The Book of Cold Cases

Beth Greer is Claire Lake’s most infamous citizen, tried and acquitted for two murders in 1977. Beth narrates a few chapters set in 2017 and all of the chapters set in the 1960s and 70s. She is beautiful and wealthy and has lived in near seclusion since her acquittal, but when Shea follows her out of the doctor’s office, Beth agrees to tell her story for the first time. As Beth’s story is revealed, public perception of Beth and her guilt are challenged as Shea uncovers the truth about the Lady Killer murders.

Beth’s narrative thread begins in 1960 when she is six years old and Lily arrives at her house, but most of her story takes place in 1977 as she goes through her accusation and trial for the Lady Killer murders. At that time, “Beth was sleek and gorgeous, her body in tight-fitting seventies tops and high-waisted pants, her long red hair cascading over her shoulders and down her back. She had big dark, perfectly even eyes that were hypnotic and somehow sexual” (21). When Shea meets Beth in 2017, 40 years later, she is:

tall and stately, likely over sixty. Her skin was nearly flawless, with creases around the eyes and mouth to give her character. Her hair was fashionably cut, with long bangs sweeping to her eyebrows and layers falling to her shoulders in light and dark shades of gray. (18)

Beth is beautiful and wealthy, a combination that works against her when she is accused of murder.

Because Beth appears to have it all, the police, the media, and the local community assume that her life must be perfect, and they show no compassion for her when her life is so out of control at such a young age. By finally telling her story and exposing the truth, Beth takes back some measure of control over her life. In addition, St. James uses Beth to illustrate the dangers of living with guilt for so many years. She also serves as a warning for Shea, a vision of what could become of her if she is not able to shed her guilt over the Sherry Haines murder.

Lily is Beth Greer’s half-sister, though she is not aware of this relationship until both girls are well into their teens. Their mother, Mariana was 18 years old when she became pregnant with Lily, and it is suspected that the pregnancy was the result of a manipulative relationship with a much older man. Mariana had Lily at a home for unwed mothers and then gave her up for adoption. When Beth is six years old, Lily begins coming to the Greer mansion for Christmas. The first time Beth meets her, she is excited to have a friend, but soon after Lily arrives she makes it clear to Beth that her goal is to live in the Greer house and take over the family.

As the novel continues, the reader gradually discovers that Lily killed Beth’s father Julian and is, in fact, the real Lady Killer. Even after her death, Lily is a constant presence in Beth’s life, controlling her from beyond the grave. Her ghost taunts Beth and makes it impossible for her to change anything in the house. Every time Beth attempts to move away from Claire Lake, she finds herself back at the lakeshore. Lily does not seem to be the only ghost in the Greer mansion, but she is as malevolent and controlling in death as she was in life.

However, as Shea points out:

There was nothing to show that either Mariana or Beth had ever tried to help her. there was nothing that spoke to how much Lily might have suffered. There was nothing to show that, after being born in secret to the wrong woman at the wrong time, Lily had had any chance at all. (257)

While not necessarily sympathetic to Lily, Shea does acknowledge that the circumstances that made Lily what she was were complicated and completely unaddressed.

Michael is a former officer in the Claire Lake Police Department and is now a private detective who sometimes works for Shea. He and Shea work together for over a year before they ever meet in person. Michael is one of the people in Shea’s life who spur her to step outside of her comfort zone, which causes her to think, “I really need to meet this guy in person, because I think I like him” (92). Michael shows himself to be understanding and nonjudgmental, as he works with Shea for over twelve months without meeting her in person and never pressures her for a reason. He also shows this when Shea confesses that she was Girl A, and he responds by telling her that he suspected it but “If you wanted to tell me, I figured you would” (315). His willingness to work with Shea in spite of her rules shows that he is open-minded and patient.

As Shea tells the reader, Michael “was somewhere in the second half of his thirties, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Good-looking, most women would think” (13). He is also smart, illustrated by his work with Shea, “he had depths of intelligence behind his expression, and I knew he was adept at researching, writing, theorizing” (144). The connection between Shea and Michael deepens throughout the narrative, moving from a professional to a personal relationship. Michael shows himself to be loyal and caring by staying at her hospital bedside. He also believes in Shea and is the one who tells her, “‘You’re a writer, Shea. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” (146). With his help, Shea realizes that Sherry Haines’s death was not her fault. This admission by Shea allows her to move on and move into the public world with her writing, blogging, and podcast. As a character, Michael facilitates Shea’s professional and personal growth in every way.