Abuela's House

The novel is initially set at Lydia's mother's home. She is referred to as Abuela, the Spanish endearment for grandmother. This setting is critical as it is the site of the family massacre. It is the last time that Lydia and Luca see their loved ones and a powerful reminder of the violence of which the cartel is capable.

Her home is in the city of Acapulco which has experienced a rise in violent crime as it has been infiltrated by various cartels vying for power of the city. Both Luca and Lydia carry the trauma of that horrific day and suffer flashbacks to the setting and events. Luca notes as they leave the crime scene that despite the locked gates and precautions residents take, "Acapulco is a dangerous city" (7). The carnage serves as a grim reminder of the threats that loom as Luca and Lydia head...