2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

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

I didn't like this book as much as the last one. With Alex's release, the ending was less satisfying, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit.

Sorry if my answers are pretty vague, but like I said earlier, I read this early in the month, so I don't remember many of the specifics of the story.

I thought this story was OK, but not a favorite. My first question is why did Steven Harte go to the police station claiming he had information? Did he want the attention? Did he think that he just wanted to out-smart Kim? Did he want to stop Kate from killing another one of his girls? I was confused.

My second problem was Alex. She seems to have gained the status of "super villain". She can get all types of information about the outside world while sitting in her prison cell. She can blackmail and manipulate the guards and fellow prisoners. I'm sure we'll see more of her in this series, but I wish she would go away.

Also, why did she drive Lisa to attempt suicide? Just cause she could?

One more thing....near the end of the book it was mentioned that a local reporter was given tips about the Jones family eBay accounts. Do you think Kim or Woody fed that tidbit to Frost?

I also thought the story was good, not great, primarily because of the ending. It deeply disturbed me that Alex was paroled. Who in their right mind…?

Robin, Steven subconsciously wanted Melody/Kate discovered. He loved those girls and it bothered him unendingly that she killed his precious children. That’s why he went into the station, really. But, he believed he could get away with his part in the abductions by implicating Jenson and having the bodies of those girls found.

I think of Ted Bundy whenever Alex is featured. He was manipulative and good at it. He was able to mentally seduce people by playing to their weaknesses, which is what Alex does but is even better at that because of her training. I buy into her skills because is possible. What I didn’t buy into was a parole board unleashing her back into society. That made me angry, probably because it mirrors real life. Look at how they’re willing to release the Manson murderers. It takes the California governors vetoing the action to keep them in jail.

Yes, I believe the local reporter was Frost😏

Jonetta wrote: "Look at how they’re willing to release the Manson murderers. It takes the California governors vetoing the action to keep them in jail."

I know what you mean. How can they even think of letting any of them out of prison? They were given the death penalty, and when the death penalty was suspended they were given a life sentence. Why wasn't it life without parole?

Yep!

I'm in the minority this time. I like that Alex is back. Every time Alex and Kim lock horns we find out more about Kim. Also, it is a good vs evil conflict that I expect Kim will eventually come out on top.

I agree that Steven wanted to reveal Melody. Personally, I don't think it was unconscious. He made a deliberate move to expose her. She wasn't protecting the girls from their abusive environment, she was killing them. He didn't want that. Steven sees himself as a savior.

Sharon, Marsons design of Alex is brilliant, along with Kim’s challenges with her. It just gives me angst.

I enjoyed this one, I too was wondering till all was revealed why Steven went to the police in the first place. I think in one part of him he wanted the killings to stop, agree with Sharon on this one .

I just bought the latest as it takes too long to wait for the library to buy it in. Anyone interested in reading this in the next month or two?