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Scarlet in Blue
A 2023 MICHIGAN NOTABLE BOOK
A beautiful and gripping psychological novel about a mother and daughter who, after a lifetime on the run from a dark and dangerous past, land in a small Michigan town that may hold the key to ending their fugitive lifestyle.
For Blue Lake’s entire life, she and her mother, Scarlet, have been on the run from HIM—the man who Scarlet, a talented and enigmatic painter, insists is chasing them. But now, at fifteen years old, Blue has begun to resent the nomadic life that once seemed like an adventure, increasingly unsure what to make of the phantom pursuer she’s never seen. She only yearns to settle down in one place, to live a normal life.
When Scarlet and Blue arrive in the beachfront town of South Haven, Michigan, it seems that Blue’s wishes might finally come true. She makes a good friend, is falling in love for the first time, and has found a piano teacher who recognizes her budding talent. But even as Blue thrives, she cannot shake her worry about her mother, whose eccentricities and art are only becoming increasingly difficult to understand. Scarlet, meanwhile, has very different intentions for their stay in South Haven. It was no accident that she brought them there and, with the help of the psychoanalyst she’s sought out, Henry, she is determined to find a way to finally escape the shadow of her traumatic past, no matter the cost.
Told through the alternating voices of Blue, Scarlet, and Henry, Scarlet in Blue is a page-turning story about the ramifications of past trauma, the way art can hold our lives together, and, most of all, the enduring bond between mother and child.
A beautiful and gripping psychological novel about a mother and daughter who, after a lifetime on the run from a dark and dangerous past, land in a small Michigan town that may hold the key to ending their fugitive lifestyle.
For Blue Lake’s entire life, she and her mother, Scarlet, have been on the run from HIM—the man who Scarlet, a talented and enigmatic painter, insists is chasing them. But now, at fifteen years old, Blue has begun to resent the nomadic life that once seemed like an adventure, increasingly unsure what to make of the phantom pursuer she’s never seen. She only yearns to settle down in one place, to live a normal life.
When Scarlet and Blue arrive in the beachfront town of South Haven, Michigan, it seems that Blue’s wishes might finally come true. She makes a good friend, is falling in love for the first time, and has found a piano teacher who recognizes her budding talent. But even as Blue thrives, she cannot shake her worry about her mother, whose eccentricities and art are only becoming increasingly difficult to understand. Scarlet, meanwhile, has very different intentions for their stay in South Haven. It was no accident that she brought them there and, with the help of the psychoanalyst she’s sought out, Henry, she is determined to find a way to finally escape the shadow of her traumatic past, no matter the cost.
Told through the alternating voices of Blue, Scarlet, and Henry, Scarlet in Blue is a page-turning story about the ramifications of past trauma, the way art can hold our lives together, and, most of all, the enduring bond between mother and child.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 8, 2022
101 people are currently reading
4074 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Murphy
3 books128 followersJennifer Murphy holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Washington and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Denver. She is the recipient of the 2013 Loren D. Milliman Scholarship, and was a general contributor at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference from 2008 through 2012. In 2015, her debut novel, I LOVE YOU MORE (Doubleday, 2014) won the prestigious Nancy Pearl Award for fiction. Her novel SCARLET IN BLUE was released by Dutton Penguin Random House on March 8, 2022. She hales from a small beachfront town in Michigan and has lived in Denver, Charlotte, Seattle, Charleston, and Houston. She currently resides in Alexanria, VA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
February 17, 2022
Blue Lake has spent the fifteen years of her childhood constantly moving from one town to another with her mother Scarlet, a renowned artist. At a moment’s notice they would leave everything behind and catch a bus to wherever it was going and find somewhere new to live, both of them with new names chosen from a packet of coloured crayons. After a few months in the new town Blue knew it would only be a matter of time before her mother saw ‘HIM’ again, the shadowy man Scarlet is convinced is stalking them, driving past silently in a dark car with tinted windows. Blue has never seen this man and wonders if he is just someone her imaginative mother has conjured up.
Their latest move has taken them to South Haven, a popular summer tourist town on Lake Michigan. What Blue doesn’t know is that Scarlet has chosen this specific town as part of a plan she has been hatching for some time. They arrive in the dead of winter with the lake frozen into huge frozen waves. After settling in to a ramshackle house, Scarlet begins to paint again, paintings in the style of Renoir for which she is well known. She is fascinated by trying to reproduce paints made from natural ingredients, especially the ‘fugitive pigments’ that fade over time, causing the colours on some of the old Masters to lose their vibrancy as they age.
Blue is a talented pianist and, missing the old piano they rescued off the street in their last town, she soon gravitates to the music store where she finds pianos to play and a teacher who recognises her talent and offers to give her free lessons. After making a friend, Hannah who is chatty but undemanding, enrolling in the local high school and falling for a cute guy in her class she starts to feel settled in this town and wishes they could stay. She is however, concerned that her mother is behaving strangely, hearing voices, seing imaginary friends, losing track of time and painting naked in the dark, often the same painting of a yellow boat over and over again. Scarlet has started seeing a psychoanalyst, so Blue hopes that he will be able to help her, but little does she know that he is part of Scarlet’s master plan to finally release themselves from the need to keep running.
Told in the alternating voices of Blue, Scarlet and Scarlet’s psychoanalyst, Henry, this is a tale of love, revenge, art and madness. Scarlet’s love for her daughter and her quest to be free of the past that has ruled their lives is so strong that she will do anything to give her daughter a better future. The characters of mother and daughter and the bonds between them are beautifully drawn as Scarlet wavers between brilliance and madness and Blue longs to be an ordinary teenager. The author’s lovely prose flows effortlessly, flavoured by her wide knowledge of art and her ability to engage the reader in the techniques of the artist. This is a psychological drama that is unique and captivating, making it both an impressive and engrossing novel.
