Blood on Her Hands

Quinn Alexander stands in her kitchen, frantically scrubbing blood from her hands as the doorbell rings. The blood is her husband Derek's—he lies dead on the kitchen floor. A police officer, Scott Dwyer, arrives to investigate a neighbor's report of screaming. Quinn, Derek's wife, manages to convince Scott that the noise was from a horror movie, hiding her panic and the evidence. As Scott leaves, Quinn is left alone with the reality of her actions and the corpse of her abusive husband.

Him or Me

Quinn confesses to the reader: she killed Derek. She weighs her options—confess or run. The bruises on her neck and Derek's history of abuse make her consider that a jury might sympathize, but Derek's powerful family and reputation make her doubt she'd get a fair trial. She decides to flee, quickly gathering money, a passport, and cutting her hair to disguise herself. She leaves her home, her life, and her sister Claudia behind, knowing she may never return.

On the Run

Quinn drives north, aiming for the Canadian border. She's haunted by memories of how she met Derek—his charm, their whirlwind romance, and the gradual shift to control and abuse. As she drives, her sister Claudia calls, worried and wanting to meet. Quinn lies, saying she's working late, and promises a future dinner she knows she'll never keep. The weight of her past and the uncertainty of her future press in as she heads into a snowstorm.

Gas Station Encounter

Low on gas, Quinn stops at a remote station, trying to avoid detection. She ditches her phone in a stranger's truck to avoid being tracked. Inside, she's recognized by Billy Walsh, a man she once babysat. The encounter unnerves her—she realizes she's not as invisible as she hoped. Billy's recognition and the use of her real name could compromise her escape, and she leaves the station shaken, aware that her trail is not as cold as she'd like.

Old Faces, New Fears

As Quinn continues, she's pulled over by a police officer for a broken taillight. The encounter is tense, but the officer is only concerned for her safety in the storm. He warns her to get off the road. Quinn realizes she must find shelter for the night, and when she sees the sign for the Baxter Motel, she decides to stop, hoping to disappear for a while.

Motel of Secrets

The Baxter Motel is decrepit and nearly deserted. Nick, the owner, gives her a room and seems harmless, but the place is unsettling. Quinn meets Greta, an eccentric elderly woman in room 202, who claims to be a fortune teller and hints at a past murder in room 201. The motel's isolation, the storm, and the strange residents make Quinn uneasy, but she has no choice but to stay.

The Woman in 202

Greta lends Quinn socks and tells her the story of Christina Marsh, a young woman murdered in room 201—a crime for which Nick was suspected but never charged. Greta's room is filled with mirrors and tarot cards, and she offers to read Quinn's fortune. The reading is unsettling, hinting at danger and death. Greta's cryptic warnings and knowledge of Quinn's real name add to the sense of foreboding.

Eyes in the Socks

Quinn tries to rest, but the socks Greta gave her are patterned with eyes, and her dreams are filled with guilt and memories of Derek's abuse and her act of violence. She reflects on her relationship with Scott Dwyer, her high school boyfriend, and the choices that led her to this point. The motel's atmosphere and her own anxiety keep her on edge.

The Owner's Past

Nick brings Quinn food and opens up about his life: his wife Rosalie is ill, and he's struggled to keep the motel and restaurant running. The murder of Christina Marsh still haunts him. Quinn senses a connection with Nick—both are trapped by circumstances and haunted by the past. Their brief camaraderie is tinged with mutual loneliness and regret.

Trapped by the Storm

Quinn and Nick attempt to dig out her car, but the snow is too deep. Quinn is forced to stay longer, feeling increasingly vulnerable as the police search for her intensifies. Greta's warnings grow more urgent, and Quinn's paranoia mounts. She questions whether Derek is truly dead and fears that her escape is doomed.

Fortune Telling and Foreshadowing

Greta finally reads Quinn's fortune, seeing a dark past and an even darker future. She becomes agitated, urging Quinn to leave immediately. Quinn is shaken by Greta's knowledge and the sense that her fate is closing in. The storm outside mirrors the turmoil within, and Quinn prepares to flee as soon as possible.

The Police Close In

The police arrive at the motel, searching for Quinn. Nick lies to protect her, risking his own safety. Quinn is grateful but conflicted, and in a moment of vulnerability, she kisses Nick. He recoils, reminding her he's married, and insists she leave. Quinn decides to turn herself in, believing it's her only chance for peace.

Sister's Betrayal

As Quinn prepares to leave, she's confronted by her sister Claudia, who has tracked her down. Claudia, consumed by jealousy and rage over Quinn's life and her own affair with Derek, stabs Quinn and leaves her for dead. Claudia's actions are revealed to be the culmination of years of resentment and rivalry, and she attempts to cover her tracks by targeting witnesses.

Claudia's Hunt

Claudia's perspective reveals her long-standing bitterness toward Quinn and her affair with Derek. She manipulates evidence, eliminates threats, and tries to frame others for her crimes. Her actions are driven by a twisted sense of justice and a desire to finally outshine her sister, no matter the cost.

The Truth About Derek

The narrative shifts to other characters—Claudia's husband Rob, Nick, and Rosalie—revealing the ripple effects of the violence. Rob discovers Claudia's duplicity, Nick and Rosalie confront their own troubled marriage and the legacy of a past murder at the motel, and the truth about Christina Marsh's death comes to light. Greta, the fortune teller, is revealed to have played a role in protecting Rosalie by eliminating threats.

The Final Confrontation

Claudia attempts to kill Rosalie, believing she witnessed the attack on Quinn. Rosalie, despite her physical limitations, fights back and subdues Claudia until Nick arrives. The police intervene, and Claudia is arrested. Quinn is found alive in the trunk of Claudia's car, barely clinging to life, and Greta survives a stabbing as well.

