What Have You Done by Shari Lapena Summary, Characters and Themes
What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena is a gripping psychological thriller with a supernatural twist, set in the small town of Fairhill, Vermont. The story revolves around the mysterious death of 17-year-old Diana Brewster, whose murder sends shockwaves through her tight-knit community.
Lapena masterfully shifts between different characters’ perspectives, exploring the impact of Diana’s death on her friends, family, teachers, and townspeople. As suspicions swirl and secrets emerge, Diana herself watches from the afterlife, piecing together the events leading to her tragic end, desperate for justice and revenge.
Summary
Diana Brewster, a high school student in the small town of Fairhill, Vermont, is discovered dead on a local farm, shaking the town to its core.
The death leaves a lasting impact on many residents, from her family to her classmates, and even those who had tenuous connections to her. As grief and suspicion consume the community, hidden truths begin to surface, implicating several individuals with complex and intertwined lives.
Paula Acosta, an English teacher at the school, had taught Diana and is deeply disturbed by her death.
On top of this, she is struggling to maintain a relationship with her daughter, Taylor, who faces the usual teenage challenges of fitting in, dealing with technology, and bullying.
Paula’s close ties to Principal Graham Kelly further complicate things, as it emerges that Kelly had previously dismissed a complaint from Diana about inappropriate behavior from gym teacher Brad Turner.
Although Diana did not want her accusations to go public, Paula persuades Kelly to finally inform the authorities. However, when he does, he downplays the incident, leaving key details hidden.
The media catches wind of the situation, turning up the heat on Brad Turner. With a new complaint surfacing from another student, Brad finds his career and engagement to his fiancée, Ellen, on the verge of collapse.
Though he protests his innocence and insists he had no involvement in Diana’s death, the growing allegations surrounding his behavior lead Ellen to question their future together.
Meanwhile, Joe Prior, a creepy older man who often harassed Diana at her job, initially appears to be a potential suspect.
However, when the police look into his alibi and investigate his ties to a separate case involving a murdered girl in New York, they find that while he may be guilty of other crimes, it’s unlikely he killed Diana.
Another prime suspect, Diana’s boyfriend Cameron, also falls under scrutiny when inconsistencies in his story emerge.
Though he claims he dropped Diana off after an argument the night she died, witnesses place his truck at her house later, raising doubts about his version of events.
Diana’s closest friends, Riley and Evan, struggle with her death in their own ways. They are haunted by the idea of never knowing what truly happened, and even go so far as to track Joe Prior’s movements, hoping to help the investigation.
But when Riley finds Diana’s missing phone hidden in Evan’s room, the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place.
Diana, who has been observing the aftermath of her death from beyond, begins to remember the details of her final moments.
The night of her murder, Evan visited her, confessing his feelings for her after she broke up with Cameron.
When Diana laughed at his confession, Evan’s long-simmering anger boiled over, leading him to strangle her in a moment of uncontrollable rage.
Although Evan is eventually arrested for the murder, the town remains shaken. Brad is released from jail, but his reputation is tarnished, and Ellen chooses to leave him.
In the end, as Evan contemplates his future behind bars, he convinces himself that this time will allow him to explore his own dark mind as a writer.
Characters
Diana Brewster
Diana is the central figure whose death propels the narrative forward. At just 17 years old, her life was marked by youthful innocence, but she was also grappling with the darkness of adult world complexities.
In life, she was a normal teenager with friends, a boyfriend, and typical school pressures. Her unresolved complaints about Brad Turner and her growing discomfort with how others treated her reveal her vulnerability and powerlessness.
Her murder is shocking to the town, and through her supernatural presence, Diana remains a silent observer, haunted by the fact that she can’t remember her own death. As she watches the events unfold, Diana’s struggle to regain her memories mirrors the audience’s desire to uncover the truth.
