipher nightmares from reality; 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @kjyoungauthor for an invitation to this tour, as well as a signed copy.
Lisa, the young assistant to the Waldegraves, begins to share with Mark the concerns she has about odd occurrences within the home. She shows Mark posters and paraphernalia in the attic from when the Waldegraves were stage magicians. They performed ghoulish acts that seem impossible. Lisa also points out disturbing recordings she found, with chants and screams and photographs of a strange group called the Redevine Society.
Lisa warns Mark that things are not right in this house; something dark, even evil, lurks here, trapping her. But all Mark can see are dollar signs.
With the feel of the old black and white horror films, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫 will leave you unnerved. K.J. Young quickly has you second-guessing who are the ones losing their minds as you try to decipher nightmares from reality; 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @kjyoungauthor for an invitation to this tour, as well as a signed copy.
March 19, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Nightsky Press for accepting my request to audibly read and review The Dark Hour.
Narrator: Craig A. Hart
Published: 02/27/23
Don't judge me or judge me -- the results are the same, I liked this creepy mess. The story is convoluted, however, it really has to be that way in order to achieve the ending. I'm not going to spoil or repeat the synopsis. This is first genre mystery & thriller with the second (convoluted) Sci Fi & Fantasy -- enough said.
Best read when your mind is rested, you have the day off and you want entertained.
The narrator is good.
FYI -- I cannot find my notes and I don't recall if there was profanity. I'm going 3.5 stars and rounding up because I don't know. If there are F-bombs, I would go 3.5 and not round up.
Narrator: Craig A. Hart
Published: 02/27/23
Don't judge me or judge me -- the results are the same, I liked this creepy mess. The story is convoluted, however, it really has to be that way in order to achieve the ending. I'm not going to spoil or repeat the synopsis. This is first genre mystery & thriller with the second (convoluted) Sci Fi & Fantasy -- enough said.
Best read when your mind is rested, you have the day off and you want entertained.
The narrator is good.
FYI -- I cannot find my notes and I don't recall if there was profanity. I'm going 3.5 stars and rounding up because I don't know. If there are F-bombs, I would go 3.5 and not round up.
March 14, 2021
The Dark Hour really left me reeling. Four days after finishing it and I'm still replaying scenes in my head. The Dark Hour centers upon a young man named Mark who has had a bit of trouble finding his way up to this point. He's in his mid twenties and waiting for his break. Whether that means the perfect job, the perfect girl, or a windfall of money, we're not sure. Mark happens upon a job as a home health aide for a sweet, but odd elderly brother and sister. Nobody else understands his excitement for such a ho-hum job, but Mark knows it's his ticket out of being under the microscope of his family and their judgmental ways. His coworker is sweet, but begins to act a bit off-kilter. What's her story? The story plays out in a page-turning way that had me dying to know how it ended. Again, four days later, I'm still chewing on different points of the book and not 100% sure how I feel about some of them. That's a pretty great book to me! Definitely worth the read!
June 13, 2021
You'll ignore housework 'til you're done
This book's "eerieness" is because you keep saying "well, this *could* happen....this isn't so odd....over & over.....until..............
I was hooked from start to finish.
This book's "eerieness" is because you keep saying "well, this *could* happen....this isn't so odd....over & over.....until..............
I was hooked from start to finish.
May 1, 2021
Review to come shortly. I loved this book!
April 7, 2021
Good Golly! I loved this book. It was so fun to read. I had a great time trying to figure out where it was all leading up to. I had an inkling what was happening but, I didn't have an idea of how it was being accomplished. Oh my...your mouth is going to drop to the floor when you find out!
Right off I will tell you I never read Horror. I'm super glad I took a chance on this one. I love the older couple who are actually brother and sister named Roy and Alma Walgrave who at one time had a world renowned magic act. Mark Norman and eventually his girlfriend move into their mansion to take care of them in their later years.
Roy and Alma belong to The Redevine Society. Mark can't figure out why they are in this group with two younger couples and what they have in common besides drinking together. There is also an old hippie that hangs around the industrial building next door who is always warning Mark that people don't come out of the house the same. The house is spooky.
