Steve Wheeler

Steve Wheeler, a retired police officer, is one of the novel’s two protagonists. He is Amy Wheeler’s father-in-law. At the start of the novel Steve is depicted as a man defined by his loss. The death of his wife, Debbie, has left him emotionally paralyzed, clinging to the comfort of routine and the familiar surroundings of the small village of Axley where he lives. His grief is both a sanctuary and a prison, as he maintains a deep connection to the past through objects like Debbie’s memorial bench and his Dictaphone, where he records thoughts as though still speaking to her. This attachment reflects his inability to let go, trapping him in a static existence that lacks forward momentum. Steve’s initial reluctance to leave Axley when Amy calls him for help illustrates the extent of his inertia. The prospect of stepping outside his...