Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of murder/infanticide and death by suicide, as well as racist and sexist dialogue.

The book starts with a graphic depiction of a crime scene—the Massé Family’s apartment in the 10th arrondissement (district) of Paris, France. Police are investigating the scene. The first line immediately reveals the death of Adam Massé, the infant son of Paul and Myriam Massé. Adam’s older sister, Mila, “was still alive when the ambulance arrived. She’d fought like a wild animal” (1).

In the Introduction, the crime has just happened, and emergency medical personnel are on the scene. They treat the mother, Myriam Massé, who is in shock, administering a tranquilizer when she fights them. The medics also reluctantly save “the other one” (2), referring to Louise, the killer. After Louise attacked Adam and Mila, she attempted to die by suicide. Louise survives, but Mila dies.