Quiz The Girl from Devil's Lake J. A. Jance

The Girl from Devil's Lake: Full Book Quiz

Think you know the twists of J.A. Jance's The Girl from Devil's Lake? This 20-question quiz spans the entire novel—from Stephen Roper's first murder to Joanna Brady's final confrontation. Mixing multiple-choice and short-answer formats, the quiz covers plot sequence, character motivation, theme and symbol, and synthesis questions. Each answer in the key is briefly explained and linked to the story.

Looking for more study help? Check out the book overview, questions and answers, or the ending explained.

Quiz Questions

Plot and Sequence (Questions 1–8)

  1. In what year does the prologue take place?
    A) 1956
    B) 1961
    C) 1962
    D) 1972

  2. How does eleven-year-old Steve Roper kill his step-grandmother Lucille?
    A) Poisoning
    B) Fishing line trap
    C) Drowning
    D) Strangulation

  3. What is the name of the first victim Steve murders after his grandmother?
    A) Amanda Hudson
    B) Brian Olson
    C) Frederick Chalmers
    D) Xavier Delgado

  4. Where does Steve kill and dispose of Amanda Hudson's body?
    A) Turtle River
    B) San Pedro River
    C) Arthur Lake
    D) Rahway River

  5. What holdback detail helps Sheriff Joanna Brady identify the unknown boy found under the St. David Bridge?
    A) Blue plaid shirt
    B) High-topped sneakers
    C) Blue duffel bag
    D) Missing shoelace

  6. How does Stephen Roper dispose of the body of Xavier Delgado?
    A) Buried in the San Pedro River
    B) Left in a crawlspace
    C) Dumped in Arthur Lake
    D) Thrown into a reservoir

  7. What evidence from Roper's trash matches the cold case of Amanda Hudson?
    A) A partial palm print from a soda can
    B) DNA from a discarded cigarette
    C) A missing shoelace
    D) A switchblade with ivory handle

  8. What does Stephen Roper use to incapacitate reporter Marliss Shackleford?
    A) Chloroform
    B) A derringer
    C) Zip ties
    D) Bleach

Character Motivation (Questions 9–13)

  1. Why does Steve murder his step-grandmother Lucille?
    A) He wants her wedding ring.
    B) Voices tell him she must be eliminated.
    C) She threatens to report him.
    D) He wants the insurance money.

  2. Why does Steve pretend to be interested in girls during high school? (Short answer)

  3. Why does Sheriff Joanna Brady delay confronting Stephen Roper after the informant identifies him?
    A) She wants to gather more evidence and avoid legal mistakes.
    B) She is afraid of him.
    C) She wants to protect her daughter Jenny.
    D) She is waiting for a search warrant for his house.

  4. Why does Stephen Roper keep killing for decades? (Short answer)

  5. Why does Stephen insist on confessing only to Joanna Brady?
    A) He feels guilty and wants to unburden himself.
    B) He demands his cigar box of trophies and will confess only to her.
    C) He wants to manipulate her.
    D) His attorney advises it.

Theme and Symbol (Questions 14–17)

  1. What does the cigar box of mementos symbolize in the novel? (Short answer)

  2. What role do the high-topped sneakers play in Xavier's murder?
    A) They are a trophy Roper took.
    B) They are a lure Roper used to attract the boy.
    C) They help identify the victim.
    D) They are evidence of sexual assault.

  3. What theme is highlighted by the contrast between Jenny's police academy graduation and Joanna's missed high school graduation?
    A) Generational progress
    B) Motherhood and sacrifice
    C) Order versus chaos
    D) Law enforcement legacy

  4. Why does Roper repeatedly use water (rivers, reservoirs) to dispose of bodies? (Short answer)

Synthesis (Questions 18–20)

  1. How does the novel connect the 1962 murder of Amanda Hudson ('the girl from Devil's Lake') to the 2023 investigation? (Short answer)

  2. What role does the MMIV (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Voices) Task Force play in solving the case?
    A) They arrest Stephen Roper.
    B) They provide forensic analysis and coordinate with federal agencies to link cold cases.
    C) They conduct the press conference.
    D) They find the cigar box.

  3. Why does Sheriff Joanna Brady agree to give the eulogy at Marliss Shackleford's memorial service? (Short answer)

Answer Key with Explanations

Question Answer Explanation
1 A (1956) The Prologue is set in Fertile, Minnesota in 1956, when Steve is eleven years old.
2 B (Fishing line trap) Steve rigs a fishing line across the porch steps; Lucille trips, falls, and dies.
3 B (Brian Olson) After Lucille, Steve murders eight-year-old Cub Scout Brian Olson at Arthur Lake.
4 A (Turtle River) Steve strangles Amanda Hudson and dumps her body in the Turtle River near Grand Forks.
5 B (High-topped sneakers) The boy was interested in high-topped sneakers, a detail withheld from the public that Joanna uses to confirm the informant's tip.
6 A (Buried in the San Pedro River) Roper buries Xavier's body in the San Pedro River; a flood later brings the duffel bag to the surface.
7 A (A partial palm print from a soda can) A palm print from a soda can in Roper's trash matches the palm print found on Amanda Hudson's glasses.
8 A (Chloroform) Roper uses chloroform to subdue Marliss Shackleford before binding her and shoving her into a crawlspace.
9 B (Voices tell him she must be eliminated) The voices (Hoot, King Kong, Casper) command Steve to kill Lucille because of her abuse.
10 He pretends to be interested in girls to avoid bullying and fit in with the jocks, concealing his lack of attraction. Steve decides to take the path of least resistance, acting like other boys.
11 A (She wants to gather more evidence and avoid legal mistakes) Joanna orders CSI to investigate Roper and his charity, wanting probable cause before moving against a respected retired teacher.
12 He is driven by voices, enjoys the thrill of control, and collects trophies from each murder. Roper adapts his methods over decades, but the core compulsion remains.
13 B (He demands his cigar box of trophies and will confess only to her) Roper insists on a private confession to Sheriff Brady and requires his cigar box be present.
14 It symbolizes Roper's trophy collection—the physical evidence of his murders and his pride in his killing career. The box contains rings, pins, shoelaces, and a map linking him to dozens of victims.
15 B (They are a lure Roper used to attract the boy) Roper uses the promise of high-topped sneakers to lure Xavier into his truck.
16 A (Generational progress) Joanna missed her own graduation due to pregnancy, while Jenny graduates from the police academy, showing changing opportunities.
17 Roper uses water to hide evidence, slow decomposition, and make bodies harder to find; it becomes part of his signature. Many of his victims are found in rivers or reservoirs, often weighted down.
18 A palm print from Roper's trash matches the palm print on Amanda's glasses, linking the decades-old cold case directly to him. This AFIS match changes the investigation from a single child murder to a serial case.
19 B (They provide forensic analysis and coordinate with federal agencies to link cold cases) MMIV, led by Anna Rae Green, matches Roper's trophies to other unsolved murders nationwide.
20 She recognizes their shared struggles with controlling mothers and honors Marliss's request, acknowledging Marliss considered Joanna her best friend. Despite their rocky history, Joanna understands Marliss's desire for a proper farewell.

Scoring: 18–20 correct = Master Detective; 15–17 = Seasoned Investigator; 10–14 = Rookie Deputy; below 10 = Need to review the case file—try reading the book again!