The Secret Place

The narrative describes a moment that occurs well before the novel’s primary plotline. In this scene, a boarding-school student named Holly Mackey eats ice cream at the local park with her friends Becca, Selena, and Julia. The four will be rooming together at their boarding school, St. Kilda’s, in the fall, and they chat idly about the year to come.

Detective Stephen Moran is surprised to receive a visitor just as he arrives at work: Holly Mackey, the daughter of his colleague Frank. A few years ago, Holly was the main witness in a murder case, and Stephen worked closely with her. She has grown up a little since then, and he notes her posh school uniform, serious voice, and observant gaze. She tells him that she has something to give him, and he ushers her into a conference room.

Holly explains that one year ago at St. Kilda’s, the Catholic boarding school that she attends, the nuns found a body on the grounds: Chris Harper, a student at Colm’s, the neighboring boys’ school.