Her character arc is tragic, but her final realization—when she remembers that her close friend Evan killed her—underscores the novel’s theme of betrayal and the masks people wear. Diana’s perspective provides the novel with its eerie, supernatural atmosphere, blending her youthful innocence with her need for justice and revenge.
Paula Acosta
Paula is a high school English teacher and one of the novel’s emotionally grounded characters. As a teacher who had Diana as a student, Paula represents the voice of reason and morality in the town.
She is closely tied to the dynamics of the school, where Diana’s complaint against Brad Turner initially remains hidden. Paula’s own struggles, especially with her daughter Taylor, parallel her role as a teacher dealing with teenage problems both professionally and personally.
Her complicated relationship with the principal, Graham Kelly, reveals her efforts to fight for what is right, despite the potential fallout from challenging the school system. Paula’s discovery that her daughter, too, has been a victim of Brad’s behavior intensifies her motivation to seek justice.
This eventually results in her confronting Kelly and forcing him to admit the full extent of Diana’s accusations. Paula’s character reflects the challenges of motherhood, the responsibility of educators, and the emotional burden of standing up against institutional misconduct.
Graham Kelly
As the principal of the high school, Graham Kelly holds a position of power, which he uses to conceal uncomfortable truths. Initially, he dismisses Diana’s complaint about Brad Turner, interpreting it as a minor issue that does not need to be escalated.
Kelly’s reluctance to take action speaks to his fear of scandal and his role in maintaining the school’s reputation at the expense of justice for students. He symbolizes institutional negligence, where complaints are brushed aside for convenience.
However, Paula’s persistence forces him to confront his decisions, leading him to finally report Brad’s behavior to the police. Despite this, his delay in addressing the situation leaves a bitter aftertaste, as his complicity in downplaying Diana’s harassment weighs heavily on his conscience.
Kelly’s character serves as a critique of those in positions of power who fail to protect the vulnerable. Ultimately, he reveals the complexities of guilt and responsibility in a tight-knit community.
Brad Turner
Brad Turner is the gym teacher who becomes embroiled in controversy after Diana files a complaint against him. His predatory behavior is initially swept under the rug by Graham Kelly.
As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that Diana’s experience with him was part of a pattern of inappropriate behavior toward female students. Brad’s character is emblematic of the hidden menace lurking beneath the surface of a trusted figure in the community.
His relationship with his fiancée, Ellen, unravels as the accusations against him grow more serious. His lack of an alibi on the night of Diana’s death makes him a prime suspect.
As the investigation into Diana’s murder intensifies, Brad’s world begins to collapse, especially when another student comes forward with a similar complaint. Although he is eventually released from jail after Evan’s confession, the damage to his reputation is irreversible.
Ellen’s decision to break off their engagement shows that Brad’s crimes, though not directly tied to Diana’s death, are still deeply harmful. His character explores themes of power abuse, manipulation, and the consequences of unchecked predatory behavior.
Joe Prior
Joe Prior serves as a red herring in the investigation. He is a man with a history of disturbing behavior who initially seems to be a plausible suspect.
His flirtation with young girls and his stalking tendencies make him a suspicious figure in the town’s eyes. His character adds tension to the plot, as the police focus on him as a lead in Diana’s case.
Although Joe has an alibi for the night of Diana’s murder, his involvement in another girl’s death in upstate New York reveals him as a deeply troubled individual with a dark past. While not responsible for Diana’s death, Joe’s presence in the story amplifies the novel’s theme of predatory males and the danger that young girls often face in their interactions with men.
His arrest for the other girl’s death provides some closure in that case, but it highlights the pervasive threat he represents. Joe’s character reinforces the notion that not all predators are immediately obvious, yet their existence is a constant danger.
Cameron
Cameron is Diana’s boyfriend and initially one of the primary suspects in her murder. His relationship with Diana was marked by tension, particularly on the night she died.
