Chapter 36 (32): The Agent's Call
⚠️ 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
Adam Morgan sits alone at home, drinking Scotch and eating beef jerky after Sarah left abruptly about an hour ago. He reflects on his mother's cancelled dinner plan—she claimed a massage appointment, but Adam suspects she is up to something. The phone rings; it's his literary agent, Daniel. Daniel has heard about Adam's murder trial and, far from being concerned, is ecstatic. He sees the case as a blockbuster book opportunity, comparing it to In Cold Blood but better because Adam is the accused. Adam repeatedly insists he did not kill Kelly, but Daniel brushes this aside, focusing on the publicity, prison press conferences, and a potential book deal. Daniel leaves the final decision to Adam, saying he can either write about the trial or go back to his stalled novel. After the call, Adam mulls the idea, accepts that it is a compelling story, and begins jotting down everything that has happened from the start, starting with a tentative title: In Cold Blood... It Wasn't Me.
Key Events
- Adam is home drinking after Sarah left; he eventually cleans himself up.
- His mother calls to cancel dinner; Adam suspects she is hiding something.
- Daniel, Adam's literary agent, calls to discuss the murder trial.
- Daniel enthusiastically proposes that Adam write a book about the case, focusing on the media spectacle.
- Adam repeatedly denies committing the murder, but Daniel remains fixated on the commercial potential.
- After hanging up, Adam reconsiders and decides to write down the events as a true-crime story.
- Adam begins outlining the narrative from the beginning, searching for a title.
Character Development
Adam Morgan: Remains isolated and dependent on alcohol. His initial rejection of Daniel's scheme shows some moral hesitation, but by the chapter's end, his writer's ambition overrides his scruples. He shifts from passive defendant to active narrator, reclaiming a sense of purpose.
Daniel: Portrayed as a ruthless opportunist. He prioritises a potential bestseller over Adam's innocence or well-being. His single-minded focus on the story's marketability reveals him as both a brilliant agent and a deeply self-interested person.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Exploitation of tragedy: Daniel sees the murder trial not as a crisis but as a commodity. The chapter critiques how the media and publishing industries can prey on real-life suffering for profit.
- Writer's block and creative stagnation: Adam has not written in four years. The trial serves as an unexpected catalyst, reigniting his creative drive through a ready-made narrative.
- Truth versus narrative: Daniel suggests that the public does not need to know Adam's innocence—the compelling story is what matters. This raises questions about the ethics of storytelling when truth is secondary.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 36 marks a turning point in Adam's personal arc. After months of legal defensiveness, he now begins to reframe the trial as his story to tell. Daniel's call forces Adam to confront his own complicity in commodifying the case. This chapter sets up the possibility that Adam will write the very book the reader is experiencing, adding a meta-fictional layer to the novel. It also deepens Daniel's role as an antagonist who prioritises profit over justice, intensifying the moral complexity of the plot.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Daniel react so positively to Adam's murder trial?
Daniel is a literary agent focused on commercial success. He sees the trial as a sensational story that would sell millions of copies, regardless of Adam's guilt or innocence. His reaction mirrors the media's tendency to turn crime into entertainment. -
How does Adam's attitude toward writing change during this chapter?
At first, Adam rejects Daniel's idea, insisting he is innocent. By the end, however, he begins drafting the narrative, tempted by the prospect of a guaranteed bestseller. This shows his willingness to blur ethical lines for creative and financial revival. -
What does the tentative title In Cold Blood... It Wasn't Me suggest about Adam's strategy?
The title alludes to Truman Capote's famous true-crime book while adding a disclaimer of innocence. It implies Adam plans to exploit the dramatic elements of the case while maintaining his claim of not guilty—a balancing act that may deceive readers.