Point of View

The story is written in third person from Hank Mitchell's perspective. This is somewhat limited but is necessary for the fulfillment of the plot. For example, the suspicions are at the heart of the story line and Hank comes to believe that Lou has told others about the money, including his girlfriend Nancy and his landlord Sonny. If the story were written from an omniscient perspective, the reader would know for certain whether this was true. By limiting the perspective to only what Hank knows, the reader is left to wonder - as Hank does - whether Lou is spreading the information. This lack of information builds suspense, which is one of the goals of the author. The limited perspective also leaves the reader wondering about the intentions of others while revealing the full story behind Hank's actions. For example, Sarah asks Hank if he would...