With thanks to Penguin Random House via Netgalley for a copy to read. Original review first posted at Mystery & Suspense Magazine https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/sc.... Publication expected 8th March
Their latest move has taken them to South Haven, a popular summer tourist town on Lake Michigan. What Blue doesn’t know is that Scarlet has chosen this specific town as part of a plan she has been hatching for some time. They arrive in the dead of winter with the lake frozen into huge frozen waves. After settling in to a ramshackle house, Scarlet begins to paint again, paintings in the style of Renoir for which she is well known. She is fascinated by trying to reproduce paints made from natural ingredients, especially the ‘fugitive pigments’ that fade over time, causing the colours on some of the old Masters to lose their vibrancy as they age.
Blue is a talented pianist and, missing the old piano they rescued off the street in their last town, she soon gravitates to the music store where she finds pianos to play and a teacher who recognises her talent and offers to give her free lessons. After making a friend, Hannah who is chatty but undemanding, enrolling in the local high school and falling for a cute guy in her class she starts to feel settled in this town and wishes they could stay. She is however, concerned that her mother is behaving strangely, hearing voices, seing imaginary friends, losing track of time and painting naked in the dark, often the same painting of a yellow boat over and over again. Scarlet has started seeing a psychoanalyst, so Blue hopes that he will be able to help her, but little does she know that he is part of Scarlet’s master plan to finally release themselves from the need to keep running.
Told in the alternating voices of Blue, Scarlet and Scarlet’s psychoanalyst, Henry, this is a tale of love, revenge, art and madness. Scarlet’s love for her daughter and her quest to be free of the past that has ruled their lives is so strong that she will do anything to give her daughter a better future. The characters of mother and daughter and the bonds between them are beautifully drawn as Scarlet wavers between brilliance and madness and Blue longs to be an ordinary teenager. The author’s lovely prose flows effortlessly, flavoured by her wide knowledge of art and her ability to engage the reader in the techniques of the artist. This is a psychological drama that is unique and captivating, making it both an impressive and engrossing novel.
With thanks to Penguin Random House via Netgalley for a copy to read. Original review first posted at Mystery & Suspense Magazine https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/sc.... Publication expected 8th March
August 5, 2022
A friend asked me to read this to help her whittle down a list of books by Michigan writers she needed to judge this summer. I suppose I had more of a critic’s hat on for this one, but in case you are curious, I’ll share some of my insights here.
The short version: it was ok. I think it needed to be a coming of age story more than a mystery. It was a little convoluted and had several redundancies that needed to be eliminated for clarity. There were some compelling, historic arcs that added character, but some of them felt hollow to this Michigander. There’s a big difference between “naming a thing” and “showing a thing.” Murphy really loves allusions! All kinds. Art history, mental health history, the history and science of color-making (in paint), and she name-checks plenty of landmarks up and down the Michigan coasts. She even forced the 15-year-old protagonist to just *love* Hemingway (gag) because she wants to tie-in Hemingway’s historic vacation home in Walloon Lake. Yeah, yeah. But I’d argue that you’d have to search far and wide to find a teen girl (even in the late 1960’s) who is reading EW over and over. But I digress.
There are some erudite discussions of art crossed with a kind of Jeanette Walls’ Glass Castle chaos (that book—which I do recommend!—also explores mental illness and artistic “genius” as well). The first half is not as polished as the second half. There is an “aha!” moment near the end, but it feels a bit limp. She stuffed a lot of specialized terms and processes into the narrative and they didn’t always work effectively. The term “fugitive pigment” is interesting the first time it is discussed, but by the fifth time you suspect that it’s being repeated because it will be on the quiz. Sigh.
File Under: Nobody Asked “Blue Lake” if her Name was Fake
The short version: it was ok. I think it needed to be a coming of age story more than a mystery. It was a little convoluted and had several redundancies that needed to be eliminated for clarity. There were some compelling, historic arcs that added character, but some of them felt hollow to this Michigander. There’s a big difference between “naming a thing” and “showing a thing.” Murphy really loves allusions! All kinds. Art history, mental health history, the history and science of color-making (in paint), and she name-checks plenty of landmarks up and down the Michigan coasts. She even forced the 15-year-old protagonist to just *love* Hemingway (gag) because she wants to tie-in Hemingway’s historic vacation home in Walloon Lake. Yeah, yeah. But I’d argue that you’d have to search far and wide to find a teen girl (even in the late 1960’s) who is reading EW over and over. But I digress.
There are some erudite discussions of art crossed with a kind of Jeanette Walls’ Glass Castle chaos (that book—which I do recommend!—also explores mental illness and artistic “genius” as well). The first half is not as polished as the second half. There is an “aha!” moment near the end, but it feels a bit limp. She stuffed a lot of specialized terms and processes into the narrative and they didn’t always work effectively. The term “fugitive pigment” is interesting the first time it is discussed, but by the fifth time you suspect that it’s being repeated because it will be on the quiz. Sigh.
File Under: Nobody Asked “Blue Lake” if her Name was Fake
March 6, 2022
Here's what boxes need to be checked for me to make something a 5 star read :
- Hooked right away
- Never bored
- Element of surprise/twists
- Memorable characters
- Uniqueness
This book check alllllll those boxes.
I went into this blind and so should you. The way the author wrote these characters and this plot... It's one of the weirdest things I've ever read, but I will never forget it.
Thanks Netgalley and Dutton for the ARC. This is out in Tuesday!
- Hooked right away
- Never bored
- Element of surprise/twists
- Memorable characters
- Uniqueness
This book check alllllll those boxes.
I went into this blind and so should you. The way the author wrote these characters and this plot... It's one of the weirdest things I've ever read, but I will never forget it.
Thanks Netgalley and Dutton for the ARC. This is out in Tuesday!
March 23, 2022
Thank you, Dutton Books, for gifting me a copy of Scarlet in Blue {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 3.8.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
"I've come to understand that the so-whats and the what-does-it-matters, like the forgets, are really no different than the pretends. They are all just ways to fend off hurt."
I love going into books blind. I knew I wanted to read Scarlet in Blue because I had added it to my reading list, but did I remember anything about the synopsis? Nope. While reading, I was constantly seconding guessing; I couldn't figure out what was real or what was being created in the character's minds. This novel would make for a great book club discussion. It was fascinating.
