Chapter 22 (Chapter 20) – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
After Britt sends Bodie a link to a YouTube channel run by Dane Rubra, Bodie watches his videos late at night. Dane, a pale and obsessive man, speculates that Thalia’s friend Puja Sharma was jealous of Thalia’s looks and may be a suspect. Bodie disagrees, recalling Puja’s devastation after the murder and her later overdose. Dane then calls Robbie Serenho under the false pretense of being an alumni liaison. When asked about Thalia, Robbie says she “passed away in 1995” and hangs up after realizing he is being tricked. Bodie remembers meeting Robbie during freshman orientation, where he kindly taught her to throw a Frisbee and used her name. She also recalls his reputation as a player who laughed when his friend told demeaning “Thalia jokes” and failed to defend her. Bodie leaves a comment on Dane’s video: “Robbie was nicer than you think. And Thalia never would have dated you.”
Key Events
- Bodie discovers Dane Rubra’s YouTube channel, which is almost entirely about Thalia’s case.
- Dane speculates that Puja Sharma might have been jealous of Thalia and therefore a suspect.
- Dane calls Robbie’s office posing as an alumni liaison; Robbie says Thalia is dead and ends the call when discovered.
- Bodie reflects on her first meeting with Robbie, when he helped her learn to throw a Frisbee.
- Bodie recalls Robbie’s passivity when Dorian Culler told “Thalia jokes” and Thalia’s anger at Robbie for not stopping him.
- Bodie posts a comment defending Robbie and criticizing Dane.
Character Development
- Bodie: Her ambivalence about Robbie deepens. She holds onto the memory of his early kindness even as she acknowledges his flaws. Her comment shows she is still invested in shaping the narrative around him.
- Robbie: The chapter adds layers to his portrayal: capable of genuine kindness (teaching Bodie), but also complicit in a culture that trivialized Thalia. His brief phone call reveals he is guarded when asked about Thalia.
- Dane Rubra: Introduced as a creepy true-crime obsessive who inserts himself into the story, makes baseless accusations, and exploits grieving families for content.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- True-crime obsession: Dane’s channel mirrors the predatory side of amateur sleuthing—harassing survivors, speculating without evidence, and turning tragedy into entertainment.
- Memory and selective kindness: Bodie’s memory of Robbie’s Frisbee lesson stands in stark contrast to his later behavior, showing how one positive act can complicate a person’s legacy.
- Misogyny and victim-blaming: Dane’s speculation about Puja’s jealousy, as well as the “Thalia jokes” that Robbie allowed, reflect how women are often blamed or reduced to stereotypes in the aftermath of violence.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter broadens the novel’s critique of true-crime culture by giving a face to obsessive fandom. It also forces Bodie to reconcile her firsthand experience of Robbie’s kindness with the darker stories that circulated about him, showing how memory becomes a contested battleground in the search for truth. The inclusion of Puja’s tragic story underscores the collateral damage of unsolved crimes.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Bodie watch Dane’s videos even though she knows they are a “rabbit warren”?
She is curious about public theories surrounding Thalia’s murder and feels compelled to understand how others interpret the case. Giving herself a one-hour limit shows she both wants and fears the information. -
What does Dane’s phone call with Robbie reveal about how Robbie handles questions about Thalia?
Robbie initially gives a routine answer, saying Thalia “passed away in 1995” and advising the caller to “cross her off your list.” When he realizes he is being tricked, he abruptly hangs up, suggesting he is either suspicious of outsiders or still uncomfortable discussing Thalia. -
How does the “Thalia jokes” incident affect Bodie’s view of Robbie?
It shows Robbie’s failure to defend Thalia, which Bodie finds disturbing. However, she still holds onto her own memory of his kindness, creating a nuanced portrait of a person who was both generous and complicit in harm.