And so, because of my husband's war with his father and their insane obsession with a mythical monster, we'd crossed the Atlantic at the very same time a real madman, a real monster, was attempting to take over the world for his own reasons of ego and pride.
-- Maddie (Chapter 1 paragraph 21)

Importance: This is just one example of Maddie's full awareness of the events of World War II, going on at this time. The fact that Ellis and Hank don't fight in the war but put themselves in danger to search for the Loch Ness Monster is an important aspect of their characters.

Ellis's crime against his father was twofold, and the parts were equally grievous. He had been caught railing against the Colonel behind his back, and then had accused him of fraud to his face.
-- Maddie (Chapter 4 paragraph 4)

Importance: Maddie is talking about Ellis's comments about the monster and about his father in general. Ellis and...