Aftermath and Justice

Claudia is tried and convicted for attempted murder, her mental illness and motives exposed. Quinn is acquitted of Derek's murder, thanks to evidence of abuse and Nick's testimony. The characters begin to rebuild: Nick and Rosalie reconcile and revive their restaurant, Greta recovers and departs to travel the world, and Rob is left to pick up the pieces of his marriage.

New Beginnings

Years later, Quinn has started a new life, free from Derek and her sister's shadow. She reconnects with Scott Dwyer, and they begin a relationship. Nick and Rosalie's restaurant thrives, and they prepare to welcome a child. The scars of the past remain, but the survivors find hope and purpose in new beginnings, their lives forever changed by the violence and secrets that once bound them.

Characters

Quinn Alexander

Quinn is the protagonist, a woman trapped in an abusive marriage who ultimately kills her husband in self-defense. Her psychological journey is marked by guilt, fear, and a desperate need for freedom. Quinn's relationships—with her sister Claudia, her high school sweetheart Scott, and the people she meets on the run—reveal her longing for connection and safety. Her development is a struggle between self-preservation and the weight of her actions, culminating in a hard-won sense of agency and hope.

Claudia Delaney

Claudia is Quinn's older sister, whose life was derailed by family tragedy and resentment. She harbors deep-seated envy toward Quinn, feeling unappreciated for her sacrifices. Claudia's affair with Derek and her eventual violence against Quinn are driven by a toxic mix of rivalry, betrayal, and mental instability. Her psychological unraveling is both tragic and terrifying, as she becomes the story's true villain.

Derek Alexander

Derek is Quinn's husband, outwardly successful and charismatic but privately controlling and violent. His duality is central to the story's tension—he is both a victim and a perpetrator. Derek's relationships are transactional and manipulative, and his murder sets off the chain of events that drive the plot. His legacy is one of pain and destruction, but also the catalyst for Quinn's liberation.

Nick Baxter

Nick is the owner of the Baxter Motel, burdened by a tragic past and a failing marriage. His kindness to Quinn is genuine, rooted in his own experiences of loss and regret. Nick's relationship with his wife Rosalie is strained by illness and betrayal, but his actions reveal a deep capacity for empathy and resilience. He becomes a key figure in Quinn's survival and eventual exoneration.

Rosalie Baxter

Rosalie is Nick's wife, confined by illness and haunted by the past. Her perspective offers insight into the motel's secrets and the psychological toll of dependency and betrayal. Rosalie's journey is one of rediscovering agency and love, culminating in her role in the story's climax and her own redemption.

Greta

Greta is the mysterious long-term resident of the motel, claiming psychic abilities and offering cryptic warnings. Her true role is revealed late in the story—she has intervened in the past to protect Rosalie, even committing murder to do so. Greta embodies the story's themes of fate, agency, and the blurred line between good and evil.

Scott Dwyer

Scott is Quinn's high school boyfriend, now a police officer. His lingering affection for Quinn and his sense of justice make him a sympathetic figure. Scott's involvement in the investigation and his support during Quinn's trial are crucial to her survival and recovery.

Billy Walsh

Billy is a minor character who recognizes Quinn at the gas station, inadvertently becoming part of her escape. His presence underscores the difficulty of truly disappearing and the ways the past can resurface unexpectedly.

Rob Delaney

Rob is Claudia's husband, largely oblivious to her inner turmoil and infidelity. His discovery of Claudia's crimes and his own feelings of inadequacy add depth to the story's exploration of broken relationships and the fallout of violence.

Christina Marsh

Christina is the young woman murdered at the Baxter Motel years earlier, her death shrouded in mystery and suspicion. Her story is a haunting reminder of the motel's dark history and the lengths to which people will go to protect those they love.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Multiple Perspectives

The novel employs a structure that alternates between Quinn's present-day flight and the backstories of key characters, especially Nick and Rosalie. This device allows the reader to piece together the mystery of the motel, the murder of Christina Marsh, and the psychological motivations of each character. The use of Claudia's perspective late in the novel is a powerful twist, reframing the narrative and revealing the true antagonist.

Foreshadowing and Fortune Telling

Greta's fortune-telling and the recurring motif of fate create a sense of inevitability and suspense. The tarot readings, cryptic warnings, and symbolic objects (like the eye-patterned socks) foreshadow the violence and betrayals to come, while also questioning whether destiny can be changed.

Unreliable Narration and Red Herrings

The story is filled with unreliable narrators—characters who withhold information, lie to themselves and others, or are blinded by emotion. The suspicion cast on Nick for Christina's murder, the ambiguity around Derek's death, and the shifting alliances all serve to keep the reader off-balance and engaged.

Symbolism of Place

The Baxter Motel is more than a setting—it is a symbol of entrapment, secrecy, and the lingering effects of violence. Each room holds its own story, and the storm that traps the characters mirrors their psychological isolation. The eventual renovation and reopening of the restaurant represent healing and the possibility of new beginnings.

Analysis

Do Not Disturb is a psychological thriller that explores the corrosive effects of abuse, jealousy, and family secrets. Through its tightly woven plot and shifting perspectives, the novel examines how trauma can ripple through lives, distorting relationships and warping perceptions of self and others. The story's central question—can we ever truly escape our past?—is answered with both hope and caution. While Quinn ultimately finds freedom and the possibility of love, it comes at a tremendous cost, and the scars remain. The novel's use of fortune-telling and fate underscores the tension between agency and inevitability, suggesting that while we may be shaped by our histories, we are not wholly defined by them. In the end, Do Not Disturb is a story about survival, the search for redemption, and the courage it takes to break free from cycles of violence and reclaim one's life.

Last updated: July 26, 2025