Point of View

The novel is written in the third person with a limited narrator who follows Ballard’s perspective. This ensures that the reader identifies with her throughout her journey, and it also allows for the gradual revelation of clues as Ballard discovers them, essential for an effective detective narrative. Through the third person narrator, we see all of Ballard’s frustrations and concerns, even those she might hide from those whom she works with or loves. However, while the narrator is consistently reliable, Ballard’s own self-denial limits the accuracy of a surface level reading of the narrative. Ballard pictures herself as a tough, dedicated detective who has no need for the distractions of a permanent home and intimate relationships. However, in truth she is living an incomplete life, unable to overcome the tragedies of her past and take care of herself in the present. It...