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The Scarf
Robert Bloch's classic first novel, the precursor to
Psycho
, a chilling look into the mind of a serial killer
Dan Morley is an aspiring novelist who is well liked by everybody, but most of all by women. But nobody knows that he struggles with a dark and forbidden urge, an irresistible impulse to kill. And when the lust for murder comes over him and he twists his scarf around his victim's neck, there is no escape ...
Robert Bloch's first novel The Scarf (1947), a noir psychological thriller, is a clear precursor to his more famous serial killer novel, Psycho (1959). This edition, the first in many years, includes a new introduction by Garyn G. Roberts.
"Robert Bloch is perhaps the finest psychological horror writer working today." - Stephen King
"A fascinating and often horrifying novel . . . well-written, realistic and convincing." - Indianapolis Star
"Robert Bloch is one of the all-time masters." - Peter Straub
Dan Morley is an aspiring novelist who is well liked by everybody, but most of all by women. But nobody knows that he struggles with a dark and forbidden urge, an irresistible impulse to kill. And when the lust for murder comes over him and he twists his scarf around his victim's neck, there is no escape ...
Robert Bloch's first novel The Scarf (1947), a noir psychological thriller, is a clear precursor to his more famous serial killer novel, Psycho (1959). This edition, the first in many years, includes a new introduction by Garyn G. Roberts.
"Robert Bloch is perhaps the finest psychological horror writer working today." - Stephen King
"A fascinating and often horrifying novel . . . well-written, realistic and convincing." - Indianapolis Star
"Robert Bloch is one of the all-time masters." - Peter Straub
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1947
11 people are currently reading
4237 people want to read
About the author
Robert Bloch
1,091 books1,284 followersRobert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer. He was the son of Raphael "Ray" Bloch (1884, Chicago-1952, Chicago), a bank cashier, and his wife Stella Loeb (1880, Attica, Indiana-1944, Milwaukee, WI), a social worker, both of German-Jewish descent.
Bloch wrote hundreds of short stories and over twenty novels, usually crime fiction, science fiction, and, perhaps most influentially, horror fiction (Psycho). He was one of the youngest members of the Lovecraft Circle; Lovecraft was Bloch's mentor and one of the first to seriously encourage his talent.
He was a contributor to pulp magazines such as Weird Tales in his early career, and was also a prolific screenwriter. He was the recipient of the Hugo Award (for his story "That Hell-Bound Train"), the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award. He served a term as president of the Mystery Writers of America.
Robert Bloch was also a major contributor to science fiction fanzines and fandom in general. In the 1940s, he created the humorous character Lefty Feep in a story for Fantastic Adventures. He also worked for a time in local vaudeville, and tried to break into writing for nationally-known performers. He was a good friend of the science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum. In the 1960's, he wrote 3 stories for Star Trek.
Bloch wrote hundreds of short stories and over twenty novels, usually crime fiction, science fiction, and, perhaps most influentially, horror fiction (Psycho). He was one of the youngest members of the Lovecraft Circle; Lovecraft was Bloch's mentor and one of the first to seriously encourage his talent.
He was a contributor to pulp magazines such as Weird Tales in his early career, and was also a prolific screenwriter. He was the recipient of the Hugo Award (for his story "That Hell-Bound Train"), the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award. He served a term as president of the Mystery Writers of America.
Robert Bloch was also a major contributor to science fiction fanzines and fandom in general. In the 1940s, he created the humorous character Lefty Feep in a story for Fantastic Adventures. He also worked for a time in local vaudeville, and tried to break into writing for nationally-known performers. He was a good friend of the science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum. In the 1960's, he wrote 3 stories for Star Trek.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 10, 2018
Robert Bloch (1917-1994) will forever be known as “the author of Psycho” (1959).
"The Scarf" is a masterful example of first-person narration. Daniel Morley keeps a diary of sorts that he calls 'The Black Notebook,' which records his experiences, his dreams, his confusion, and his fears. He doesn’t really understand why he kills, and the black notebook is his self imposed therapy that helps him decipher the clues of his past to uncover his own reason for existence or raison de tuer. We are never outside of his mind for a moment.
A really good story.
"The Scarf" is a masterful example of first-person narration. Daniel Morley keeps a diary of sorts that he calls 'The Black Notebook,' which records his experiences, his dreams, his confusion, and his fears. He doesn’t really understand why he kills, and the black notebook is his self imposed therapy that helps him decipher the clues of his past to uncover his own reason for existence or raison de tuer. We are never outside of his mind for a moment.
