How does the setting of the novel—a small town in the suburbs of Boston—influence the action of the plot? How would the novel be different if the main protagonists lived in downtown Boston instead?

How does McManus use or subvert the conventions of the mystery genre? How does her use of these conventions affect reader expectations about Brian’s murder?

Explore the novel’s representation of sibling and sibling-like relationships. How does the relationship between Ivy and Daniel differ from the relationship between Mateo and Autumn? Are these relationships sources of support or anxiety? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.