The Business Trip

“Seeds of doubt pricked at the corners. I was the stupid one of my mom’s three kids, the dumb waitress who needed a man to support her, a chick in her forties who had never really done anything in her life, never had a chance to be truly free, to get outside of Madison and experience life—real, vibrant, exciting, adventurous life.”

The novel explores the long-lasting traumatic effects of abuse, suggesting that abuse begets further violence. Years of abuse at the hands of her mother and her boyfriend, Glenn, have made Jasmine doubt herself and her abilities. Jasmine has internalized the insults that her mother and Glenn lobbed at her over the years.

“Sometimes I truly thought I would change. I had tried a few times, but it never lasted long because she always pissed me off with something she did or said, and that little devil in me would come out. It wasn’t my fault. In fact, it was her fault for making me angry and bringing out the devil.”

Throughout the novel, men blame women for their violence and aggression. In this passage, Glenn blames his abusive behavior on Jasmine and suggests that he is only violent because she incites him to violence. The novel suggests that victim-blaming behavior is a common trait in violent men.

“It really wasn’t that gorgeous at all. It was much like I had pictured. Basic walls in a medium gray, dark wood cabinets in the kitchen, track lighting. It had an imposing and domineering feel, very masculine.”

Trent McCarthy is initially presented as the novel’s villain and implied to be responsible for Stephanie’s death. This passage supports Trent as the antagonist, suggesting that his apartment reflects his overbearing, toxic masculine personality.

“Don’t worry, Anna. He will never bother you again. I know lots of people in Madison. If I could hop on a flight right now, I would, but I’ve got a lot of things going on here in Hot-lanta at the moment. But you’re my girl and so is Jasmine. I protect my girls, and of course I always take care of myself.”

In the first three parts of the novel, Raven is depicted as a shadowy figure who helps Jasmine and Anna when they are in danger. Although this passage suggests that she is the leader of their group, the novel eventually reveals that Jasmine is the most violent of the trio, capable of manipulating both of her friends.

“Firing up the remote ignition for my BMW, I took out my bewilderment and frustration on the light switch (extra hard flick with my hand) and the door (slammed it for the satisfying feeling it gave me), then stomped my way through the January early darkness of the parking lot, seething.”

This passage illustrates The Problem With Male Anger. Even likeable, professional men can be violent when they are angry. Even though Dave takes his anger out on inanimate objects, this scene acts as an echo of the violent anger of Glenn and Trent.

“Was it my imagination, or did he look forlorn when I was there to feed him dinner? He seemed to be moving extra slowly, and his meow was plaintive.”

Stephanie’s friend and neighbor Robert is an emotional, intuitive person who trusts his gut instincts when he feels that Stephanie is in trouble. In this passage, he imagines that Stephanie’s cat, Freddie, also senses that something is wrong. Ultimately, Robert’s belief in Stephanie leads him to ignore crucial clues about her disappearance.

“I scanned their faces and stopped my eyes harshly on Bruce, who had clearly disobeyed my orders not to say anything. He knew exactly what I was thinking and looked down. […] I couldn’t help but unpeel this onion to see who had violated my orders.”

This passage explores The Difficulties of Running a Newsroom. Dave’s obsession with secrecy and obedience in his newsroom reflects a specific leadership style that the novel criticizes. Dave is more concerned with employees following his orders than the disappearance of an employee, suggesting that his priorities are not in line.

“Bolting back to my place, I felt fear and confusion now overtaking me. ‘What the hell??’ I yelled. I wanted to throw the phone but knew that wasn’t wise, so I picked up a couple of pillows from the couch and started hurling them around, screaming.”

This passage also explores male anger. Here, Robert responds to fears of Stephanie’s disappearance by acting out violently. Although no one is harmed by his outburst, the fact that he, a mild-mannered man, is capable of violence reflects the novel’s suggestion that all men can be violent.

“That night at my place when Steph told me that she would be willing to endure a disease, a few nights in the woods, or a friendly kidnapper to get her son back in her corner. This wasn’t some giant cat and mouse game, was it? Was Trent the friendly kidnapper? Could she possibly have staged this to make Evan worry for a while and then return triumphantly?”

Despite remembering that Stephanie articulated a clear desire to leave her life for a while, Robert never considers that her disappearance might be connected to her dissatisfaction. This passage helps plant the seeds for the novel’s big revelation: Although Stephanie didn’t stage her disappearance to make her son worry, she did hire a doppelganger so that she wouldn’t have to go to the conference.

“And if they dug too deep, would I be implicated for Glenn being beaten up? I had to protect myself and Rocky. I would do what I could to honor Jasmine in other ways, a funeral, a memorial, keeping her memory alive. If the media asked me to talk about the Jasmine I knew from the bar, I would do that. But I couldn’t jeopardize my own safety.”

Although she is one of Jasmine’s only friends, Anna is not willing to jeopardize her own safety. The fact that Jasmine has few meaningful relationships allows her to hide her violent side and get away with murder.

“We all knew men made better leaders. I would never say that out loud, of course, or the woke mafia would come after me, but everyone knew it was the damn truth. Men got shit done and didn’t let emotions come into play. Women were too wishy-washy.”

In Part 3, the narrative focuses on Trent’s experiences at the news conference where he meets whom he believes to be Stephanie. Trent is characterized as a misogynistic, violent man. This encourages the reader to believe that he is responsible for the deaths of Stephanie and, later, Jasmine.

“I was in a state of shock, I knew that, but also not in a state of worry because I knew that this was another misunderstanding. A big, fucking huge one that the chief was going to hear about. These officers would lose their jobs. That thought made me smile.”

