Prologue: Secrets in the Woods

Montavious Brodie Sr., a retired Black detective in South Carolina, is obsessed with cold cases and spends his days in a cabin, working with online "Armchair Detectives." He stumbles upon a clue—"Colleton"—that triggers memories of an old, unsolved case. As he tries to reach out to his granddaughter Jacinda ("Jac"), he senses danger lurking. That night, someone enters his cabin, and Montavious is killed with a Taser, his pacemaker fatally disrupted. His last thoughts are of bringing Jac home, setting the stage for a reckoning with the past.

Academic Betrayal Unveiled

Jac, a talented academic, is betrayed by her mentor and ex-lover, Conrad Meckleson, who sabotages her fellowship application and steals her personal story for his next true crime novel. After confronting him and stealing his manuscript, Jac's professional life implodes. She exposes Conrad's misconduct to the university, but the fallout leaves her jobless and adrift. The betrayal reopens old wounds, especially the unresolved trauma surrounding her father's death, and propels her back to her hometown when she learns of her grandfather's sudden hospitalization.

The Clock and the Cliff

Returning to Brook Haven, Jac is haunted by the infamous "Murder Manor" and the memory of her father's death—an event shrouded in guilt and rumor. The town whispers that Jac killed her father, a belief she's never corrected. At her grandfather's cabin, she discovers a missing clock, a strange memento tied to one of Montavious's unsolved cases. The clock's disappearance, coupled with her grandfather's cryptic last words, hints at a deeper mystery involving both family and town.

Homecoming and Old Wounds

Jac's return is met with suspicion and unresolved grief. Her mother, Angela, and sister, Pen, are wary, and the town's judgment is palpable. At Montavious's funeral, Jac reconnects with childhood friends Sawyer and Nick, and meets Faye Arden, the enigmatic new owner of Murder Manor. Faye's presence is unsettling, and Jac's instincts tell her something is off. The family's dynamic is strained, with Jac feeling like an outsider, burdened by secrets and her mother's unspoken fears.

The Brodie Family Fractures

As Jac helps sort her grandfather's affairs, she uncovers two secret case files: one about the "Colleton Girls" in Nevada, and another about a body in a Texas lake. The missing clock, once a fixture on Montavious's mantel, is found in Faye's office, raising suspicions. Tensions with her mother escalate, culminating in a physical confrontation that reveals Angela's own history of violence and survival. The Brodie women are forced to confront the legacy of trauma, secrets, and the fear of inheriting darkness.

Small Town, Big Suspicions

Jac faces relentless gossip and prejudice in Brook Haven, where her every move is scrutinized. Her attempts to investigate her grandfather's death and the missing clock are met with skepticism, especially from law enforcement. Faye's social influence and manipulative charm make her untouchable, while Jac's reputation as the "wild Brodie girl" makes her an easy scapegoat. The town's insularity and resistance to scandal allow dangerous secrets to fester.

The Return of Faye Arden

Faye Arden, engaged to the mayor and lauded for restoring Murder Manor, is both admired and feared. Jac's encounters with Faye are fraught with tension, as Faye alternates between friendliness and veiled threats. Mrs. Harris, a local elder, warns Jac that Faye is not what she seems. As Jac digs deeper, she learns that Faye's real name may be Faith Anderson, a woman linked to a series of suspicious deaths in Nevada. Faye's ability to reinvent herself and manipulate those around her makes her a formidable adversary.

The Missing Clock

The discovery of Montavious's clock in Faye's locked office is a turning point. Jac confronts Faye, who lies about how she acquired it. The clock, a gift from the mother of a victim in the Colleton case, is believed to hold a secret. Jac's investigation, aided by her grandfather's notes and the online detective forum, reveals that the clock may contain evidence tying Faye to past murders. The tension between Jac and Faye escalates, with both women aware that the other knows too much.

The Taser and the Truth

Autopsy results show Montavious's pacemaker was destroyed by a high-voltage electrical event, likely a Taser. Jac finds a Taser in Faye's office and tries to present it to the police, but Faye outmaneuvers her, claiming Jac stole it. The evidence is dismissed, and Jac is further discredited. Meanwhile, a young woman named Mia, who helped Jac, is murdered by Faye to cover her tracks. Jac's isolation grows as she realizes the extent of Faye's ruthlessness and the town's willingness to look the other way.

The Colleton Girls Mystery

Jac uncovers the story of the Colleton Girls: a group of high school friends in Nevada, three of whom died in a suspicious "accident," and a fourth, Daphne, who later died by suicide. Through interviews and her grandfather's files, Jac learns that Faith Anderson (now Faye Arden) orchestrated the deaths, manipulating others into doing her dirty work. The clock, once owned by Daphne, contains a hidden flash drive with a confession. Faye's pattern is clear: she eliminates anyone who threatens her secrets.

