Summit Lake

The novel’s central symbol, the lake, represents the dangerous illusion of perfection that characterizes the town of Summit Lake and some of its inhabitants. On its surface, the lake is picturesque and serene, a feature that draws tourists and weekenders to what seems like an idyllic mountain retreat. This placid facade, however, conceals the murky depths that lie beneath, mirroring how the town’s pristine reputation masks the dark secrets and corruption that led to Becca’s violent murder.

Kelsey’s first impression from the bluff captures this dichotomy perfectly: “Somewhere in this quaint tourist town, a girl had been murdered. It seemed too nice a place for such a thing to happen” (21). This observation establishes the novel’s core tension between appearance and reality, suggesting that the most beautiful surfaces can hide the most brutal truths. The lake doesn’t change, but its meaning deepens as the investigation uncovers the secrets it metaphorically holds. It’s a constant, looming reminder that suppressing truth doesn’t eliminate it but merely submerges it, allowing it to fester in the depths. The stilt houses, perched precariously over the water, extend this symbolism, representing the fragile, carefully constructed lives of families like the Eckersleys, built just above the hidden things beneath the surface that may threaten to erode their foundations.