“‘Don’t worry,’ the man promised. ‘They’ll never have a clue.’”

This quote foreshadows that the protagonists will face a mysterious antagonist without knowing it. The double meaning of “clue” indicates the Cahills’ ignorance of the man’s antagonistic workings and foreshadows the importance of the literal clues they will seek through the quest. The author uses a floating third-person omniscient narrator who grants the reader details the main characters do not know—a form of dramatic irony. Since the reader knows McIntyre has colluded with this man, every subsequent scene where the protagonists entrust McIntyre with information contains more tension and suspense.

“She had treated him and Amy like real people, not kids.”

This quote describes the unique nature of Amy and Dan’s relationship with Grace. Amy and Dan appreciate that Grace respects their intelligence and autonomy. However, Grace leaves them in the care of Aunt Beatrice, who neglects them, forcing them to live more independently than any child should. Dan works to make his own money at age 11, while Amy manages the logistics of their lives at 14. In a way, Grace treating them like real adults prepares them for the clue quest and the many dangers that lie ahead, as it required them to mature and learn skills that prove useful in the quest.