The Maze of Bones

The importance and nature of family are key concerns from the novel’s opening pages. That Amy and Dan are orphans immediately introduces an element of ambiguity to the novel’s depiction of family; as children without parents, they are outside the nuclear ideal, implying that the novel’s definition of family may similarly depart from societal norms. At the same time, the circumstances surrounding Grace’s death reinforce a very traditional understanding of what family means. From Grace’s perspective, family seems to be defined in a legalistic and historical way: by lineages and blood. She divides her estate between her descendants and gives them all equal access to the first clue, whether they are nakedly greedy, like the Holts, or personally connected to Grace, like Amy and Dan. The greater structure of the Cahill family presents yet another vision of what family could be. The Cahills function like a massive global syndicate, sporting multiple branches with unique identities and individual loyalties. The family’s involvement in high echelons of business, government, and culture has led to substantial infighting between familial lines, but they all pride themselves on belonging to this elite clan. Against this