This is the creepiest book I've ever read. It was a ton of fun! If you're in for a creepy, spooky time and love something different, this is your book! You won't be disappointed. I promise you.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher and #Netgalley for a fair and honest review. Thank you!
Right off I will tell you I never read Horror. I'm super glad I took a chance on this one. I love the older couple who are actually brother and sister named Roy and Alma Walgrave who at one time had a world renowned magic act. Mark Norman and eventually his girlfriend move into their mansion to take care of them in their later years.
Roy and Alma belong to The Redevine Society. Mark can't figure out why they are in this group with two younger couples and what they have in common besides drinking together. There is also an old hippie that hangs around the industrial building next door who is always warning Mark that people don't come out of the house the same. The house is spooky.
This is the creepiest book I've ever read. It was a ton of fun! If you're in for a creepy, spooky time and love something different, this is your book! You won't be disappointed. I promise you.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher and #Netgalley for a fair and honest review. Thank you!
Read
August 17, 2023First off let me just say that this was a weird book!
It was interesting enough but predictable. Not far into reading it I figured out what was going on and what was going to happen by the end of it. I didn't think this book was the least bit creepy. Sinister sure but not creepy.
The weird questions that the (MC)Mark was asked in the beginning would've had me saying um h*** no I'll pass on this job! However Mark was imo a terrible person and greedy as the day is long. I found that all the characters encountered in this book were just horrible people. I didn't root for a single character. They were all just horrible people aside from possibly Lisa but she was kinda odd. She was the only character that didn't seem to be a bad person. I found that the MC was someone I would hate if I'd known him and the people in the lives of the old people were even worse! The MC's girlfriend was almost as bad as he was! Full cast of terrible people imo!
While it was interesting enough, I wouldn't call it a great read but it had it's moments. I am glad it's over with.😂
It was interesting enough but predictable. Not far into reading it I figured out what was going on and what was going to happen by the end of it. I didn't think this book was the least bit creepy. Sinister sure but not creepy.
The weird questions that the (MC)Mark was asked in the beginning would've had me saying um h*** no I'll pass on this job! However Mark was imo a terrible person and greedy as the day is long. I found that all the characters encountered in this book were just horrible people. I didn't root for a single character. They were all just horrible people aside from possibly Lisa but she was kinda odd. She was the only character that didn't seem to be a bad person. I found that the MC was someone I would hate if I'd known him and the people in the lives of the old people were even worse! The MC's girlfriend was almost as bad as he was! Full cast of terrible people imo!
While it was interesting enough, I wouldn't call it a great read but it had it's moments. I am glad it's over with.😂
September 24, 2021
I truly enjoyed this, I just wish my extremely overactive imagination hadn’t ruined the ending for me. I had a feeling from early in it was similar to “the skeleton key” with undertones of “Rosemary’s Baby”. All that aside it’s the sort of book you want to keep on reading to find out more. You’re also happy when the main character, Mark, skips the party and leaves without having enjoyed so much as a dance (you need to read the book to understand that one😉).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2021
I love good old fashioned horror stories and this one definitely delivers. I hated the main character but then he was not put in the novel to be a likable person. The writing and story were stellar. The pace was steady and slowly climbed throught the novel. I really enjoyed this one. Highly recommended.
May 10, 2021
VERY PREDICTABLE. Not scary, all of the characters were unlikeable, No redeeming qualities! And what’s with Doug? Random stranger just pops out with “words of doom” to main character and do you ever find out if knows, how he knows????
NOPE 👎🏼
NOPE 👎🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2021
An ARC of this book was provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. And I'd like to thank them and author K.J. Young for giving me the opportunity to read their book
Mark Norman is an egocentric underachiever who feels his looks and supposed charm puts him above everyone else. He is hired as an in-home healthcare aide by Roy and Alma Walgrave who live in a large, sparsely furnished mansion in a bad part of town. Mark seeing opportunity tries to ingratiate himself with the elderly couple in hopes of being thought of in their will.