A really good story.
August 20, 2011
Up and coming writer Dan Morley has a dark past he'd rather keep hidden. Can he keep the past buried or will his career tank when people discover his dark secrets involving... THE SCARF!
There really isn't a lot to say. Dan Morely seduces women, uses them to further his goals, and murders them using the scarf. It's not that suspenseful after the first murder.
The Scarf is a pretty slim read at 160 pages and doesn't leave a lot of room to maneuver. Once I got past the halfway mark, I was pretty sure Morely wouldn't have any kind of a relationship with a woman without trying to do away with her at some point.
The Scarf is worth a couple hours of reading time, but it's not my favorite Bloch. It's good but falls apart at the end. If you have a choice between this and Shooting Star/Spiderweb, the Bloch book Hard Case put out, go for the Hard Case. This one is barely a 3.
There really isn't a lot to say. Dan Morely seduces women, uses them to further his goals, and murders them using the scarf. It's not that suspenseful after the first murder.
The Scarf is a pretty slim read at 160 pages and doesn't leave a lot of room to maneuver. Once I got past the halfway mark, I was pretty sure Morely wouldn't have any kind of a relationship with a woman without trying to do away with her at some point.
The Scarf is worth a couple hours of reading time, but it's not my favorite Bloch. It's good but falls apart at the end. If you have a choice between this and Shooting Star/Spiderweb, the Bloch book Hard Case put out, go for the Hard Case. This one is barely a 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2018
Terrible 1966 revision of the 1947 novel. They just randomly tossed in updated pop culture references (ex. “The kind of girl who wore false eyelashes” instead of “the kind of girl who wore harlequin frames”), then made a key change to the opening scene and tacked on a completely new and completely terrible ending.
So if you’re thinking of reading Robert Bloch’s first novel, resist the temptation to go for the cheap paperback and spend the extra cash on the harder-to-find original. You won’t regret it.
So if you’re thinking of reading Robert Bloch’s first novel, resist the temptation to go for the cheap paperback and spend the extra cash on the harder-to-find original. You won’t regret it.
January 20, 2024
Si tratta del primo romanzo pubblicato da Robert Bloch nell'ormai lontano 1947 e in esso già si possono intravedere le tematiche che caratterizzeranno il ben più celebre e quotato Psycho. Tematiche peraltro decisamente scabrose, se pensiamo alla morale e alla sensibilità che dovevano caratterizzare gli Stati Uniti anni '40.
Un libro molto "cinematografico", nel senso buono del termine: abbastanza coeso, in grado di avvincere il lettore e dal sicuro impatto. Si capisce come mai Bloch successivamente avrebbe per lungo tempo lavorato con la sua scrittura anche nel mondo della televisione e del cinema.
La sciarpa è narrato tutto in prima persona da Dan Morley, aspirante scrittore che un evento traumatico della prima giovinezza ha portato a diventare serial killer. L'utilizzo di un punto di vista così diretto contribuisce a rendere la lettura ritmata e coinvolgente, aiutando a delineare in maniera credibile la psicologia di questo personaggio decisamente contorto e disturbante.
Alla buona caratterizzazione del protagonista si aggiungono però figure secondarie un po' stereotipate, anche in virtù di uno stile di scrittura di cui parlerò a breve e che, per quanto piacevole, per forza di cose fa "calcare un po' la mano" nella creazione dei personaggi.
Come accennato, ho infatti trovato la scrittura molto simile a quello degli hard boiled del periodo: dura, concreta e dritta al punto.
Uno stile che personalmente apprezzo molto, per cui questa somiglianza mi ha piacevolmente stupito, ma che spesso implica caratterizzazioni abbastanza standardizzate. Cosa che appunto qui ho riscontrato.
Buona parte del libro non tratta direttamente delle tematiche più thriller e orrorifiche della vicenda, ciononostante le atmosfere tratteggiate sono spesso cupe e "notturne".
Bloch sfrutta esperienze certamente autobiografiche per illustrare il mondo dell'editoria dell'epoca, con le sue idiosincrasie e delle sue storture. Immagino quindi che abbia trasposto un po' di sé stesso anche nella creazione del proprio protagonista. Una scelta interessante e a suo modo coraggiosa, visto il ritratto non certo rassicurante che viene dipinto per quest'ultimo.
