Deadman Switch is told from the firstperson point of view of Gilead Raca Benedar, with Gilead's scriptural reflections the most unusual touch. These are chosen and interspersed so well that the reader catches on to Gilead's self-deceptions only about the same time that he does.

His attitude toward Calandra is a case in point. For most of the novel he idealizes her, applying such phrases to her as "She is far beyond the price of rubies." At the end of their adventures, he begins to reflect: "There are ways that some think are straight. . ." Shortly after, Calandra tells her ambiguous story to Lord Kelsey-Ramos, and Gilead realizes that all along he had multiple reasons for wanting to believe her innocent.