Sadie

West’s role in the story evolves from outside observer to highly interested party. At the beginning of his investigation into Sadie’s disappearance, West is reluctant to delve into more than a superficial examination of Sadie’s circumstances. His dispassionate search for clues into Sadie’s whereabouts serves as a good counterpoint to Sadie’s deeply personal account. As a journalist, West looks into the backgrounds of the people Sadie encountered, which makes for a richer overall story for the reader, as this fleshes out the characters more than Sadie’s perfunctory descriptions.

The reader does not begin to see into West’s character until near the end of the story, when he becomes much more personally involved in caring about May Beth, Claire, and especially Sadie. West learns about himself as a result of his search for Sadie. He wants to find Sadie because he cares about her and her family, not because he is a white knight trying to fight evil and make the world a better place for his own daughter. West learns that he should care about his story subjects on a personal level and that they have much to teach him. Sadie teaches him about the dynamic power of love. In his privileged position as a podcaster, West is able to convey that message to multitudes. 

Early on, Claire emerges as a villainous character. May Beth and Sadie both fault Claire for her selfishness, her destructive behavior, her lack of parental responsibility, and the cruelty she showed Sadie in favoring Mattie so openly. Claire shows herself to be much more complex. She explains to West that she was very young, wracked with drug addiction, and facing the loss of her mother, whom she genuinely loved, at the same time she gave birth to Sadie. Claire considered leaving Sadie to care for Mattie the best option for her family.

Claire finds reserves of strength inside herself after she finds out Mattie is dead, as she gets clean and stays clean. Though she doesn’t want to stay in Cold Creek, Claire remains in the hope that Sadie will return and forgive her mother enough for them to be a family. Claire is a character of redemption, symbolizing the human ability to fight for second chances. She shows that beneath her failings and regret beats the heart of a mother who loves her girls.

May Beth sets the story line of West’s podcast in motion, as she is the one who insists that he help find out what happened to Sadie. May Beth’s last name symbolizes the foster grandparent role she filled in Sadie and Mattie’s lives. May Beth is kind, generous, and loving, but she is also judgmental. May Beth almost certainly saved Sadie and Mattie from being taken away from Claire, making sure they were fed and clothed. At the same time, May Beth’s refusal to see Claire’s attempts at motherly love damaged Sadie’s relationship with Claire and added to the dysfunction of their family, which was a contributing factor in Mattie’s death.

Keith, as he is known to Sadie, is the villain of the story. He is Sadie’s target and her sister’s killer. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Keith also damaged Sadie’s life by sexually abusing her, a crime he committed against many young girls. Keith lived his life moving from one vulnerable single mother to the next, seemingly a “nice” guy, while he molested their young daughters. Keith’s character represents how evil can exist behind an ordinary, pleasant facade. In the climax of Sadie’s story, Keith pays for his crimes with a painful death, though the book does not reveal if Sadie lives to know she succeeded.

Marlee lives on the edge of poverty. Her parents were only able to afford to send one child to college and chose Silas. Marlee was left to fend for herself with no degree and no prospects. She struggles to raise her baby as her bills mount and her brother chooses Darren over her in their conflict. Marlee’s character symbolizes the inequality faced by women, particularly poor women, in the world and even in their own families. Marlee chose decency over stability when she kicked Darren out and is paying the price for it.

Silas’ character demonstrates that monsters exist even in attractive surroundings. Silas rose above his humble origins to become wealthy, successful, and respected, while harboring the secret of his sexual abuse of young children. Silas hides a savage side beneath his smooth countenance, as he shows that he has no qualms about smashing Sadie’s face when threatened by her. Marlee says that Silas took Jack (Keith) “under his wing” when they became friends, which implies that Keith learned from Silas how to avoid detection as he sexually abused children.

Javi’s character is drawn to Sadie immediately when he sees her dancing in the bar. He lives in the shadow of the “popular kids” like Kendall and Noah, who disguise their unhappiness behind a false, disdainful front. Javi sees something genuine in Sadie, a sign of her hurt that speaks to his own. Sadie knows that she can trust Javi, though she’s just met him, so she reaches out to him for help. Javi represents the “normal” teenage life Sadie wishes she possessed, and his kindness leaves a great impression on her.