The only other help the elderly couple has is a woman named Lisa who begins to insist more and more that there is something wrong in the mansion. At first, Mark doesn't believe her but eventually, he starts to have strange dreams of his own...
I consider the previous text a much more accurate description of the plot of the book than the one given on Goodreads. I found the original synopsis of the book written on Goodreads very misleading. I don't want to give away spoilers but I just do not see the book as described there.
I read this book in one sitting and I have to say it was an OK experience. Any fan of horror books or movies should understand what the underlying threat is very early in the book which made most of the read an anticipation game. For me personally, I kept waiting for the inevitable to happen, and it did. And I was glad it did because this is one of the few books that I was rooting for the villains.
The protagonist is a very self-centered underhanded character who has very few (at least to me) likable qualities. The main villain however I enjoyed and sympathized with. Had the book been written just a little bit differently the characters seen as antagonist and protagonist could have easily been reversed.
While the book did a good job at telling the story of a caretaker doing chores for his employer, I really didn't get a horror vibe from the book or find the evil characters creepy or menacing. No explanation is given for some of the stranger events which may have been planned but I have never been a fan of that. The one area of the book that I got excited about and that seemed to be the start of something creepy and exciting went nowhere and just ended as if it was decided not to go in that direction after all, but also to not go back and take what had already been written out of the book.
The main thing that kept me turning pages was wanting to know if I was correct in figuring out from the beginning what the horror aspect of the book actually was. Though I had little doubt, I was genuinely interested to see if I was correct or if there would be some other twist that I didn't see coming. And if a book gets me interested enough that I care what happens then it's done its job.
Mark Norman is an egocentric underachiever who feels his looks and supposed charm puts him above everyone else. He is hired as an in-home healthcare aide by Roy and Alma Walgrave who live in a large, sparsely furnished mansion in a bad part of town. Mark seeing opportunity tries to ingratiate himself with the elderly couple in hopes of being thought of in their will.
The only other help the elderly couple has is a woman named Lisa who begins to insist more and more that there is something wrong in the mansion. At first, Mark doesn't believe her but eventually, he starts to have strange dreams of his own...
I consider the previous text a much more accurate description of the plot of the book than the one given on Goodreads. I found the original synopsis of the book written on Goodreads very misleading. I don't want to give away spoilers but I just do not see the book as described there.
I read this book in one sitting and I have to say it was an OK experience. Any fan of horror books or movies should understand what the underlying threat is very early in the book which made most of the read an anticipation game. For me personally, I kept waiting for the inevitable to happen, and it did. And I was glad it did because this is one of the few books that I was rooting for the villains.
The protagonist is a very self-centered underhanded character who has very few (at least to me) likable qualities. The main villain however I enjoyed and sympathized with. Had the book been written just a little bit differently the characters seen as antagonist and protagonist could have easily been reversed.
While the book did a good job at telling the story of a caretaker doing chores for his employer, I really didn't get a horror vibe from the book or find the evil characters creepy or menacing. No explanation is given for some of the stranger events which may have been planned but I have never been a fan of that. The one area of the book that I got excited about and that seemed to be the start of something creepy and exciting went nowhere and just ended as if it was decided not to go in that direction after all, but also to not go back and take what had already been written out of the book.
The main thing that kept me turning pages was wanting to know if I was correct in figuring out from the beginning what the horror aspect of the book actually was. Though I had little doubt, I was genuinely interested to see if I was correct or if there would be some other twist that I didn't see coming. And if a book gets me interested enough that I care what happens then it's done its job.
May 21, 2021
The Dark Hour
K.J. Young, had me on the edge in this creepy and unsettling thrill ride of a story.
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Mark Norman, thinks he found an unbelievable job opportunity that will ultimately change the way his life is headed. As the a new hired home health aid, his job pays exceptionally well. Mark is really a con artist at heart, and he sees Roy,and Alma Walgrave as the perfect couple to worm his way into their lives. Everything is nots so seamless as Mark hopes it would be. An ex-employee warns him that the Manor home has is own sinister motives, and the elderly siblings that live in the home are not what they seem. The brother and sister lead him to believe that upon their death he will gain a fortune if he can be patient and wait.
