Dramatic irony - What happens to the vanishing girls?
While there is the knowledge with the main protagonist Josie that the girls have disappeared, probably kidnapped, the actual state of the girls is unknown to her. On the other hand, there are isolated chapters that are told from the perspective of the vanished girls as they are being held in a dark room and visited and violated by a man. This creates dramatic irony in the novel, the reader has a larger understanding of the events as opposed to the protagonist.
Situational irony - Ray’s involvement
Ray’s involvement with the cover-up of the vanishing girls comes as an unexpected twist. He has not directly participated in the vile exploitative actions of the kidnapped girls, but he has had some presumed knowledge of what was going on. This creates situational irony in the novel, as it comes as an unexpected outcome to the protagonist.
Situational irony - Sherri Gosnell
Sherri Gosnell is introduced as a kind nurse in the elderly home where Josie’s grandmother is living. After June arrives, she is the one on duty to do a checkup on her. June Spencer ends up murdering Sherri with a fork, after which she frantically writes the name Ramona on the wall with Sherri’s blood. A tragic incident that reveals an unexpected twist towards the end. Namely, Sherri was the wife of the serial killer who is revealed to be the one kidnapping, raping and murdering the vanishing girls, and this is the reason why June brutally murdered her. This creates situational irony as an unexpected twist for both the reader and the protagonist.
Situational irony - Who is Ramona?
The final and the most crucial twist at the end of the novel is the truth behind the identity of Ramona. Ramona is revealed to be the long-lost daughter of Josie’s grandmother, who disappeared at a very young age in the woods neighboring the Gosnell property. Nick Gosnell was taught to be a serial killer by his father, who never got caught. Ramona was his first victim after a long time of fantasizing about bringing his fantasy to life. This is another unexpected twist in the novel.
