Burn

How does the author’s treatment of water environments—from peaceful marinas to sites of execution—reflect broader themes about the corruption of civilian spaces during civil conflict? What do these shifts reveal about the characters’ evolving perceptions of safety and threat?

Analyze the role of concealment and revelation in the novel’s structure, particularly regarding how hidden information (coordinates in jackets, explosives in food containers) drives both plot development and exploration of trust during crisis. How does the act of revealing hidden truths influence the characters’ relationships and decisions?

What do the differing paternal relationships—Jess’s rigid architect father, Storey’s betrayed father, Collie’s military father—suggest about authority and protection in times of social collapse? How do these figures contrast with Jess and Storey’s evolving roles as surrogate protectors?