If you decide to read this (and you absolutely should), know that the first 100 pages of the story are a bit slow, mainly because the author was setting the stage for the remainder of the story.
The story is told from 3 different perspectives, Scarlet, Blue, and Henry. Scarlet is a character that I didn't care for at first, but at the same time, I was intrigued by her, and as her story unraveled, more of her personality made sense, and I eventually grew to appreciate her for who she was; flaws and all.
I found the mixture of the art world and psychology in Scarlet in Blue fascinating and ultimately what drew me into the book, unable to put it down. I felt like I was constantly holding my breath or sitting on the edge of my seat.
✌🏼 Dual timeline
🎨 🎹 Combination of art, music & psychology
🧐 Constantly questioning everything
🥺 character's to empathize with
🤯 Ending
❌ - domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, self-harm
Overall this was an incredible story that had me taking pages of notes and writing down any clues/questions that I had. I don't want to say that the book reminded me of the Silent Patient, but I think some similarities lead me to suggest reading Scarlet in Blue if you also enjoyed reading Silent Patient.
Are you artsy or musically inclined? I have been itching to get back into painting and drawing; I need to find the time...
____
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
Follow my blog: https://thebookenddiner.com/
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
Genre: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 3.8.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
"I've come to understand that the so-whats and the what-does-it-matters, like the forgets, are really no different than the pretends. They are all just ways to fend off hurt."
I love going into books blind. I knew I wanted to read Scarlet in Blue because I had added it to my reading list, but did I remember anything about the synopsis? Nope. While reading, I was constantly seconding guessing; I couldn't figure out what was real or what was being created in the character's minds. This novel would make for a great book club discussion. It was fascinating.
If you decide to read this (and you absolutely should), know that the first 100 pages of the story are a bit slow, mainly because the author was setting the stage for the remainder of the story.
The story is told from 3 different perspectives, Scarlet, Blue, and Henry. Scarlet is a character that I didn't care for at first, but at the same time, I was intrigued by her, and as her story unraveled, more of her personality made sense, and I eventually grew to appreciate her for who she was; flaws and all.
I found the mixture of the art world and psychology in Scarlet in Blue fascinating and ultimately what drew me into the book, unable to put it down. I felt like I was constantly holding my breath or sitting on the edge of my seat.
✌🏼 Dual timeline
🎨 🎹 Combination of art, music & psychology
🧐 Constantly questioning everything
🥺 character's to empathize with
🤯 Ending
❌ - domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, self-harm
Overall this was an incredible story that had me taking pages of notes and writing down any clues/questions that I had. I don't want to say that the book reminded me of the Silent Patient, but I think some similarities lead me to suggest reading Scarlet in Blue if you also enjoyed reading Silent Patient.
Are you artsy or musically inclined? I have been itching to get back into painting and drawing; I need to find the time...
____
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
Follow my blog: https://thebookenddiner.com/
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
May 7, 2022
Wow! It’s hard to describe how brilliant this book is.
Set in 1968, 15-year-old Blue has spent her life with her mother on the run from a man she’s never been told about and who she’s never seen. Her mother also is a mystery to her. Told in 3 narrative voices — Blue’s, her mother, Scarlet, and a psychoanalyst who Scarlet needs but is toying with — the mystery of who they’re running from and why is extremely compelling and complex.
Part historical fiction, part thriller, part family drama, part coming-of-age tale, this story messes with your head and pulls at your heartstrings all at once.
Jennifer Murphy mixes madness with intellect, art with reality, whimsy with trauma. I feel like I’m leaving so much out because there’s no simple way to sum up how richly layered this story is. Underlying the entire narrative is the complex love and bond between a mother and daughter. I rarely cry in a book but the story of Scarlet and Blue brought me there. They deserved the normal life they never had. Such rich and easy-to-love characters. I’m now off to go place an order for Murphy’s other novel and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Set in 1968, 15-year-old Blue has spent her life with her mother on the run from a man she’s never been told about and who she’s never seen. Her mother also is a mystery to her. Told in 3 narrative voices — Blue’s, her mother, Scarlet, and a psychoanalyst who Scarlet needs but is toying with — the mystery of who they’re running from and why is extremely compelling and complex.
Part historical fiction, part thriller, part family drama, part coming-of-age tale, this story messes with your head and pulls at your heartstrings all at once.
Jennifer Murphy mixes madness with intellect, art with reality, whimsy with trauma. I feel like I’m leaving so much out because there’s no simple way to sum up how richly layered this story is. Underlying the entire narrative is the complex love and bond between a mother and daughter. I rarely cry in a book but the story of Scarlet and Blue brought me there. They deserved the normal life they never had. Such rich and easy-to-love characters. I’m now off to go place an order for Murphy’s other novel and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
March 26, 2022
Blue Lake, a rising pianist and her mother Scarlet, an artist, are on the run yet again, like so many other times in Blue’s 15 years of life. They were running from him, the one her mother referred to as the shadow man. The more they ran, the more Blue questioned if he was even real. Their newest destination? South Haven, Michigan. Blue starts to make friends and even start working with a piano teacher. Life is finally going well, until it isn’t. Her mother is starting to act strangely; hearing voices, thinking she’s gone on trips when she never left, and painting in the nude. The move to Michigan was just a small part in Scarlet’s master plan, and Blue has no clue what is coming.
Thank you Netgalley, Jennifer Murphy, Penguin Group Dutton and Emily Canders for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was immediately drawn to this book as it’s a Psychological Thriller as well as the fact that it takes place in Michigan. I was completely sucked into this book! I had a hard time putting it down! There were so many twists in this book it was crazy! Very captivating and well written. The story is told by three individuals point of view, but it flows well. Word of caution, there is mention of mental illness, death, and abuse. I went into this book completely blind, but I really enjoyed it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you Netgalley, Jennifer Murphy, Penguin Group Dutton and Emily Canders for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was immediately drawn to this book as it’s a Psychological Thriller as well as the fact that it takes place in Michigan. I was completely sucked into this book! I had a hard time putting it down! There were so many twists in this book it was crazy! Very captivating and well written. The story is told by three individuals point of view, but it flows well. Word of caution, there is mention of mental illness, death, and abuse. I went into this book completely blind, but I really enjoyed it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
February 8, 2022
Wow wow wow! This book was absolutely wild!
