Discuss St. James’s use of references to real serial killers in the text. How does it inform the reader’s experience?

Why did St. James set Beth’s story in the 1960s and 70s? Is there a reason this particular period worked well to deepen the meaning of the story? How might the story have been different if set in a more recent time?

Analyze St. James’s illustration of societal perceptions of women. How have things changed between 1977 and 2017 according to the text? How have they remained the same?