what is the time period in which the book happens and how did it impact the story

On May 3, 1977, Lydia Lee does not show up at the breakfast table. After a few days, Lydia’s lifeless body is found in the town’s lake. While the police investigate the criminal nature of Lydia’s death, Lydia’s parents, James and Marilyn Lee, begin to realize that they did not know the true identity of their daughter. Although Lydia gave the impression that she was well-adjusted in her academic and social life, she was actually dealing with a great amount of pressure and insecurity.

The novel then begins to switch to a series of flashbacks. These flashbacks provide context for Lydia’s emotional condition prior to her death. The Lee family is comprised of Marilyn, a Caucasian woman from Virginia, and James, a first-generation Chinese immigrant. The narrative jumps back to 1955, during Marilyn's first year at Radcliffe. These flashbacks enable the author to manipulate or rather form the narrative that builds the suspense and thematic importance of the narrative.