One of Us Is Dead

The modern “aristocracy” of the South—as exemplified in the novel’s fictional portrayal of Buckhead, Atlanta—is a complex blend of “traditional values” and modern evolution. Today’s Southern elite has embraced diverse sources of power and wealth, but racial and class inequalities rooted in the Antebellum South remain prevalent. Atlanta itself is a majority-Black city, but the wealthy, exclusive enclave of Buckhead remains over 70% white, its racial demographics almost the precise inverse of those of the city as a whole.

One of Us Is Dead touches on the area’s economic roots. The novel’s antagonists—Olivia, Dean, and Bryce—draw their wealth from modern forms of human trafficking, and inherited wealth confers social prestige, while newly acquired wealth comes with something of a stigma. Some of Olivia’s antipathy toward Shannon comes from being called “Nemo,” a derogatory abbreviation of “new money.”

The cultural influence of the “old South” is pervasive. Genteel manners, tradition, chivalry, and family lineage are widely prized, and traditional gender roles are more prevalent than in other areas of the country. All the married women in the novel take their husbands’ surnames, and in many cases—most notably that of Shannon Madison—they define themselves in relation to their husbands’ social roles and occupations. Exclusive membership organizations, particularly ones dedicated to charity and historical preservation, often reflect these values. The Buckhead Woman’s Committee is a volunteer organization mostly staffed by women who don’t work outside the home.

The novel strikes an ambivalent tone toward this culture. While it revels in some of its trappings, it identifies toxic elements as well, reflected in the character of Olivia. After the other women kill her, Jenny asserts that the act was necessary, thinking, “Olivia was like a cancer, and not one that could be treated. She needed to be cut out” (351). Unwilling to trust a corrupt system to punish the wealthy and powerful, they decide to handle matters themselves. Not only do they believe Olivia’s homicide was justified, they use her death—the death of a wealthy white woman—to set in motion punishments for Dean and Bryce.