Characters This is Why We Lied Karin Slaughter

Dave McAlpine: The Jackal in This Is Why We Lied

Overview

Dave McAlpine, known to Will Trent and others from the children's home as "the Jackal," is Mercy McAlpine's ex-husband and a central figure in the murder mystery of This Is Why We Lied. He is introduced as a violent bully who strangled Mercy hours before her death and later confesses to stabbing her—though his confession is manipulated by his father-in-law, Cecil McAlpine. Dave's character embodies the cycle of abuse, the weaponization of trauma, and the struggle between the desire to change and the comfort of brokenness. He serves as both a red herring and a tragic figure, ultimately revealing the deeper rot within the McAlpine family.

Plot Role

Dave's primary role is that of a suspect and later an accomplice. When Will and Sara arrive at McAlpine Lodge for their honeymoon, Dave immediately reopens old wounds by calling Will "Trashcan," the nickname he gave him at the children's home. This sets up the personal stakes between them. As the investigation unfolds, Dave is arrested for Mercy’s murder after confessing to strangling her—but his alibi holds, because Mercy’s voicemail proves she was still alive minutes before her death. Faith Mitchell forces the investigation to widen, exposing Cecil’s decades-old cover-up of Gabbie’s murder. Dave had helped Cecil dispose of the evidence fourteen years earlier and, on the night of Mercy’s death, manipulated by Cecil, he stabbed her and set the fire. His confession is provoked by Will, but it collapses when Faith presses him about Cecil. Dave disappears after his mother’s suicide and is later arrested in Charlton County for heroin possession, offering information for a lighter sentence. Will refuses to help him, choosing to focus on his own happiness.

Motivations and Traits

Dave’s actions are driven by a blend of self-preservation, resentment, and a deep-seated need for control. He is cunning and predatory, described as having "cunning, aggressive predator" qualities. He thrives on causing pain, as evidenced by his treatment of Will at the children’s home. Yet he also displays moments of weakness: he is easily manipulated by Cecil, who exploits Dave’s loyalty and financial dependence. Dave’s love for Mercy is twisted—he strangled her in a rage, but later weeps when told she is dead, suggesting a toxic attachment. He consistently deflects blame, calling himself "the bigger man" for offering Will a fake apology. His nickname "the Jackal" encapsulates his opportunistic, scavenger-like nature.

Chronological Arc

Dave’s story spans from his childhood at the children’s home to his final arrest.

  • Childhood: Dave gave Will the nickname "Trashcan" and bullied him. Both were survivors of the same system.
  • Marriage to Mercy: Dave was physically abusive, breaking Jon’s arm (though Jon claimed it was from a fall). He left Mercy but maintained control over her.
  • Family Meeting (12 hours before murder): Dave had sex with Mercy, then later strangled her when she blocked the lodge sale.
  • Discovery (10 hours before murder): Dave encounters Will on the trail and taunts him.
  • After the murder: Dave camps at Camp Awinita, drunk and armed. Will finds him and goads a confession, but Faith proves he didn’t kill Mercy.
  • Cecil’s manipulation: Cecil used Dave to stab Mercy. Dave later claims he acted alone.
  • One month after: Dave attempts to trade information for a lighter sentence, but Will declines to help.

Relationships

  • Mercy McAlpine: A violent, codependent bond. Dave strangled her, yet she still called him for help when she felt in danger. He was her ex-husband but remained a constant presence.
  • Will Trent: Dave’s childhood bully turned antagonist. Will despises him but later feels some pity, though he ultimately refuses to enable him.
  • Cecil McAlpine: Dave becomes Cecil’s tool, manipulated into covering up Gabbie’s murder and later killing Mercy.
  • Jon McAlpine: Dave is a neglectful father. Jon says, "He broke my arm." Dave abandoned Jon after the murder and never visited him in the psychiatric facility.
  • Bitty (mother-in-law): Bitty groomed Dave? Evidence suggests Bitty abused Jon; Amanda notes "Bitty’s grooming of Dave." Dave’s mother committed suicide, and he "disappeared the day after."

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Giving Will the nickname "Trashcan": This act of cruelty followed Will for life, creating lasting resentment.
  2. Helping Cecil cover up Gabbie’s murder (14 years ago): Dave ensured Cecil’s secret remained hidden, which later gave Cecil leverage over him.
  3. Strangling Mercy after the family meeting: A display of abusive control that escalated from verbal to physical violence.
  4. Stabbing Mercy at Cecil’s behest: This decision made Dave a murderer, though he claimed he acted alone. It led to his arrest and eventual disappearance.
  5. Attempting to trade information for leniency: After his mother’s suicide, Dave tried to save himself, but Will refused, leaving Dave to face the consequences alone.

Theme and Symbol Connections

  • Domestic Violence and Abuse: Dave is the embodiment of domestic violence, both physical and psychological. His strangulation of Mercy and abuse of Jon illustrate the cycle of trauma within the family.
  • Family Secrets and Betrayal: Dave is both a keeper and a betrayer of secrets. He knew the truth about Gabbie’s murder but withheld it to control Mercy. See Family Secrets and Betrayal.
  • Justice vs. Mercy: Will’s decision not to help Dave reflects the theme of Justice vs. Mercy. Dave does not want to change, and Will chooses his own happiness over saving the unsavable.
  • Maternal Sacrifice: Mercy’s dying wish was for Jon to escape. Dave’s failure as a father contrasts with maternal sacrifice. Dave’s mother also sacrificed herself (suicide), but her absence only deepened his damage.

Book-Specific Questions and Answers

Q1: Why did Dave call Will "Trashcan"? A1: The nickname came from the children’s home, where Will was found in a trash can as an infant. Dave used it to humiliate and assert dominance.

Q2: What was Dave’s alibi for the time of Mercy’s murder? A2: Mercy called Dave multiple times, leaving a voicemail that said "Dave will be here soon." The call was made minutes before her estimated time of death, proving Dave wasn’t with her when she was stabbed.

Q3: How did Cecil manipulate Dave into killing Mercy? A3: Cecil had Dave help cover up Gabbie’s murder fourteen years earlier, creating a hold over him. On the night of Mercy’s murder, Cecil likely threatened to expose Dave’s past involvement if he didn’t act. Will and Faith deduce that Cecil sent Dave to "take care of" Mercy after she tried to expose the family secrets.

Q4: Does Dave ever attempt to reconcile with his son Jon? A4: No. After the murder, Dave disappears and never contacts Jon. Even one month later, when Dave is arrested on drug charges, he tries to trade information for a lighter sentence rather than seeking help for his son. Will notes that Dave "hasn’t tried to contact Jon."

Q5: What is the significance of Dave’s final scene in the novel? A5: In One Month After the Murder, Dave calls Will from Charlton County, offering information to reduce his sentence. Will refuses, saying "I can’t help him." This ending underscores the novel’s theme that some people choose not to change, and that Will must let go of the urge to save everyone. It also highlights the tragedy of Dave: a product of trauma who refused to become anything more than a predator.

Additional Resources

For deeper understanding of the novel’s themes, visit our guides on Domestic Violence and Abuse, Family Secrets and Betrayal, and the Ending Explained. For other character perspectives, see the main book page or the Questions and Answers section.