“It is Wednesday afternoon by now, and his name is already beginning to slip down the rankings. Other things are happening in the world. A baseball star has driven his pick-up into his ex-wife’s swimming pool. A beauty blogger has said something inappropriate about Taylor Swift. The conversation, like the tide, is turning.”

This passage showcases the wry third-person narrative voice used intermittently throughout the narrative. Describing Andrew Fairbanks’ brief fame after his murder, the narrator adopts a detached, ironic tone. The fickle nature of celebrity is emphasized as the latest inconsequential scandals soon obscure Fairbanks’ macabre death.

“Amy Wheeler is sitting, bolt upright, on a garden chair at the poolside, the sun in her eyes and her gun within easy reach.”

In this first description of Amy Wheeler, Osman succinctly conveys information about her character. Her “bolt upright” posture and the presence of her gun close at hand are at odds with the sense of relaxation one would usually associate with a poolside in sunny South Carolina. The contrast illustrates Amy’s profession as a bodyguard while also hinting that she is permanently combat-ready, never entirely letting down her guard.

“Amy remembers watching Rosie on the communal TV when she was growing up. Those shoulder pads, that attitude. It had meant a lot to Amy, seeing how strong a woman could be, while she slept each night curled up in a ball under her bed and dreamt of better days.”

Amy’s memory hints at her traumatic childhood. The reference to the “communal TV” suggests that she may have been raised in the foster care system. Meanwhile, the description of Amy “curled up in a ball under her bed” implies fear and vulnerability. The passage conveys how Amy has consciously transformed herself from a frightened little girl to a strong, formidable woman, with Rosie D’Antonio serving as an early inspiration.