The Missing Hours

From the critically acclaimed author of Invisible City and Conviction, The Missing Hours is an audiobook about obsession, privilege, and the explosive consequences of one violent act.

From a distance, Claudia Castro has it all: a famous family, a trust fund, thousands of Instagram followers, and a spot in NYU's freshman class. But look closer, and things are messier: her parents are separating, she's just been humiliated by a sleazy documentary, and her sister is about to have a baby with a man she barely knows.

Claudia starts the school year resolved to find a path toward something positive, maybe even meaningful - and then one drunken night everything changes. Reeling, her memory hazy, Claudia cuts herself off from her family, seeking solace in a new friendship. But when the rest of school comes back from spring break, Claudia is missing.

Suddenly, the whole city is trying to piece together the hours of that terrible night.

“A dark thriller about the meaning of vengeance, justice and survival.” Alafair Burke

“Julia Dahl is one of the most vibrant voices in crime fiction and THE MISSING HOURS solidifies that with a timely, explosive novel that feels all-too-real, and echoes greats like Megan Abbott and Alison Gaylin. Dahl has deftly tapped into a narrative that evokes our modern dilemma while still feeling timeless and ever-present. I couldn't stop thinking about this haunting, propulsive novel, and it will stick with me for a long, long time.” Alex Segura

“Propulsive storytelling at its best. With complex characters and a deft understanding of social dynamics, the novel also captures, in a powerful and nuanced way, the rich and complicated now. Highly recommended.” Lou Berney

“Captivating and engrossing.” Pochoda

A riveting tale of abuse and revenge that explores the dark underside of New York's privileged class, this book had me hooked. Julia Dahl is a writer to watch! -- Alison Gaylin

“A wickedly intense thriller that never lets up.” Jennifer Hillier

“Utterly arresting, incredibly thoughtful, and in the end, as gripping as it is necessary. It'll stick with you long after you're done.” Rob Hart

“A searing tale of sexual assault in the digital age. Dahl is a master at mining the complexities of crime and the urgent issues that arise from it, including the one pulsing at the heart of this harrowing novel: how can victims find justice and reclaim their power when a crime plays out endlessly on the internet?” Laura McHugh

© 2022 W. F. Howes Ltd (Audiobook): 9781004067930

Release date

Audiobook: 24 March 2022