Melissa Byatt

Melissa Byatt is the central character of the novel. She is the daughter of Frank and Ruby Quail. She is the wife of Patrick Byatt, and the mother of Joel, Lewis, Lilly, and Grace. She grew up under tragic circumstances, but believes her life with Patrick is as perfect as it can get. This illusion is destroyed when she returns home one day to discover her husband has been stabbed. Melissa has the suspicion that her children know what happened, but they will not tell her.

Because Patrick’s parents took Melissa from a physically violent home life, she always believed they had the best in mind for her. As Melissa’s life falls apart when she learns things that her husband and his parents have been hiding from her for years, Melissa realizes that she is stronger than she believed she was. When Patrick was first...