Queen Of The Night Analysis
In the novel Queen of the Night by J. A. Jance presents a fascinately mystery story. It starts with the Queen of the Night flower blossoming in the Arizona every summer. It's a sacred event commemorated throughout the Tohono O'odham Nation. However this summer the couple Jack and Abby Tennant had a shocking surprise that interrupted their special viewing of the Queen of the Night flower. The surprise had been Abbey’s son, which would have been a welcoming accounts if the night hadn’t ended with the Tennant’s and another couple’s death, due to Abbey’s son Jonathan. Although Jonathan forgot to check the car of the other couple he killed living Delphina’s daughter, Angie alone without a family. Brian Fellows works on this case trying to discover
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who committed this horrible crime, while at the same time Brandon Walker works on a cold case for his friend G. T. Farrell about young girl named Ursula Brinker a twenty-one-year-old who dies while on spring break in San Diego. Throughout this whole novel there are multiple characters that are presented, helping solve the murder of the Tenants and discovering who really killed Ursula Brinker. In the beginning of the novel Jonathan Southard makes his first murder, his wife. Jonathan had just lost his job at the bank, his house was would be gone soon, and so would his family. His wife Esther wanted a divorce and she had a boyfriend in the wing. Jonathan had one thing he knew that he would never do and that would be sharing his money. Jonathan also had a gun, who he had full intent on using it on himself, but filled with the rage he had for Esther he used it one someone else. Because in that moment he didn’t know the difference between right or wrong. Jonathan shut off then, he didn’t care and he didn’t care from then on (6-9). This passage of the novel shocked me because of the may Jonathan just seemed to stop caring, in that moment he truly just wanted every single person he hated to dead. I think it was because he honestly in his mind had nothing left to truly live for in the life he had. In that instant he wanted a new life, a life where all his problems drifted away. I understood that Jonathan had to escape the life because it was physically and mentally tearing him apart but I didn’t see why he had to kill so many people to get it. The life that he wanted was quite simple, leave everyone he hated and started a new. However he decided to kill everyone in pure rage. Which is what shocked me the most about the whole passage. Another passage that was significant in the novel was when Dan Pardee explains how alien he feels because he’s half Apache and half Anglo.
Dan Pardee a Shadow Wolf who works homeland security on the Tohono O’odham Nation by the Mexican border. Dan also used to be a soldier where himself and his dog Bozo were always misunderstood, which didn’t change when they returned home to Arizona. Although Dan was half Apache he didn’t understand the language which made him an outsider on the reservation, While since he was half Apache that made him an outsider in the Anglo world. Dan explains how people gossips about the “ultimate outsider”(90) who’s dog is so aggressive one will surely lose a finger or two if they come too close(87-91). My reaction to this passage was surprised because I couldn’t understand why someone who had served in the army, and was now serving as a Shadow Wolf would be alienated. Even though he was half Apache and half Anglo he still was a just a human being who had fought for the every soil the people in and out of the reservation where standing on. Dan had done nothing wrong, it was just society had seen him as not perfect in their eyes so he outcasted. This passage got the most reaction out of me because of the way society treated Dan even though he did so much for our country. I felt angry and horrified of the effect society can affect one person so much, and how society was completely okay with
it. In another significant passage Angie the girl left alone because her mother was killed by Jonathan is again further left alone by her grandparents. When Delia Ortiz, the tribal chairman and Brian Fellows go to Angie’s grandparents house they assume that they will be grieving and completely welcome to taking in Angie. However, they witnessed a different reaction from Carmen and Louis Escalante. They took the news with remarkable restraint, Louis listened in silence and Carmen nodded. When the topic came up about Angie the mood completely changed, Delia made the statement that they could pick Angie up in the morning but Louis shouted “no!”(205). Louis continues on to say “‘Someone else will have to look after her, if they’re brave enough.’ What do you mean, brave enough’ said Brian. ‘She’s a Ghost Girl’ said Louis”(202-206). My reaction to this passage was very curious. I didn’t understand that just because Angie had survived a shooting that made her a Ghost Girl, thus dangerous. Religion shouldn’t affect how you see someone, especially your granddaughter. I understood that religion plays a big part in the Indian culture, but I didn’t see how it could effect someone into taking in a orphaned granddaughter. I was very interested to know if the Indian culture could really effect relationships like a granddaughter and grandparents. Although, Louis could be just blocking his shame with religion instead of admitting that he doesn't want to care for Angie. This novel seems to have many significant passaged that involve some character being alienated or left alone by family or society, like Dan was. That is why these passages enact such a surprise response out of me. Another significant passage that caused a reaction from me was when the murder, Jonathan Southard actually relaxed after he killed his mother, and thought he was in the clear when it came to him being caught. In the passage it explains how Jonathan slept in that sunday morning after killing his step-father and mother. He thought that everything was looking up, the antibiotics were kicking in for his dog bite and “felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment”(292). Jonathan also stated that his children were collateral damage, and everyone deserved what they got. He felt completely fine until he turned on the television, which showed that his murder has being investigated(291-292). What shocked me the most about this passage was that Jonathan actually felt accomplishment about killing people. I couldn’t reconcile how someone could feel like they deserve a trophy for killing people let alone his family. Children, Jonathan killed his own children and didn’t feel any grief about it at all, he only stated that they were collateral damage. This novel was one of the most shocking and jaw dropping ones I have read because of how the murder Jonathan seemed to have a soul one second then completely lose it the next. My overall reaction and review of the novel was enjoyable and it truly made me think which I enjoy in a book. The society aspects also made me think about how my society would do in certain situations such as in the novel. The whole book was very interesting, I really enjoyed how J. A. Jance did passages with different character viewpoints. Therefore, seeing the murderers mindset, but also the victims, and characters in the investigation. I was intrigued how realistic the book made the murder at first I thought it would be really cliche. However, as the story went along I was at the edge of my seat. Overall I would recommend this book, and I was fully refreshed my the realness of the novel, and how the author made you think about society's unique standers.
