The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Tompkins, JoAnne. What Comes After. Riverhead Books, 2011.

Tompkins’ novel is divided into three parts, with a total of 73 chapters, and an epilogue. The chapters alternate between Isaac Balch’s first-person narrative and Evangeline McKensey’s perspective from a third-person narrative. Approximately every sixth chapter, Jonah Geiger’s perspective is shared in first person journal entries. Set in Port Furlong, Washington the work begins in the wake of Daniel Balch’s murder at the hands of his childhood friend, Jonah Geiger, who commits suicide soon after the murder.

The novel opens at Daniel’s Quaker memorial service, Isaac steeped in grief. His discomfort is compounded by the fact that his former wife Katherine, who left him for another man, and Jonah’s mother Lorrie, are both in attendance. Evangeline’s storyline begins on the outskirts of town, where she has been abandoned by her mother, Viv, and finds herself pregnant at sixteen. She mulls over the deaths of the boys.

Evangeline decides to go to the Balch home in hopes of finding shelter. Isaac reflects on his marriage with Katherine and their large Victorian home bought at her behest, now empty. He considers his Quaker religion, unsure of how he will remain faithful to it in the face of his losses. Evangeline flashes back to meeting Jonah and Daniel with their contrasting personalities: Daniel a golden boy, Jonah forlorn and bereft. She relates to Jonah, given their similar backgrounds. Jonah’s first entry entitled “Day of My Death” ponders theories on evil. He thinks back on the peace he found attending meeting with Isaac.

Rufus, the Balch’s dog, finds Evangeline on the lawn and Isaac brings her in and feeds her. Jonah’s journal entries reveal the complex relationship between him and Daniel. Initially friends as children, the social hierarchy of adolescence separates them, provoking a power shift. Domineering Daniel often bullies Jonah. Isaac offers Evangeline shelter and the two try to ascertain one another’s motives. Isaac is aware Evangeline is pregnant and wonders if the child could be Daniel’s; he insists she see a doctor.

Evangeline enrolls in high school where Isaac teaches. She recognizes the principal, Isaac’s friend Peter. Peter tells Isaac Evangeline is hiding something and suggests he get the state involved; Isaac refuses. Isaac snoops in Evangeline’s belongings and finds news clippings of the murder and Jonah’s bracelet. Evangeline runs away. She flashes back to Daniel sexually assaulting her, as well as a tender night with Jonah. Jonah recalls the night as well but is embarrassed by his lack of experience and feels inferior to Daniel. Isaac searches for Evangeline who is hiding in his car. Evangeline warns Peter that she will disclose his secret if he tries to force her into state custody. Isaac reflects on Jonah and Daniel’s relationship, recalling Jonah’s difficult home life and his father Roy’s suicide. Evangeline recalls the night she and Jonah had sex and worries that she is the reason Jonah killed Daniel.

Part Two begins with Evangeline acclimating to school and Isaac’s trip East to tend to an ailing aunt. Isaac recruits Lorrie, Jonah’s mother, to look in on Evangeline and the two become friends. Isaac ponders family on his trip. Lorrie takes Evangeline to the doctor as she is spotting. Jonah recalls his father’s physical abuse.

Evangeline avoids Lorrie when she discovers she is Jonah’s mother. Isaac requests a Quaker clearness committee be convened so he can discover truths about Daniel’s death. Jonah recounts the day of the murder. He and Daniel are hunting and Daniel taunts him by disclosing that he had sex with Evangeline. Jonah snaps, lunging at him, repeatedly stabbing him in the throat. Evangeline bonds with Rufus. Isaac resists full disclosure with the clearness committee. Jonah recalls attending Quaker meetings and describes a mystical moment in which he is at one with the Divine.

Isaac confronts Lorrie about the night of the murder as he witnessed her burning Jonah’s belongings. A contrite Lorrie apologizes at not disclosing this to the police, declaring she knew Daniel was probably dead if it was his blood due to the sheer volume of it. Jonah describes his actions after the murder: the cover-up and his resolution to take his own life. Evangeline learns that neither Daniel nor Jonah could have fathered the baby as she is farther along in her pregnancy than she thought.

Part Three reveals that Peter has had numerous affairs and has been consorting with underage girls, explaining Evangeline’s recognition of him. She had sex for money one time and saw Peter at the solicitation spot. Evangeline runs away again after misconstruing Isaac’s conversation with George, believing she is unwanted. Isaac discovers her on George’s boat and the two come together despite their reticence to trust one another. Evangeline notes the glowing atmosphere surrounding the boat.

Isaac has an epiphany with the clearness committee: Daniel was a bully but Isaac admired him for his power in the face of his own passivity. He invests his emotional energy in Evangeline, throwing her a baby shower. Although he invites Lorrie, he continues to shun her. Rufus becomes gravely ill and Evangeline has a medical emergency the day he dies. Jonah replays the day of his father’s suicide, as Roy shoots the family dog and holds a gun to his sister, Nells’ head, prior to shooting himself. Evangeline’s baby is born, and Evangeline insists Isaac make amends with Lorrie as they will both be part of baby Emma’s life. Isaac tries to reconcile but cannot.

When Evangeline is hospitalized with a serious infection, Isaac returns home to the empty Victorian house and realizes he must shore up his heart and let others in. He calls Lorrie at the end of the last chapter. The Epilogue captures Jonah traveling from one world to the next, facilitating Evangeline and Isaac’s moment of trust on George’s boat, Jonah igniting the light within both of them.