Point of View

For most part, the narrative is told from the third-person limited omniscient perspective of three different characters: Strike; Robin; and the killer. This allows the reader to follow the thoughts, actions, and events that affect each character when they are together or apart from one another. This also allows the reader to get glimpses of Strike's personal life, and Robin's personal life, that would not otherwise have been possible (for example, if the novel had been told in the first-person perspective.)

The point of view supports the mystery/thriller genre as through the various characters, readers receive clues regarding the identity of the killer. Readers are able to pair what the killer says about himself with the information Strike and Robin learn. However, since Strike and Robin to do have privy to the killer's thoughts, the reader can solve the puzzle and identify the killer...