From the deep, dark woods on a crisp October day appears a little girl who takes a small, Northwest town on a journey that changes their lives forever. Mute and wolf-like, this helpless child finds herself caught in a web of emotional turmoil as she struggles to stay alive. Ellie Barton, the police chief and former high school prom queen, must put her career on the line and find this little girl's true identity. With no experience in true crime work, she is forced to turn to the one person who could possibly solve this mysterious crime, her younger sister, Dr. Julia Cates.

Living in California without once regretting leaving her family behind, Julia, famous child psychiatrist, finds herself running from her own demons. When a patient under her care suddenly commits murder, all eyes are upon Julia as she must now justify her professional judgment and prove that she was not in error. With her reputation scarred, Julia realizes that there is more to life than a stellar career and an empty home.

When her sister calls and desperately pleads for her to come to her aid, Julia embarks on personal pilgrimage to rediscover her family as well as to fulfill her desire to help this innocent child. As she soon discovers, Ellie, Baby Alice and she are all lost souls searching for something for which they do not have the answers. All three must learn to love and forgive if they want to find solitude and peace.

MAGIC HOUR is an engrossing novel that strikes at the core of the reader's soul. With vivid and detailed descriptions of the northwest, Hannah leaves no doubt in the reader's mind as to the importance of the setting in relation to the plot. The novel is densely written with specific attention given to the development of the characters. The feeling of despair felt when a child suffers reaches deep in the psyche of any mother. The storyline is compelling, heart wrenching and utterly spellbinding. The depth of Hannah's characters and the tenacity in which they strive to overcome their obstacles leaves the reader wanting for more. MAGIC HOUR is heartwarming, bittersweet and at times intensely suspenseful. Hannah has surely set the bar.