Chapter 28: Dinner at the Granby Supper Club
⚠️ 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
Bodie and Fran meet for dinner at the Granby Supper Club. Bodie presses Fran about her earlier description of Mr. Bloch as a “creeper” and whether Thalia might have been involved with him. Fran backtracks, saying she meant only impropriety, not a sexual relationship. Bodie shares her memory of the Bethesda Fountain encounter. Fran warns Bodie not to let podcast host Britt investigate Bloch. Their old biology teacher Dana Ramos joins them briefly, defending Bloch as a sweetheart and dismissing modern accusations as “trendy.” Later, Fran confronts Bodie for implying Bloch could be guilty. Bodie reflects on Thalia’s death, her own trauma, and the possibility that her indifference senior year was a form of guilt. Fran argues for Occam’s razor and points to DNA evidence. Bodie wonders if post-hoc stories inflated Omar’s stalking narrative. The chapter ends with Fran picking up Bodie for a ride home.
Key Events
- Bodie presses Fran about Mr. Bloch’s behavior, referencing the “creeper” comment.
- Fran clarifies she meant general impropriety, not a sexual relationship, and warns Bodie not to bring Bloch into Britt’s podcast.
- Dana Ramos defends Bloch as a sweetheart and calls accusations “trendy.”
- Fran challenges Bodie directly: “It sounded like you think Bloch had something to do with it.”
- Bodie reflects on her senior-year trauma and whether she should have cared more about Thalia’s death.
- Bodie recalls the Dick List and Thalia Bingo, wondering if those details could have helped the investigation.
- Fran argues for Occam’s razor: Omar was stalking Thalia, and DNA links him.
- Bodie questions whether the stalking stories emerged only after the murder.
Character Development
- Bodie Kane: Wrestles with guilt and obsession. She begins to suspect Mr. Bloch, sees her past indifference as a failing, and feels caught between seeking justice and protecting her mental health.
- Fran: Acts as a skeptical anchor. She reminds Bodie of the DNA evidence, warns against “obsessed” thinking, and protects the easy narrative of Omar’s guilt.
- Dana Ramos: Represents the old-guard view—dismissive of modern scrutiny of teacher-student dynamics, calling such accusations a “trend.”
- Mr. Bloch (Denny Bloch): Remains offstage but becomes a central figure of doubt. His departure to Bulgaria and the timing of his leaving suggest evasion.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Unreliable Memory: Both Fran and Bodie acknowledge that stories about Omar’s stalking were only heard after Thalia’s death. Bodie realizes her own memory may be shaped by hindsight.
- Obsession vs. Justice: Fran accuses Bodie of becoming “obsessed.” Bodie wonders whether obsessive attention is needed to uncover the truth.
- Teacher-Student Boundaries: Mr. Bloch’s closeness to students is revisited. The chapter questions what counts as impropriety and who defines it.
- Complicity and Guilt: Bodie asks herself, “What if I should have cared more?”—tying personal tragedy to collective responsibility.
- DNA as Irrefutable Fact: Fran repeatedly returns to the DNA evidence, contrasting it with Bodie’s circumstantial suspicions.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter pivots the investigation from Omar’s guilt to Mr. Bloch’s possible involvement. It introduces the danger of post-hoc storytelling and the tension between a clear narrative (Omar killed her) and a messy one (multiple suspects, unreliable memories). Bodie’s internal conflict—between wanting to help Britt’s podcast and fearing she is misremembering—deepens her character arc. Fran’s warning not to “bring him into this” foreshadows consequences of pursuing the Bloch angle.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Fran warn Bodie not to bring Mr. Bloch into Britt’s podcast?
Fran believes it would be “really dumb” because she sees no evidence of Bloch’s involvement and worries the podcast will create a “shitstorm” if it amplifies accusations without proof.
2. How does Dana Ramos’s view of Mr. Bloch contrast with Bodie’s growing suspicion?
Dana calls Bloch “a sweetheart” and says she never found him sketchy. She dismisses the scrutiny as a “trendy” way to accuse people, directly opposing Bodie’s sense that something was off.
3. What does Bodie realize about her own past indifference toward Thalia’s death?
She wonders if her failure to care more—by not sharing details like the Thalia Bingo card—might have let a guilty person go free. Fran’s observation that Thalia’s death must have felt “personal” forces Bodie to confront her suppressed guilt.