Race

The novel explores the way in which racism plays a role in the lives of the characters in Edgewater. During the first round of murders in Edgewater, the first victim is a teenage runner who is also Black. Marlisse Williams’ parents immediately report her missing, but the police department does not do anything about her disappearance until after her body is found: “There were whispers around town about how the police messed up because Marlisse was Black. How they wouldn’t have if she was white. But no one in Edgewater did anything. There were no protests. No nasty confrontations at the town council meetings. No op-eds condemning the detectives in the local paper. Just a lot of folks who shook their heads when they passed the police station and dropped casseroles off at the Williamses’ doorstep, sheepish as they walked away (76). Although the people of...