She Didn't See It Coming

In She Didn’t See It Coming, the victim’s sister Lizzie is an active participant in a True Crime in Albany Facebook group. This group (and Lizzie’s participation in it) is designed to critique the toxic culture of real-life true-crime enthusiasts and “civilian detectives.” Within the Facebook group, participants speculate wildly about Bryden’s death without showing any regard for the feelings of the victim’s family. They throw out baseless theories, such as the claim by “Susan Day” that Bryden was likely having an affair because “she was gorgeous” and “was probably getting some on the side” (199). They investigate “suspects” without regard for their privacy, as when they dig into the background of Derek Gardner. They also transform the investigation into a form of fandom by declaring themselves either “Team Sam” or “Team Derek.”

Lizzie thrives in this toxic environment and “feels a thrill” (168) when people clamor for her to share her insider knowledge about her sister’s murder. She reflects that she “feels right at the very center of things for a change, and she likes it” (169). The Facebook group has a negative impact on Lizzie’s personal life. As Lizzie “dives deeper into the rabbit hole” (254), she isolates herself more and more from her family, begins acting out in antisocial ways, and delays processing her grief in a healthy way.