Se devo trovare dei difetti a questo libro, forse ho denotato un lieve calo del ritmo nella seconda metà della storia, che rimane comunque assolutamente godibile.
Personalmente avrei poi gradito un horror un po' più "mostrato", ma mi rendo anche conto che si tratta di un libro che tratta già così di temi abbastanza scomodi, per l'epoca in cui è stato pubblicato.
Come detto, la trama nella seconda parte si sfilaccia un po' e perde di forza. Il finale, in particolare, presenta un colpo di scena che forse all'epoca poteva rappresentare una novità, ma a un occhio più moderno forse appare un po' prevedibile.
Alla luce di questi aspetti negativi non ho dato le cinque stelline, ma sono particolari che non ostacolano la fruizione del romanzo. La sciarpa rimane una lettura interessante e a suo modo abbastanza sorprendente, visto che resta attuale a distanza di ormai quasi ottant'anni dalla sua prima pubblicazione.
Un libro molto "cinematografico", nel senso buono del termine: abbastanza coeso, in grado di avvincere il lettore e dal sicuro impatto. Si capisce come mai Bloch successivamente avrebbe per lungo tempo lavorato con la sua scrittura anche nel mondo della televisione e del cinema.
La sciarpa è narrato tutto in prima persona da Dan Morley, aspirante scrittore che un evento traumatico della prima giovinezza ha portato a diventare serial killer. L'utilizzo di un punto di vista così diretto contribuisce a rendere la lettura ritmata e coinvolgente, aiutando a delineare in maniera credibile la psicologia di questo personaggio decisamente contorto e disturbante.
Alla buona caratterizzazione del protagonista si aggiungono però figure secondarie un po' stereotipate, anche in virtù di uno stile di scrittura di cui parlerò a breve e che, per quanto piacevole, per forza di cose fa "calcare un po' la mano" nella creazione dei personaggi.
Come accennato, ho infatti trovato la scrittura molto simile a quello degli hard boiled del periodo: dura, concreta e dritta al punto.
Uno stile che personalmente apprezzo molto, per cui questa somiglianza mi ha piacevolmente stupito, ma che spesso implica caratterizzazioni abbastanza standardizzate. Cosa che appunto qui ho riscontrato.
Buona parte del libro non tratta direttamente delle tematiche più thriller e orrorifiche della vicenda, ciononostante le atmosfere tratteggiate sono spesso cupe e "notturne".
Bloch sfrutta esperienze certamente autobiografiche per illustrare il mondo dell'editoria dell'epoca, con le sue idiosincrasie e delle sue storture. Immagino quindi che abbia trasposto un po' di sé stesso anche nella creazione del proprio protagonista. Una scelta interessante e a suo modo coraggiosa, visto il ritratto non certo rassicurante che viene dipinto per quest'ultimo.
Se devo trovare dei difetti a questo libro, forse ho denotato un lieve calo del ritmo nella seconda metà della storia, che rimane comunque assolutamente godibile.
Personalmente avrei poi gradito un horror un po' più "mostrato", ma mi rendo anche conto che si tratta di un libro che tratta già così di temi abbastanza scomodi, per l'epoca in cui è stato pubblicato.
Come detto, la trama nella seconda parte si sfilaccia un po' e perde di forza. Il finale, in particolare, presenta un colpo di scena che forse all'epoca poteva rappresentare una novità, ma a un occhio più moderno forse appare un po' prevedibile.
Alla luce di questi aspetti negativi non ho dato le cinque stelline, ma sono particolari che non ostacolano la fruizione del romanzo. La sciarpa rimane una lettura interessante e a suo modo abbastanza sorprendente, visto che resta attuale a distanza di ormai quasi ottant'anni dalla sua prima pubblicazione.
October 24, 2017
Sigmund Freud would be proud.
July 27, 2022
Sarò la voce fuori dal coro: ho preferito di gran lunga questo all’osannato Psycho.
Mi piace che la voce narrante sia interna, è scritto in seconda persona in modo da facilitare ancora di più l’immedesimazione del lettore. Dan Morley, il protagonista è - oltre che un serial killer - un aspirante scrittore e si alternano ai fatti principali, le considerazioni che annota sul suo Taccuino nero e sono state proprio queste le parti che ho apprezzato di più. Siamo davvero nella sua testa; conosciamo i suoi ricordi, i sogni, avvertiamo la confusione e tutti i suoi turbamenti interiori.
