This Is Our Story

John Michael is the secondary (anonymous) narrator. He is one of the River Point Boys and Grant’s murderer. John Michael represents the pinnacle of privilege. River Point is his family’s land, for example, and the gym at St. Bart’s is named for his grandparents. John Michael kills Grant to protect his family, after Grant reveals that he has an incriminating photo of John Michael’s father paying off Gaines. John Michael’s character speaks to the uncomfortable fact that the “good ol’ boys” club is essentially indestructible—and that those who do push against it will suffer consequences. In John Michael’s view, Grant crossed a line by breaking the boys’ club code and implicitly threatening his family. Grant’s killing was thus warranted. When Shep breaks loyalty with the boys’ club and makes a connection with Kate, he is committing—in John Michal’s view—a similar offense.

Shep is one of the River Point Boys. His family is in the oil and gas business and made a fortune when natural gas was discovered in northern Louisiana. He’s slightly removed from the other boys because he moved to the area only three years ago while the others were all born and raised there. He also distinguishes himself from the boys’ club, namely through his budding romance with Kate. He could have simply let the misunderstanding go, but he shows a real romantic inclination as he tries to convince her to rekindle their connection, telling her, “[Grant] wasn’t the one waiting to see you that night. That was me” (164). Shep breaks ranks with the River Point Boys when John Michael turns them against him. This is even evident in the way he changes his clothing, dropping the River Point Boys “uniform” of khakis and a button-down shirt, and instead wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Shep’s character shows the dangers of breaking with the boys’ club ranks, however, as he becomes John Michael’s next target.

Grant is one of the River Point Boys, whose murder drives the book’s primary plot. Kate initially believes that Grant is the boy she was texting with and feels an intense emotional connection to him. She only later discovers that Shep is her real love interest. Grant’s character speaks to the duty of the legal system to deliver justice—blindly. Throughout the course of Kate’s investigation, it becomes clear that Grant had many enemies. Rebecca describes Grant’s development, noting “he was still as wild as ever, but there seemed to be a mean side to him that wasn’t there before” (138). Even though Grant was a bad person, his killer should be brought to justice. The fact that his murderer is unveiled only moments after it’s revealed that Grant was the person behind the lewd St. Bart’s photos encapsulates this. 

Logan is one of the River Point Boys. Throughout the course of the investigation, his secret second life as a bookie is revealed. His involvement with a shady gambling ring serves as one of the murder mystery’s most significant red herrings. Kate theorizes that Logan owed the gambling ring money—money that Grant subsequently squandered, leaving Logan to face the violent wrath of the gambling ring. This all proves to be a false lead. Logan’s double life proves how deceptive the River Point Boys’ polished appearances really are, however. They may look proper in their “uniform” of khakis and button-down shirts, but they all have secrets. 

Henry is one of the River Point Boys. Known as the “bad boy,” he is “the richest in the group and the one most likely to buy his way out of trouble” (24). Rumor has it that he’s been busted drinking and driving four times but never been arrested. He epitomizes the arrogance and the lack of fear of repercussions for bad behavior. For example, when the English teacher Mr. Stevens reprimands him, Henry fires back, “You’re a judgmental, condescending asshole because you’re stuck teaching in public school. Didn’t you apply for a job at St. Bart’s and they laughed your ass right out the door?” (25). Henry recognizes his privilege and has no qualms about capitalizing off of it. 

Reagan is Kate’s best friend. Like Kate, she is an intern in the district attorney’s office—but she’s more interested in fashion than the legal system. Her character is presented as a less serious, more frivolous counterpoint to Kate’s. For example, while Kate views the River Point Boys’ arrival at their school with suspicion and distrust, seeing them as a pack of killers, Reagan immediately notes, “Henry is seriously hot” (7). Despite their differences, Reagan is Kate’s main confidante and knows about Kate's connection to the River Point Boys. Kate’s texts and conversations with Reagan flesh out various plot points in the narrative, and Reagan is pivotal in helping Kate unveil the true killer.

Lindsey is a girl at St. Bart’s with whom Grant had an on-again, off-again relationship before he died. He didn’t treat her well, storing her in his phone as “Booty Call 3.” Lindsey is integral in the murder mystery because she was on the phone with Grant before he died. The change in her testimony (later adding Shep’s name to Grant’s last words) makes for one of the book’s biggest plot twists. Her character also serves to unveil just how calculating and manipulative John Michael is. First, he convinces her that Grant said Shep’s name on the phone and mentally manipulates her into changing her testimony. Then, he plans to use pills to, presumably, kill her—because he knows that her lie won’t hold up under intense questioning. 

In her video interview with the police, Rebecca reveals Lindsey had an on-again, off-again relationship with Grant. She also provides insights into Grant’s character, noting that he became mean in the past year. She implies that many people might be out for blood when it comes to Grant. Beyond her testimony, Rebecca’s character connects Kate directly with Lindsey. Lindsey’s friend Mignon knows Rebecca from soccer and introduces Kate to her—and Lindsey—when they cross paths in a coffee shop.

