Content Warning: This section discusses murder and violence against women.

By structuring a plot around three women who have been murdered but who continue to narrate their experience, Ihli offers a commentary on the victims and survivors of violence, particularly regarding power imbalances because of gender and race. Further, their lack of physical agency as ghosts symbolizes the way they were unable to defend themselves when attacked. As ghosts who are victims of violence, Brecia, Skye, and Meghan experience limitations that symbolize the social factors that led to them being killed: They can’t be seen or heard or advocate for themselves.

This discussion of agency inherently incorporates issues of gender power imbalances. The novel depicts a number of cases where apparent stopgap measures fail, allowing James to get away with multiple murders for years. James is able to keep using the dating app even though women try to report their concerns about him, and some police investigations fail or stall. When Skye’s mother first suggests that the guy who ordered hot chocolate could be worth investigating, Ken rejects the suggestion because he perceives James in a positive light (even after minimal interactions).