Cameron’s initial lies to the police, in which he claims to have dropped Diana off early, cast suspicion on him and make his motives unclear. His later admission that he argued with Diana and returned to her home adds layers to his character, illustrating a young man struggling with guilt, grief, and a deep fear of being accused of something he did not do.
Throughout the novel, Cameron’s parents play a significant role in his arc. They attempt to both protect and guide their son, encouraging him to tell the truth while also being prepared to cover for him if necessary.
Cameron’s internal conflict and gradual revelation of the truth reflect the novel’s broader exploration of guilt, secrecy, and the complexities of relationships. Ultimately, Cameron is innocent, but his actions and lies add to the tension of the investigation.
Evan
Evan is one of Diana’s two best friends, and his role as the true killer is the novel’s ultimate twist. Throughout the story, Evan presents himself as a grief-stricken friend, mourning the loss of Diana and helping her mother deal with her pain.
His dynamic with Riley, the other best friend, further conceals his guilt, as he participates in their joint efforts to track Joe Prior and seek justice for Diana. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Evan harbored deep, unrequited feelings for Diana.
When Diana rejected him on the night of her death, Evan’s rage boiled over, leading him to strangle her. Evan’s character is a complex portrayal of suppressed anger and hidden darkness.
Outwardly, he appears normal, but is capable of horrifying actions when pushed to an emotional breaking point. His eventual arrest brings closure to Diana’s murder, but his inner thoughts—considering how prison might give him time to write—reveal a deeply disturbing mind.
Riley
Riley is Diana’s other best friend and one of the emotional anchors of the novel. Her grief over Diana’s death is palpable, and her sense of helplessness drives her to act impulsively.
Riley’s actions, like reporting Joe Prior’s movements to the police, reflect her desperate need for justice and closure. She plays an essential role in supporting Diana’s mother as they both grieve the loss of Diana.
Her discovery of Diana’s missing phone under Evan’s bed is a turning point in the story. It is the moment when the truth of Evan’s guilt begins to unravel.
Riley’s courage in alerting the police despite the danger posed by Evan shows her loyalty and strength. Her journey is one of emotional growth as she navigates grief, friendship, and justice.
Ellen
Ellen is Brad Turner’s fiancée, and her character is defined by the crumbling trust in their relationship. Initially supportive of Brad, Ellen’s faith in him is shaken as more accusations surface about his inappropriate behavior toward female students.
Ellen’s internal struggle reflects the emotional toll that such revelations take on loved ones. As Brad’s situation deteriorates, Ellen is forced to confront the reality of his actions.
By the end of the novel, Ellen chooses to break off her engagement with Brad. This decision symbolizes her solidarity with the victims and her refusal to ignore the growing evidence against Brad.
Her decision to leave Fairhill represents her desire for a fresh start, free from the shadow of Brad’s misconduct.
Themes
The Fragmentation of Grief in a Small Community and the Complicity of Silence
Shari Lapena’s What Have You Done? intricately explores the theme of fragmented grief within a tightly-knit community. The death of Diana Brewster shatters not only the lives of her close friends and family but also reverberates throughout the town of Fairhill.
The novel delves into the complex ways that people process loss, exposing how communal mourning can simultaneously unite and isolate individuals. In Fairhill, grief is not simply an emotional response but a catalyst for exposing the town’s underlying fractures—its buried secrets, its complicity in wrongdoing, and the collective silence that has allowed those wrongs to persist.
Diana’s death becomes the focal point around which the townspeople’s shared grief spirals. However, this grief is fragmented because each character’s relationship to Diana and to the town is tainted by secrets, guilt, or unspoken trauma.
Instead of leading to collective healing, this grief sharpens divisions, as the town is unwilling or unable to confront the full truth of what has happened. This fragmentation is amplified by Paula Acosta’s personal struggles with her daughter, Taylor, who feels increasingly alienated from her mother.
