Just finished The Blue Hour? Next up read The Cloisters…
Imagine trading the misty Scottish isles of The Blue Hour for the gothic grandeur of a Manhattan museum. Katy Hays' The Cloisters captures that same sense of atmospheric isolation and intellectual intrigue that made Paula Hawkins' latest so captivating. Here, protagonist Ann Stilwell, a sharp but vulnerable young woman, lands a dream job at The Cloisters, only to get entangled in a web of ambition, occult tarot readings, and a possible murder.
"this has all the components of a deeply captivating and dangerously thrilling story. dark academia will always be my favourite genre and this story is a great example why. the atmosphere just radiates mystery, the subject material is interesting, the story demands answers of the world around it, and the characters suffer from their own hubris. it ticks all the boxes."— jessica, Goodreads
It's the perfect follow-up if you loved the slow-burn unraveling of secrets and the moral gray areas of artists and their obsessions, but with a fresh twist on academia and ancient mysticism that feels both erudite and edge-of-your-seat thrilling. What makes this recommendation shine is its accessibility for book club crowds who enjoy elevated thrillers without the blockbuster hype—think a more intimate, character-driven mystery that echoes Hawkins' unreliable narration.
Published in 2022, The Cloisters is timely yet timeless, appealing to readers who appreciate how art and history can hide sinister undercurrents. The novel explores themes of truth versus illusion, passion versus peril—the same moral ambiguities that made The Blue Hour so compelling to dissect.
"The writing was beautiful and so atmospheric… I could see the old walls of the office… the creepiness of the garden… and the darkness of the night. These girls were crazy to go there at night in my opinion 😳 "— Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill, Goodreads
Dark Academia Meets Gothic Mystery
If The Blue Hour hooked you with its blend of beauty and dread, The Cloisters will keep that moody vibe alive. The atmospheric writing radiates mystery, with old museum walls, creepy gardens, and nighttime shadows that create the perfect gothic setting. Like Hawkins' work, it's a story that demands answers of the world around it, leaving you pondering long after the last page.
