The Dying Hour introduces Jason Wade, a rookie crime reporter with The Seattle Mirror, a loner who grew up in the shadow of a brewery in one of the city’s blue-collar neighborhoods. At The Seattle Mirror, he is competing for the single full-time job being offered through the paper’s intense intern program. But unlike the program’s other young reporters, who attended big name schools and worked at … at other big metro dailies, Wade put himself through community college, and lacked the same experience.
Wade struggles with his haunting past as he pursues the story of Karen Harding, a college student whose car was found abandoned on a lonely stretch of highway in the Pacific Northwest. How could this beloved young woman with the altruistic nature simply vanish?
Wade battles mounting odds and cut-throat competition to unearth the truth behind Karen Harding’s disturbing case. Her disappearance is a story he cannot give up, never realizing the toll it could exact from him. The Dying Hour is a bone-chilling, mesmerizing page-turner that introduces readers to an all-too-human young hero who journeys into the darkest regions of the human heart to confront a nightmare.
The International Thriller Writers (ITW), selected The Dying Hour as a finalist for a Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original, 2006.
Rick Mofina is a former journalist who has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over L.A. with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He’s also reported from the Caribbean, Africa and Kuwait’s border with Iraq. His books have been published in nearly 30 countries, including an illegal translation produced in Iran.
His work has been praised by James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper.
The Crime Writers of Canada, The International Thriller Writers and The Private Eye Writers of America have listed his titles among the best in crime fiction. As a two-time winner of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award, a three-time Thriller Award finalist and a two-time Shamus Award finalist, the Library Journal calls him, “One of the best thriller writers in the business.”
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The unique feature of making a reporter the primary sleuth in a crime novel is something that I found to be very inventive.
Not every one likes crime fiction that’s graphic in places about a serial killer, BUT IF YOU DO, you won’t be able to put this book down. Fast paced, interesting characters and lots of twists and turns right up to the ending. A great crime story and well written.
This author really knows how to tell a story that grabs you and holds you until you have finished reading! Jason Wade tries to work his way into his dream job at a newspaper while fighting his own demons. He finds a whole lot more than what he is looking for. He’s resourceful and tenacious as he follows his instincts and uncovers the story of a lifetime.
One of Mofina’s best, in my opinion. I couldn’t put this one down!
Jason Wade has wanted to be a crime writer for as long as he can remember. He has entered a competitive internship at the Seattle Mirror newspaper. Although the odds are against him, Jason is determined to beat the other 5 interns and receive the job offer at the end of the contest. When a local young woman goes missing, Jason is the first to break the story. He is determined to find out what happened to her and another young woman, who is missing from Spokane. As Jason gets closer to the truth, he finds himself at odds with management. Jason continues on, determined to solve the mysterious disappearances.
Absolutely loved this book
This one moves right along. Good plot and characters. Maybe a little generous in spots with reality vs. plot line but hey, it’s a novel. Overall fun read.
Low guy on the totem pole makes good!!
It was a good read. A bit gruesome but it’ll keep you turning the pages.
Good book.
Could not put it down–I enjoy his writing. I’ve read several of his books before & this one did not disappoint me.
I have yet to find a book of his that I don’t love. Fabulous writer!
Had to admire the “guts” the young report exhibited. What a horror he uncovered.
Great Story…. unputdownable!!
This is a great read with believable, well-developed characters. Some you will like and some you won’t. I can’t say much without giving away the story so I’ll just say I did not see the twist coming at the end. Some of the crime scenes were a little gory or uncomfortable to read but not over the top for the story. One reason I like this author is because there is not a lot of unnecessary gruesome details, sex or profane language. This is my second Jason Wade book and I can’t wait to read the next. Even though it is not necessary, I do wish I’d had read this one first then Every Fear. Each stands on it’s own but reading them in order does strengthen understanding of the character development and relationships. If you are not familiar with Rick Mofina’s books you are really missing good reads. When I sit down with a Rick Mofina book, I can plan on getting nothing else done until I’ve read the last page. I just started Blood of Others so I have to go now.
Dying Hour is an awesome read that is so realistic it could be in tomorrow’s news! Another Rick Mofina masterpiece
great story of one following his dream no matter what dark place he goes to
I enjoyed this book; the characters; plot and dialogue all meshed to make a great read.
I’ve read several of the author’s books and enjoyed them all.
Very likable main character.