Genre
Mystery-Horror
Setting and Context
A small town in the American Midwest
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is told from the perspective of Holly Gibney, the novel's protagonist.
Tone and Mood
The tone is suspenseful, dark, and gritty. The mood is tense, foreboding, and gloomy.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Holly Gibney is the novel's protagonist and the Harris' are the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the novel revolves around Holly's struggle to determine why Bonnie had disappeared—and later, who kidnapped her.
Climax
When Holly discovers that Rodney and Emily Harris, two esteemed professors, are responsible for Bonnie's disappearance.
Foreshadowing
King uses foreboding language when describing the Harris' home to foreshadow their involvement in Bonnie's disappearance.
Understatement
The importance of Holly's usual partner is understated early on in the novel because she is able to figure out the case by herself.
Allusions
King alludes to his previous novels featuring Holly Gibney, history, religion, mythology, and the dark arts.
Imagery
King consistently utilizes dark and horrific imagery when describing Rodney and Emily Harris and their abilities.
Paradox
The Harris' seemingly have everything going for them, but throw their lives away for something they knew they could never achieve.
Parallelism
n/a
Metonymy and Synecdoche
MAGA = the movement run by Donald Trump called "Make America Great Again," which carries racist connotations in King's novel.
Personification
The Harris' home is personified in the novel and is given human-like characteristics.
