The Housemaid's Secret

Millie reveals early in the novel that she has a prison record, but she never really provides details of her crime. Why might this be? Why does this record cause the police not to believe her when she claims Xavier attacked her first? How does having a prison record shape the way people view a person? Is that fair?

Millie knows she needs to tell Brock about her past, but she continuously puts it off. Why? What does this reluctance to tell Brock say about Millie’s feelings for Brock? How does Brock react when Millie does tell him? What does this say about Brock as compared to the way Millie thought he would react?

Millie’s college professor introduces the story of Kitty Genovese and a story about Josh Bell to the class on different occasions. What is the purpose of discussing these stories in class? How do these stories describe American society? How do these stories establish the theme of the Bystander Effect Versus the Everyday Hero?