Summary
Set in late summer 1974, nearly a year since Susie’s murder; Jack and Abigail are coping in different ways. Susie offers evidence that Mr Harvey has committed crimes many times before and sees how he tries to appear normal by enacting regular routines. Jack still suspects Mr Harvey but Len Fenerman won’t take further action. Jack attacks someone in the cornfield thinking that it was Mr Harvey but it was actually Susie’s friend Clarissa and her boyfriend Brian Nelson; Brian then attacks Jack and Susie feels helpless as she is unable to help her dad as he gets hurt.
Presentation of time and space/place: representations of suburbia (AO1, AO2)
The anonymity of suburbia is a key theme in this novel and is often developed through the comparison between the Salmon household and Mr Harvey’s house. Norristown, Pennsylvania is frequently presented as containing houses identical to each other in layout; this leads to the realisation that appearances are deceptive. Susie draws close comparisons between the Salmon house and Mr Harvey’s house. The Salmon house is represented as being domestic and comfortable, whereas Mr Harvey’s is described as ‘spotless’ and ‘cold’ making it sound clinical and unwelcoming. The comparison extends when Susie describes the crawlspace beneath each of their houses.
Characterisation: point of view (AO1, AO2)
This chapter includes one of the rare moments when Susie allows her thoughts and feelings about Mr Harvey clear expressed while considering what Mr Harvey has been doing to neighbourhood animals. Susie acknowledges that Mr Harvey does ave some elements of conscience. She finds it difficult to bear but does acknowledge that he was not trying not to kill. It is hard for Susie to accept that Mr Harvey did what he could to stop himself from killing people.
Why does Susie fantasise about homes and gardens in her heaven?
Susie views homes and gardens as a form of longing and escapism for the domestic stability and childhood that was stolen from her by Mr Harvey.
What does Mr Harvey take from the little girl called Claire?
Mr Harvey took Claire’s shoe.
