Magic Hour: A Novel

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Women comes an incandescent story about the resilience of the human spirit, the triumph of hope, and the meaning of home.
In the rugged Pacific Northwest lies the Olympic National Forest—nearly a million acres of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. From deep within this old growth forest, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she offers no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past.
Having retreated to her western Washington hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is determined to free the extraordinary little girl she calls Alice from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation. To reach her, Julia must discover the truth about Alice’s past—although doing so requires help from Julia’s estranged sister, a local police officer. The shocking facts of Alice’s life test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice—and for herself.
“One of [Kristin Hannah’s] most compelling and riveting novels.”—Booklist
In the rugged Pacific Northwest lies the Olympic National Forest—nearly a million acres of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. From deep within this old growth forest, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she offers no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past.
Having retreated to her western Washington hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is determined to free the extraordinary little girl she calls Alice from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation. To reach her, Julia must discover the truth about Alice’s past—although doing so requires help from Julia’s estranged sister, a local police officer. The shocking facts of Alice’s life test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice—and for herself.
“One of [Kristin Hannah’s] most compelling and riveting novels.”—Booklist
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Readers say *Magic Hour* by Kristin Hannah delivers heartfelt storytelling with strong character development and emotional depth, especially resonatin...
Not my favorite Kristin Hannah novel. The story was interesting and had potential, but I was left wanting more.
This is a great summer read. Really enjoyed it especially since I am a social worker. Interesting twists along the way.
Awesome book! In the style of Jodi Piccoult but she doesn't make you depressed at points the way Jodi can. Great character development and definitely a great mystery.
Dr. Julia Cates, a child psychiatrist, returns to her western Washington hometown after a scandal threatens to ruin her career. She and her sister, Ellie, the small town police chief, work together to uncover the truth about the little wolf girl found wandering around their town. Julia wants to rescue her and Ellie wants to discover the truth about what really happened to her. I thought is was slow at times and predictable, especially the love stories. Too many unbelievable things happen, especially at the end. After finding his daughter and being cleared of any crime surrounding her disappearance, what dad would just give her up after 6 hours?
As a psychotherapist, I deeply appreciated and empathized with Julia’s character, particularly the countertransference she experienced with her client, Alice. Her vulnerability and willingness to reveal the inner “shadows” of her psyche made the book especially powerful and memorable.
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