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A deliciously darkish, gothic style thriller, that teases and tantalize’s the reader from beginning to end! A stead fast, unhinged tale, along with a propulsive storyline that I throughly enjoyed reading!
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K.J. Young delivers quite an atmospheric, and a riveting entertaining read!
K.J. Young, had me on the edge in this creepy and unsettling thrill ride of a story.
.
Mark Norman, thinks he found an unbelievable job opportunity that will ultimately change the way his life is headed. As the a new hired home health aid, his job pays exceptionally well. Mark is really a con artist at heart, and he sees Roy,and Alma Walgrave as the perfect couple to worm his way into their lives. Everything is nots so seamless as Mark hopes it would be. An ex-employee warns him that the Manor home has is own sinister motives, and the elderly siblings that live in the home are not what they seem. The brother and sister lead him to believe that upon their death he will gain a fortune if he can be patient and wait.
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A deliciously darkish, gothic style thriller, that teases and tantalize’s the reader from beginning to end! A stead fast, unhinged tale, along with a propulsive storyline that I throughly enjoyed reading!
.
K.J. Young delivers quite an atmospheric, and a riveting entertaining read!
March 10, 2021
What do you get when you have the spookiest house on the block, two old folks, Roy and Alma, and MAGIC! This book reached out and grabbed me from the first page. There were times I had to close it and take a break, calm my breathing, the usual. But then there it was calling me back! Be ready for bone chilling scary but not in a bad way. Be ready for an outstanding ending! Be ready to walk the halls with Mark Norman as he discovers hidden secrets deep inside the halls of this old house. Be ready for an amazing ending; one that will make you sit back and think, did I just read this? Be ready for a book that will make you smile and shake your head as you turn the last page. I highly recommend this book! K J Young has outdone herself! Thank you to the author for an ARC, all opinions are my own.
March 22, 2021
People Need To See Some Truths For Themselves. But Will It Be Too Late?
At a certain point in life, you have to stop blaming your family for your own shortcomings, but it seems to me that Mark Norman never had a chance. With a mother who never nurtured him and a brother and stepfather who endlessly bullied him "for his own good," it seems that he has a drive to prove himself and become somebody important and successful, but doesn't really have a clue about where to start.
His character made me root for him, but then only want to give him a smack upside his head, like you want to do to the character in the horror movie who goes inside the dark barn, despite evident warnings that the chainsaw killer is lurking there. The goodness that appeared inside him was quickly tamped down by his lifelong habit of saving his own skin. He's a flawed person, but a great character.
The author has crafted a well-written horror story. Its roots are deeply anchored in classic novels with similar themes, but its branches have stretched into original territory. I won't name the other books because I don't want to give spoilers. Suffice it to say that about 65% into the book, the tension became nearly unbearable and I couldn't stop reading until I finished at four in the morning.
The author and publisher honored me with a free advance reader's copy. This is my honest, freely given review: The Dark Hour is an excellent , scary read!
At a certain point in life, you have to stop blaming your family for your own shortcomings, but it seems to me that Mark Norman never had a chance. With a mother who never nurtured him and a brother and stepfather who endlessly bullied him "for his own good," it seems that he has a drive to prove himself and become somebody important and successful, but doesn't really have a clue about where to start.
His character made me root for him, but then only want to give him a smack upside his head, like you want to do to the character in the horror movie who goes inside the dark barn, despite evident warnings that the chainsaw killer is lurking there. The goodness that appeared inside him was quickly tamped down by his lifelong habit of saving his own skin. He's a flawed person, but a great character.
The author has crafted a well-written horror story. Its roots are deeply anchored in classic novels with similar themes, but its branches have stretched into original territory. I won't name the other books because I don't want to give spoilers. Suffice it to say that about 65% into the book, the tension became nearly unbearable and I couldn't stop reading until I finished at four in the morning.
The author and publisher honored me with a free advance reader's copy. This is my honest, freely given review: The Dark Hour is an excellent , scary read!
