Theme
Emotions and Grief
The novel dives into emotions, grief, and bereavement of his past. As Cole navigates through his losses and healing, emphasizing the emotional depth throughout the story.
Later in the story, Cole's friends Ashley and Alex meet their demise, due to Cole not being able to protect them. This leads Cole and his friends into a down spiral of bereavement, as he relises that the only solution to all of this to is to find the person responsible for the killings. This shows how his losses through out the story creates an atmosphere of grief base on his actions.
Through out the story we see how people of his community view Cole as a, ''Fake hero.'' Due to his past with the fire incident that happened 10 years ago, as only him and his friends were able to come out alive, as the rest were killed. Whenever this memory is brought up, it remines Cole of the guilt of not being able to save the other kids that were caught in the fire. As this shows the emotional weight of his past decisions weighing on him heavily. Allowing the reader to connect to cole's past struggles.
Mystery and Unraveling Secrets
The novel opens with of Cole Harper, the protagonist returning to his old community of Wounded Sky First Nation, as a series of shocking murders start to happen since his return. This leads to Cole determined to find the mesterious person behind all these killings.
The novel keeps readers trying to figure out who was responsible for the killings as they follow Cole’s investigation through out the chaptures, by piecing the puzzles together who they think might've been the killer. As well as the novel that uses the past to create a sense of anticipation and discovery.
An a example could've been in page 26 where Scott stated to Cole, ''Leave everybody here to suffer through it all together, save who ever the fuck you wanna, and come back to soak in the awe and wonder of your return.'' This quote has to reffer to the fire incident where only Cole and his best friends were able to making it out alive due to his help, this was the reason why Cole doesn't have a good relationship with some of the people in his community due to his actions. This could lead us to suspecting Scott to be the killer due the resentment he has against Cole, that would lead to something bigger.
Community and Spirituality
Community: The novel centers around place called Wounded Sky First Nation, which is a Indigenous community. despite the challenges that Cole faces, people apart of the community will come together to support one another, thus whether being friends, family, and shared connections with others.
Examples of this is Coles closest friends, Ava, Bradly, the extra support from Ava's dad Wayne, and Choch. Mainly Ava, Bradly, and Choch have been there to support Cole, as it would make hunting down the killer a lot easier. Near the end of the book, Cole was able to take down the killer if it weren't for the support of Ava helping Cole take down the killer, as well as bradly calling for help to aid Cole when dealing with serious injuries. This show how no matter what the challenge needs to be faced, the bonds of friendship, family, and shared connections with others will come together to support one another.
This theme also provides a lens through which emotions, grief, and healing are explored. An a example of this was back in chapter 16 where Cole was in jail due to being fulsely accused of killing Maggie, Cole got into a heated conversation with police officer Lauren due to the fire incident leaving her sister Jayney to pass away, as she blames Cole for her death for not being able to save her as he was able to save his friends instead. Cole knowing that Lauren still in pain about the incident, communicates to Jayne for Lauren to see her sister one last time before she disappears in thin air. In which Cole reveles that by the time he got in the school fire, everyone else was dead execpt his friends. After understanding that it wasn't Coles fault, Lauren appologizes as they both make up for each other. This shows how Cole felt, the grief he had to endure from the incident, and to being forgiven due what happened.
Spirituality: such as ghosts, spirits and supernatural beings adds depth to the story. An a example of this would be Choch who is a supernatural that supports Cole through out the story by being able to grant abilities like supper strength to assiste Cole in times of need.
