The Blue Hour

Were you surprised at the ending?

Becker serves as an intermediary between two conflicting interests—Grace’s and those of Fairburn House. How would you describe his own interests and motivations?

The tide is a prominent symbol throughout the novel. What do you think it represents? What other symbols did you notice in the text?

Lady Emmeline insinuates that, because Helena left Sebastian for Becker, she must be untrustworthy and is likely a serial cheater. Julian had multiple affairs, always returning to infidelity even after reconciling with Vanessa. Do you believe in the mantra, “Once a cheater, always a cheater?” How do you think perpetrators can redeem themselves after a betrayal, if it’s possible?

How does class impact the relationships in The Blue Hour?

How does Vanessa’s art practice reveal her emotional state at different times in her life?

The Blue Hour depicts many relationships with disparities in power—the most obvious being the abusive relationship between Marguerite and her late husband. Where are there other gradations of power between characters? How does power struggle manifest between characters in large and small ways?

How did Vanessa’s diary entries impact your reading experience? Did you feel more or less connected to her than the other characters? Did you view her as a reliable narrator of her own life, or did you ever doubt her reporting of the facts?

How does the disappearance of Vanessa’s husband change Vanessa and Grace’s relationship?

How does Hawkins build and maintain suspense in this novel? How does it compare to other murder mysteries you have read?