The investigation into the bodies found in the attic continues to unravel Finn and Mia Hunter's lives, exposing deep-seated traumas and sinister family dynamics. As the police investigation drags on, Mia and Finn struggle to cope, while a shocking flashback reveals the killer's motives and history. Meanwhile, Debbie Hunter's hidden agenda comes to light, setting the stage for a battle over Sonny Hunter's future.
Chapter 16: Finn
Finn watches police dismantle their house, his frustration mounting as Detective Goodwin informs them the investigation could take months. He tries to lighten the mood with a dark joke, but Mia and the detective are not amused. Finn is more concerned with the practical implications, like the damage to his parquet flooring and the fact that the house is now unsellable. He feels trapped, both financially and emotionally.
Finn observes a growing disconnect between himself and Mia. He believes he could live in the house again, dismissing any lingering unease, but Mia is horrified by the idea. He sees her as overly focused on the dead children, while he prioritizes their living son, Sonny. He feels she is emotionally unstable and admits to tuning her out. The chapter concludes with Finn shielding Sonny from Goodwin's gaze and taking him to be changed, noting Mia's obliviousness.
Chapter 17: Mia
Two months after the discovery, Mia is consumed by trauma. Insomnia and visions of the skull plague her, forcing her to sleep with a light and music on. She admits to obsessing over the dead children more than Sonny, a fact Finn has noticed. Her core struggle stems from the fear that her carelessness, which led to Sonny's premature birth, will cause him further harm. This fear prevents her from bonding with him; she keeps him at arm's length, terrified of the pain of potential loss.
Mia feels like a failure as a mother, merely going through the motions. She relies entirely on Debbie, whose constant presence she now sees as a lifeline. Physically limited by her wrist cast and C-section recovery, Mia depends on Debbie for Sonny's care. She has re-evaluated her mother-in-law, now seeing Debbie's intense protectiveness as the ideal form of motherhood, contrasting it with her own mother's hands-off approach. Consumed by guilt, Mia feels she doesn't deserve Sonny, trusting Debbie to be the mother he needs.
Chapter 18: Three Years Earlier
The narrative shifts to a flashback from the killer's perspective. Over a year since their last kill, the urge has become an unbearable, physical need. The killer rationalizes their murders as a form of salvation, believing they are helping "poor souls" and delivering them to a "better world." Methodical and careful, they limit themselves to one child per year to avoid detection. The killer sits on a bench in Newmarket during the 2016 Brexit referendum, seeing the high footfall as an advantage for blending in.
The killer spots a potential target: a small, bespectacled boy listening to headphones, isolated from his surroundings. They reflect on a past accomplice who lacked the necessary strength and conviction. They also think about their own "twisted and cruel" parents, who also killed, and their brother, George Lewis. The killer distinguishes their motives from their parents': "I kill to save others, not punish them." The arrival of a television news crew forces the killer to abandon their plan, as they cannot risk being captured on camera. The chapter ends with the killer reflecting that the boy will never know how "unfortunate he is not to have met me."
Chapter 19: Finn
Finn returns to his parents' home in a foul mood after being ambushed by a journalist. Lured by a fake boiler repair job, he lost his temper when a photographer appeared, smashing the camera and breaking the memory card. His anger intensifies when he finds Sonny screaming in his carrycot, soaked through, while Mia lies on the bed with headphones on, oblivious. He confronts her about neglecting their son, and she lies, claiming she just fell asleep.
At a barbecue, Finn's parents, Debbie and Dave Hunter, offer to remortgage their home to help Finn and Mia buy a new house nearby. Debbie has already found a suitable property and scheduled a viewing. Mia agrees with a thin, apathetic smile. However, when Finn asks if she'll come to the viewing, she dismisses him, saying he doesn't need her there. She then abruptly returns to the Annexe, leaving Sonny behind with his grandparents. The incident solidifies Finn's growing concern that his mother is right—something is seriously wrong with Mia.
