Summit Lake

How does the dual-timeline structure in Summit Lake, which alternates between Becca’s past hopes and Kelsey’s present investigation, systematically deconstruct the theme of The Dangerous Illusion of Perfection for the characters and the town? Include textual evidence.

Trace Brad’s psychological transformation from a resentful friend to a violent killer, incorporating textual evidence. How does the novel use Brad’s characterization to explore the destructive nature of possessive obsession and male entitlement when one confronts the collapse of a carefully constructed reality?

In what ways does Summit Lake’s rural noir setting, specifically its idyllic reputation, physical isolation, and insular community, actively contribute to the novel’s central conflicts and thematic development? Provide textual evidence.