Motif of Home

Ellery employs a play on words as she uses the name of the Home Group to create sentences that convey both practical and ironic statements. Ned intentionally uses the word home in the name of his company as well as the names of his resorts to suggest that staying at the resort is going to be just like being at home. The idea that these resorts are going to be just like home is ironic in itself since Ned has surveillance equipment recording what his guests are doing.

One character has the foresight to comment on the irony of Ned’s idea to name his company the Home Group. During a conversation with Annie, Freddie admits that he had believed Ron when he told them that the Home properties were places they could consider neutral ground with no phones or cameras. Annie guesses that...