Point of View

The novel is written from the point of view of a third person, shifting between the perspectives of the characters. Kathleen's diary excerpts are in first-person, just as she would have written them. Even when the action is being narrated from the viewpoint of one of the characters, there are moments when an omniscient voice provides commentary. This third-person perspective focuses on future events surrounding the character in question.

The last line of the novel suggests that Lily Piper is actually the main narrator, switching points of view as the need arises, as she tells Anthony about the Piper family. With this in mind, the book's prologue about the family photographs takes on a new meaning. While the other characters might be seen as unreliable narrators, Lily is the most grounded in reality and therefore her version of the story can be considered very accurate.

Setting