The Golden Hour

Critics Review

• A compelling Sapphic novel in which subjugated women defy society’s expectations . . . Atmospheric, dark, and daring

  Essie Fox, author of The Fascination

• The Golden Hour is luminous – a sensitive and moving portrayal of women caught up in the perilous world of erotic photography in late Victorian Brighton. Jacquie Bloese brings the period and characters vividly to life. Perfect for fans of Sarah Waters and Sarah Perry

  Sean Lusk, author of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley

• A delicious peep into the world of ‘what the Butler saw’, contrasting the drudgery of the steamy laundry with the sordid cigar smoke of the gentlemen’s clubs. The characters and the setting were all portrayed with such vivid colour and conviction . . . there was also a strong element of defying the patriarchy, which resonates with issues today

  Suzanne Goldring, author of The Girl Who Never Came Back

• A captivating panorama of late-Victorian Brighton, where beauty and seediness coexist in the shadowy alleyways behind the seafront. The story highlights the hypocrisy of a society where women are expected to be angels, while the men think nothing of buying titillating photographs for their private entertainment. All the characters are vividly drawn . . . and the writing is beautifully atmospheric

  Gill Paul, author of A Beautiful Rival

• An absorbing novel of secrets and survival that exposes darker aspects of Victorian life, as three women seek to defy societal conventions in order to determine their own destinies. A gutsy tale that is sure to please!

  Anita Frank, author of The Good Liars

• A divine and sumptuous portrait of Victorian Brighton, written in gloriously seductive prose, I was enthralled. Jacquie Bloese writes so evocatively, truly drawing on all the senses. A stunning writer and such an absorbing novel

  Amanda Geard, author of The Midnight House

• In The Golden Hour, Jacquie Bloese’s pitch-perfect prose draws us powerfully into late Victorian Brighton, and the shadowy world of illicit photography. I loved this novel: its fascinating narrative, its strong themes of female empowerment, its mesmerising characters. It’s a novel to be savoured, and I whole-heartedly recommend it.

  Gill Thompson

• I adored it. It’s a glorious and sumptuous feast for the senses and it drew me in from the start, wanting to find out more about these women’s stories and their struggles for freedom and change. It’s an absolute joy. I couldn’t put it down.

  Rosanna Ley

• Engrossed to the last page. The Golden Hour opens with a mystery and pulls the reader through a labyrinth of plot twists, its key character Ellen shining in her struggle to assert her right to define her own life and loves

  Natalie Meg Evans, author of The Dress Thief, The Italian Girl's Secret and The Locket

• Compelling and beautifully drawn characters, an intriguing setting and tons of atmosphere – I felt I was right there, seeing, hearing and even smelling the sea in fin-de-siecle Brighton. I loved this book and want to read more by Jacquie Bloese

  Frances Quinn

• The beautifully written The Golden Hour captures how these women’s lives unravel at the mercy of their men. A passionate, enthralling and historically rich book. Hard to put down

  Georgia Kaufmann