Toy Frog

Samantha Geary’s toy frog is seen only at the very beginning and the very end of the novel to represent the insignificance time can bring. When the murders occur, the frog is the most important object in Samantha’s universe. The next time the frog is mentioned twelve years have passed, and the toy frog is now dog’s toy. This disparity is used to symbolize the effects time can have.

Burger

The burger that Louis eats in the diner while Joe is off with the waitress symbolizes his guilt and his acceptance of his role in the murders of the couple twelve years earlier. That the burger is unappetizing shows his reluctance to take responsibility for the situation he has found himself in, both twelve years ago and now that he has been rejoined with Joe. When Louis consumes the burger despite how...