Crime Detective Mystery Thriller Group discussion

Here is the folder for our November Group read. Because She Loves Me By Mark Edwards

Hello - this is the author. Thanks so much for picking BSLM as your group read. I'm going to check back whenever I can and will answer any questions that you have and respond to comments.

I know already that there are a few things in the book (like the ending) that have divided opinion. I just wanted to let you know that I have thick skin so you don't have to worry about offending me :)

Looking forward to seeing your questions and comments.

Thanks Mark for coming in. I haven't started the book yet but if the ending is open-ended, then I have a feeling there will be a good discussion about it.

In 23pc - plenty of clues something is not quite right about Charlie but nothing specific thus far.

Okay, I have to admit, after reading about 40%, I decided not to finish it. (I did, however, read the ending). I knew where it was going within the first few pages. It's just not my kind of book.

Just started this morning! 8:D

Laurie wrote: "Okay, I have to admit, after reading about 40%, I decided not to finish it. (I did, however, read the ending). I knew where it was going within the first few pages. It's just not my kind of book."

Sorry to hear this Laurie. I hope you will enjoy other books that we will be reading together.

Absolutely no way Andrew'd got a flat his sister couldn't access by w/c but wonder if it'll turn out an element in the plot.

Absolutely no way Andrew'd got a flat his sister couldn't access by w/c but wonder if it'll turn out an element in the plot.

Just started today.

Finished the first 50 pages. So far, so good.

I'm at Chapter 17, and I'm with you Ron, so far, so good. A good, quick, easy read....8:D

Hi Mark, I am listening to your book on audible, I always wonder how much input authors have on audiobooks? Have you listened to the audiobook yourself? What did you make of authors narration or the characters voices?

I like the beginning book being set in Moorfields - I work in a Ophthalmology department and found that chapter realistic (not so much the going to theatre at 2am in the morning) but the rest. I guessed before you informed us that the Andrew suffered from a retinal detachment - I wonder where you knowledge about ophthalamology comes from e.g. research or personal experience?

Bill wrote: "Absolutely no way Andrew'd got a flat his sister couldn't access by w/c but wonder if it'll turn out an element in the plot."

Ahhhhh Bill, there is every possibility he would. people making their first property purchase are often not practical; they tend to have a (mental) list of requirements which flies out the window when they find something they fall in love with. and yes, men are just as bad in this respect as women! And in the end, budget rules. 8:D

Laurie wrote: "Okay, I have to admit, after reading about 40%, I decided not to finish it. (I did, however, read the ending). I knew where it was going within the first few pages. It's just not my kind of book."

You missed some great twists Laurie!

I have now finished and rated it 4* 8:D
I have reviewed it, but will edit my review after everyone else has finished reading it. 8:D

I'm finished about 32% of the book. I'm wondering how much trouble Andrew is going to have. I'm glad I'm married. If I was single and I was reading this book, I would be very nervous.
One reason for this. When I was single many years ago, I had a date with this woman. She ordered a lobster dinner because she was angry that I didn't recognize her right away. Then she got so drunk that she howled at the moon. Now that I'm reading this book, I can see that that was the least of my problems compared to Andrew.

I think we all have at least one scary person in our pasts Ron.....perhaps why we relate so well to this book. Let me tell you, you have some real treats in store with the rest of the book! 8:D

Thanks Sandra. I will approach this very cautiously.

Sandra wrote: "Bill wrote: "Absolutely no way Andrew'd got a flat his sister couldn't access by w/c but wonder if it'll turn out an element in the plot."

Ahhhhh Bill, there is every possibility he would. people ..."

Sandra,you could not be more correct.:)

Finished. I'm with Laurie on this one; thanksgiving a bit early this Nov. **

People really are fast here. I'm just over the 40% mark. Plot twist is disturbing. I'm hanging in there though. Have to see how it ends.

I am about 37% through the novel it is an interesting and easy read. I can see why some people might give up on the novel as you feel you know where the novel is taking you. We obviously have a single, white Mancunian female who initially seems pleasant but we may see becoming unhinged. It appears that Charlie is slowly eliminating anyone who appears to be a threat to hers and Andrews relationship. Knowing that there are twists or a twist in the end is keeping me reading and second guessing what that twist will be.

I like the character Andrew he seems like an nice easy going guy. I don't believe Andrew loves Charlie, I believe Andrew loves the sex with Charlie who is fairly uninhibited. I think if it was not for the sex, alarm bells should be ringing for Andrew - how can you love someone who tells you very little about themselves - or perhaps he loves the mystery.