La sciarpa - che dà il titolo al romanzo – non si annoda mortalmente solo al collo delle sue vittime, ma la sentiamo, pagina dopo pagina, stringersi anche al nostro per quanto incalzante si faccia il ritmo della narrazione. Seppur non brilli di chissà quale originalità l’ho trovato comunque ansiogeno.
Mi piace che la voce narrante sia interna, è scritto in seconda persona in modo da facilitare ancora di più l’immedesimazione del lettore. Dan Morley, il protagonista è - oltre che un serial killer - un aspirante scrittore e si alternano ai fatti principali, le considerazioni che annota sul suo Taccuino nero e sono state proprio queste le parti che ho apprezzato di più. Siamo davvero nella sua testa; conosciamo i suoi ricordi, i sogni, avvertiamo la confusione e tutti i suoi turbamenti interiori.
La sciarpa - che dà il titolo al romanzo – non si annoda mortalmente solo al collo delle sue vittime, ma la sentiamo, pagina dopo pagina, stringersi anche al nostro per quanto incalzante si faccia il ritmo della narrazione. Seppur non brilli di chissà quale originalità l’ho trovato comunque ansiogeno.
June 23, 2009
While The Scarf is not the tour de force I had hoped for, it is nevertheless the best of the four Robert Bloch novels that I have read. The titular scarf belongs to narrator Dan Morley, an aspiring writer whose psychological problems, especially with women, are the result of his unhealthy boyhood relationship with Miss Frazer, his unmarried schoolteacher. The scarf is Morley's keepsake from his memorable last encounter with Miss Frazer, after which he ran away from home. The story follows Dan and his burgeoning writing career from Chicago to New York to Hollywood. My taste runs to the noir side of noir, and The Scarf was plenty dark enough for me, but I found Bloch's execution lacking, especially in the book's regrettably contrived dénouement.
March 11, 2024
I was able to get the 1947 version of this novel & of course finished it in one day!
This is about Dan Morley who was working to be a notable author and who was compelled to kill because of his fetish.
Throughout the story, Blotch so easily shows us how awful and increasingly manipulative Morley is while building suspense.
This is about Dan Morley who was working to be a notable author and who was compelled to kill because of his fetish.
Throughout the story, Blotch so easily shows us how awful and increasingly manipulative Morley is while building suspense.
September 30, 2018
Bloch’s first novel is styled as the written confession and diary excerpts of a serial killer. The misogyny is so vividly portrayed that I could only read so much at a time before needing to go scrub my brain and find something more pleasant to occupy it. The main character’s hatred, though targeted specifically at women, extends to his fellow men, himself, and society in general, and there’s just enough twisted truth in his observations to give him authenticity. It sucks you in with an amusingly cynical worldview, then pushes it several steps too far, so that the reader is along for the ride that becomes increasingly disturbing until you want out, but the doors are locked and you’re stuck there riding along with a madman filling your ears with his raving. It’s a fascinating look at 1940’s pop psychology.
In reading about the author and the writing of this book, I was interested to discover that Bloch was actually a protégé of Lovecraft and a member of the Lovecraft circle, and this book does have a bit of a gothic feel to it, although the horror is entirely psychological.
Apparently, Bloch re-released this novel in paperback, with some revisions and an all-new epilogue to end it that gives more insight into the main character. The darn book is out of print, but I’m so interested in comparing them that I ordered a copy from a used bookseller.
I read this for the 2018 Halloween Bingo square Free Read . Now I feel the need to go back and re-listen to Psycho, which I remember being outstanding on audio (read by Paul Michael Garcia), and for which I apparently neglected to write a review.
In reading about the author and the writing of this book, I was interested to discover that Bloch was actually a protégé of Lovecraft and a member of the Lovecraft circle, and this book does have a bit of a gothic feel to it, although the horror is entirely psychological.
Apparently, Bloch re-released this novel in paperback, with some revisions and an all-new epilogue to end it that gives more insight into the main character. The darn book is out of print, but I’m so interested in comparing them that I ordered a copy from a used bookseller.
I read this for the 2018 Halloween Bingo square Free Read . Now I feel the need to go back and re-listen to Psycho, which I remember being outstanding on audio (read by Paul Michael Garcia), and for which I apparently neglected to write a review.
