As Good As Dead

A major symbol that appears throughout all the books in the series is the podcast itself, but it serves a different function in each novel, depending on the specific investigation. In book three, the podcast symbolizes the quest for truth and relates most closely to the theme of The Struggle to Be Heard. As mentioned in the theme discussion, Hawkins is the character most closely associated with Pip’s struggle to be heard. The podcast allows her to take her case to the people.

In contrast, Hawkins believes one must go through proper channels to solve a crime. He resists the idea that teenage amateur sleuths have any business meddling with police affairs. For the most part, he ignores and minimizes the evidence that Pip brings to him. He only starts to pay attention when she broadcasts her views via the podcast.

By the novel's end, the podcast ceases to become a vehicle for disseminating the truth. It becomes the means for Pip to lay a false trail of evidence that Hawkins will be compelled to follow. While the detective does his best to convince Pip that she is delusional, she weaponizes her podcast as a means to see justice done in the DT Killer case.