Suburban Pennsylvania

Suburban Pennsylvania is the setting of this story. The neighborhood where Susie and her family live is near a cornfield. Susie is walking through this cornfield when Mr. Harvey lures her into his workshop. A cornfield is a large, endless setting where something can be lost.

The suburbs are an area where people know each other's business and secrets. Mr. Harvey sticks out because he is single and does not mix with his neighbors. He refuses to come to block parties. He keeps to himself and builds doll houses in his house. His is a non-traditional lifestyle, which makes his neighbors distrust him.

Near the cornfield is a sinkhole where Mr. Harvey throws the safe into which he has stuffed Susie's body. The sinkhole is well-known for its mysterious makeup. Later when the sinkhole is to be filled in, Ruth and Ray come to look at...