Julianna is another minor character who serves as a plot device. In Julianna’s case, she provides insights into the River Point Boys’ pasts and personalities because she previously attended St. Bart’s. Julianna’s character also serves to provide Kate—and the reader—with the details regarding the backstory of the racy photos of three St. Bart’s girls that were leaked online. This subplot and secondary mystery (the question of who took the photos and who leaked them) is introduced when Kate comes across Julianna comforting a crying Bree Holder, one of the girls who appeared in the photos, in the bathroom. Julianna provides insights into the awful impact the event had on all three girls: Bree transferred schools while another girl is now homeschooled, and only one girl stayed at St. Bart’s. 

Stone is Kate and Mrs. Marino’s boss. He is given the thankless task of handling the River Point Boys case. His options are to bungle the case so that it simply disappears (this is what Gaines wants him to do); to convince the grand jury to indict all four boys for negligent homicide; or to figure out who pulled the trigger of the rifle that killed Grant. Given that all the boys’ parents are rich and powerful, he will make enemies either way. While District Attorney Gaines hopes that Stone will mishandle the case so that it disappears, Stone decides to solve it.

Because Stone has problems with his eyesight due to age-related macular degeneration, he asks Kate to help him by viewing photos and video statements given by the River Point Boys. The personal character detail regarding Stone’s failing is a plot device that allows Kate to play a more active role in the River Point Boys case. It is also a symbol of the idea that “justice is blind.” In fact, as Kate and the book make clear, this isn’t true: People with privilege and money usually don’t suffer the same consequences as the underprivileged. Kate and Stone jointly set out on a mission to rectify the system and pursue a case in which justice is blind, as they refuse to bow down to the River Point Boys’ connections or riches, but insist on finding Grant’s killer and bringing him to justice.

Gaines assigns the River Point Boys case to ADA Stone. He recuses himself because he is under pressure from the boys’ parents—all of whom played a part in getting him put into office. While Grant’s parents want somebody arrested, the other boys’ parents simply want the case to disappear. Stuck between these conflicting wishes, Gaines gives the case to Mr. Stone, hoping Stone will bungle it: If Stone fails to get the grand jury to indict any of the boys on negligent homicide, the case will be over with. Gaines’s character shows how strong the “good ol’ boys” club ethos is. His connections to the privileged upper class have allowed him to succeed in his career. They also, ironically, prevent him from performing his job—the carriage of justice. The fact that Gaines is shown to be in a corrupt liaison with Mr. Forres, John Michael’s father, solidifies his character as a symbol of the corrupt boys’ club—a group of men who put their own interests ahead of what is morally right and just.

A cast of minor characters makes appearances throughout the book: students and teachers from St. Bart’s who know the River Point Boys and/or were at the party the night before Grant was killed. Each testimony adds intrigue and deepens the mystery of the events surrounding Grant’s death. Many also add details that support red herrings, false clues that mislead Kate and the reader as to who the killer might be. In order of appearance:

Daniel Hardy gives a testimony regarding the video he posted of a fight that took place at the party the night before Grant was killed. The video shows an altercation between Grant and Henry, suggesting Henry has a motive. Phoebe Cage presents a testimony regarding an altercation between Logan and Grant, which suggests Logan might have motive. She also unveils Logan’s secret side hustle as a bookie. In her testimony, Jenna Richards describes an altercation between John Michael and Grant, suggesting John Michael might have motive. Finally, Roman Bradley’s testimony describes the altercation between Shep and Grant regarding Operation Fuck With Shep, painting Shep in a violent light and also suggesting that he’d have a reason to be angry with Grant—and maybe even kill him.

Through these testimonies, it’s made clear that each of the River Point Boys had some kind of disagreement with Grant. Each of the boys thus also may have had a motivate to kill him. The testimonies muddy the waters, making it more difficult to pin the blame on any one individual. They complicate the detective mystery and add complexity to the narrative. Ironically, the final video testimony is from Marsha Flynn, the vice principal of St. Bart’s, who claims that the River Point Boys “all loved Grant” (232). Her (clearly false) perception allows for a touch of humorous irony while also suggesting how the River Point Boys kept up appearances, presenting a polished and united front when in fact they were imploding.  

Mrs. Marino is Kate’s mom. After Kate’s father left, she had a series of boyfriends, none of whom stuck around for long. According to Kate, “Mom has sworn off men since the last one convinced her to invest all our savings into some crazy business idea he had and then skipped town when the business went bust” (21). Mrs. Marino’s character doesn’t play a significant role in the plot, but the nature of her character helps to solidify Kate’s character as the antithesis of privileged. Essentially, Mrs. Marino is a single mother, struggling to make ends meet. As Kate explains, “I got my spot because my mom has been a secretary for one of the assistant district attorneys for the last twelve years and he knows how bad we need the money” (7). Kate and Mrs. Marino live in a small duplex in an old part of town, a far cry from a lavish estate like River Point. 

Mark is the classmate of Kate’s who John Michael pays off to dress up as dead Grant. He appears only briefly in the story but is integral to one of the book’s most significant red herrings, or false clues. When Kate later sees Mark standing by Logan’s Tahoe, she assumes that Logan is the one who paid off Mark to dress up. This also makes it seem like Logan might be the killer. Other hints, like the fact that Logan was in trouble with some gambling bookies, support this theory. Of course, it will turn out that all these “hints” were pointing both Kate and the reader in the wrong direction.