November 2024

THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins is set on the Scottish island of Eris. There is one house, Fairburn House, and it is unreachable from the Scottish mainland for 12 hours each day as the tide comes in. It’s the perfect setting for the story.

Vanessa Chapman, a famous artist who worked in numerous mediums, lived there for years before she passed away. Now it is home to Grace Haswell, a doctor who loves the solitude and isolation of the place. When a piece of Vanessa’s art is found to contain a human bone, an investigation is called for. James Becker, a noted art historian, is charged with figuring out how the bone may have gotten there. What happened out on that island? And what happened to Julian, Vanessa’s husband who disappeared two decades ago?

At many points the story is chilling, and even floating on my pool raft this summer as I read it, I felt the house's isolation. Yes, the remarks that there are shades of Patricia Highsmith here are not unfounded. It’s dark and smart. I have been trapped on similar islands in books before, but here the creepy vibe is high on a different level.

Paula’s inspiration for the novel’s setting came to her when she was on vacation and an injury had her laid up. She saw an island and thought about what might happen there. Also worth noting is Paula’s love of art. The characters and the way they move in and out of each other’s lives are key to the storylines. Readers learn a lot about Grace and her desire to be loved and needed. The story builds slowly, and when the revelations come, readers will be rewarded.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Paula. We talked about her inspiration for the book and much more. Watch the video or listen to the podcast.