who committed this horrible crime, while at the same time Brandon Walker works on a cold case for his friend G. T. Farrell about young girl named Ursula Brinker a twenty-one-year-old who dies while on spring break in San Diego. Throughout this whole novel there are multiple characters that are presented, helping solve the murder of the Tenants and discovering who really killed Ursula Brinker. In the beginning of the novel Jonathan Southard makes his first murder, his wife. Jonathan had just lost his job at the bank, his house was would be gone soon, and so would his family. His wife Esther wanted a divorce and she had a boyfriend in the wing. Jonathan had one thing he knew that he would never do and that would be sharing his money. Jonathan also had a gun, who he had full intent on using it on himself, but filled with the rage he had for Esther he used it one someone else. Because in that moment he didn’t know the difference between right or wrong. Jonathan shut off then, he didn’t care and he didn’t care from then on (6-9). This passage of the novel shocked me because of the may Jonathan just seemed to stop caring, in that moment he truly just wanted every single person he hated to dead. I think it was because he honestly in his mind had nothing left to truly live for in the life he had. In that instant he wanted a new life, a life where all his problems drifted away. I understood that Jonathan had to escape the life because it was physically and mentally tearing him apart but I didn’t see why he had to kill so many people to get it. The life that he wanted was quite simple, leave everyone he hated and started a new. However he decided to kill everyone in pure rage. Which is what shocked me the most about the whole passage. Another passage that was significant in the novel was when Dan Pardee explains how alien he feels because he’s half Apache and half Anglo.
Dan Pardee a Shadow Wolf who works homeland security on the Tohono O’odham Nation by the Mexican border. Dan also used to be a soldier where himself and his dog Bozo were always misunderstood, which didn’t change when they returned home to Arizona. Although Dan was half Apache he didn’t understand the language which made him an outsider on the reservation, While since he was half Apache that made him an outsider in the Anglo world. Dan explains how people gossips about the “ultimate outsider”(90) who’s dog is so aggressive one will surely lose a finger or two if they come too close(87-91). My reaction to this passage was surprised because I couldn’t understand why someone who had served in the army, and was now serving as a Shadow Wolf would be alienated. Even though he was half Apache and half Anglo he still was a just a human being who had fought for the every soil the people in and out of the reservation where standing on. Dan had done nothing wrong, it was just society had seen him as not perfect in their eyes so he outcasted. This passage got the most reaction out of me because of the way society treated Dan even though he did so much for our country. I felt angry and horrified of the effect society can affect one person so much, and how society was completely okay with
it. In another significant passage Angie the girl left alone because her mother was killed by Jonathan is again further left alone by her grandparents. When Delia Ortiz, the tribal chairman and Brian Fellows go to Angie’s grandparents house they assume that they will be grieving and completely welcome to taking in Angie. However, they witnessed a different reaction from Carmen and Louis Escalante. They took the news with remarkable restraint, Louis listened in silence and Carmen nodded. When the topic came up about Angie the mood completely changed, Delia made the statement that they could pick Angie up in the morning but Louis shouted “no!”(205). Louis continues on to say “‘Someone else will have to look after her, if they’re brave enough.’ What do you mean, brave enough’ said Brian. ‘She’s a Ghost Girl’ said Louis”(202-206). My reaction to this passage was very curious. I didn’t understand that just because Angie had survived a shooting that made her a Ghost Girl, thus dangerous. Religion shouldn’t affect how you see someone, especially your granddaughter. I understood that religion plays a big part in the Indian culture, but I didn’t see how it could effect someone into taking in a orphaned granddaughter. I was very interested to know if the Indian culture could really effect relationships like a granddaughter and grandparents. Although, Louis could be just blocking his shame with religion instead of admitting that he doesn't want to care for Angie. This novel seems to have many significant passaged that involve some character being alienated or left alone by family or society, like Dan was. That is why these passages enact such a surprise response out of me. Another significant passage that caused a reaction from me was when the murder, Jonathan Southard actually relaxed after he killed his mother, and thought he was in the clear when it came to him being caught. In the passage it explains how Jonathan slept in that sunday morning after killing his step-father and mother. He thought that everything was looking up, the antibiotics were kicking in for his dog bite and “felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment”(292). Jonathan also stated that his children were collateral damage, and everyone deserved what they got. He felt completely fine until he turned on the television, which showed that his murder has being investigated(291-292). What shocked me the most about this passage was that Jonathan actually felt accomplishment about killing people. I couldn’t reconcile how someone could feel like they deserve a trophy for killing people let alone his family. Children, Jonathan killed his own children and didn’t feel any grief about it at all, he only stated that they were collateral damage. This novel was one of the most shocking and jaw dropping ones I have read because of how the murder Jonathan seemed to have a soul one second then completely lose it the next. My overall reaction and review of the novel was enjoyable and it truly made me think which I enjoy in a book. The society aspects also made me think about how my society would do in certain situations such as in the novel. The whole book was very interesting, I really enjoyed how J. A. Jance did passages with different character viewpoints. Therefore, seeing the murderers mindset, but also the victims, and characters in the investigation. I was intrigued how realistic the book made the murder at first I thought it would be really cliche. However, as the story went along I was at the edge of my seat. Overall I would recommend this book, and I was fully refreshed my the realness of the novel, and how the author made you think about society's unique standers.