The Blue Hour

April 4, 2016
In Kennedy's (Five Days) melodramatic yet highly entertaining novel, a woman on vacation in Morocco learns that her husband has deceived her in a shocking way. Successful accountant Robin Danvers, after a failed first marriage, hopes she's finally found love and the possibility of parenthood when she meets the wildly talented, passionate artist Paul Leuen. Early in their marriage, his frivolous way with money causes friction, but a romantic trip to Morocco seems just the thing to strengthen their relationship, and maybe they'll conceive a child. When Robin discovers a profound betrayal by Paul, she leaves their hotel without confronting him, only to return to a ransacked room, blood on the wall, and Paul nowhere in sight, putting her at the center of a police inquiry. Kennedy effectively captures the wonders and the darkness of Morocco while propelling Robin on a fraught, dangerous journey filled with increasingly disturbing discoveries of Paul's many secrets. Though there are a few over-the-top moments, the story of a woman who must reconcile her intense love for a man who wasn't who he appeared to be, while finding her own strength, is an expertly painted one.

February 15, 2016

Resilient and optimistic despite almost half a lifetime of frustration with her flawed and distant parents and a failed first marriage, 40-year-old Robin Danvers is overjoyed to meet and marry Paul, who appears to be the man of her dreams. Paul is an art professor, an accomplished artist himself, and a great romantic. Unfortunately, he is also deeply in debt, undisciplined in all sorts of dangerous ways, and ominously evasive about his past. A vacation to Morocco that Paul has planned turns into a catastrophe when he mysteriously disappears, leaving Robin alone in Casablanca. All manner of lurid revelations and adventures follow as Robin attempts to find Paul and unravel the mystery of their marriage. Kennedy (Five Days) is known for his portrayal of strong women, and Robin is certainly tough and resourceful if a bit too trusting; readers will likely find her courage and tenacity admirable. VERDICT This skillfully written page-turner develops considerable momentum and dramatic tension, though the literary ambition that informed Kennedy's earlier work is not in evidence here. Recommended for readers looking for an entertaining roller-coaster of a read featuring a strong, modern female protagonist. [See Prepub Alert, 8/31/15.]--Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community Coll., CT

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