Characters
The man who rebuilt his life after prison and owns a landscaping business.
Who is Ike Randolph?
The event that brings Ike and Buddy Lee together.
What is the murder/funeral of their sons?
The sons were murdered because they threatened to expose this.
What is a political / corruption scandal?
The U.S. state where the story takes place.
What is rural and urban Virginia ?
Ike and Buddy Lee both share this status after the murders.
What is fathers grieving their sons?
Buddy Lee’s murdered son.
Who is Derek?
Buddy Lee and Ike trade this item during their first real fight together.
What is a gun?
The mastermind had this relationship to Derek.
Who is his boss (Caleb’s father’s influence)?
A symbol that represents transformation and the journey between pain and healing.
What is the road?
The belief that revenge can make grief easier is shown to be this (true or false?).
What is false?
The drag performer and friend who helps Ike and Buddy Lee.
Who is Tangerine?
The group of bikers that threatens Ike and Buddy Lee.
Who are the Reapers?
The recording that put everyone in danger captured this.
What is evidence of corruption and murder?
A location tied strongly to Buddy Lee’s past mistakes.
What is prison?
One emotional barrier both fathers struggle with, especially about their sons’ identity.
What is homophobia?
She is Ike’s wife and wants him to stop pursuing revenge.
Who is Mya?
Ike kills this person in a violent showdown inside a car wash.
Who is Arnie/one of the killers?
This hired group carried out the killings.
Who are the white supremacist biker gang?
Weather often reflects emotional tension — especially this kind of weather during dangerous scenes.
What is rain/storms?
Redemption is shown when the fathers defend this person — showing their growth.
Who is Ariana (their granddaughter)?
The man behind ordering the murders of Isiah and Derek.
Who is Caleb?
The final explosive confrontation takes place at this type of building.
What is a compound / house of the mastermind?
The ironic truth: the murderers believed they were protecting this.
What is their public reputation / political power?
This object belonging to his son causes Ike’s deep emotional breakdown.
What is Isiah’s wedding ring?
The book shows breaking this cycle is the only path toward true healing.
What is the cycle of violence?