The Blue Hour

Hawkins’s (A Slow Fire Burning; The Girl on the Train) latest is a captivating mystery, chockfull of secrets, twists, and complicated love triangles. Five years have passed since reclusive artist Vanessa Chapman died. Her caretaker and confidante Grace Haswell is the sole heir and executor of Chapman’s personal estate, while her artistic estate is bequeathed to the Fairburn Foundation. Grace resides in Chapman’s isolated Eris Island home and has been reluctant to relinquish Chapman’s items to the foundation. A Chapman sculpture displayed at a London Museum is flagged as possibly containing a human bone. James Becker, Fairburn’s curator and Chapman expert is contacted, and inquiries begin. There is speculation whether the bone originated from Chapman’s estranged husband, who disappeared 20 years ago. Becker travels to the Scottish island to meet with Grace and collect Chapman’s papers, journals, and remaining artwork. He hopes the paperwork might shed light on the controversial sculpture. As Becker studies Chapman’s personal papers and talks with the elusive executor, he ultimately unfurls more than one mystery and finds his life in jeopardy.