2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

Sarah and Frank Malloy are enjoying married life and looking to make their family official by adopting Catherine, the child whom Sarah rescued and has been raising as her daughter. The process seems fairly straightforward, but at the last minute, the newlyweds discover that Parnell Vaughn, Catherine's legal father, has a claim on the child, and his grasping fiancée is demanding a financial settlement to relinquish parental rights. Even though exchanging money for a child is illegal, Frank and Sarah's love for Catherine drives them to comply.

When Frank returns with the money and finds Vaughn beaten to death, all evidence points to Frank as the culprit. A not-quite-famous actor with modest means, Vaughn seems an unlikely candidate for murder, particularly such a violent crime of passion. But Frank soon uncovers real-life intrigue as dramatic as any that appears on stage.

Sarah and Frank enlist those closest to them to help hunt for Vaughn's killer as Frank's own life--and the future of their family--hang in the balance.

Setting
New York City

15 Chapters

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Sarah Decker Brandt Malloy: Formerly Sarah Decker. Widow and midwife who was married to Tom Brandt, a doctor. She’s assisted Frank Malloy in solving murders and is now married to him and is Catherine’s foster mother. She has blond hair and blue-gray eyes.
Frances (Frank) Malloy: Former detective sergeant with the New York Police Department who was appointed Catherine’s guardian by her wealthy father who died. He’s now a millionaire, is married to Sarah and has opened his own investigation agency, Confidential Inquiries. He’s a widow and father of 4-year old Brian. He has dark hair and eyes.
Catherine Malloy: aka Aggie. Young girl Sarah has taken in from the Prodigal Son Mission now renamed Daughters of Hope. She’s 6-years old who recently began speaking. Her name was given to her at the Mission but she revealed her name to be Catherine (secretly to Brian). She was recently discovered by her father, a wealthy man who was dying and appointed Frank her guardian. Her mother was murdered and Frank and Sarah are currently her guardians.
Alma Malloy: Frank’s mother. She volunteers at Brian’s school and has learned to sign.
Brian Malloy: Frank’s 5-year old son who is deaf. He has red hair and blue eyes.
Kathleen Malloy: Frank’s first wife, deceased.
Elizabeth Decker: Sarah’s mother.
Felix Decker: Sarah’s father.
Maggie Decker: Sarah’s sister, deceased.
Tom Brandt: Sarah’s deceased husband, a former doctor.
Maeve Smith: Young girl from the Mission who now stays with Sarah and is Catherine’s nursemaid. She also helps out with the investigations.
Gino Donatelli: Former NYPD police officer. He recently returned from serving in the Army and rejoined the police department, only to leave and join Frank’s agency.
Mrs. Elsworth: Frank and Sarah’s neighbor.
Hattie: Malloy family maid.
Velvet: Malloy family cook.
Nelson Elsworth: Mrs. Elsworth’s son.
Theda: Nelson’s fiancée.
Doc Haynes: Coroner.
Titus Wesley: Coroner.
Mrs. Keller: Matron who manages Daughters of Hope (formerly the Prodigal Son Mission).
Parnell Vaughn: Emma Hardy’s former husband and Catherine’s legal father. He’s an actor.
Adelia Hawkes: Famous but aging actress and Parnell’s leading lady.
Baxter Hawkes: Adelia’s husband and manager.
Eliza Grimes: Actress and self-proclaimed fiancée of Parnell’s.
Armistead Winters: Actor and Eliza’s former fiancé.
Verena Rose: Actress.
Sally: Actress.
Angie: Actress.
Wylie Dinsmore: Theatrical agent.
Serafina Straface: aka Madam Serafina. Medium Frank and Sarah met in Murder on Waverly Place. Shes changing her name to Sarah.
Jock Kingston: Serafina’s new assistant.
O’Connor: Police detective.
Henry Nicholson: Defense attorney.
Frohman: Head of the Theatrical Syndicate.
Tuttle: Agent whose office was in the same building as Wylie’s.
Nicola DiLoreto: Serafina’s former boyfriend, now deceased.
Emma Hardy: Catherine’s biological mother.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
Serafina was pregnant and delivered a girl, Lilla Nicolette.

Adelia killed Parnell when he let her know he was leaving to join the Syndicate. Wylie had actually been hired by Baxter to try and convince her to join the Syndicate because her independence was bankrupting them. Eliza figured out figured out Adelia had also killed Wylie and was blackmailing her. Adelia killed Wylie because he’d figured out she killed Parnell. (hide spoiler)]