Throughout the novel, Trent maintains his innocence in the killings of Stephanie and Jasmine. Passages like this characterize Trent as an arrogant, unlikeable man, which may encourage the reader to agree with Jasmine’s later suggestion that he deserves to be framed for murder.

“Jasmine? Wasn’t that the name of the chick I met in the corner bar the night I returned from the conference? The one who stiffed me on the sexy picture?”

Trent is again characterized as an overly sexual, misogynistic man who believes that he is superior to everyone he meets. The use of the word “stiffed” in this passage suggests that he feels he is entitled to sexual favors by women. Ultimately, Jasmine manipulates this personality flaw to frame him for Stephanie’s murder.

“I wanted to use the skills I’d learned in a women’s self-defense class and kick Trent right in his baby face, but I couldn’t shake the strong sense that something was just not adding up—that Reiki gut feeling again.”

Stephanie’s friend and co-worker Lucy is the first to discover that the “Stephanie” who attended the conference might not be the person she knows. Lucy relies on her instincts—referred to here as her “Reiki gut feeling”—over police theories and seemingly concrete evidence to the contrary. Ultimately, Lucy’s reliance on her gut is proven to be correct. In this way, the novel alludes to the power of instinct.

“I knew with complete clarity all of a sudden that Drake would take the fall for this. His sperm inside her. A clear rape and assault. It was him or me, and it wasn’t going to be me. I didn’t owe him anything. He had never been kind to me either.”

The revelation that Jasmine killed one classmate, Allison, and framed another, Drake, for her murder transforms the portrayal of her character and motives. Jasmine’s murder of Allison foreshadows how she frames Trent for the murder of Stephanie.

“It was comeuppance time. In some ways, it felt like the entire underbelly of America might be cheering with me. The workers who really made conferences like this possible. […] What I was about to do felt oddly like a lifetime of vindication against the elite, the ones who had it so good they didn’t even recognize it.”

Jasmine’s resentment toward people she perceives as having a better life is central to her personality. In this passage, she assumes that because Trent is wealthy and she is not, she has the moral high ground in any action she takes against him. Imagining that other working-class people will support her actions is part of how she justifies her behavior.

“Glenn’s face is what came to mind first. […] Then I pictured Allison. Her words from the party flew through the air at me in Stephanie’s hotel room like tiny swords […] My mother floated to my brain next. […] This trio of people taunted me as slowly, slowly I brought the pillow down and covered Stephanie’s face, pressing as hard as I could.”

The novel suggests that Jasmine’s violent outbursts are the result of traumatic bullying she faced as a child and young adult. The fact that Glenn, Allison, and her mother’s insults float through Jasmine’s head as she smothers Stephanie suggests that the abuse she faced had long-term effects on her life and personality. The passage uses a simile, where something is compared to something else using “like” or “as.” In this case, Allison’s cruel words are likened to “tiny swords,” illustrating their sharpness and power to cause harm.

“My newly forming plan would be payback for every woman out there who had to deal with guys like him everywhere. It might even be retribution on behalf of Allison, for the way Drake had treated her, and I couldn’t believe I was thinking that.”

This passage reflects Jasmine’s twisted sense of justice. Although she is framing an innocent man for a murder she committed, Jasmine feels like she is executing a victory for survivors of abuse, including Allison, who she also killed.

“I pictured her living in a mansion with crystal chandeliers and a plush red couch, wineglasses in a glass cabinet, and a fridge full of fancy and expensive organic foods.”

Jasmine initially plans to take over Stephanie’s life in order to escape abuse. She also becomes resentful of what she sees as Stephanie’s perfect life. The above passage features dramatic irony: The reader knows that Stephanie is dissatisfied with her life, which is not as glamorous as Jasmine believes. Far from living in a fancy mansion, Stephanie lives in a condo. Instead of “wineglasses in a glass cabinet,” she has a boring meal subscription package.

“Perfect! I was a genius. Filled with adrenaline at my tremendous smarts, I stood up in the middle of the motel room and felt like dancing.”

As the novel progresses, Jasmine loses the anxiety and self-doubt that grew during her years of abuse. Eventually, her confidence morphs into the same type of arrogance that she criticizes men like Glenn and Trent for having. Jasmine’s change in personality is designed to craft her as the novel’s villain and turn the reader against her.

“The new look called for a bright red lipstick, in my opinion, and buying a vibrant red color would also serve as a final vanquishing of Allison and the memory of her shade. I was putting her further into the rearview with every move on this trip.”

Jasmine’s decision to kill Stephanie and take over her life brings up memories of murdering Allison. Although Jasmine wants to hide all evidence of both murders, this passage suggests that she cannot fully escape Allison, as the simple sight of red lipstick reminds her of her.

“I started chewing my almost nonexistent fingernails. Why was she asking me this? Think, Jasmine, think. Think, Erica, think.”

Throughout the novel, Jasmine is determined to escape her own life and begin a new one. Although she acts as Stephanie for one day, she never feels fully comfortable living as Stephanie. Here, she refers to herself as Erica—the name on her new passport. This suggests that she is ready to fully adopt a new persona.

“‘Is that what this was all about?’ I asked. ‘How ironic. We both wanted the same thing. You know what? We could have been friends in another life if you weren’t a psychopath.’”

This passage explores doppelgangers and how Jasmine and Stephanie have used them to escape their lives. This passage suggests that there are similarities between Jasmine and Stephanie beyond their physical appearance. Like Jasmine, Stephanie was dissatisfied with her life and hoped to be able to escape it.