It’s no secret that I love a multiple POV story and this was no exception. In fact, the multiple POVs are what really made this story, especially when scenes were repeated from a different view (normally this bothers me but it really worked here for specific reasons I can’t dive into because it will lead to spoilers. 😅) I also loved that this story dove into art history/techniques and famous pianists - this added a depth to the story that I wasn’t expecting.
I do have to whine a little, though, because the ending lacked a bit for me. I feel like we really had this intensity building and these layers of plot stacking up only for it to end on, well, a kind of odd note if you ask me. I really loved 90% of this story but that last 10%? Not so much.
I do definitely recommend my mystery/thriller fans adding this to their TBR as it does release on March 8! I gotta give thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for giving me the chance to read this early - it was well worth it! 😍
It’s no secret that I love a multiple POV story and this was no exception. In fact, the multiple POVs are what really made this story, especially when scenes were repeated from a different view (normally this bothers me but it really worked here for specific reasons I can’t dive into because it will lead to spoilers. 😅) I also loved that this story dove into art history/techniques and famous pianists - this added a depth to the story that I wasn’t expecting.
I do have to whine a little, though, because the ending lacked a bit for me. I feel like we really had this intensity building and these layers of plot stacking up only for it to end on, well, a kind of odd note if you ask me. I really loved 90% of this story but that last 10%? Not so much.
I do definitely recommend my mystery/thriller fans adding this to their TBR as it does release on March 8! I gotta give thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for giving me the chance to read this early - it was well worth it! 😍
January 10, 2022
I'm always wary of books that have a narrator who is unreliable due to mental illness and while this wasn't the worst offender I wasn't fully convinced. There wasn't enough intrigue to propel me through almost 400 pages. This is an example of how having some chapters set in the future that reveal what happens can work against a book. Instead of creating tension making me wonder how it happens, it pretty much just spoiled the ending. On top of already kind of knowing what was happening from early on, the one perspective tells all 50 pages before the other perspective learns the info. The final end twist was just a little bit like...okay. I mostly just felt bad for the main characters the whole time.
February 26, 2022
Eerie, dark, and mysterious! I tend to go into books blind when it comes to thrillers/psychological type of books and in saying that, I had no clue what I was getting into when I picked this one up but I’m here to say it definitely kept my attention. This was so different from anything I’ve read in awhile. I enjoyed the different POV’s and the flashbacks to their stories kept it interesting. I found myself having lots of questions throughout reading it and wondering where it was going to lead to. If you’re into psychological types of thrillers, this is one not to be missed! Scarlet in Blue comes out on March 8th.
Many thanks to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for the e-galley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for the e-galley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
May 1, 2022
Scarlet in Blue was a pleasantly surprising unreliable narrator story with both a resolved and unresolved ending. Usually this would irritate me but the way the author did it was art. Which is apt since that’s the backdrop of this mystery.
Scarlet and Blue live like fugitives running from city to city. Every time “he” finds them, Scarlet rushes them home to pack and pick new names before heading to the bus station. Then they start all over in a new place. It seems to Blue that Scarlet is okay with this lifestyle. But she’s getting older and she’s finally making friends in their latest town. So as she sees her mom’s health decline, she starts to look the other way for the first time. She finally has opportunities and she needs to take them. The only problem is she’s always got one foot out the door because it’s only a matter of time before “he” finds them again. Blue is starting to wonder if he’s real.
Scarlet has plans of her own. She knows this is the last town they will live in. She is finally ready to complete her plan. She’s been losing chunks of time lately and has some unexplainable behavior but she’s seeing a psychoanalyst about it. It’s lucky he’s a part of her plan. Because she can’t dispose of a body herself.
Written in alternating timelines and alternating narrators, Jennifer Murphy weaves Scarlet, Blue and Henry’s stories together. Trauma and tragedy and the lifetime effects it had on all of them come together to create the backstory of the now world renowned pianist Blue Lake and her search to understand why her mother murdered a man.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my copy! This was the fresh take on the mental health/unreliable narrator trope.
Scarlet and Blue live like fugitives running from city to city. Every time “he” finds them, Scarlet rushes them home to pack and pick new names before heading to the bus station. Then they start all over in a new place. It seems to Blue that Scarlet is okay with this lifestyle. But she’s getting older and she’s finally making friends in their latest town. So as she sees her mom’s health decline, she starts to look the other way for the first time. She finally has opportunities and she needs to take them. The only problem is she’s always got one foot out the door because it’s only a matter of time before “he” finds them again. Blue is starting to wonder if he’s real.
Scarlet has plans of her own. She knows this is the last town they will live in. She is finally ready to complete her plan. She’s been losing chunks of time lately and has some unexplainable behavior but she’s seeing a psychoanalyst about it. It’s lucky he’s a part of her plan. Because she can’t dispose of a body herself.
Written in alternating timelines and alternating narrators, Jennifer Murphy weaves Scarlet, Blue and Henry’s stories together. Trauma and tragedy and the lifetime effects it had on all of them come together to create the backstory of the now world renowned pianist Blue Lake and her search to understand why her mother murdered a man.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my copy! This was the fresh take on the mental health/unreliable narrator trope.
June 29, 2022
Scarlet in Blue first reads as a coming of age story or a study of the mother-daughter dynamic, but the chapter headings, which place each chapter in time relative to “the murder,” keep the reader anchored in the true nature of the story. The characters are all so deeply embedded in the narrative that none of them knows the whole truth – and as a result, neither does the reader. Is it schizophrenia or a fight to survive? Could it be both?
