Mount Rainier

This real mountain in Washington is the location where Andrea Strickland was last seen with her husband, Graham. Graham had suggested the mountain-climbing expedition as a way for them to do something together soon after they married, and Andrea suggests it again as a means of rekindling their relationship, though she plans to disappear while she is there. Andrea does follow through with her plan and makes it look as if Graham killed her. In his comments at the end of the novel, the author describes his determination to use the mountain as one of the settings and his research into the site, including the little-used path that Andrea and Graham take, which allows them to be alone when Andrea disappears.

Seattle, Washington

Seattle is where Tracy lives and works. Much of the action takes place in this setting. The city is not described in detail with...