July 31, 2015
The beginning of an amazing author
Before he wrote Psycho he wrote The Scarf and you can certainly tell where Norman Bates character came from, The main character of this book has many Mommy issues also and a very twisted look at the world. With this twisted view you find yourself in the mind of this lunatic scary stuff.
Not since having read Jim Thompson The Killer Inside Me have I found such a dark character, The book is only 159 pages long but it packs a story that will stay with you. The creators of Bates Motel the TV show must of studied Bloch's work because i find many of situations in this book hint to character from the show.
Before he wrote Psycho he wrote The Scarf and you can certainly tell where Norman Bates character came from, The main character of this book has many Mommy issues also and a very twisted look at the world. With this twisted view you find yourself in the mind of this lunatic scary stuff.
Not since having read Jim Thompson The Killer Inside Me have I found such a dark character, The book is only 159 pages long but it packs a story that will stay with you. The creators of Bates Motel the TV show must of studied Bloch's work because i find many of situations in this book hint to character from the show.
Want to read
November 14, 2011Stephen King recommended author and book. In 1981's Danse Macabre, King dedicated his book as follows: "It's easy enough - perhaps too easy - to memorialize the dead. This book is for the six great writers of the macabre who are still alive." The six listed were Robert Bloch, Jorge Luis Borges, Ray Bradbury, Frank Belnap Long, Donald Wandrei, Manly Wade Wellman.
This book was favorably mentioned in Chapters 3 and 9 of Berkley's 1983 paperback edition of Danse Macabre.
This book was favorably mentioned in Chapters 3 and 9 of Berkley's 1983 paperback edition of Danse Macabre.
August 10, 2014
The perfect novel of psychological horror. The insane narrator's life story holds you breathless, and his dream journal is the best part. Not to mention , a great twist ending. Robert Bloch's first novel is a match for psycho.
June 16, 2025
Very Bloch-ian. One can see here the foundations for what would come in his later novels.
September 25, 2016
Slightly paraphrased, this was Stephen King’s take on this novel in his book Danse Macabre:
“Bloch, in fact, had been honing this particular vision of human nature in The Scarf (which begins with those wonderful, eerie lines: ‘Fetish? You name it. All I know is that I’ve always had to have it with me….’) The book is not, at least technically, a horror novel; there is nary a monster or supernatural occurrence on view. It’s labeled a ‘suspense novel.’ But if we look at it with that Apollonian/Dionysian conflict in mind, we see that it is very much a horror novel; it deals with the Dionysian psychopath locked up behind the Apollonian facade of normality…but slowly, dreadfully emerging. In short, Bloch has written a Werewolf novel in which he has dispense with the hugger-mugger of the potion of the wolfsbane.”
And this was also the reason that I had searched for this book for more years than you can imagine. I wish I could say that I found the book to be worth all the time and trouble of that search. It wasn’t.
I suppose a lot of my disappointment with the book has to do with the change in writing styles which has occurred over the years. The book is very much a product of its time. The women, even the main female protagonist, are never fully fleshed out, more caricature than actual woman. The men, other than the main character, don’t do much better.
The story, itself, is mildly entertaining, but the resolution is not a surprise.
“Bloch, in fact, had been honing this particular vision of human nature in The Scarf (which begins with those wonderful, eerie lines: ‘Fetish? You name it. All I know is that I’ve always had to have it with me….’) The book is not, at least technically, a horror novel; there is nary a monster or supernatural occurrence on view. It’s labeled a ‘suspense novel.’ But if we look at it with that Apollonian/Dionysian conflict in mind, we see that it is very much a horror novel; it deals with the Dionysian psychopath locked up behind the Apollonian facade of normality…but slowly, dreadfully emerging. In short, Bloch has written a Werewolf novel in which he has dispense with the hugger-mugger of the potion of the wolfsbane.”
And this was also the reason that I had searched for this book for more years than you can imagine. I wish I could say that I found the book to be worth all the time and trouble of that search. It wasn’t.
I suppose a lot of my disappointment with the book has to do with the change in writing styles which has occurred over the years. The book is very much a product of its time. The women, even the main female protagonist, are never fully fleshed out, more caricature than actual woman. The men, other than the main character, don’t do much better.
The story, itself, is mildly entertaining, but the resolution is not a surprise.
February 2, 2010
This was a good, short suspense book. Darker than what I usually read, so at first I was skeptical. It ended up being very good though.
