Montavious Brodie Sr. in Not What She Seems: Character Analysis

Overview

Montavious Brodie Sr. is the retired detective and patriarch whose death opens Not What She Seems. As Jacinda's grandfather, he is both a beloved family figure and the catalyst for the novel's central mystery. His murder—a Taser attack targeting his pacemaker—forces Jacinda back to Brook Haven after six years away, setting off a chain of revelations about the town's secrets and her own family's past. Montavious is a man defined by his career in law enforcement, his deep love for his granddaughter, and a decades-old case he could never release. His final actions reveal a man wrestling with guilt, seeking redemption, and trying to protect the family he leaves behind.

Plot Role

Montavious serves as the inciting incident for the entire narrative. In the prologue, he posts the name “Colleton” to his online armchair-detective forum, writes it on his whiteboard, and leaves a voicemail for Jacinda saying he may have made a serious mistake. Moments later, he is killed by a visitor who uses a Taser on his chest, where his pacemaker sits. His death is initially treated as a heart attack, but later investigation reveals it was murder. This discovery propels Jacinda to dig into his final case, which leads her to confront the identity of Faye Arden and the truth about her own father's death. Montavious also functions as a moral compass; his memory and values guide Jacinda throughout the novel, and his warning to “be careful as a Brodie” echoes in her decisions. He embodies the weight of the Brodie name and the cost of seeking truth.

Motivations and Traits

Montavious is driven by a sense of justice and an unrelenting need to uncover truth, even at personal cost. The prologue shows him alone in his cabin, still working cases as a hobby, mapping them with red yarn and corkboards—a nostalgic nod to his detective days. He is stubborn and refuses to be scared, as seen when he confronts the noise outside his cabin despite his age and slowed reflexes. He is also proud, bristling at being treated like an invalid by his family. His love for Jacinda is evident in their playful banter; he calls her “JD” and “partner in crime,” and she calls him “Granddad” and “Junior Dick.” He is a man of contradictions: a tough detective who is also tender with his granddaughter, and a respected community figure who carries a secret burden. The novel hints that he has been keeping watch on a case for nearly thirty years—one he never wanted solved—suggesting a deep sense of guilt or responsibility. His final voicemail about a “serious mistake” implies he had a realization about his past actions, possibly connected to the Colleton case.

Chronological Arc

Montavious's arc is largely retrospective, as we meet him only in the prologue and then through memories and the investigation. In the prologue, he is a retired detective living alone in the cabin he shared with his late wife Mae. He is still active in online detective forums, and his mind is sharp enough to recall a name from decades earlier. His decision to post “Colleton” and call Jacinda suggests he was on the verge of uncovering something important. His murder cuts that investigation short. In the hospital, he briefly wakes and tells Jacinda she belongs here, then warns her to be careful as a Brodie before his condition deteriorates and he dies. Through Jacinda's memories, we learn he was a man who faced racism in his career—his advancement in the military and police force was hindered because of his skin color—yet he persevered. He raised two sons, both of whom died before him, and he found solace in his granddaughters. His arc is one of a man who spent his life seeking truth but also carrying a heavy secret, and his death is a direct result of that pursuit.

Relationships

Montavious's relationship with Jacinda is the emotional core of his character. He is her grandfather and mentor, and they share a bond that transcends the distance of six years. Jacinda reflects that he brought her back to the world of the living after her father died, and she feels his presence as a guiding force. He calls her “JD” and “partner in crime,” and she affectionately calls him “Junior Dick.” His final thoughts in the prologue are that his death will finally bring Jacinda home to Brook Haven, showing his deep love and his belief that she belongs there. He also has a relationship with his other granddaughter Penelope, who is a doctor and cares for him in his final days. His wife Mae is deceased, and he lives in the cabin they shared. He raised two sons, both gone—one is Jacinda's father, Montavious Jr., who died six years ago. His relationship with his daughter-in-law Angela is strained; she is described as a helicopter mother, and he seeks solitude in his cabin to escape her fussing. In the community, he is respected as a Brodie, a name that carries weight and expectations.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Montavious's key decisions drive the plot. His decision to investigate the Colleton case, to post the name, and to call Jacinda about a mistake sets the story in motion. This decision leads directly to his murder, as Faye Arden, the killer, likely learned of his investigation. His decision to open the door to his visitor, recognizing them and relaxing his guard, proves fatal. The novel implies he should have followed his police training and cut the lights or been more suspicious, but his recognition of the visitor overrode his caution. Another key decision was his choice to keep a secret for nearly thirty years—the case he never wanted solved. This secret, connected to the Colleton Girls, haunts him and may have contributed to his sense of guilt. His final decision to tell Jacinda she belongs here and to warn her to be careful as a Brodie shows his desire to protect her even in his last moments. These decisions have consequences that ripple through the novel, shaping Jacinda's quest and the revelations about her family.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Montavious embodies several central themes of the novel. His investigation and death illustrate the cost of truth-seeking; his pursuit of the Colleton case leads to his demise, suggesting that uncovering truth can be dangerous. He also represents good intentions as a path to destruction; his well-meaning attempt to right a wrong or confess a mistake results in his murder. The Brodie name carries inherited guilt and the weight of reputation, and Montavious's warning to Jacinda about being careful as a Brodie highlights this burden. His secret and his final voicemail connect to identity concealment and reinvention, as he may have hidden aspects of his past. Finally, his realization about a “serious mistake” touches on repressed memory and the unreliability of self-knowledge, suggesting he may have forgotten or suppressed something important. His death is a symbol of the past's grip on the present, and his legacy shapes the novel's resolution, as seen in the ending explained.

Questions and Answers

1. Why did Montavious post the name “Colleton” to his online forum?

He posted it because he recalled the name from decades earlier, likely connected to a case he had worked on. He wrote it on his whiteboard and then called Jacinda, saying he may have made a serious mistake. This suggests he was revisiting an old case and had a realization about his past actions.

2. What was Montavious's relationship with Jacinda?

They had a close, affectionate relationship. He called her “JD” and “partner in crime,” and she called him “Granddad” and “Junior Dick.” He was the one who helped her recover after her father's death, and she felt he brought her back to the world of the living. His final thoughts were that his death would bring her home.

3. How did Montavious die?

He was murdered by a visitor who used a Taser on his chest, targeting his pacemaker. The repeated electrical shocks caused his heart to stop. The visitor was later revealed to be Faye Arden (Faith Anderson), who was found guilty of attacking him and Jacinda.

4. What was the case Montavious never wanted solved?

The novel implies he had a case he kept watch on for nearly thirty years, which he never wanted solved. The name “Colleton” is connected to this, possibly the “Colleton Girls” case. The exact nature is not fully detailed, but it is linked to his sense of guilt and his final investigation.

5. What did Montavious mean when he told Jacinda to “be careful as a Brodie”?

This is a warning about the weight of the Brodie name and the dangers that come with it. He likely meant that being a Brodie carries expectations and risks, and that she should be cautious in her actions and in trusting others. It also hints at the family's secrets and the need to protect oneself.

For further discussion, see the questions and answers page.