Each character in the book has some connection to Chatham School, and each of them plays a crucial role in the Chatham School affair. Because the story is told from Henry's point of view, we understand the characters' dreams and motives as Henry himself learns to understand them. From the time the crime occurred to the time Henry tells his tale, he had decades to dissect the events, comprehend the disaster, and evaluate his role in the murders. As Henry reveals the nature of the crime and how it molded his perspectives on human nature, we gradually understand the intricacies of the plot and everyone involved.

At the time of the Chatham School affair, Henry Griswald, the narrator, is a young student at the academy, the son of the headmaster Arthur Griswald. Henry is restless, bored, and struggling to break free of the bonds...