September 4, 2019
This book does an excellent job probing into the mind of a psychotic. Kudos to Bloch for the "Black Book" chapters. Thomas Harris owes Bloch a debt. An excellent horror novel.
July 7, 2023
What scarfery is this?!
Well, it’s Bloch cocked and firing another one of his creepy serial killers at us, but not Stab Man, or Knifey Boy, this time. Daniel Morley is an aspiring writer with killer good looks - and he has a scarf he likes to strangle women with. He tells us his story (interrupted only by his own journal entries, and yes, it’s odd to take a break from bad Danny to check in with worse Danny). Danny has a full-throttle approach with that maroon throat-protector of his (product used not as directed)…and it becomes clear very early on that Danny knows how to cover his tracks - alibis, moving from place to place, playing the regular guy slash struggling writer.
But Danny ain’t perfect. What happens when maybe the odd person detects misogyny in this breakthrough writing of Danny’s? What about someone starting to put far flung pieces together, picking at alibi scabs that have already healed over, noticing an alien look in the eye of a nice guy? How does Danny deal with that? Will he scarf down one victim too many.
Mommy-issue murderers, Jack the Ripper mentions (was Bloch born with Ripper fascination?), truly creepy lethal attacks, and perhaps everything a bit straightforward and obvious to really compete with a stay at Bates Motel a dozen years later. Although, we do have strange complications - weird dreams, a gonzo origin story for that effing scarf, and a tense finale that I think is a bit hard to believe as the way it would go down. But I still think backtracking the Psycho path was very rewarding, and recommended.
Well, it’s Bloch cocked and firing another one of his creepy serial killers at us, but not Stab Man, or Knifey Boy, this time. Daniel Morley is an aspiring writer with killer good looks - and he has a scarf he likes to strangle women with. He tells us his story (interrupted only by his own journal entries, and yes, it’s odd to take a break from bad Danny to check in with worse Danny). Danny has a full-throttle approach with that maroon throat-protector of his (product used not as directed)…and it becomes clear very early on that Danny knows how to cover his tracks - alibis, moving from place to place, playing the regular guy slash struggling writer.
But Danny ain’t perfect. What happens when maybe the odd person detects misogyny in this breakthrough writing of Danny’s? What about someone starting to put far flung pieces together, picking at alibi scabs that have already healed over, noticing an alien look in the eye of a nice guy? How does Danny deal with that? Will he scarf down one victim too many.
Mommy-issue murderers, Jack the Ripper mentions (was Bloch born with Ripper fascination?), truly creepy lethal attacks, and perhaps everything a bit straightforward and obvious to really compete with a stay at Bates Motel a dozen years later. Although, we do have strange complications - weird dreams, a gonzo origin story for that effing scarf, and a tense finale that I think is a bit hard to believe as the way it would go down. But I still think backtracking the Psycho path was very rewarding, and recommended.
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February 4, 2025Yksi kirjoittamisen säännöistä on, että kannattaa kirjoittaa siitä mistä tietää. Joten kun kirjailija kirjoittaa kirjan, jossa päähenkilö on kirjailija, asiantuntemus on kiistatonta. Psykon kirjoittaja Robert Bloch kirjoitti vähintään toisenkin jännityskertomuksen naisia murhaavasta mielipuolesta. Tällä kertaa ei olla syrjäisen tienvarsihotellin huoneissa leikkimässä veitsihippaa, vaan eri puolilla Yhdysvaltoja murhaamassa jokaisen naisen, joka uskaltaa tuntea kiinnostusta umpihullua kynäniekkaa kohtaan. Huivi ei ole mitenkään poikkeuksellinen teos, kuten ei myöskään ollut Psyko, mutta se on kirjoitettu huolella ja pystyy ylläpitämään jännitystä loppuun asti. Se oli Blochin esikoisteos vuodelta 1947, mutta kirjoitettiin enemmän tai vähemmän uudelleen 1960-luvulla. Yhtäläisyydet 50-luvulla ilmestyneeseen Psykoon ovat selkeät. Vuosikertarikosromaanien ystäville tämä voi olla mainio pikku löytö.
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May 22, 2020So wild. The ending is really reminiscent of the Psycho movie in that after a long and winding narrative, the last page is just like: ok here's the cops! bad guy says something more out of touch with reality than their character ever implied they were. Here comes a psychologist to analyze the crimes. Guy gets put away forever and is super out of touch with reality. This and Psycho are by the same author and it really shows.
