The Obsession

Naomi is the protagonist of the novel. She is a dynamic, round character whose journey explores trauma, resilience, and identity. A single, horrific night in her childhood disrupts the trajectory of her life when, at age 11, she discovers that her father, Thomas David Bowes, is a serial killer. This event shapes her entire existence, forcing her to adopt a new last name and thus a new identity to escape the infamy of her bloodline. Her character arc is defined by her struggle to first accept her past as the terrified girl who survived a monster and then build her future as an independent woman who has control over her own life. This internal conflict is central to the theme of Redefining Identity in the Shadow of Infamy, as Naomi must learn that her true self is not dictated by her past but forged by her present choices.

One of Naomi’s most defining traits is her fierce, almost primal, resilience. This quality is established in the novel’s opening, when she not only survives the discovery of her father’s secret but also actively saves his captive, Ashley McLean.