April 15, 2021
The entire mood of this book is as if you picked up a yellowing copy of a campy pulp fiction novel, the entire story played out in sepia tones. You can smell the musty pages as you turn each one rapidly, your heart pounding as you read each line of predictable but thrilling text. It’s a ghoulish and disturbing narrative set in the 1970s, a life of archaic isolation, before everyone was connected via cellphones and computers. It all lends to the creepiness and validity of the events that unfold, including a glaring abject lesson that further highlights the downfall of the “Me Decade”. With creepy cultish imagery and the built-in macabre of the ailing and aging characters, this is good old-fashioned horror at its finest.
I received an advanced copy of this book from its publisher. The opinions are my own.
I received an advanced copy of this book from its publisher. The opinions are my own.
April 19, 2021
The Dark Hour by K.J. Young
This was a delightfully disturbing and creepy read. It was one of those books that you had to keep reading to figure out how things were going to end. Why would Roy Walgrave and his sister (a famous magician and his assistant) hire Mark to be their caregiver? Why would they later hire his girlfriend to help out sight unseen? Lisa, the previous caregiver, warned Mark that there was something wrong going on in this house. They were both elderly and had one foot in the grave so to speak. They had no children. They were going to leave their entire fortune to Mark, a relative stranger. Why, they had friends?
Mark’s family thought he would never amount to anything. Well, he would show them!
Welcome to the dark side! Read along, if you dare! You won’t be disappointed.
This was a delightfully disturbing and creepy read. It was one of those books that you had to keep reading to figure out how things were going to end. Why would Roy Walgrave and his sister (a famous magician and his assistant) hire Mark to be their caregiver? Why would they later hire his girlfriend to help out sight unseen? Lisa, the previous caregiver, warned Mark that there was something wrong going on in this house. They were both elderly and had one foot in the grave so to speak. They had no children. They were going to leave their entire fortune to Mark, a relative stranger. Why, they had friends?
Mark’s family thought he would never amount to anything. Well, he would show them!
Welcome to the dark side! Read along, if you dare! You won’t be disappointed.
June 9, 2021
Is it real or a nightmare?
Mark is down on his luck, no job and behind on his rent when he lands the perfect job. He's been hired to be the live-in home health aide to two elderly siblings living in a run down mansion. Mark quickly ingratiates himself to the owners and thinks he's on the road to easy street. After all, he's like their grandson, right? When the 'paranoid and unstable' other assistant, Lisa, begins talking about how evil the house is and about her nightmares, Mark shrugs them off as trivial. Then, when he's about to inherit it all, strange things start to happen and his nightmares seem all too real.
This is one well written, spooky thriller that had me questioning, along with Mark, what was real and what wasn't. Although Mark is an unscrupulous character I found myself invested in his story. I thought I had the plot figured out fairly early but the conclusion took me by surprise with a twist I didn't see coming.
If you're a fan of thrillers with a touch of horror, I highly recommend you pick this one up and move it to the top of your TBR pile.
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Thank you to the author, Nightsky Press and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the ARC and including me on this tour.
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Mark is down on his luck, no job and behind on his rent when he lands the perfect job. He's been hired to be the live-in home health aide to two elderly siblings living in a run down mansion. Mark quickly ingratiates himself to the owners and thinks he's on the road to easy street. After all, he's like their grandson, right? When the 'paranoid and unstable' other assistant, Lisa, begins talking about how evil the house is and about her nightmares, Mark shrugs them off as trivial. Then, when he's about to inherit it all, strange things start to happen and his nightmares seem all too real.
This is one well written, spooky thriller that had me questioning, along with Mark, what was real and what wasn't. Although Mark is an unscrupulous character I found myself invested in his story. I thought I had the plot figured out fairly early but the conclusion took me by surprise with a twist I didn't see coming.
If you're a fan of thrillers with a touch of horror, I highly recommend you pick this one up and move it to the top of your TBR pile.
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Thank you to the author, Nightsky Press and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the ARC and including me on this tour.
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