The Darkest Hour
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The Darkest Hour was released in Australia in 2008, and since then has been published in Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. Katherine says, 'The Darkest Hour was originally going to be called Panic, and I occasionally still get emails from readers who've seen mentions of that on the web and worry they've missed a book. The first chapter was printed under that title in the back of Frantic when it was first released, but later developments in the rewriting meant that that it no longer was the best fit. 'I feel a special fondness for this book. I took about six years to write Frantic then had just one to write this, so it was a real test to hold my nerve, believe I could do it, and just keep working. Also, I didn’t realise how much the release of Frantic and the accompanying promotional activities would distract me (though I loved every minute of it – who wouldn’t?), and in the end I had to get extensions on my deadline. To finally hand it in and get good reports was wonderful, and it was possibly even more thrilling to hold a 'real live' copy of it than it was with Frantic.' 'In addition, it was the first of my books translated into Dutch and released in The Netherlands. I'd lived there for a year as a child and loved it, so this was really special.' |
Reviews.
“As with Frantic, I galloped through this book with my heart racing. Howell may have left the ambulance service but she can still drive a narrative at full speed with the sirens blaring. Pass me the oxygen, someone.” Sydney Morning Herald
“A finely paced and engrossing second novel by this talented Australian writer” The Guardian (UK)
“Author Katherine Howell is a former Sydney paramedic and is set to do for that profession what US author Patricia Cornwell did for forensic pathologists.” Barking and Dagenham Recorder (UK)
“Howell’s second crime novel featuring Sydney detective Ella Marconi ... races along at a tearing pace; the author’s insights into a job fuelled by adrenaline are authentic and suggest that this is going to be an original and exciting series of novels.” The Sunday Times (UK)