The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins – A Book Recommendation

From time to time, we tell you about books that include references to Daphne du Maurier, either as a character or by including comments or information about Daphne herself or the books she has written.  The Blue Hour is one such book.  

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins was published in hardback in October 2024 and was released in paperback just a few weeks ago, in August 2025.  This is a gripping story about an artist called Vanessa Chapman who lives on an isolated, tidal Scottish Island.  Following her death, negotiations take place to remove her artworks and her papers from the island and to exhibit them at a gallery.

Within the text, there are two references to Daphne and her writing, both of which are introduced into the story as radio programmes.  As one of the main characters in the novel, James Becker, is travelling to the island to negotiate the removal of some of the artwork and the artist's papers, he listens to a radio programme discussing Daphne and the relationship she had with her father, Gerald.  Later on, when making another trip, again with the radio on, the programme he is listening to is about Daphne's short story, Don't Look Now and its adaptation to film.

I won't give away any spoilers, but both these mentions of Daphne bear some relevance to the story as it progresses.  

Interestingly, and I am guessing this was a deliberate strategy on the part of the author, the leading character in The Blue Hour, Vanessa Chapman, bears some resemblance to Daphne, and the story also reflects certain aspects of Rebecca.   For example, Vanessa shares a number of characteristics with Daphne.  They both share a single-minded determination with their work, in Vanessa's case, her painting, her ceramics and her sculpture, and in Daphne's case, her writing.  They both share a desire for solitude and a reluctance to be distracted by other people, and they both have a fascination with nature, the weather and the sea.  They also both have husbands who have affairs, but then so do the women.

The main links between Vanessa Chapman and Rebecca are that the two women are a hugely important part of the story and both have died before the stories begins.  The other interesting link to Rebecca is a character called Grace Haswell.  She is a doctor and a devoted friend to Vanessa.  She lives at the end of the causeway leading to the island and later in Vanessa's house itself.  She provides Vanessa with the slavish devotion that Mrs Danvers shows to Rebecca.

The Blue Hour is a dark tale that is beautifully written and has unexpected consequences for the characters involved in the story.  It is a gripping read.  Do try it and see if you agree with our thoughts on the connections we have identified between this story and Rebecca, as well as the personality traits of Daphne du Maurier that can be found in the fictional character of Vanessa.

© Ann Willmore, October 2025.

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