These chapters mark a pivotal shift, revealing that the true villain is not who everyone believes. A flashback unveils a dark secret, while present-day events cast doubt on the official narrative, setting the stage for a thrilling confrontation.
Chapter 51: Thirty-Nine Years Earlier
A young Debbie Hunter kneels beside her friend, Precious, who has been struck by a stolen car driven by a terrified Dave Hunter. Dave, believing he has killed Precious, sobs uncontrollably. Debbie sends him to find a phone. While he is gone, Precious regains consciousness and recognizes Debbie from the house where children are held captive. She whispers, "I know what you are... You're one of them!" threatening to expose Debbie and her family.
Debbie's dreams of escaping her horrific family life vanish. Faced with the threat of exposure, she decides on a "one-size-fits-all solution." Grabbing a plank of wood, she returns to Precious, apologizes, and bludgeons her to death, rationalizing it as "saving" Precious from future pain and herself from exposure. When Dave returns, Debbie takes control, confirming Precious is dead and convincing him they must flee. She introduces herself, grabs his arm, and they run away together. This event, born of shared misunderstanding and Debbie's cold-bloodedness, marks the origin of their relationship and highlights the theme of Manipulation and Control. The The Past Haunting the Present is central, as this single event shapes Debbie and Dave's lives.
Part Three News Alert
An Anglia Free Press article reports on the funeral of David Hunter, now known as "Britain's most prolific child killer." The article confirms he took his own life after his crimes were discovered by his daughter-in-law, Mia. The autopsy reveals Dave was not suffering from terminal cancer, as reported, but from a treatable stomach ulcer, casting doubt on the narrative surrounding his suicide.
Chapter 52: Mia, Five Months Later
Five months later, Mia drops off her one-year-old son, Sonny Hunter, at Debbie's house for a visit with his father, Finn Hunter. Mia and Finn are separated, and Finn is back with his ex-girlfriend, Emma. Mia reflects on the past year's trauma and her aversion to the Hunter house. She lives with her parents, works in London, and attends therapy.
Her conversation with Finn is strained. They discuss Sonny's visit, and Mia urges Finn to seek therapy, which he deflects. Despite the pain, Mia feels free from the Hunter family. As she drives away, she realizes she doesn't cry after leaving Finn, feeling "strangely optimistic," signaling healing.
Chapter 53: Debbie
From her window, Debbie watches Mia and Finn with hatred, blaming Mia for Dave's death, her family's vilification, and her worsening Motor Neurone Disease (MND). She reveals that the water-damaged schoolbooks Mia found were hers, not Dave's, and the handwriting on the skirting board was also hers. Dave's only mistake was forgetting to destroy the invoices that led Mia to the warehouse.
Debbie's narration reveals her manipulative and narcissistic personality. She is frustrated that Dave killed himself instead of Mia and confesses to intentionally shaking the ladder that caused Mia's fall and miscarriage, stating she would have sacrificed the unborn baby to protect her family secrets. She vows to "save" Sonny from Mia, whom she sees as a threat. The chapter includes a transcript from a documentary, I Married a Serial Killer, in which a psychologist incorrectly theorizes that Debbie is a victim of folie à deux, controlled by Dave—a perfect example of dramatic irony.
Chapter 54: Finn
Finn's perspective reveals his misery. He is caught between his mother's venom toward Mia and his feelings for his estranged wife. He sees his mother's deteriorating health and manipulative nature. The family faces constant public harassment, affecting his work and relationship with Emma and their daughter, Chloe.
Finn admits he only reunited with Emma because he needs familiarity. He feels like a "selfish bastard" for using her. He struggles financially and considers a job in Saudi Arabia, dreading leaving his children. He is overwhelmed by his father's legacy and worries about explaining the truth to Sonny. His chapter highlights the collateral damage of his parents' secrets.
Chapter 55: Mia
Mia meets with DS Mark Goodwin at a coffee shop. Their relationship is flirtatious, and he brings a gift for Sonny. Mark reveals he doubts Dave's confession, pointing out that Dave never explicitly admitted to the murders and that the forensic evidence is contradictory.
Mark suggests Dave's confession and suicide might have been a "distraction" to divert the police from the real killer. Mia reacts with anger, feeling that Mark is questioning her traumatic experience. She storms out, hurt and confused. However, Mark's words echo in her mind, and she realizes he might be right. The chapter ends with an excerpt from a YouTube true-crime series about the "Babes in the Attic" case, which theorizes that the killer couple also murdered elderly people, linking back to Debbie's parents and the theme of Nature vs. Nurture.
Character Development
- Debbie Hunter: She is revealed as the true antagonist, a cold, calculating murderer and manipulator who has controlled Dave since they were teenagers.
- Mia: She is on a path to recovery, more independent and working again. However, DS Goodwin's theory shatters her stability, forcing her to re-examine her trauma.
- Finn Hunter: He is a broken man, trapped by family loyalty and emotional weakness, unable to break from his mother's influence and using his relationship with Emma as a crutch.
- Dave Hunter: His character is re-contextualized as a potential victim of Debbie's lifelong manipulation, his "confession" and suicide cast in a new light.
Themes & Symbols
- Family Secrets and Lies: This section exposes the ultimate secret: Debbie, not Dave, is the architect of the family's darkness. The entire Hunter family identity is built on a foundation of her lies, dating back to the day she met Dave.
- Manipulation and Control: The psychologist's theory of folie à deux is a powerful use of dramatic irony. The reader knows that the power dynamic was the reverse of what the public believes; Debbie has been controlling Dave their entire lives, manipulating him into protecting her.
- The Past Haunting the Present: Debbie's childhood trauma and crimes are not just backstory; they are the active, driving force of the present-day plot. Her actions as a child directly led to her relationship with Dave and set the stage for decades of deception.
- Truth vs. Perception: The interspersed media clips highlight the massive gap between the public's understanding of the events and the reality the reader is now privy to. The central conflict becomes whether the true story will ever come to light.
Key Quotes
"I know what you are... You're one of them!"
This quote, uttered by Precious, is a chilling moment of recognition that sets the stage for Debbie's first murder. It underscores the idea that Debbie's true nature is hidden beneath a facade, and that those who glimpse it become a threat that must be eliminated.
"Dave's only mistake was forgetting to destroy the invoices."
This quote encapsulates Debbie's warped sense of morality and her complete lack of remorse. She views Dave's failure to cover their tracks as the only wrongdoing, rather than the horrific crimes they committed. It highlights her manipulative nature and her ability to rationalize her actions.
Significance
This section represents the novel's most significant turning point. The reveal of Debbie's guilt reframes the narrative, shifting the genre from a "whodunit" to a thriller of suspense. The central conflict is no longer about uncovering Dave's crimes but about uncovering Debbie's, altering the stakes for every character and setting the stage for the final confrontation between Mia and her monstrous mother-in-law.