The Perfect Marriage

“A one-woman show where I just happen to be cast as an extra.”

Adam describes Sarah with these words, perfectly encapsulating the power dynamic in their marriage. Their atypical roles (powerful, high-earning female versus unsuccessful, dependent male) subvert traditional norms. However, this gender imbalance creates problems for them, suggesting that a truly “perfect” marriage should be one of equals.

“Babe, I brought leftover baked goods from the café.”

This is one of the few lines spoken by Kelly/Jenna before she is murdered. They speak to a seemingly nurturing, womanly nature, as Kelly/Jenna is bringing Adam food. This presents Kelly/Jenna as a counterpoint to Sarah’s character. However, details later in the plot will suggest that Kelly/Jenna is as manipulative as Sarah behind her feminine façade.

“I’m no longer here as Adam’s wife. I’m here as his lawyer. I’m Sarah Morgan, top criminal defense attorney.”

With these words, Sarah unwittingly reveals her ultimate self-identity, that of a "top criminal defense attorney,” and little else. Sarah’s entire life has been built around achieving a successful career that allows her to be independent and not rely on a man. She has never been Adam’s wife in any meaningful sense of the word. She is also not truly serving as Adam’s legal defense, since she is framing him for her own crime.

“She’s been crying. I’ve never seen her cry. What the fuck did I do?”

Adam describes Sarah thusly when they first meet after news of his affair and Kelly/Jenna’s death has broken. First, it is notable that Adam, despite knowing Sarah for some 15 years, has never seen her cry, which suggests the lack of genuine emotional intimacy between them. Second, Sarah’s feigned sorrow is a part of her elaborate act: She is presenting herself as the wronged but loyal wife to disguise her identity as the true killer.

“He [Scott] knew about us. About the affair. He was texting her the night she died. He was threatening her. He was abusive.”

Adam presents one of the book’s most dominant and earliest red herrings with this theory. Later, it will become unclear whether Scott really was abusive, suggesting that Kelly/Jenna was also untruthful, and speaking to the theme Fidelity Versus Deceit.

“I’m just here to find out the truth and enact the proper justice.”

Sheriff Stevens says these words to Sarah, but in fact, he is concealing aspects of the truth when investigating the case—like the fact that the third set of DNA is his. The Sheriff is yet another character who proves to be deceitful, prioritizing his self-interests over all else. His prioritization of his own needs above that of the law also relates to the theme Revenge Versus Justice.

“‘And we were out in D.C. until…’ Anne ponders.

‘After midnight, although it may have been a bit later.’

‘Yeah, that’s right.’ Anne sits there thinking. I can see that she wants to be of more help.”

This exchange between Sarah and Anne seems innocent at first. Once the reader knows Sarah is the killer, the exchange will become more sinister: It is clear that Sarah is manipulating Anne here, using her as a pawn to help create her own alibi.

“END IT OR I WILL.”

This message is the threatening note that accompanies the photo of Adam and Kelly that Anne sends Adam. This is yet another red herring; at one point in the narrative, Anne is briefly suspected of involvement in the murder. In actuality, she simply knew about the affair but did not tell Sarah, rendering even Anne another example of Fidelity Versus Deceit.

“I’m saying you weren’t the only man [Kelly/Jenna] was cheating on her husband with. I’m saying you weren’t special. I’m saying she was a whore.”

This moment of rage and profanity on Sarah’s part is one of the few instances in which her cool and steely façade seems to slip. Sarah’s denunciation of Kelly/Jenna as a “whore” and her insistence that Adam was not “special” reveal the jealous and controlling aspects of her characterization: She is enraged that Adam has disrupted the usual Power Dynamics and Gender Politics in their marriage by having a secret life without her.

“I really wish you would have paid more attention to my son and upheld your wifely duties. Adam wouldn’t be in this predicament otherwise.”

Eleanor says these words to Sarah, blaming Adam’s infidelity on Sarah. The reference to “wifely duties” speaks to Eleanor’s traditional views on male/female roles in marriage—roles that Sarah subverts. Eleanor’s inability to blame Adam for his misdeeds plays an important role in his characterization, as his lack of responsibility and emotional control appear to be, at least partially, a result of his conditioning as her son.

“I’ll make sure Adam gets the justice he deserves.”

Sarah says this to Eleanor, apparently trying to convince Eleanor that Sarah will whole-heartedly defend Adam. In fact, Sarah is making sure Adam gets the “justice” he “deserves” for his infidelity by framing him for a murder he did not commit. Sarah’s pursuit of her own vengeance speaks to the theme Revenge Versus Justice.

“I accidentally caught her in the face with my elbow when I was hanging drywall in our home.”