The black book stuff was hard to read but also interesting to see early-mid 20th-century horror writing.
The black book stuff was hard to read but also interesting to see early-mid 20th-century horror writing.
January 6, 2024
Plot:
Dan Morley after a traumatic Childhood attempts to be a author. And he probably would succeed if he could just stop killing women with his Maroon Scarf.
My Thoughts
This is a OK book, with a decent Villain. I definitely saw some future Psycho characteristics in Dan Morley. As he falls deeper and deeper into becoming a Serial Killer. Good book but I think I expected more because this is the author of Psycho. But a good first read, for someone like me who is just getting back into reading after 4 Years.
My Current Robert Bloch Ranking
1. (1947) The Scarf
Dan Morley after a traumatic Childhood attempts to be a author. And he probably would succeed if he could just stop killing women with his Maroon Scarf.
My Thoughts
This is a OK book, with a decent Villain. I definitely saw some future Psycho characteristics in Dan Morley. As he falls deeper and deeper into becoming a Serial Killer. Good book but I think I expected more because this is the author of Psycho. But a good first read, for someone like me who is just getting back into reading after 4 Years.
My Current Robert Bloch Ranking
1. (1947) The Scarf
March 5, 2025
The Scarf, Robert Bloch [Valancourt, 1947].
Robert Bloch’s debut novel, The Scarf is a psychological thriller regarded as a precursor to his best known work, Psycho. The protagonist Dan Morley is an aspiring writer with a penchant for sponging off of women and a compulsion for murder.
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Robert Bloch [1917-94] began his writing career as a protege of H.P. Lovecraft, publishing Weird Fiction and cosmic horror when he was still a teenager. His work includes Psycho (the basis of Hitchcock’s classic film), and several teleplays for the original Star Trek series.
Robert Bloch’s debut novel, The Scarf is a psychological thriller regarded as a precursor to his best known work, Psycho. The protagonist Dan Morley is an aspiring writer with a penchant for sponging off of women and a compulsion for murder.
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Robert Bloch [1917-94] began his writing career as a protege of H.P. Lovecraft, publishing Weird Fiction and cosmic horror when he was still a teenager. His work includes Psycho (the basis of Hitchcock’s classic film), and several teleplays for the original Star Trek series.
February 7, 2025
Bloch's first novel is a taut, brisk-paced, psychological thriller. In the book's protagonist, Dan Morely, you can see the first inklings of the type of tormented, yet sympathetic, serial killer that would culminate years later in Psycho's Norman Bates. An excellent read.
This re-release (I opted for the hardcover edition) by Valancourt Books is wonderfully crafted and designed.
As of 2/6/25, it IS available on Amazon despite what the Goodreads says.
This re-release (I opted for the hardcover edition) by Valancourt Books is wonderfully crafted and designed.
As of 2/6/25, it IS available on Amazon despite what the Goodreads says.
December 14, 2020
Gran giro final. Tétrico y digno de Psicosis.
No es un libro que me haya volado la cabeza, pero sí ha sido muy entretenido y el personaje principal ha sido interesante.
Definitivamente seguiré leyendo a Robert Bloch.
No es un libro que me haya volado la cabeza, pero sí ha sido muy entretenido y el personaje principal ha sido interesante.
Definitivamente seguiré leyendo a Robert Bloch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2025
Interesting Read
This was a quick interesting read, loved the forties dialogue. Reading this was reminiscent of watching an old black and white movie from the forties. I’am going to have to seek out more popular fiction from the era.
This was a quick interesting read, loved the forties dialogue. Reading this was reminiscent of watching an old black and white movie from the forties. I’am going to have to seek out more popular fiction from the era.
Read
March 14, 2021good heavens bloch! i see now that your work really has been a font of inspiration for some of my favorite writers.
April 17, 2021
A good fast paced psychological suspense pulp pregnant with tight dialogues and no scenery descriptions. A hint of what's to come, a gripping tale showing a unique talent at its embryonic stage.
November 17, 2021
A solid first novel by a master. Bloch should be required reading.
January 10, 2024
Much like Psycho with the Freudian symbolism yet told from the POV of a psychopath.
November 5, 2024
Aside from the insanity, metaphorical and actual killings, I don't think this is actually scary. The horror Bloch is talking about is prolly the horrors of the soceity. A fast read tho.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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