Praise for The Missing Hours
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“An adventure thriller . . . a great reckoning with the moment we find ourselves in.” —New York Times Book Review
“The Missing Hours is a smart, thoughtful, and gripping book. You'll find it hard to put this novel down.” —Oxygen, September Book Club Pick
“[A] fast-paced, piercing evaluation of the aftermath of sexual assault. . . Dahl, who wrote the phenomenal Edgar Award-nominated Rebekah Roberts mysteries, writes brilliantly about how violence impacts victims and their communities.” —Medium
"This is a dark, gripping study of vengeance and of what it means to live in a woman’s body." —The Guardian
“A provocative and timely standalone novel.” —Oline Cogdill, South Florida Sun Sentinel
"A fast-paced thriller with multiple perspectives.. [Dahl] provides a timely story about an always relevant topic."— Library Journal
"[This Missing Hours] is a provocative standalone... Credit [Dahl] with ambitiously tackling a broad canvas." —Publishers Weekly
"[Dahl] is known for her fast-paced writing, but this one moves at breakneck speed and stays with you long after the last page."—Booklist
“Julia Dahl has crafted a satisfying and thought-provoking revenge thriller in The Missing Hours.” —CrimeReads
"Claudia’s story will resonate." —Mystery Scene
“A dark thriller about the meaning of vengeance, survival, and justice.” —Alafair Burke
“Does exactly what the best crime novels should.” —Ivy Pochoda
"Fast-paced and fierce.” —Elizabeth Little
"Highly recommended." —Lou Berney
“A swift, heart-pounding novel about money and power and violation.” —Steph Cha
“Remember to breathe, because Dahl has crafted a wickedly intense thriller that never lets up from the first page to the explosive finale.” —Jennifer Hillier
“Timely, taut, and gripping—an absolute must-read." —Laura McHugh
“I couldn’t stop thinking about this haunting, propulsive novel, and it will stick with me for a long, long time.” —Alex Segura
"A riveting tale of abuse and revenge that explores the dark underside of New York's privileged class.” —Alison Gaylin
“The Missing Hours grabs you from the start and never lets go." —Wendy Walker
“Utterly arresting, incredibly thoughtful, and in the end, as gripping as it is necessary. It'll stick with you long after you're done.” —Rob Hart
09/01/2021
Dahl's (Conviction; Run You Down) thriller is a fast-paced, multiple-perspective story of sexual abuse being dismissed, or even weaponized against its victim. At first glance, Claudia Castro has it all: famous parents, money, thousands of social media followers, sex appeal, and popularity. Unfortunately, things aren't as they seem. It turns out that Claudia is a hot mess. One night, she misses the birth of her niece and while she has bruises the next day, she has no memory of what she assumes was a drunken night out. Dumbfounded and ashamed, Claudia cuts off communication with her family and attempts to piece together the events of that night, with the help of a new friend. As Claudia's memory begins to clear, her feelings of dread transform into a deranged and dangerous desire for vengeance. What happens next is the outcry of an aggrieved woman whose only alibi is herself; wealthy and powerful people, like always, will attempt to prevail. VERDICT The plot is intriguing but doesn't quite hit the gritty climax readers might expect. Still, Dahl provides a timely story about an always relevant topic.—Carmen Clark, Elkhart P.L., IN
