Phoebe Siegler

Phoebe Siegler is the novel’s protagonist and narrator. Her age is not stated, but she appears to be in her mid to late twenties. She was raised in an upper middle class household, and she received a good education. After college, she worked for NPR and then The New York Times. However, after the 2016 election, she became disillusioned in the face of Donald Trump’s victory, and she quit her job. Around the same time, Phoebe’s friend Arabella dropped out of college, fled to California, and disappeared. The novel begins with Phoebe’s arrival in Los Angles to look for Arabella. Phoebe hires the assistance of private detective Charles Heist.

Phoebe assists with the investigation, both independently and in tandem with Heist. Phoebe begins to take an interest in the nearby off-the-grid tribes known as the Bears and the Rabbits, especially as it becomes more...