I once again grabbed a book from a display at random, and discovered that the majority of the book takes place here in my home state of Michigan – quite close to me, in fact, and I’m writing this review from one of the towns mentioned in the book. Set mainly in the charming and extremely busy tourist mecca of South Haven, Scarlet in Blue takes place in many beach towns along Michigan’s left coast.
I once again grabbed a book from a display at random, and discovered that the majority of the book takes place here in my home state of Michigan – quite close to me, in fact, and I’m writing this review from one of the towns mentioned in the book. Set mainly in the charming and extremely busy tourist mecca of South Haven, Scarlet in Blue takes place in many beach towns along Michigan’s left coast.
April 9, 2022
When I first saw this book, I didn’t know what to think as I didn’t read the synopsis. Well, I loved it!
The story is about Blue Lake and her mother, Scarlet a very talented painter who is convinced that ‘HIM’ is following them. They have moved from town to town every time her mother thinks HE has found them. After 15 years Blue is tired of this life. This time she and her mother pack up their few belongings and take a bus to South Haven, Michigan.
Once they settle in, Blue thinks she can have the life she always hoped for, but she begins noticing things about her mother. Her mother has a plan for moving here and I have to say the story had me wondering what was going on. The ending surprised me! This book was a fantastic thriller, and I would recommend it to all my reader friends. Be warned though there are triggers one may want to check out first.
The story is about Blue Lake and her mother, Scarlet a very talented painter who is convinced that ‘HIM’ is following them. They have moved from town to town every time her mother thinks HE has found them. After 15 years Blue is tired of this life. This time she and her mother pack up their few belongings and take a bus to South Haven, Michigan.
Once they settle in, Blue thinks she can have the life she always hoped for, but she begins noticing things about her mother. Her mother has a plan for moving here and I have to say the story had me wondering what was going on. The ending surprised me! This book was a fantastic thriller, and I would recommend it to all my reader friends. Be warned though there are triggers one may want to check out first.
March 4, 2022
This book instantly grabbed my attention and didn’t let go! It had such a haunting, suspenseful vibe throughout that had me hooked. There are so many pieces to the puzzle and you have to decipher what’s real and what’s imagined. The writing is beautiful and all consuming. I couldn’t stop reading. This book startled me, shocked me, broke my heart, and wowed me! If you love psychological thrillers, I’m telling you that this is a must read!!!
Thank you so much Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
Thank you so much Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
December 20, 2021
A curious psychological thriller about Scarlet and her teenage daughter, Blue, who have spent Blue’s lifetime as nomads, fleeing from HIM, though Blue hasn’t a clue who or what they are fleeing from. They wind up in the Lake Michigan beachtown of South Haven where Blue becomes determined to figure out what her eccentric artist mother has been afraid of and why her mother’s paintings are getting weirder and weirder. Get ready to be thoroughly captivated by this terrific page-turner.
August 1, 2022
Well written and mysterious. I keep a TBR list and as the library has a book available, I'll read it. By the time it comes available though, I have no idea why it was on my TBR. This was a lovely surprise.
March 10, 2022
5 ⭐️’s
I read this in one day because the thought of not knowing what in the world was going on soon was slowly killing me. It kept me guessing and intrigued down to the last sentence!
I read this in one day because the thought of not knowing what in the world was going on soon was slowly killing me. It kept me guessing and intrigued down to the last sentence!
August 3, 2022
Wow! So much going on in this novel. It had me wondering until the very last page.
July 31, 2022
Book club is going to love it! Great author, great description and it's all Michigan. Great flowing story-telling and compelling. Only mistake is US 131 and 31. 31 is Traverse, 131 is Petoskey. Had to correct that, I'm from the mitten!
March 13, 2022
Every nine months Scarlet tells Blue that they have to leave the town where they’re staying because HE has found them. They pack what they can carry, change their names, and take a bus to another town Now 15, Blue is becoming annoyed with running, especially when she’s no longer certain that there is a reason to run. She wants friends, to know that her life has impacted because otherwise, she would just be nothing. Little does she know how different Scarlet intends their life in South Haven, Michigan to be.
Scarlet in Blue by Jennifer Murphy is a jigsaw puzzle of a novel with pieces given to the reader slowly to see where they fit. Even when something doesn’t seem to fit, the reader is fascinated to see that it does. And, when answers seem obvious, it soon becomes apparent that they are not.
For any reader who is fascinated by psychological fiction, Scarlet in Blue is a tour de force. While it’s not a psychological thriller per se with the reader on the edge of their seat, it is a mystery, leading the reader through a maze and keeping them guessing. It certainly did me. I did piece together the bits but knowing what was happening didn’t end the thrill of the read for me because I needed to know all of the why’s. Murphy’s storytelling and beautiful artist’s prose that often, especially in the end passages of the novel, bordered on poetic add to the pleasure of the read. The plot is taut yet twisty and completely well thought out.
I loved the use of synchronicity. While some of it is engineered by Scarlet, some is also engineered by the universe. The parallels in relationships are also intriguing with how differently “being one’s world” can play out depending on the origin of the desire.
Despite the fact that the beginning of the novel confused/frustrated me a little , I soon forgot that as I became immersed. I was so engaged that the last half of the novel seemed to pass in a blink. These were characters I won’t soon forget and such excellent storytelling that I intend to read more by this author.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Scarlet in Blue by Jennifer Murphy is a jigsaw puzzle of a novel with pieces given to the reader slowly to see where they fit. Even when something doesn’t seem to fit, the reader is fascinated to see that it does. And, when answers seem obvious, it soon becomes apparent that they are not.
For any reader who is fascinated by psychological fiction, Scarlet in Blue is a tour de force. While it’s not a psychological thriller per se with the reader on the edge of their seat, it is a mystery, leading the reader through a maze and keeping them guessing. It certainly did me. I did piece together the bits but knowing what was happening didn’t end the thrill of the read for me because I needed to know all of the why’s. Murphy’s storytelling and beautiful artist’s prose that often, especially in the end passages of the novel, bordered on poetic add to the pleasure of the read. The plot is taut yet twisty and completely well thought out.
