Past and Present

The history of Echo Ridge informs everything about its current state, which suggests that the past is always present. Echo Ridge is described as quaint and charming, with hardly any modern touches, like something out of a perfectly preserved fairytale. But of course the fairytale is more of a nightmare as the town is haunted by the history of two unsolved crimes: the disappearance of Sadie and the murder of Lacey. When Val begins to vandalize the town with messages seemingly coming from their murderer: I’m Back. Pick your Queen, Echo Ridge. Happy Homecoming” (51), the dark history of Echo Ridge comes out into the light.

Ellery and Ezra arrive in the town their mother grew up in to start their senior year while their mother is in rehab, but they do not realize that appearing in town is more like stepping back into...