Nobody's Fool

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use, death, and addiction.

Sami Kierce is the text’s protagonist and narrator. Sami is a former NYPD detective who was recently fired for misconduct. Sami is married to Molly and is the father of one-year-old Henry, both of whom have completely changed his life. Sami is of Pakistani descent and describes himself as “weathered and bearded” (217). His smile is his best feature, and he often employs it to get out of conflict. Sami is family-oriented and will do whatever he can to protect and support his family, but this desire sometimes comes across as patronizing to Molly. Sami has immense guilt for making Molly endure financial hardship because of his dismissal, and he picks up odd jobs to support them. Sami reluctantly feels relieved when he accepts the Belmonds’ contract, and he can sense a new ease in his demeanor when he doesn’t have to constantly think about money.

As a narrator, Sami is sarcastic and humorous. He often addresses the reader directly in a conversational tone and cracks jokes during serious moments. Despite Sami’s sarcastic cover, he is deeply haunted by Anna’s fake death, and on several occasions, he tears up from relief that he isn’t a killer.