2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Terry Chance began his murder spree following the death of his infant son who he had chosen to save over his wife’s life. The choice was presented to him by Cordell, Mansell and Wilson and he held them responsible for making him decide. His wife’s accident was as a result of poor decisions he made that evening leading up to that event. Do you think his shifting of blame was his way of coping with his own guilt or is he that clueless? How did his guilt tie into what was going on with the team and their handling of Kev’s death and Austin Penn’s arrival?

Terry was trying to avoid owning up to his bad decisions that his life and his loss was the result of his bad decisions.

Kim's team were trying to live with their inability to help Kev. Kev made his decision and no one could do anything to change the outcome. Kev was a hero while Terry was an irresponsible drunk.

You mean, Terry, right?

Jonetta wrote: "You mean, Terry, right?"

yes correcting

Isn't it incredible how someone can be so blind to a situation and then try and blame others. Although it was an accident Terry's selfish reasons were the catalyst. He had deluded himself and twisted it so he didn't have to be responsible for the chain of events. Probably had underlying personality disorder that triggered his heinous murder spree.

Guilt was a major theme in this story, which dawned on me at the end. Kim felt guilty about not having told Kev before he died how she really felt about his promotion chances; Stacey felt guilty about having alerted Kev about the boy being in trouble and Bryant for not being able to get that rope to him in time.

Terry Chance’s guilt was extreme, so bad he couldn’t handle it and misplaced blame about the loss of his wife and baby. Lisa, I don’t know about a personality disorder but he was certainly immature. His wife is very pregnant and he puts her in a position where she has to drive because he’s inebriated. Then blames the doctors for allowing him to choose. If they didn’t and the wife or baby still died, then they would still be to blame. This guy…

Jonetta wrote: "Guilt was a major theme in this story, which dawned on me at the end. Kim felt guilty about not having told Kev before he died how she really felt about his promotion chances; Stacey felt guilty ab..."

Yes, I'm not at all qualified to label him mentally ill. I guess its just amazing to me how people can get into a rage to the point where they plan to murder people they perceive have done them wrong. But I'm sure gaols are full of them. It must be difficult for health professionals sometimes to rule on these cases. What is a disorder and what is just plain antisocial behaviour? And sometimes when the two intersect. I guess that's why its years of study to become a psychiatrist.

In the US, if they understand the difference between right and wrong, they’re considered mentally stable enough to be tried in a court of law. He certainly can have a disorder but it wouldn’t get him off. I just thought that he was able to behave normally, even pleasantly as a volunteer, while plotting and brutally murdering innocent people to assuage his own guilt. Obviously, something is wrong with this man.

Yes, the way he just shifted all the blame. And took absolutely no responsibility for his actions and the tragic chain of events. Incredible. I guess that's why I took the leap to a mental disorder.

Great discussion again, everyone!

Once again, I agree with you all, but I really liked the way the Marsons was able to weave choices throughout the story.