Unresolved Death

The abrupt murder of Jane, an already aloof figure in her family, forces the family to deal with the issues that arise from her unresolved death, even years after the event. With Jane hanging over her head as mythic figure, Maggie Nelson strives to understand the woman who has become a symbol that haunts the memories of her mother, and has found her way into her own dreams as well. Since her death was so unexpected, the family never fully moves on from the incident, as the father confuses his granddaughter for his daughter, while Barb invents memories as a means of feeling some measure of guilt over her sister's death. Despite John Collins's conviction over Jane's murder, there is an uncertainty over whether or not he was the actual murderer. Also, it is the emotional aftermath of Jane's death that is so concerning, rather than the...