Scott says this to Adam, explaining Kelly/Jenna’s black eye. Although Scott’s account is never proven, it does cast doubt on Kelly/Jenna’s claims that she was abused. There is already doubt about Kelly/Jenna’s character after it is learned that she may have killed her first husband after making similar claims of abuse.

“Until I can tie up this loose end, I will always be left wondering what it is that I don’t know.”

Sarah thinks this about the third set of DNA. To the unknowing reader, it may seem that Sarah wants to know who the DNA belongs to because it could exonerate Adam. In fact, Sarah simply hates that there is something unknown and unplanned in her murder plot—something she does not control.

“I believe the police did and that whole someone from her past came back and got their revenge just doesn’t seem plausible.”

Sarah says this passage to Adam when he suggests that someone from Kelly/Jenna’s past murdered her, such as a relative of Greg Miller. Sarah manipulates Adam, purposefully turning him away from this theory. Sarah, of course, knows that Adam’s guess is partially correct: Her co-conspirator, Bob, is the brother of the deceased Greg Miller.

“[Anne] is the one person I can always depend on, the one person I can always trust.”

Sarah thinks this about Anne shortly before it is revealed that Anne knew about Adam and Kelly/Jenna’s affair and did not tell Sarah. Anne’s character, like many others in the book, is deceitful and disloyal, traits that Sarah detests, even while exhibiting them herself. The preoccupation with Fidelity Versus Deceit taints every interpersonal relationship in the novel.

“She’s obsessed with Sarah, and she’s never really liked me. Maybe she wanted her all to herself.”

Adam presents yet another red herring here, suggesting that Anne is the killer. Adam once again conceives of relationships in terms of power and control (“Maybe she wanted her all to herself”), suggesting that it is almost impossible for him to understand any relationship in terms of equality and mutual affection.

“The best thing you could do as a mother is to take note from mine and kill yourself.”

Sarah says this to Eleanor in their final showdown, when Eleanor slaps her. It appears to be a pivotal revelation, as it is the first time Sarah’s mother’s death is mentioned. As Sarah will reveal at the novel’s end, however, her mother did not actually die by suicide—Sarah murdered her.

“All of this erratic behavior, the loose cannon, bereaved widower act is both a cover for the truth and a convenient outlet for the fear and ‘caged animal’ emotions running through him.”

Adam here describes Scott, wondering if he can trust him or not. Adam’s suspicions reflect the preoccupation with Fidelity Versus Deceit in the novel. Even when Adam appears to have a potential ally, he cannot fully trust him, and suspects it is all “a cover for the truth.”

“You’ve never worked a day in your life. You were so pathetically reliant on one man that you now have nothing and know how to do nothing. You are weak and pathetic.”

Sarah remembers saying this to her mother as a teenager. The words provide insight into her characterization, suggesting why Sarah is so obsessed with personal success, independence, power, and control. Sarah conceives of Power Dynamics and Gender Politics as a zero-sum game in which she will either be the dominant party or the helpless inferior of a man. Like Adam, Sarah cannot conceive of relationships in terms of equality.

“I’m going to text you a list of names. I need you to get a DNA sample from each of these men. Hair, saliva, skin… I don’t care how you get it. I just need you to get it.”

Sarah says this to Matthew, revealing part of her plan to figure out who the third set of DNA belongs to. Sarah’s recourse yet again to illegal means reveals her inability to differentiate between Revenge Versus Justice, with Sarah abusing her position as a lawyer to pursue her own vendetta.

“I just want to make sure we’re on the same page. We are on the same team, after all, Sarah. You know that, right?”

Bob says these words to Sarah. They are the only hint in the narrative that Bob and Sarah are aligned until the final revelation when Sarah reveals they are accomplices in Kelly/Jenna’s murder. Bob’s insistence that they are “on the same team” and his need for reassurance allude to the mistrust that exists even between the co-conspirators: Their relationship, like every other, is wracked with the tensions of Fidelity Versus Deceit.

“Sarah controlled everything in her life, myself included. I underestimated her. Like I did so many times before. This time it was just one too many. […] Sarah is my last thought, my last image. She was right about everything…absolutely everything.”

Adam has these thoughts before he is executed, finally realizing the extent of the skewed Power Dynamics and Gender Politics in his marriage to Sarah. His reflections speak to Sarah’s need for control in their relationship—in life and even in death. His acceptance that Sarah “was right about everything” and her appearance as the “last thought” and “image” of his life suggests that Sarah maintains her hold over Adam until the very end.

“We [Sarah and Bob] decided to kill Kelly and frame Adam. After all, they did have it coming.”

With this admission, Sarah confirms the book’s central plot twist: She is the killer. Sarah’s words here, “they [had] it coming,” also speak to her mindset: She believes justice has been served now that Kelly/Jenna is dead and that Adam was successfully framed for the crime. Her unrepentant pursuit of her own vendetta speaks to the theme Revenge Versus Justice.