The silence surrounding Diana’s experiences—particularly her complaint about Brad Turner and Principal Graham Kelly’s reluctance to involve the authorities—mirrors the broader silence that pervades Fairhill. In this silence lies a dangerous complicity, a willingness to ignore or suppress uncomfortable truths for the sake of preserving social order or reputations.
The town’s collective inability to fully acknowledge the predatory behavior that permeates its institutions represents a failure to mourn properly. The truth about Diana’s suffering is stifled even in death, emphasizing how grief, when mismanaged or suppressed, becomes a societal burden, festering until it erupts in further violence and betrayal.
The Dehumanizing Influence of Technology and Social Media on Adolescence and Relationships
Lapena’s novel scrutinizes the dehumanizing effects of technology on teenagers. The narrative shows how it shapes their relationships, identity, and even their grieving process.
Diana’s death becomes a lens through which the novel examines how young people, like Taylor Acosta and Diana’s friends, Riley and Evan, navigate their lives through the distorting lens of social media and the digital world. The novel portrays a generation disconnected from genuine human interaction, where relationships are increasingly mediated by technology, creating emotional detachment and social isolation.
Taylor struggles with bullying and peer pressure, much of which is intensified by the omnipresence of technology in teenagers’ lives. For her, technology is not just a tool but a psychological battlefield that compounds her feelings of alienation and powerlessness.
Diana’s own experience before her death speaks to this theme as well. The digital footprint left behind, the missing phone, and the online trail left by Joe Prior stalking young girls highlight how technology invades both the living and the dead, reducing complex lives to fragmented pieces exploited by others.
Lapena explores how the digital realm erodes the boundaries of personal grief and private experience. This makes it harder for characters to connect authentically with one another or find solace in the aftermath of tragedy.
The Legacy of Male Predation and Institutional Failures in Protecting the Vulnerable
A central theme in What Have You Done? is the pervasive presence of male predation and the systemic failures of institutions meant to protect vulnerable individuals. The novel critiques how deeply ingrained misogyny and abuse are within society, embodied by characters like Brad Turner and Joe Prior.
Diana’s complaint against Brad serves as a microcosm of a larger societal issue. It highlights how institutions, represented by Fairhill’s school system, often protect perpetrators of abuse while dismissing or downplaying victims’ experiences.
Principal Kelly’s reluctance to escalate Diana’s accusations reflects an institutional culture that prioritizes reputational protection over justice. This dynamic is common in cases of sexual misconduct, showing how systemic failures perpetuate abuse.
The theme of male predation extends beyond Brad’s immediate actions. Joe Prior’s pattern of stalking young girls and Brad’s multiple victims coming forward posthumously emphasize the broader web of male violence that the novel critiques.
Even after Brad’s eventual release, Ellen’s decision to break off their engagement highlights the long-term psychological toll of abuse. The novel reveals how predation causes damage that ripples through entire communities, affecting not just the victims but also those around them.
The Haunted Perspective of the Victim and the Inescapability of the Past
One of the most unique aspects of Lapena’s novel is its exploration of the afterlife through Diana’s perspective. This supernatural element serves as a metaphor for how trauma continues to haunt the present, even in death.
Diana’s struggle to remember what happened to her symbolizes the difficulty victims face in processing trauma. Her fragmented memories reflect the novel’s broader theme of fragmentation, not just in terms of grief but also in identity and justice.
As Diana watches events unfold from the afterlife, her growing awareness of the truth mirrors the process of unearthing hidden traumas and coming to terms with the past. The past continues to haunt both the living and the dead in the novel.
Although Brad is eventually arrested and then released, and Evan is revealed as the real murderer, the trauma of Diana’s death continues to weigh on the town. The novel suggests that there is no closure for either the living or the dead until hidden truths are brought to light.
In What Have You Done?, Lapena illustrates how trauma, predation, and guilt echo through the lives of both the living and the dead. These forces demand justice, recognition, and reckoning, emphasizing that the past is never truly buried—it always resurfaces.