Student Question
Why can't Susie's dad discover her murderer in The Lovely Bones?
Quick answer:
Susie's dad can't discover her murderer because he lacks proof. Despite knowing George Harvey is the killer through intuition and subtle clues, he cannot provide concrete evidence. Susie's presence in spirit helps guide him and her sister Lindsey, but their findings are insufficient for the police. Eventually, Jack finds strength to heal, and Susie's influence is hinted at in Harvey's death.
He does know. He can't prove it. Susie's dad knows from the way George Harvey looks at him, and Harvey's manner when Susie's dad helps Harvey build the tent. One of the themes of the book is how Susie is present in spirit in her family's life--she helps her dad, Jack, to know who her killer is. Jack can't prove that Harvey is the killer, though, much to his frustration. Lindsey, Susie's sister, also knows, which is why she breaks into Harvey's house looking for evidence. But even the drawing she finds does not give the police enough evidence. Jack eventually finds the strength to let himself heal. And the way I read Harvey's death, it seemed that Susie had something to do with the icicle falling.
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