2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

There was a moment when Harry was in the car with Clayton Pell, Hannah Stone and David Chu where Clayton becomes emotionally distressed. Harry begins to offer comfort and then changes his mind. Did you understand his feelings? Was this a problem with Harry on a larger scale?

I understood where he was coming from. You may feel bad for Pell and his distress, but it's really hard to forget the things this guy has done in the past. As Harry mentioned to Hannah, other people went through the same awful things that Pell did, but they didn't turn into predators.

I understood his mixed emotions, too, and was a little disappointed in Hannah’s reaction. She should have known better.

Harry's reaching out was instinct because he can sympathize with victims (this is one of his best traits), but he is also a cop and Pell forfeited his right to sympathy with his terrible crimes.

Hannah's reaction was wrong but also understandable given her son.

The whole discussion of nature vs. nurture in the book was interesting. I liked Harry's suggestion that the abuse of some victims triggers something that it lying dormant and might never come to light without the trigger.

While I accept that nurture often plays a role in criminal and violent behavior, I also believe that some people are born sociopaths with no conscience or empathy for others. Whether this is evil, I cannot say.

I also believe that some people are born sociopaths, just not an inherited trait.

Jonetta wrote: "I also believe that some people are born sociopaths, just not an inherited trait."

Yes, I'm also inclined to believe that it is not inherited.