The Scarf is a 1947 psychological thriller novel by Robert Bloch, known as a precursor to his most famous work, Psycho. The story follows a charming but disturbed novelist, Daniel Morley, who uses a maroon scarf to murder women who inspire his writing.
The story is told in the first person by Daniel Morley, an aspiring writer whose personal journals reveal his inner turmoil.
A traumatic past: As a teenager, Morley is psychologically scarred by an older female teacher who seduces him and tries to involve him in a murder-suicide pact, with the maroon scarf playing a central role.
The murders begin: Years later, Morley becomes a successful novelist who bases his female characters on real women he has relationships with. After using each woman for creative fodder, he is driven by an irresistible urge to strangle them with the very same scarf.
A cross-country killing spree: The narrative follows Morley’s path from Minneapolis to Chicago and New York, detailing his charm and success as a writer as he leaves a trail of murdered women in his wake.
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