Luke Lied. You Lied. Be at the funeral.
-- Gerry Hadler (chapter 7)

Importance: This quotation is from a letter sent by Gerry Hadler to Aaron Falk after the deaths of the Hadlers. This letter serves the functional narrative purpose of bringing Falk to Kiewarra to investigate the deaths of the Hadlers, but it is also the first oblique reference to the novel’s second mystery: the death of Ellie Deacon. Gerry’s enigmatic statements serve to implicate Falk in both mysteries and to signal to the reader Falk’s personal connection to these deaths.

Everyone’s scared about money and the drought. Then this happened with Luke and his family…We’re all watching each other. Trying to work out who’ll be next to snap.
-- Gretchen Schoner (chapter 2)

Importance: Gretchen says this to Falk after the funeral service for the Hadlers. Gretchen’s pronouncement helps to establish the tense atmosphere in Kiewarra. The residents are on edge due...