Content Warning: This section discusses suicide and murder.

Lily emerges as the protagonist of A Talent for Murder, serving as both a catalyst for the narrative’s progression and a foil to the other characters. Initially introduced as Martha’s old friend from graduate school, Lily quickly evolves into a central figure in the investigation, demonstrating a unique set of traits that set her apart from the other characters.

Swanson highlights Lily’s adaptability and resourcefulness as her most distinctive traits, evident in her ability to create false personas, such as the fake Instagram profile she uses to contact Travis and the false identity she adopts at the conference to observe Alan. These actions reveal a character not bound by conventional morality when pursuing her goals, underscoring the novel’s thematic interest in Moral Ambiguity in the Pursuit of Truth. Lily’s past, including the incident where she stabbed a Boston police detective in self-defense, further emphasizes her capacity for decisive and potentially violent action when threatened. As the narrative progresses, Lily’s role transforms from that of a supportive friend into that of an active investigator and, ultimately, a survivor pitted against the true

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