I am about 30% finished and have an idea where this is going, but will wait and see. Andrew is one of those "nice guys finish last" kind of characters so far.

I finished this book yesterday, and just posted my review. Now I will start The Magpies.

I'm over 70% done now and I have to say, I'm really enjoying the book. I like the way the author is handling the story. I'm sure I'll be finished tonight because this is a very hard book to put down.

Told you so Ron! 8:D

I loved it Ron.

Review up on my Read Shelf.

I want to finish the book before I start reading your reviews. Anxious to do that.

I haven't given anything away in mine Ron, but I will edit it after we have all finished reading - still won't be any "spoilers" though...8:D
And Sue wrote a great review!

Well, I'm done so I'll check out some reviews in the morning. I really enjoyed this book. I'll say it was one of the best books I read this year.

Sue wrote: "Hi Mark, I am listening to your book on audible, I always wonder how much input authors have on audiobooks? Have you listened to the audiobook yourself? What did you make of authors narration or th..."

Hi Sue - thank you. Re the audiobook - we are given a questionnaire to fill out which the publisher uses to find and brief an actor. Beyond that, you get little input. I haven't even listened to the audiobook! I find it quite odd hearing my words being read out.

Sue wrote: "I like the beginning book being set in Moorfields - I work in a Ophthalmology department and found that chapter realistic (not so much the going to theatre at 2am in the morning) but the rest. I guessed before you informed us that the Andrew suffered from a retinal detachment - I wonder where you knowledge about ophthalamology comes from e.g. research or personal experience?"

Your comment got cut in half when I tried to respond, but re this point... I suffered a detached retina myself two years ago. I was actually rushed into surgery at 2am. Afterwards, I spent a lot of time visiting the eye infirmary at my local hospital - not Moorfields, but I am familiar with that area (Old Street) because I used to work around there.

Mark wrote: "Sue wrote: "Hi Mark, I am listening to your book on audible, I always wonder how much input authors have on audiobooks? Have you listened to the audiobook yourself? What did you make of authors nar..."

I can report that the narrator of your novel as done it justice, he narrates clearly and you uses very different voices and accents to distinguish your characters. I love the Charlotte Mancunian accent and the voice of the mystic I think he might be called Harold.

Hi Mark, thanks for taking the time chat. I did guess you had had retinal detachment surgery, I loved the observations that you detailed they made me smile. I think I will have a secret smile on my face if I see patients sitting under a glaucoma poster!

Mark, do you have a target audience for your novel BSLM?e.g. men, women, age group etc.

Your novel contains some sexually explicit details but part of the make-up of this novel is 'sexual jealousy'.

It might be unusual for the reader to experience this level of sexual detail written by a male author (it was for me) although it would not be usual from female authors to write like this, therefore I wonder if you would be worried about offending the female audience because according to statistic male authors have a 50% audience.

Mark,

I liked the character 'Andrew' he really was a nice, patient easy going guy and we really had a rounded picture of his life from after the accident that killed his parents to the present.

The character 'Charlotte' for me was less rounded and more hidden - I would have like more of her past history more of an idea of what really made her tick. Was this a deliberate ommission?

All said I did like the 'Charlotte' character especially when she was reacting irrationally e.g. how she was when Andrew came homme after he had stayed at Sasha's place. Charlotte's bad behaviour appeals to my deep seated need not to be good and controlled all the time.

Would you expect the reader to like/identify with Charlotte?

Sue wrote: "Mark, do you have a target audience for your novel BSLM?e.g. men, women, age group etc.

Your novel contains some sexually explicit details but part of the make-up of this novel is 'sexual jealousy...It might be unusual for the reader to experience this level of sexual detail written by a male author (it was for me) although it would not be usual from female authors to write like this, therefore I wonder if you would be worried about offending the female audience because according to statistic we are likely to read only about 20% of books written by men? "

Hmm, interesting question! I didn't know that 20% stat. I know that a lot of men won't read female authors (they are really missing out!) but didn't know it also worked the other way round. I know from my Facebook page, reviews, emails, etc that most of my readers are women. About 70% I'd say. But when I'm writing I'm not really thinking about the gender, age, etc of the audience. There's sex in the novel because I needed to get across how obsessed Andrew and Charlie are with each other. I actually toned down the first draft at the suggestion of my editor, but I wasn't worried about offending anyone...Although my wife's grandmother read The Magpies (which is a lot more explicit than BSLM) and hasn't looked at me the same way since!

