What Have You Done (Adler and Dwyer, #0.5)

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses murder, sexual harassment, sexual assault, child abuse, and trauma.

Ellen is one of the primary point-of-view characters and a protagonist of the novel. She is in her early twenties, the daughter of Roy Ressler, on whose farm Diana’s body was found. She is engaged to Brad Turner to be married in a few months, having already purchased a home to move into after their marriage. She is described by her father as “a pretty girl, with lovely skin and thick, chestnut-colored hair. […] She’s lighthearted by nature” (72-73).

As a dynamic character, Ellen makes a major change throughout the novel. Initially, she is focused on a traditional life—choosing to get engaged to then marry Brad before moving into their new home and living with him. Initially, she cares deeply about what the community thinks of her, noting their “gossip” and what they will think of her, Brad, and Diana’s body being found on their family farm as a strong motivator to her thoughts and actions. Although she recognizes that Brad acts as though he is hiding something from her, she refuses to believe the initial allegation against him and sticks by him.