Yes, that's what he did. The dialogue also obscured the character's thoughts and feelings which made them seem very one-dimensional. There are two murders, in addition to Sally's father, in the first half of the book. They take place in The Cove, a picturesque little town that came back to life suddenly a few years before. Several missing people are discovered, and Coulter hints enough about the connection that the reader begins to suspect what's being going on in the town.
Most plots start to unravel toward the end of the book because they drag on too long.
This one was just the opposite. It was very weak in the beginning, and the last 30 or so pages were interesting when the connections were made. She should be scared.