Chapter 1 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
On a crisp October night at Ellingham Academy, Stevie Bell sits in the common room of Minerva House, ostensibly working on her political history reading. She has six articles to finish, but instead she scrolls through her phone and reads a message from a stranger. The writer claims their neighbor has been killing people in an industrial dryer and burying the remains in a community garden. The message ends mid-sentence, and Stevie stops reading, dismissing it as another unsolicited tip.
Her friends Janelle Franklin and Vi Harper-Tomo are side by side, working on college applications. Janelle maintains a detailed spreadsheet tracking their progress, while Vi writes essays in multiple languages. Nate Fisher, another close friend, types furiously on his laptop, a rare sight for someone who usually avoids writing. Stevie, feeling restless and unproductive, taps Nate under the table and convinces him to walk with her to the dining hall for cake.
During the walk, Nate asks about the messages Stevie receives. She explains she gets about ten a week from people describing suspicious things they've seen—boats, coolers, and now an industrial dryer. Nate points out that she hasn't started her own college applications, despite being a senior. He suggests she investigate the dryer-and-garden case, but Stevie dismisses it as not a real murder. After grabbing cake, they return to the common room. Stevie reflects that what she really needs is a genuine murder to work on—something to take the edge off her restlessness.
Key Events
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Stevie reads a stranger's message about a neighbor killing people in an industrial dryer and burying remains in a community garden.
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Janelle and Vi work on college applications, with Janelle updating a shared spreadsheet.
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Nate types steadily, surprising Stevie with his focus.
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Stevie avoids her assigned reading and convinces Nate to walk to the dining hall for cake.
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During the walk, Nate questions Stevie about the messages she receives and her lack of college applications.
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Nate suggests Stevie investigate the dryer case; she dismisses it.
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Stevie concludes she needs a real murder to work on.
Character Development
Stevie Bell is in a state of stagnation. She has solved two major cold cases—one at Ellingham and one at Camp Sunny Pines—but now she's adrift. She avoids her schoolwork, has no concrete college plans (her entire plan consists of bookmarked Instagram pictures and vague notes like “science?”), and feels “itchy” without a case. Her dismissal of the dryer message reveals her desire for a case that feels substantial, not the mundane suspicions of strangers. Nate's observation that she “turns into a zombie” without something to work on underscores her dependence on investigation as a source of purpose.
Nate Fisher shows a more focused side. He's typing steadily, which Stevie notes is unusual for him. He also acts as a voice of reason, gently pushing Stevie to confront her college application avoidance and suggesting she take on the dryer case as a way to channel her energy. His concern for Stevie is evident, but he also teases her about being a “girlfriend” to her long-distance boyfriend David, showing a playful dynamic.
Janelle and Vi are portrayed as organized and goal-oriented, working in tandem on their applications. Their spreadsheet-driven approach contrasts sharply with Stevie's chaos, highlighting the pressure of senior year and the different ways students cope.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Procrastination and Avoidance: Stevie's entire evening is a study in avoidance—she scrolls through articles without reading, takes unnecessary walks, and fixates on trivial details. Her inability to start college applications mirrors her larger fear of defining her future.
The Pressure of Senior Year: The chapter is set in October of Stevie's final year, and the urgency of college applications looms over every interaction. Janelle and Vi's spreadsheet, Nate's pointed questions, and Stevie's own anxiety all reflect this pressure.
The Need for Purpose: Stevie's restlessness stems from a lack of a case. She dismisses the dryer message because it doesn't feel like a “real” murder, but her need for a mystery is palpable. The chapter suggests that Stevie defines herself through investigation, and without it, she feels lost.
The Symbolism of the Sheep: The introduction of three sheep on the campus green, brought by a student named Valve, adds a whimsical touch. The sheep are free-range and wander under the moonlight, a symbol of the school's eccentricity and perhaps of Stevie's own aimless wandering.
Why This Chapter Matters
This opening chapter establishes Stevie's current emotional and practical state: she's a celebrated cold-case solver who is now stuck in the mundane reality of senior year. It introduces the dryer-and-garden case as a potential new mystery, but Stevie's rejection of it sets up a narrative tension—will she take it on, or will something else pull her in? The chapter also deepens our understanding of Stevie's relationships with Nate, Janelle, and Vi, and it sets the tone for the novel's blend of mystery, humor, and coming-of-age anxiety. By showing Stevie's procrastination and her craving for a “real” case, the chapter primes readers for the central conflict of the book.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Stevie dismiss the dryer-and-garden case?
Stevie dismisses it because it doesn't feel like a genuine murder. The message is from a stranger who claims a neighbor is killing people in an industrial dryer and burying remains in a community garden, but Stevie sees it as just another unsolicited tip from someone who “saw something.” She's looking for a case with more substance—a “real” murder that would engage her investigative skills.
2. What does Nate's suggestion to investigate the case reveal about his understanding of Stevie?
Nate knows Stevie well. He recognizes that she's restless and needs a project to focus on. By suggesting she look into the dryer case, he's offering her a way to channel her energy productively, even if it's not a high-profile mystery. His suggestion also shows that he cares about her well-being and wants to see her engaged rather than drifting.
3. How does the chapter contrast Stevie's approach to college applications with Janelle and Vi's?
Janelle and Vi are methodical and collaborative: they work side by side, track their progress in a spreadsheet, and have clear goals about which schools they want to attend and how to get there. Stevie, on the other hand, has no plan—just a few bookmarks and vague notes. This contrast highlights Stevie's avoidance and her fear of making decisions about her future, while also showing the different ways students cope with the pressure of senior year.