2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

There were a lot of potential suspects in this story. Who was/were high on your list initially and why?

I can't remember who I suspected back when I originally read this, but I know I didn't suspect the person who actually ended up the murderer.

The knife wound seemed so delicate that I thought it might be a woman. Lady Winthrop topped my list for the longest time.

I remember being just a teensy bit suspicious of Hildeyard but couldn't ration a motive. His dogged pursuit of his nephews seemed a bit extreme, especially when he offered that reward against the advice of Bow Street.

Rory and Bevin were short-term fancies for me but I bought the Lady Winthrop red herring...hook, line and sinker. The clues to Hildeyard were there, though.

At first I suspected Lady Winthrop, but then my attention turned to the heir, and uncle of the boys, Charles Tennyson d'Eyncourt.

Of course, we were kept in the dark as to the elder brother's lingering illness, which kept him from being the heir, until the end of the mystery.

d'Eyncourt was near the top of my list, too.

Lady Winthrop and Charles d'Eyncourt were at the top of my list too. I never suspected Hildeyard - his grief seemed so real.

Same here, Lauren! I thought Hildeyard was so great.

I thought George had accidentally stabbed her then fled with Alfred afraid of what would happen to him. Hildeyard briefly crossed my mind when he first entered the story. After that, I brushed him aside thinking it couldn't be him because of how distraught he seemed. I'll know better the next time.

I thought his distress seemed genuine too. It seems a few of us got hoodwinked on this one. :-)