" Inside McCann's novel, he supports this theory by giving each and one of his characters heartbreaking situations that all lead them to changes them as an individual. The novel begins with Ciaran's brother, Corrigan, and his altruistic role in society. Ciaran moves to New York to escape violence in Dublin. He finds his brother living in a terrible neighborhood and goaled on helping the prostitutes in his neighborhood, especially Jazlynn and her mother, Tillie, and providing services at a nursing home. Fear of his brother doing drugs, Ciaran has found out what was really going on with his brother: "You ask me if I'm using heroin, man? It's worse than that, brother, much worse"(57). He was in love with a nurse, Adelita, but Corrigan was a priest. It is forbidden for a priest to break his vows of celibacy. But Corrigan's chapter ends with him being killed in a tragic car accident with Jazlyn which begins the chain of events.
Lara and Blaine, the married couple responsible for Corrigan's death, couple, but that accident has deeply affected her allowing her to have her eyes open to the world. Over the time, she truly sees what kind of person her husband has become and how they are hitting rock bottom. Additionally, the fact that Blaine has forgotten about the accident and blames Corrigan for faulty brake lights. Lara having the humanity inside her she goes on meeting Ciaran and attends Jazlyn's funeral. After the funeral Ciaran realizes the car that Lara is driving was the car that killed his brother. Determined to find out the truth, Ciaran realized what kind of person Lara was and it was clear that they both had a connection and soon to being married at some point. If Corrigan has never been killed, the connection between Ciaran and Lara would never have existed and Lara would still be left with her drug addicting husband. This was the beginning of all the chain of events. .
Claire, a mother who lost her son to the military, has invited other mother's that shared her sorrow.