Keep It in the Family

Finn is a dynamic primary character who undergoes substantial transformation—although not for the better. Initially, Finn is depicted as a perceptive and empathetic individual who is attuned to the nuances of his relationships and surroundings. He also displays a keen sense of observation and deep intuition. These traits are most evident in his ability to read Mia’s moods and interpret her nonverbal cues. Additionally, he is able to discern ulterior motives in seemingly innocuous encounters, as when he accurately discerns the falseness of a supposed emergency maintenance job and divines a reporter’s ulterior motives. Finn’s ability to read situations and people adds a layer of realism to his character, showcasing his astuteness and pragmatism in navigating challenging circumstances.

However, as the story unfolds, it becomes evident that Finn’s ability to read people is a predatory skill that he learned from Debbie. Just as Debbie’s parents used her to lure in children that they would then kill, Debbie required Finn to fulfill the same role when he was a child. When Debbie encouraged Finn to help her stalk and select children, she was teaching him to identify weaknesses and exploit them. Finn implements this skill throughout his marriage to Mia, for he covertly monitors every aspect of her feelings and behavior so that he can find new ways manipulate her. However, because his secret status as a serial killer is not revealed until the very end of the novel, these red flags are designed to blend into the myriad of other details that dominate the mystery-laden narrative.

Finn is also selfish and duplicitous, and he frequently lies to Mia, Sonny, and Debbie and even indulges in an extramarital affair with his ex-girlfriend, Emma, fathering a daughter named Chloe and keeping her existence a secret from Mia. Although he makes no attempt to improve himself throughout the novel, Finn does acknowledge that his affair with Emma is selfish, admitting that “subconsciously I keep a spare as I don’t want to be left on my own” (139). Unlike Mia, however, Finn does not evolve throughout the story. Instead, the aftermath of Debbie’s actions reveal the true extent of Finn’s longtime murderous activities, which mirror those of his mother and imply that Finn does not possess any emotional depth—merely layers of deception.

Debbie Hunter is a dynamic antagonist whose twisted devolution offers a complex portrayal of the impact of trauma and self-deception on identity. Initially introduced as a victim of her parents’ heinous crimes, Debbie’s character development unfolds as a profound exploration of how childhood trauma shapes one’s perception of reality. Her secret patterns of murder and manipulation drive the novel’s core conflict and serve as a catalyst for the story’s darker themes. One of Debbie’s defining traits is her obsession with “saving” children by killing them; this warped perspective of reality stems from her parents’ abuses. As the daughter of serial killers, the young Debbie is used as bait to lure in children for her parents to murder. Her childhood is characterized by the screams of murdered children in the attic and her inability to help them. This trauma—along with guilt over her own unwilling involvement in the murders—instills a twisted sense of responsibility to “save” other children from suffering by murdering them before they have the chance to experience suffering. Although the young Debbie initially acts with pure intentions by saving Precious Johnson from the attic and helping her to escape, Debbie’s motivations are distorted when Precious accuses Debbie of being just as evil as her parents.

After attacking Precious in a burst of self-defense, Debbie feels a bizarre sense of satisfaction over her first attempt to take a life. In an attempt to justify her behavior, Debbie tells herself that Precious is better off dead than in the attic and concludes that she can “save” others by removing them from the world. From that moment on, Debbie engages in a lifelong pattern of stalking, abduction, and murder, all of which she justifies under the guise of protecting innocent children from suffering further. Debbie’s role in the narrative is pivotal, as her actions drive much of the plot’s suspense and moral ambiguity. She also serves as a mirror, reflecting the theme of self-deception and illustrating how individuals can deceive themselves into believing that their harmful actions are really benevolent and beneficial attempts to serve the greater good.

Throughout the story, Debbie undergoes a transformation that blurs the lines between victim and perpetrator, showcasing the complexity of human nature. Initially portrayed as a victim of her parents’ atrocities, Debbie descends into becoming a serial killer, and this devolution challenges traditional notions of morality and culpability. Her transformation also highlights the novel’s exploration of identity and the impact of trauma on shaping individual beliefs and actions. As the narrative unfolds, Debbie serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked trauma and the potential for individuals to become what they despise most due to their unresolved psychological wounds. Overall, Marrs uses Debbie’s character to offer a nuanced examination of the human psyche, and he delves into the interplay between trauma, self-deception, and the distorted desire to help others.

Dave is a static secondary character who primarily serves as a red herring. Through Marrs’s conceptualization of Dave’s character, the author capitalizes on the common assumption that most serial killers are male, thereby creating the impression that Dave is the serial killer instead of Debbie. Ultimately, although Dave is not the actual killer, he is a willing accomplice in Debbie’s crimes and has little purpose or identity beyond his relationship with his compulsively murderous wife. The narrative gradually reveals that Dave was raised in an abusive and impoverished home, where he was alternately bullied and neglected by his parents. At school, his classmates taunted him because of his undiagnosed dyslexia and a prominent birthmark on his face. The young Dave was therefore desperate for love and approval, and his relationship with Debbie offered him what he craved. Because Debbie is the only person who ever loves or supports him, Dave becomes indebted to her at a young age.

Afraid of losing his only source of affection, Dave supports Debbie’s behavior even when her activities repulse him. His inability to leave or to challenge her highlights his cowardly nature and the ease with which Debbie manipulates him throughout their marriage. Dave is also shown to be afraid of difficult conversations; for example, when he believes that he is dying of cancer, he vows not to share the news with Debbie. Although he claims that he is hiding the truth to protect her, Dave’s thoughts reveal his real motivations, for he admits, “She has enough on her plate without adding me to her list of worries. I can’t watch as her heart breaks” (180).

In reality, Dave cannot bring himself to have a painful conversation with Debbie or witness her grief. His desire to spare himself the pain of confrontation is also evident in his suicide when he tricks Mia into believing that he will murder her. When Mia pleads for her life and implores Dave to think about his grandson, Dave changes his mind and dies by suicide instead. He is unwilling to confront the reality of Mia’s fear or to watch Debbie be revealed as a serial killer. These issues combine with his refusal to endure a slow, painful death from cancer, and ultimately, in death as in life, Dave sacrifices himself to avoid conflict and protect Debbie.