It's clear from the outset that Gaunt does not conjure up memories of a happy, carefree childhood. In fact Imogen seems scared of the small town's streets and is especially fearsome of her own family home. As the story progresses, Jenny Blackhurst cleverly reveals tiny details about Imogen's past; both her recent history and her childhood. This makes for interesting reading, and the reader cannot help but compare Imogen to Ellie; the child whose case she is given to work on.