“You think you’d know what a killer sounds like. That their lies would have a different texture, some barely perceptible shift. A voice that thickens, grows sharp and uneven as the truth slips beneath the jagged edges.”

These are Pip’s opening words in the novel. She makes this statement as she listens to her final podcast of the first season before uploading it. She admits that most people could never detect a killer’s voice. Ironically, she not only made that mistake with her original murder suspect, but she is about to do exactly the same thing in the Jamie Reynolds case. Also, much of her information comes from websites and texts. In such cases, killers have no voices at all to detect. 

“‘At least he said sorry,’ Ravi continued. ‘Look at all of them.’ He nodded at the group around his parents. ‘Their friends, neighbors. People who made their life hell. They’ve never apologized, just pretended like the last six years never even happened.’”

In one of the rare instances when Ravi has a negative comment to offer, he notes the casual appearance of friends and neighbors at the memorial. While the town’s residents once considered his brother a murderer, they now turn out to honor his memory. No one but Ravi acknowledges the contradiction in their behavior. People believe what they choose to believe, regardless of the facts, as Ravi and Pip will learn in season two of the podcast.

“Pip didn’t look away. Her neck strained, sending stabs of pain down her spine, but she refused to look away. Not until those golden lanterns were little more than specks, nestling among the stars. And even beyond that.”

Pip is watching the lanterns for Andie and Sal traveling skyward. Watching them causes her physical pain. This correlates to the emotional pain she feels for two lives that she couldn’t save.