Killing Stalking 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
The chapter opens with Suzanne showering and stepping onto her deck, wishing for the freedom of a bird. She reflects on the hate letter and brake failure, unable to recall anyone she might have hurt. Her assistant Dana arrives, and they prepare to work on Suzanne’s first horror movie. Suzanne begins to describe returning to California after high school to film The Axeman. She remembers discovering a threatening card amid her mail while sitting under an elm tree on set. The card called her a “child of Satan” and demanded she quit before being forced to act. This memory surfaces as Suzanne tries to understand who sent the recent letter.
Key Events
- Suzanne stands on her deck, contemplating the hate letter and car sabotage.
- Dana arrives; they discuss Suzanne’s horror film experience.
- Suzanne recalls the early days of filming The Axeman at age eighteen.
- She remembers receiving a British letter from her brother Arthur, who plans to return home.
- She opens a greeting-card sized envelope containing a hateful, threatening message.
- The chapter ends on that memory, linking past and present threats.
Character Development
- Suzanne: Still shaken by the threat, she tries to rationalize the stalker. Her flashback shows a younger, vulnerable version of herself—new to adult acting and uncertain. The memory also reveals her mother’s pragmatic advice and her own awareness of being sexualized for the role.
- Dana: Loyal and efficient, she provides a safe presence. Her question about hate letters in high school pushes Suzanne to explore her past.
- Tim Randolph: Appears in the flashback as Suzanne’s love interest and former TV brother, showing a rare positive relationship.
- Arthur: Mentioned through his letter, he is Suzanne’s trusted brother and advisor, foreshadowing his potential role in the present.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Birds as freedom: Suzanne envies the seagull’s ability to fly away, contrasting her trapped, hunted state.
- The thin shirt: Represents the commodification of Suzanne’s body; the scene highlights how Hollywood used her sex appeal, linking to the stalker’s perception of her as a “spawn of Satan.”
- Recurring threat letters: Both in her past and present, showing a pattern. The chapter suggests the stalker may be someone from her earlier life.
- Memory as investigation: Suzanne actively searches her past for clues, making the flashback a tool for both narrative and character insight.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 20 deepens the mystery by connecting the current stalker to Suzanne’s early career. The flashback reveals that Suzanne was targeted with hate mail even before she was a public figure, implying the threat is personal and long-standing. It also humanizes Suzanne, showing her as a young actress exploited by the industry. The parallel between the old card and the new letter raises the stakes: this is not a random act, but a deliberate campaign against her.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Suzanne recall the Axeman incident now?
Because she is trying to find a source for the current hate letter. Dana’s question about whether she received hate mail in high school triggers the memory of the threatening card on set.
2. How does Suzanne’s mother influence her approach to the acting role?
Suzanne’s mother told her to do whatever was necessary to get the part and then prove her professionalism. This pragmatic advice shaped Suzanne’s willingness to wear a revealing shirt and accept the producer’s demands.
3. What does the hate card reveal about the stalker’s mentality?
The card calls Suzanne a “child of Satan” and a “fool,” accusing her of returning despite warnings. This suggests a moralistic, obsessive hatred that views Suzanne as evil for pursuing her career. The threat to “take action again” implies the stalker has harmed her before—likely referring to the brake failure.