Chapter 20: Debbie
Debbie discusses her concerns about Mia with Dave. She is convinced Mia has postnatal depression or a brain injury from the fall and is a potential danger to Sonny. She describes Mia as being on "autopilot" and emotionally disconnected from the baby. Dave urges caution, suggesting Mia just needs more time to adjust. Debbie reveals she already cares for Sonny most of the day, implying Mia is incapable. She then discloses her own secret: three years ago, she was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and has, at best, seven years left to live. This diagnosis has shifted her entire focus onto her grandson, who she sees as the one thing that drowns out the "ticking of the countdown clock."
Driven by her illness and her perceived threat from Mia, Debbie announces a plan: she will suggest that Sonny move in with her and Dave for the time being. She declares, "Sonny is my priority, not Mia." Dave argues that this won't help Mia and that Finn can handle his own family. Debbie lashes out, accusing Dave of spending his life with his "head buried in the sand." Dave's cryptic and wounded reply—"Then let’s hope he learns from my mistakes"—ends the chapter, hinting at past family secrets and unresolved issues between them.
Character Development
- Mia: Her trauma consumes her, leading to a loss of confidence as a mother. She becomes completely dependent on Debbie, viewing her as a maternal ideal while seeing herself as a failure and a danger to Sonny.
- Finn: Frustration with the situation and Mia's emotional state hardens into anger and resentment. He fails to understand the depth of her trauma, creating a significant rift in their relationship.
- Debbie: Her motivations are clarified. Her terminal illness makes Sonny the center of her world. Her "support" is revealed to be a form of Manipulation and Control, as she actively undermines Mia to gain control of her grandson.
- The Killer: The killer's psychology is explored, revealing them to be a product of a murderous family, operating under a twisted messiah complex. This establishes their methods, rationalizations, and connection to the theme of Nature vs. Nurture.
- Dave: He remains a more passive character, but his final line to Debbie hints at a history of denial and past mistakes, adding a layer of mystery to the Hunter family's past and the theme of Family Secrets and Lies.
Themes & Symbols
- Manipulation and Control: This theme becomes central as Debbie leverages Mia's vulnerability to insert herself as Sonny's primary caregiver. Her offer to help them buy a house is another method of keeping them close and under her influence.
- Nature vs. Nurture: The theme is explored through two different lenses. Mia struggles with what she feels is a lack of natural maternal instinct, while the killer reflects on how their murderous parents shaped them, claiming to have twisted their inherited nature toward a "better" purpose.
- The Past Haunting the Present: The discovery in the attic continues to unravel Mia and Finn's present life and mental health. Simultaneously, the killer's chapter shows how their own horrific past directly fuels their present-day actions.
- Headphones: Headphones symbolize isolation and vulnerability. Mia uses them to block out Sonny's cries and retreat from reality. The killer's potential victim is also isolated by his headphones, making him an easy target.
Key Quotes
"Sonny is my priority, not Mia."
Debbie's declaration reveals her true intentions. Driven by her terminal illness and her belief that Mia is a danger to Sonny, she is determined to take custody of her grandson, regardless of the consequences. This quote encapsulates her manipulative and controlling nature.
"I kill to save others, not punish them."
This chilling statement reveals the killer's twisted logic. They see themselves as a savior, delivering their victims to a "better world." This rationalization highlights their delusional state and the disturbing perversion of their family's murderous legacy.
Why This Matters and Section Significance
This section marks a crucial turning point, shifting the focus from the mystery of the bodies in the attic to the psychological disintegration of the main characters and the sinister family dynamics at play. The introduction of the killer's perspective provides chilling information that the characters lack, creating intense dramatic irony. Most importantly, these chapters establish the central conflict: the battle for control over Sonny, driven by Mia's trauma and Debbie's manipulative desperation. Debbie's MND diagnosis provides a powerful, if twisted, motivation for her actions, transforming her from a meddling mother-in-law into a formidable antagonist.