I loved the use of synchronicity. While some of it is engineered by Scarlet, some is also engineered by the universe. The parallels in relationships are also intriguing with how differently “being one’s world” can play out depending on the origin of the desire.
Despite the fact that the beginning of the novel confused/frustrated me a little , I soon forgot that as I became immersed. I was so engaged that the last half of the novel seemed to pass in a blink. These were characters I won’t soon forget and such excellent storytelling that I intend to read more by this author.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2022
For all of her young life Blue Lake can only remember running, running from one town to another random town every time her mother spots "Him", following them yet again. By the time Blue is 16yrs old she is tired of the upheaval the constant moving is doing to her life.. Never in one place long enough, and encouraged by her mother, Scarlett not to, Blue doesn't have friends or form bonds anywhere they live. Scarlett, Blue's mother, is a gifted artist with a troubled past that keeps her running scared, towing Blue along with her.
As the pressure of past trauma increases upon Scarlett, she begins to lose touch with reality, escaping into her art and her imaginary world, causing Blue to fear the worse for her mother's mental state.
The unreliable narrator works perfectly in this tense, mysterious tale told by four different POV"s, that of Scarlett, Blue, Henry, Scarlett's analyst and the Pianist, we get the revealing experience of seeing different scenes from the individual perspectives, enriching the reader's experience and increasing the intrigue of the plot, holding interest all the more throughout the entire book.
This book is written beautifully, we connect almost immediately to Scarlett and blue's characters, it is well paced, except for maybe a small part near the middle where it slows but then it picks right back up until the end.
Warning this book does touch on sensitive subjects, such as memta; o;;mess, child abuse, pedophilia, and murder, so reader beware. It also explores the relationship between mothers and daughters and just how strong the bonds are that ties them together.
I highly recommend this to all who love the psychological thriller, this is a good one, off the usual beaten path which makes it all the more interesting.
Thank you to the publishers at Penguin Group Dutton and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
As the pressure of past trauma increases upon Scarlett, she begins to lose touch with reality, escaping into her art and her imaginary world, causing Blue to fear the worse for her mother's mental state.
The unreliable narrator works perfectly in this tense, mysterious tale told by four different POV"s, that of Scarlett, Blue, Henry, Scarlett's analyst and the Pianist, we get the revealing experience of seeing different scenes from the individual perspectives, enriching the reader's experience and increasing the intrigue of the plot, holding interest all the more throughout the entire book.
This book is written beautifully, we connect almost immediately to Scarlett and blue's characters, it is well paced, except for maybe a small part near the middle where it slows but then it picks right back up until the end.
Warning this book does touch on sensitive subjects, such as memta; o;;mess, child abuse, pedophilia, and murder, so reader beware. It also explores the relationship between mothers and daughters and just how strong the bonds are that ties them together.
I highly recommend this to all who love the psychological thriller, this is a good one, off the usual beaten path which makes it all the more interesting.
Thank you to the publishers at Penguin Group Dutton and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
July 5, 2022
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! Just such a wonderful story and such sweet and beautiful characters. I loved that this was a type of psychological crime thriller, where a heroine makes right a terrrible wrong, but also a relationship-based story, where characters grow, love, develop, and find their true identities. And through it all, it leaves you guessing what is real and what is imagined. And you just keep reading to find the truth. And even the truth is not necessarily the answer. I just can't explain how perfect the ending is, and how effortlessly the author revealed the secrets, as each page and timeline unfolded. Loved it! Probably my favorite book of the year so far, and I have read many!
April 15, 2022
This was a really excellent story that drew me in with its compelling characters, who were able to hold my attention despite an unfortunate slow-down in the middle that felt a little unnecessarily labored.
Scarlet and Blue are brilliantly developed and leap off the page. I found the multiple perspectives (in addition to the mother-daughter duo who are the primary storytellers, there is a psychoanalyst and Blue-in-future) to mostly work quite well. There was a section in the middle where Scarlet and Blue layered chapter after chapter with a level of daily-life detail that slowed things considerably and drew me out of the overall pace of the book, but they remained fascinating enough that I just worked my way through - and I'm so glad I did, because the ending was really well executed with several twists and turns I did not see coming. Even when I figured out where at least some of the story's secrets were going, it did nothing at all to detract from my overall enjoyment.
This is a painful tale of the devastation that is wrought by abuse and its aftermath, and there were sections that were very difficut to read. My heart bled for both Blue and Scarlet, and watching them struggle to care for each other in their own ways, with their own secrets and motivations, made for an emotional read.
Murphy managed the ups and downs beautifully and I will definitely be on the lookout for more from here in the future. She has a deft hand with language and managed to convey the fragility and strength that underpin both women in a way that resonated strongly. It's a really wonderful story and I enjoyed the ride immensely!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Scarlet and Blue are brilliantly developed and leap off the page. I found the multiple perspectives (in addition to the mother-daughter duo who are the primary storytellers, there is a psychoanalyst and Blue-in-future) to mostly work quite well. There was a section in the middle where Scarlet and Blue layered chapter after chapter with a level of daily-life detail that slowed things considerably and drew me out of the overall pace of the book, but they remained fascinating enough that I just worked my way through - and I'm so glad I did, because the ending was really well executed with several twists and turns I did not see coming. Even when I figured out where at least some of the story's secrets were going, it did nothing at all to detract from my overall enjoyment.
This is a painful tale of the devastation that is wrought by abuse and its aftermath, and there were sections that were very difficut to read. My heart bled for both Blue and Scarlet, and watching them struggle to care for each other in their own ways, with their own secrets and motivations, made for an emotional read.
Murphy managed the ups and downs beautifully and I will definitely be on the lookout for more from here in the future. She has a deft hand with language and managed to convey the fragility and strength that underpin both women in a way that resonated strongly. It's a really wonderful story and I enjoyed the ride immensely!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
April 8, 2022
Blue is a 15-year-old girl. She and her mom, Scarlet, have been on the run for as long as Blue can remember. Each time they stay in a new town, drawing their new names from a bag of crayons. They live in their new location for a few months, until Scarlet feels that HE is getting too close. Then they take off again, leaving most of their possessions behind.
