Point of View

The novel is written using a third-person narrational perspective that is closely tied to the character of Jacob. In many ways, the novel would be virtually unchanged if the narration was written in the first person from Jacob’s perspective. Jacob is the sole point-of-view character. The reader has direct access to Jacob’s thoughts throughout the novel. The reader has access to other characters’ thoughts indirectly, mostly through the other characters’ dialogue. This adherence to Jacob’s perspective allows the novel to maintain an air of suspense and mystery as Jacob gradually uncovers the truth behind Evan’s plot idea and the Parker family.

Although Jacob is technically the only point-of-view character, the novel also integrates other character perspective through use of dialogue and speculation. For example, most of the dialogue exchanges between Jacob and other characters reveal differences in character perspective. An early...