Reviewing A Desolate Hour by Mae Clair

Writers are an interesting bunch. If we consider ourselves as individual companies, then technically other writers would be our competition.

But we don’t think that way. We think of ourselves as a community, and as such, we share tips and tricks, and we support each other. One of the ways we do that is by showcasing each other’s works.

It’s with great pleasure that I’m showcasing A Desolate Hour today, book three of the Point Pleasant series by Mae Clair.

Blurb

A story of mystery, suspense, and…
the Mothman

Sins of the past could destroy all of their futures 

For generations, Quentin Marsh’s family has seen its share of tragedy, though he remains skeptical that their misfortunes are tied to a centuries-old curse. But to placate his pregnant sister, Quentin makes the pilgrimage to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, hoping to learn more about the brutal murder of a Shawnee chief in the 1700s. Did one of the Marsh ancestors have a hand in killing Chief Cornstalk—the man who cursed the town with his dying breath?

While historian Sarah Sherman doesn’t believe in curses either, she’s compelled to use her knowledge of Point Pleasant to uncover the long-buried truth. The river town has had its own share of catastrophes, many tied to the legendary Mothman, the winged creature said to haunt the woods. But Quentin’s arrival soon reveals that she may have more of a stake than she realized. It seems that she and Quentin possess eerily similar family heirlooms. And the deeper the two of them dig into the past, the more their search enrages the ancient mystical forces surrounding Point Pleasant. As chaos and destruction start to befall residents, can they beat the clock to break the curse before the Mothman takes his ultimate revenge?

My Review

A Gripping End to a Remarkable Series

When I find an author whose work I like, I read the whole backlist as fast as I can. I’ve read everything the talented Ms. Clair has to offer and have waited (quite impatiently) for this final installment of the Point Pleasant series.

I was not disappointed. It was SO worth the wait.

A DESOLATE HOUR manages to intertwine the distant past with the book’s present (the 1980s), an advanced planet with our own fragile one, and aliens and witches with human residents of a cursed town. Not only does this all come together seamlessly, it does so while introducing new and interesting characters and revisiting old favorites, solving an intricate mystery, ending a centuries-old curse, and wrapping up all the loose ends in a heart-wrenching and bittersweet way.

I prefer character-driven fiction, and this novel—this series—fits that mold. As was the case with the first two books, I’m still smitten with Caden Flynn in this story. He’s my favorite of the returning cast, but all the protagonists through the series are multi-faceted and likable. The antagonists have legitimate motivations behind them, making them realistic and believable. And then there are the characters whose motivations and intents were hazy… I may have loved them most of all. A surprise revelation at the end was a punch to the gut; it’s a poignant resolution I’ll not soon forget.

A DESOLATE HOUR features genuine characters and intricate plotlines, fast-paced action and eerie, palpable settings. I was sucked in with the first word and read the whole novel in one afternoon, desperate to see how it all ended and left breathless when I finished. I highly recommend this book, this series, and this author to fans of this genre.

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A Desolate Hour releases July 18 and is available for preorder now by clicking this link.

Mae is more than a fellow writer. She’s also a good friend. But before we were friends, I was a fan. I highly encourage you to check out all of her work, but I know she—like all authors—will need support on release day. If this novel sounds like something you’d be interested (and it really has something for everyone), download your copy today. You won’t regret it.

Mae will be visiting us soon to talk about her novel. Make sure you check back in. Her guest posts are always entertaining, and you won’t want to miss what she has to say.

Catch up on the Point Pleasant series. Click on the book covers for more information.