The chapters alternate between the points of view of detective Stephen Moran and the students of St. Kilda's.

She has discovered a picture of Chris, along with the statement "I know who killed him", posted on a school bulletin board called the "Secret Place".

Some critics took issue with the teenage characters' frequent use of slang and text messaging in plot exposition.

The Washington Post praised the novel as "another eerie triumph for French" and named her "one of today's top suspense novelists.

"[1] Kirkus Reviews stated that the author "has few peers in her combination of literary stylishness and intricate, clockwork plotting" and noted that "the novel explores the mysteries of friendship, loyalty and betrayal, not only among adolescents, but within the police force as well.