Point of View

This novel is told from the first-person point of view of several narrators, including Mimi, Jess, Sophie, Nick, and the concierge. For instance, Sophie narrates at the beginning of the novel: “I can ignore the grime beneath the gilt. I am good at turning a blind eye. Usually. But tonight is . . . different” (10). Each of these characters tells a portion of the story of what happened to Ben. They describe not only what is happening in the future, but also give their memories of their experiences with Ben in the past. From their stories and memories, the reader is challenged to piece together what actually happened. Each character adds to the story and gives clues to the whole.

The Prologue of the novel and the section titled “Thirty Hours Earlier: Ben” are the only sections of the novel that focus on Ben and his point of...