2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Did you ever suspect Chris Hanley and/or Lena Riley? Was the reveal a complete surprise? As this is another story with siblings at the forefront, do you think it’s a theme with author or something that’s become common in crime?

I was caught off guard. Every time I start one of these books, I remind myself to watch for the unexpected then I still miss it anyway. I think I get so caught up in the characters, that I miss a clue.

My guess it is a theme the author likes. Maybe she is inspired by a crime she knows about with siblings. Personally, I don't know of a lot of crimes where siblings are partners. When I watch true crime shows, the siblings are bullied by the murderer or embarrassed that they didn't see the evil in the sibling. It would be a good question to ask Marsons.

Neither Chris Hanley or Lena Riley were on my radar.

After reading so many of the books by this author, I've learned to suspect everyone. The sibling theme was so strong in this book, that I knew it had to be a sibling pair, but I really had no idea which one.

I have absolutely no one reason to point to but something about Chris’s manner didn’t ring true from the first meeting, especially after Lena was so awful to him. He just shrugged it off like it was nothing and I didn’t buy it.

Now, Lena. Didn’t see that coming until minutes before the reveal. I thought it would be the agent, Kate Sewell. Yes, I ate that red herring.

They cited enough examples about sibling crimes that it doesn’t feel unusual to me anymore. I also watch the Dateline show on cable about sibling crimes and am amazed at the number of notorious cases that are out there.

Kate Sewell was one of my suspects too, Jonetta,

Glad I wasn’t alone!

Good point about the Dateline show. I have that on my watch list. (I have To Be... lists everywhere.)

Chris reminded me of a yes man, which gets on my nerves. I didn't think that would make him a killer, but it should have put him on my list.

Something was just off about Chris. He was too…pleasing.

Kate Sewell was my primary suspect as well, and I kept thinking of who her brother could be. As I know Marsons does not usually introduce a villain at the last minute, I realized it had to be a character we had met already and Chris immediately came to mind.

The twist I didn't see coming was that Lena Witley was his sister not Kate.