The Spider and the Fly

Faye, like the spider in the famous poem, lures victims into her web with charm and cunning. Jac realizes she is both the fly and the new spider, forced to confront Faye in a battle of wits and wills. The confrontation becomes personal, with Faye demanding Jac kill Conrad (her ex) to "even the score." Jac refuses, and Faye murders Conrad herself, framing Jac for the crime. The lines between hunter and hunted blur as Jac races to save her family and expose Faye.

Death at Murder Manor

Faye kidnaps Jac's mother and sister, luring Jac to Murder Manor for a final confrontation. In a hidden room, Jac is trapped with Conrad's corpse, but escapes. A violent struggle ensues, with Faye wounded but still dangerous. Nick, Jac's childhood friend and former lover, arrives, but his own dark secret is revealed: he was responsible for Jac's father's death years ago. The truth shatters Jac, and the web of lies and violence threatens to consume them all.

The Trap is Sprung

As the storm rages, Jac, her family, and Nick are caught in a deadly standoff with Faye. The police and townspeople arrive, drawn by the chaos. Faye's crimes are exposed, and she is finally apprehended, but not before inflicting lasting trauma. Nick's confession about his role in Jac's father's death devastates her, but also frees her from years of misplaced guilt. The Brodie women, battered but unbroken, emerge from the ordeal with a new understanding of themselves and each other.

Family Secrets Exposed

Angela's own history comes to light: she killed her abusive first husband in self-defense before marrying Jac's father, a secret she kept for decades. The Brodie family's legacy is one of survival, resilience, and the struggle to break cycles of violence. Jac learns that her mother's fear and strictness were rooted in trauma, not disappointment. The family begins to heal, acknowledging their pain and choosing to move forward together.

The Final Confrontation

The story comes full circle at the bluff where Jac's father died. Nick, desperate and broken, confesses to pushing Jac's father in a moment of rage, shattering the illusion of their friendship and love. In a climactic struggle, Jac and Nick go over the edge, but Jac is saved by her mother and sister. Nick falls to his death, a tragic end to a lifetime of secrets and longing. Jac is finally freed from the burden of guilt and the shadow of the past.

The Bluff's Deadly Edge

With the truth revealed, Jac is able to grieve her father and forgive herself. The town's perception of her changes as the real story comes out. Faye is extradited to Nevada to face charges for her past crimes, and the Brodie family begins to rebuild. Jac's relationship with her mother is transformed, and she finds new purpose in her writing and teaching. The cycle of violence is broken, and the family chooses hope over fear.

Truths and Consequences

The aftermath brings both closure and new challenges. Jac is exonerated, and her story becomes the subject of national attention. She is offered a book deal to tell her side of the story, reclaiming her narrative from those who tried to exploit or silence her. The Brodie women support each other, honoring the memory of those they lost and celebrating their survival. The town, once a place of judgment and pain, becomes a place of possibility.

Epilogue: New Beginnings

At her sister's wedding at the newly redeemed Murder Manor, Jac reflects on the journey from shame and suspicion to acceptance and hope. She prepares to leave for a Fulbright in South Korea, ready to start a new chapter. The Brodie family, scarred but stronger, embraces the future. The story ends with Jac finally at peace, having faced the darkness and chosen to live for herself.

Characters

Jacinda "Jac" Brodie

Jac is the protagonist, a Black woman whose life is defined by trauma, guilt, and the search for truth. Scarred by her father's mysterious death and the town's suspicion, she flees home but is forced to return by her grandfather's death. Jac is fiercely intelligent, stubborn, and loyal, but struggles with self-doubt and the weight of family expectations. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she confronts betrayal, uncovers generational secrets, and ultimately reclaims her agency. Jac's relationships—with her mother, sister, friends, and lovers—are complex, marked by both love and pain. Her development is a testament to the power of facing the past to build a future.

Angela Brodie

Angela is Jac's mother, a woman shaped by survival and sacrifice. Her strictness and emotional distance stem from her own history of abuse and violence—she killed her first husband in self-defense and kept it secret for decades. Angela's fear of passing on darkness to her daughters leads to tension and misunderstanding, especially with Jac. Over the course of the story, Angela's vulnerability and strength are revealed, and she learns to forgive herself and embrace her daughters as they are. Her arc is one of healing, as she breaks the cycle of silence and shame.

Penelope "Pen" Brodie

Pen is Jac's younger sister, a medical student and the family's "good child." She is cheerful, nurturing, and often caught between her mother and sister. Pen's relationship with Jac is loving but complicated by comparison and expectation. She serves as a bridge in the family, advocating for understanding and reconciliation. Pen's own struggles—with identity, autonomy, and the pressure to be perfect—mirror Jac's, and their bond deepens as they face danger together.

