Genre
Mystery
Setting and Context
A small town in Australia beset by the dissappreance of Indigenous women.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel has two primary narrators, Beth Teller's spirit and Isobel Catching.
Tone and Mood
The tone is investigative, somber, and introspective; the mood is eerie, reflective, and tense.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Beth Teller is the protagonist of the novel and the sinister forces within her town is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
Michael and Beth's struggle to uncover the truth behind recent deaths in the town.
Climax
When the plot against Indigenous children by the town's leaders is revealed.
Foreshadowing
Beth's connection with Isobel is foreshadowed by her earlier experiences with her father.
Understatement
The trauma and pain of the Indigenous community are often understated.
Allusions
The novel alludes to the history and struggles of Indigenous Australians throughout history, as well as history, psychological concepts, and the Bible.
Imagery
The poetic sections narrated by Isobel Catching are rich with vivid and colorful imagery.
Paradox
Beth Teller herself is a paradox: despite being dead and only able to speak and interact with her father, she is able to help her father investigate the children's home fire.
Parallelism
The dual narrators, Isobel and Beth (respectively), provide a parallel structure to the novel.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
n/a
Personification
Michael's grief over the death of his daughter, Beth, is frequently personified in the novel.
