The primary theme of What She Knew is the loss of trust. Over the course of the story, several characters experience a radical change of perspective when they realize the people that they trusted most aren’t reliable. Even more damaging than the disillusionment resulting from such a betrayal is the way in which this experience can alter a person’s life going forward.

The most obvious example of this principle is Ben himself. At the beginning of the book, the reader sees him as a happy, open little boy. He believes that the world is a safe place and the people in it are all good. His abduction and near death darken his perspective. “His mind still crouches in the woods on his own, cold to the core […] sensing the advance of a person who wants to drag him away, even though he’s covered his face with his hands, even though he cowers” (502-503).

To a lesser extent, other characters experience the same kind of disorientation as Ben does. Rachel assumes that a mother’s heartfelt plea during her press conference will result in compassion and assistance. Instead, she is pilloried in the press and vilified on social media.