Gilliam

Much of the book takes place in this suburban small town 20 minutes north of New York City where the Gleesons and the Stanhopes live. Francis Gleeson first hears about Gillam from Brian Stanhope, who says lots of police officers work there. "(T)he houses all have big lawns and kids deliver the newspapers from their bicycles just like in the Brady Bunch," Brian says (8). Francis eventually moves his family to Gillam because it reminds him of Ireland and he needs the peace and quiet to stay sane as a police officer. But while Keane initially depicts Gillam as a suburban, family paradise, it becomes clear later in the novel that all is not well there. Brian and Francis still bring home problems from work. Lena Gleeson feels lonely and isolated in Gillam and it is clear that at least some of Anne Stanhope's problem also come from the...