Montavious Brodie Sr.

Montavious is Jac's grandfather, a retired detective whose passion for justice drives the plot. His obsession with cold cases and his protective love for Jac set the story in motion. Montavious's death is the catalyst for Jac's return and investigation. His legacy is both a burden and a gift, as his secrets and unfinished business force the family to confront the past. Montavious represents the complexities of Black masculinity, generational trauma, and the quest for truth.

Faye Arden / Faith Anderson

Faye is the antagonist, a master manipulator with a trail of bodies behind her. She reinvents herself as a Southern belle, charming the town while hiding her true identity as Faith Anderson, a sociopath responsible for multiple deaths. Faye's intelligence, adaptability, and lack of remorse make her a formidable foe. Her interactions with Jac are a deadly game of cat and mouse, with both women recognizing the other's strength. Faye's psychological complexity lies in her need for control, her enjoyment of power, and her ability to exploit the weaknesses of others.

Nick Tate

Nick is Jac's childhood friend and love interest, the son of the mayor. Outwardly loyal and supportive, Nick harbors a dark secret: he was responsible for Jac's father's death, a fact he hides for years. His love for Jac is genuine but possessive, and his inability to confess the truth leads to tragedy. Nick's arc is one of self-destruction, as his good intentions pave the way to hell. His psychological unraveling is a study in guilt, denial, and the consequences of unchecked desire.

Sawyer Okoye

Sawyer is Jac's childhood friend, a police department employee who provides comic relief and unwavering support. She is sharp, resourceful, and unafraid to challenge Jac or the status quo. Sawyer's role is to ground Jac, offer perspective, and help navigate the town's politics. Her own experiences as a Black woman in the South inform her loyalty and skepticism.

Conrad Meckleson

Conrad is Jac's former mentor and lover, a disgraced academic who betrays her by stealing her story for his own gain. His actions set off a chain of events that lead to his death at Faye's hands. Conrad embodies the dangers of power imbalances, appropriation, and the exploitation of trauma. His psychological profile is one of entitlement, manipulation, and self-destruction.

Mrs. Harris

Mrs. Harris is a respected community member who befriends Jac and warns her about Faye. She represents the voice of experience, intuition, and the importance of listening to one's elders. Mrs. Harris's own losses and observations make her a valuable ally in Jac's investigation.

Patrick

Patrick is Pen's fiancé, a police officer who is initially suspicious of Jac but ultimately supports the family. His role is to highlight the pressures of small-town life, the complexities of loyalty, and the challenges of loving someone with a troubled past.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Repressed Memory

The narrative weaves together Jac's present-day investigation with flashbacks to her childhood and the night of her father's death. Repressed memories serve as both a psychological defense and a narrative device, delaying the revelation of key facts until Jac is ready to face them. This structure builds suspense, deepens character development, and mirrors the process of trauma recovery.

The MacGuffin: The Clock

Montavious's clock is more than a sentimental keepsake; it is the key to solving both his murder and the Colleton Girls case. The clock's journey—from mantel to Faye's office to Jac's hands—drives the plot and connects the past to the present. Its hidden flash drive provides the confession that exposes Faye's crimes, making it a classic MacGuffin.

The Unreliable Community

Brook Haven's insularity, racism, and obsession with reputation create an environment where secrets thrive and victims are blamed. The town's collective memory is both unreliable and powerful, shaping Jac's identity and the investigation. The contrast between public perception and private reality is a recurring theme.

The Spider and the Fly Motif

The poem "The Spider and the Fly" is a recurring motif, symbolizing the manipulative relationship between Faye and her victims, as well as Jac's own entanglement in the web of secrets. The motif underscores themes of trust, deception, and the dangers of underestimating one's opponent.

Foreshadowing and Red Herrings

The narrative is rich with foreshadowing—Montavious's warnings, the missing clock, Faye's shifting persona—and red herrings, such as Jac's own guilt and the town's suspicion. These devices keep the reader guessing and mirror the uncertainty faced by the characters.

Analysis

**A modern Southern Gothic thriller, "Not What She Seems" is a masterful exploration of generational trauma, the corrosive power of secrets, and the struggle for self-definition in the face of communal judgment. Yasmin Angoe crafts a narrative where the personal and the political are inseparable: Jac's journey is not just about solving a murder, but about reclaiming her story from those who would exploit, erase, or define her. The novel interrogates the ways in which women—especially Black women—are scapegoated, silenced, and forced to carry the burdens of others' sins. Through its layered mysteries, psychological depth, and unflinching portrayal of violence and survival, the book challenges readers to consider the costs of silence and the necessity of confronting the past. Ultimately, it is a story of resilience, forgiveness, and the possibility of new beginnings, even in the shadow of old wounds.

Last updated: May 30, 2025