But this time, in South Haven, Michigan, Blue yearns to settle down. She has a boyfriend and a best friend. She has a piano teacher who recognizes her extraordinary talent.
Scarlet is an extraordinarily talented artist. She paints portraits, often in the style of the old Masters. She is focused on making the perfect shade of red that will not fade over time. However, she gradually seems to be losing hold of reality. More and more, Blue finds herself giving up her own desires in order to take care of Scarlet.
But how long is she supposed to do this? Are Scarlet’s fears even real? What will happen if Blue thinks of herself for once?
𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨: This is an engaging story. I enjoyed reading about Blue as she gradually came into her own and struggled between her deep love for her mother versus her own longings. This story is told through four points of view: The pianist (the reader figures out pretty quickly who this is), Blue, Scarlet, and Henry (Scarlet’s therapist). It was interesting reading some of the same scenes from different viewpoints. This is a great story to read if you love mother-daughter stories or family drama with a bit of suspense. The characters are well-developed and very likable.
My sincere thanks to Dutton Books for my gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
But this time, in South Haven, Michigan, Blue yearns to settle down. She has a boyfriend and a best friend. She has a piano teacher who recognizes her extraordinary talent.
Scarlet is an extraordinarily talented artist. She paints portraits, often in the style of the old Masters. She is focused on making the perfect shade of red that will not fade over time. However, she gradually seems to be losing hold of reality. More and more, Blue finds herself giving up her own desires in order to take care of Scarlet.
But how long is she supposed to do this? Are Scarlet’s fears even real? What will happen if Blue thinks of herself for once?
𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨: This is an engaging story. I enjoyed reading about Blue as she gradually came into her own and struggled between her deep love for her mother versus her own longings. This story is told through four points of view: The pianist (the reader figures out pretty quickly who this is), Blue, Scarlet, and Henry (Scarlet’s therapist). It was interesting reading some of the same scenes from different viewpoints. This is a great story to read if you love mother-daughter stories or family drama with a bit of suspense. The characters are well-developed and very likable.
My sincere thanks to Dutton Books for my gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
April 13, 2022
Blue is not her real name. A 15-year-old girl adopts the name at her mother's behest from a crayon randomly chosen from a cardboard box. It is for the umpteenth time that Blue and her mother, Scarlet, change their names, board a bus, and abscond into the night, fleeing the mysterious HIM.
As a gifted pianist, Blue is desperate to stay settled in her new town of South Haven, Michigan. She is longing to make friends and build community and not have to mother Scarlet - a painter whose mental illness and delusions are increasingly worsening. Unknown to Blue, Scarlet has a plan to end HIM once and for all, but she must enlist the help of her psychoanalyst, Henry, to be free.
I have mixed feelings about Scarlet in Blue. I chose it primarily because it takes place in Michigan. Some aspects were fascinating - the hyper-dependence of Scarlet on Blue, the intrigue of whether or not the mystery man chasing them even exists, the allusions to paint (especially fugitive pigment), and the richness in which the author brings the small, coastal town on Lake Michigan to life. The book suffered in giving away the ending too early. The mystery was easy to solve, and it was frustrating reading from Henry's perspective on his detective-like chase to unveil the truth, when the reader already knew the answer. The writing was distracting at times, the ending was abrupt, and I never felt an emotional connection to the characters. However, if you're looking for a quick thriller, Scarlet in Blue may be for you.
As a gifted pianist, Blue is desperate to stay settled in her new town of South Haven, Michigan. She is longing to make friends and build community and not have to mother Scarlet - a painter whose mental illness and delusions are increasingly worsening. Unknown to Blue, Scarlet has a plan to end HIM once and for all, but she must enlist the help of her psychoanalyst, Henry, to be free.
I have mixed feelings about Scarlet in Blue. I chose it primarily because it takes place in Michigan. Some aspects were fascinating - the hyper-dependence of Scarlet on Blue, the intrigue of whether or not the mystery man chasing them even exists, the allusions to paint (especially fugitive pigment), and the richness in which the author brings the small, coastal town on Lake Michigan to life. The book suffered in giving away the ending too early. The mystery was easy to solve, and it was frustrating reading from Henry's perspective on his detective-like chase to unveil the truth, when the reader already knew the answer. The writing was distracting at times, the ending was abrupt, and I never felt an emotional connection to the characters. However, if you're looking for a quick thriller, Scarlet in Blue may be for you.
March 18, 2022
This book was quite the page-turner, and I couldn’t help but devour it!
Blue Lake and her mother, Scarlet, have always been on the run. Scarlet insists that they are being chased by HIM, but as Blue gets older, she begins to doubt that this mysterious man she’s never seen even exists. Blue resents her mother for their nomadic lifestyle, but when they land in South Haven, Michigan, she finally feels like maybe they will settle down for good. Little does she know, her mother is devising a plan to rid them of the shadow of her past.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this psychological thriller and the inclusion of mental health both from the perspective of the character going through the illness and the daughter of said character. Scarlet and Blue didn’t have a typical mother/daughter relationship. At times, Blue would prioritize her mother’s well being, whether it was for her mother’s benefit or her own, but I think it said a lot about Blue and her wanting to keep their little family together. Scarlet was really the only constant in Blue’s life, and despite her downfalls as a mother and past trauma, Scarlet did what she felt was necessary to protect herself and her daughter.
I was really surprised by the twists in this story and thought the way in which everything was revealed was well paced. Overall, it was a fantastic book and I highly recommend it!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Blue Lake and her mother, Scarlet, have always been on the run. Scarlet insists that they are being chased by HIM, but as Blue gets older, she begins to doubt that this mysterious man she’s never seen even exists. Blue resents her mother for their nomadic lifestyle, but when they land in South Haven, Michigan, she finally feels like maybe they will settle down for good. Little does she know, her mother is devising a plan to rid them of the shadow of her past.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this psychological thriller and the inclusion of mental health both from the perspective of the character going through the illness and the daughter of said character. Scarlet and Blue didn’t have a typical mother/daughter relationship. At times, Blue would prioritize her mother’s well being, whether it was for her mother’s benefit or her own, but I think it said a lot about Blue and her wanting to keep their little family together. Scarlet was really the only constant in Blue’s life, and despite her downfalls as a mother and past trauma, Scarlet did what she felt was necessary to protect herself and her daughter.
