The motif of hiking and climbing initially represents Nina’s strength, independence, and escape from the pressures of her life. In the prologue, Nina explains that climbing is a meditative act that brings her clarity and focus. She states, “When I am on the mountain, I can’t think about anything except my fingers wedged into a crevasse and my feet balanced just so and the route ahead” (3). The cliffs are her personal sanctuary, a space where she feels powerful, capable, and in control of her own destiny. It is the purest expression of her identity, separate from her roles as a daughter, student, or girlfriend. The physical calluses on her fingertips and the scars from her falls are markers of her resilience and passion, defining her as someone strong and self-reliant.

This motif is systematically corrupted as the novel progresses, mirroring the decay of Nina’s relationship with Simon. The mountains, once her refuge, become the setting for his escalating abuse. Simon’s aggressive behavior during their climbs and his deliberate sabotage of her descent during a rappel transform her source of freedom into a site of fear and control. His violence co-opts her passion, turning the activity that once empowered her into a weapon against her, illustrating how abuse can poison and destroy a person’s core identity.

The Jordans’ vacation property at Stowe, with its expansive acreage and private lake, is a symbol of immense wealth, privilege, and the sinister realities that can hide beneath a polished surface, foregrounding The Impact of Privilege on the Fight for Justice. Its isolation and luxury immediately establish the power and privacy afforded to the Jordans by their money. The Stowe property becomes a space where actions can occur without witnesses or consequences, a place where the family can operate by its own rules. When Leanne breaks in, she observes, “The house was too cold and hard and empty. The house was a rock with sharp edges” (88), emphasizing its cold, unforgiving nature.

Across the novel, the location transforms from a luxury retreat into a multi-layered crime scene. It is where Simon kills Nina, where he buries her in a shallow grave, and where Rory moves her body to the lake. The pristine, picturesque lake becomes a watery tomb, its placid surface concealing the horrific truth of Nina’s murder. This transformation illustrates the ways that wealth can obscure moral decay. The beautiful property becomes an active instrument in the Jordans’ cover-up where they can literally and figuratively bury their crimes.