2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

Any other topics you’d like to discuss? Your overall opinion of the story?

Copied from my review!
"Another delightful episode in this excellent series! Notable this time for a sudden jump in the progress of Frank and Sarah's relationship. Even though neither of them is prepared to acknowledge this to the other yet, we know they are falling in love!"

That’s it in a nutshell.

The next book is one I haven't read and I'm looking forward to reading it with the group.

Yay!

I’m glad you were able to recall as much as you have to date.

Jonetta wrote: "Yay!

I’m glad you were able to recall as much as you have to date."

It's a sign of how good the stories are :)

I thought the little bit about Maria Barbella (Barberi) was interesting. I enjoy getting those little historical tidbits where I can learn something new.

I found that interesting, too. Terrible situation that your fate is in the hands of the media.

Veronica wrote: "I thought the little bit about Maria Barbella (Barberi) was interesting. I enjoy getting those little historical tidbits where I can learn something new."

The historical tidbits are one of the highlights of the books.

Sarah asked Frank a couple of times if he was going to give the suspect the "third degree". I'd heard that term used in movies before, but I really never thought about what it means.

I looked it up in the dictionary:

Definition of third degree
: the subjection of a prisoner to mental or physical torture to extract a confession

I wonder how they came up with that phrase.

Maybe like third degree burns?

Jonetta wrote: "Maybe like third degree burns?"

Maybe. It certainly sounds sinister.

You made me curious about the origin of the "third degree".
From a google search, I found one possible origin coming from the interrogation of some Templars arrested by Philip IV of France in 1307. These Templars belonged to the "third degree" (first degree: Apprentice; second degree: Fellowman(?); third degree: Master) and the expression is used to indicate a particularly pressing questioning as a means to extort, even with torture, information from the highest levels of the order.
[forgive my rough translation I don't have an english link]

This is only one of the hypothesis, but it's the one I've found that goes the farther back in time and sounds plausible. Still, I decline any responsibility on the truthfulness of this fact :P

Thanks for that research, Giulia! Incredibly interesting.

That is very interesting, Giulia. I'd heard the term before and knew it related to interrogation, but wasn't aware of its origins.
Thanks for the info!

Thanks Giulia. I always wonder about some of the phrases that are used and what their origin is.

Thanks, Giuilia. I thought it might have something to do with the Masonic orders, as well, but didn't look it up.

That makes sense to me. Thanks for looking it up, Giulia.