PS I grew up reading writers like James Herbert and Iain Banks and they had a lot of sex in their books...maybe they influenced me. Actually, they definitely influenced me!

Sue wrote: "The character 'Charlotte' for me was less rounded and more hidden - I would have like more of her past history more of an idea of what really made her tick. Was this a deliberate omission?

All said I did like the 'Charlotte' character especially when she was reacting irrationally e.g. how she was when Andrew came home after he had stayed at Sasha's place. Charlotte's bad behaviour appeals to my deep seated need not to be good and controlled all the time.

Would you expect the reader to like/identify with Charlotte?."

I wanted the reader's view of Charlie to change as the novel went on...It was important that the reader understood why Andrew liked her so much and why he didn't run away as soon as she displayed her jealous side. But it's difficult to say more about it without giving away spoilers. In general, I want readers to find the characters interesting without necessarily being likeable.

Ron wrote: "Well, I'm done so I'll check out some reviews in the morning. I really enjoyed this book. I'll say it was one of the best books I read this year."

Thanks Ron!

Hi Mark,

My name is Sue and I live in Toronto, and am a avid reader of psychological mystery suspense thrillers. When your novels and , were highly recommended on Goodreads, I went ahead and ordered them. I must say I was very impressed. I very much enjoyed Because She Loves Me, and have since posted my review. I am currently reading The Magpies.

My question or comment is this. I read a lot in this genre, and have no problem adapting to the british lingo, but does this ever pose a problem for your readers, or limit your distribution efforts? I mean this in a non-threatening way. Even when I went to write my review...I had to stop for a minute and decide if I should the word "house" versus "flat".

Anyways, I love your writing and have to check out your other books. Keep up the great work!

Mark wrote: "Sue wrote: "Mark, do you have a target audience for your novel BSLM?e.g. men, women, age group etc.

Your novel contains some sexually explicit details but part of the make-up of this novel is 'se..."

My mistake and male author will have a female audience of 50% and a female author will have a male audience of 20%.

Regarding sexually explicit details, I can say that I have only found three writers - William Diehl, Barry Eisler, and Brian Freeman - so I guess I haven't seen it that much.

Sue wrote: "I read a lot in this genre, and have no problem adapting to the british lingo, but does this ever pose a problem for your readers, or limit your distribution efforts? I mean this in a non-threatening way. Even when I went to write my review...I had to stop for a minute and decide if I should the word "house" versus "flat"."

Good question! This is something that concerns me because I do want to sell more books in North America (and elsewhere!) and worry about whether all the British English is off-putting. One reader emailed me a list of the UK terms in the Magpies - there were about 40 in just one chapter!

But because I have British protagonists it wouldn't be natural for them to speak or narrate in any other way. For example, the other day I wrote a scene in which a character puts something in a skip - in the US (and Canada, I guess) this would be a dumpster. But my character would never think or say dumpster.

I actually have an American editor and there are some things in my books that he doesn't understand. If so, I change them. But if he understands what they are, I keep them.

Thank you for clarifying this, Mark. I usually don't have a problem understanding the British lingo as my brother-in-law was born in the UK...it is just his humor we don't always understand!

What do others think about the ending before the ending, the big reveal, the twist e.g. happy, unhappy or ambivalent?

I personally can 'take' or the 'leave' the twist it was not that far of a stretch for me. If I read a crime novel I always think it could be who I strongly suspect it to be but I do have my runners up. I had Charlie down as the front runner suspect but felt there was 3 strong and similar clues to another person.

Also if I know a twist is coming it almost spoils the novel for me because I am on my guard for the twist so the twist arrives it is not all that surprising unless it really makes me gasp.

What does anyone think about the potential for HEA for Andrew.

For me even though I think Andrew strongly deserves a happily ever after I don't think it will be with the person he is with at the end of the novel.

Mark wrote: "Sue wrote: "I read a lot in this genre, and have no problem adapting to the british lingo..."
I get annoyed by books which have been edited for the American marked although I don't mind small changes in the grammar which is slightly different. On my kindle I have a British dictionary so I can look things up when I don't understand a word.

I finished last night and I have to say, that I did not even suspect. I loved the ending and agree, I think Andrew deserves a Happy Ever After. He is such a nice guy, but unfortunately, nice guys often finish last. I had no problem with the lingo. I have read a lot of books by British Authors and it has never dampened my interest or enthusiasm. The sexually explicit parts also don't cause me any issue, if I don't want to read that part, I just skim it. I really enjoyed the story and will look for more by Mark. Great selection Ron.