I was really surprised by the twists in this story and thought the way in which everything was revealed was well paced. Overall, it was a fantastic book and I highly recommend it!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
March 15, 2022
Scarlet in Blue by Jennifer Murphy
I really had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading Scarlet in Blue. All I knew is that it was a psychological thriller set in my home state. I'm sold based on those two facts!
Scarlet in Blue follows teenager, Blue Lake and her mom, Scarlet who is a renowned fine artist. For as long as she can remember, Blue and her mom have constantly been moving to one place to another. They most recently move to a beach town off Lake Michigan called South Haven, Michigan. Blue starts to make friends and enjoys secret piano lessons and is hoping that they will finally settle down and stay in South Haven. But Scarlet is dealing with demons and is always on the lookout for "Him." Yikes. Who is he and why is he chasing Scarlet and Blue?
Being told in multiple POV's really makes this story as you get multiple perspectives. Going in blind is your best bet too! There is a lot of art talk but it was never boring or dragging. It adds so much to it actually! Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for my copy of Scarlet in Blue in exchange for my review.
I really had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading Scarlet in Blue. All I knew is that it was a psychological thriller set in my home state. I'm sold based on those two facts!
Scarlet in Blue follows teenager, Blue Lake and her mom, Scarlet who is a renowned fine artist. For as long as she can remember, Blue and her mom have constantly been moving to one place to another. They most recently move to a beach town off Lake Michigan called South Haven, Michigan. Blue starts to make friends and enjoys secret piano lessons and is hoping that they will finally settle down and stay in South Haven. But Scarlet is dealing with demons and is always on the lookout for "Him." Yikes. Who is he and why is he chasing Scarlet and Blue?
Being told in multiple POV's really makes this story as you get multiple perspectives. Going in blind is your best bet too! There is a lot of art talk but it was never boring or dragging. It adds so much to it actually! Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for my copy of Scarlet in Blue in exchange for my review.
June 11, 2022
This book was a delightful surprise! A truly beautiful story that left me enchanted.
Scarlet Lake and her daughter Blue, live an artistic life (Scarlet a painter, Blue a pianist) but they also live a very transient life as well. They are always moving from town to town because of the Shadow Man.
While it seems like an adventure when is Blue is younger, she begins to tire of it as she grows into her teens and soon begins to resent her mother.
Blue adores her eccentric, artistic mother even when she despises her. Their relationship is a complicated but also a beautiful one.
Scarlet's past haunts them both until Scarlet decides to put an end to her fear and confront her past. What ensues is both heartbreaking but also freeing and changes the course of both of their lives.
This book was beautifully written and delicately handled mental health and duality themes.
Thank you to Jennifer Murphy for writing such a beautifully, haunting story and for igniting a long dormant love o art.
Scarlet Lake and her daughter Blue, live an artistic life (Scarlet a painter, Blue a pianist) but they also live a very transient life as well. They are always moving from town to town because of the Shadow Man.
While it seems like an adventure when is Blue is younger, she begins to tire of it as she grows into her teens and soon begins to resent her mother.
Blue adores her eccentric, artistic mother even when she despises her. Their relationship is a complicated but also a beautiful one.
Scarlet's past haunts them both until Scarlet decides to put an end to her fear and confront her past. What ensues is both heartbreaking but also freeing and changes the course of both of their lives.
This book was beautifully written and delicately handled mental health and duality themes.
Thank you to Jennifer Murphy for writing such a beautifully, haunting story and for igniting a long dormant love o art.
May 3, 2022
The one main reason why I wanted to read this book was because it was based in Michigan. I instantly got wrapped into the relationship of Blue and her mother Scarlet. Who was the parent in this relationship? I was proud of Blue for all of the situations that her mother put her through, and to not give up on her. She always had excuses for her mother's moods. At first I thought her mother was going crazy with the voices and seeing the "Shadow Man"... I felt bad at the end because I had painted her (no pun intended) mad in a way, and not giving her a chance until the end. She seemed to be full of herself at times but at the end, that's all she wanted was to protect her daughter Blue. I stayed up until 3 am to finish this and I was not disappointed. In real life we do hide the bad things that happen in our lives. Without help, it burrows into our soul like it did for Scarlet. There were so many parallels to this story, that I could go on and on. :)
April 1, 2022
Holy smokes, I was not expecting this book to be as impactful or attention grabbing as it was. I went into this book pretty blind, but it grabbed my attention from the start. It was a slow burn and there were parts in it that were definitely repetitive but Murphy has such a beautiful way with words and descriptions. The story has different POV and has a dual timeline, but she does a fantastic job at making sure that you don’t get confused as to who is speaking or when they are speaking.
Murphy wrote such a suspenseful novel that draws you into the characters and their lives. I don’t think that I have ever gotten emotional after reading a psychological thriller but Murphy’s writing was hauntingly beautiful and makes you question your own reality and everything that you read in this novel. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book!
Murphy wrote such a suspenseful novel that draws you into the characters and their lives. I don’t think that I have ever gotten emotional after reading a psychological thriller but Murphy’s writing was hauntingly beautiful and makes you question your own reality and everything that you read in this novel. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book!
April 6, 2022
I was pleasantly surprised by this thriller, set in a small Michigan lake-side town. It was a page turner-I finished it a day after starting it! There is a dual timeline told from multiple points of view. Scarlet and her daughter, Blue can't stay put in a town for more that 9 months due to Scarlet's mysterious past. Pick this one up if you are looking for a psychological novel with themes of art and music and an unreliable narrator.
Thank you NetGalley, Dutton from Penguin Random House and Jennifer Murphy for an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley, Dutton from Penguin Random House and Jennifer Murphy for an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
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