Defence Community Book Club discussion

This thread is for the discussion of Frantic by Katherine Howell.




In one terrible moment, paramedic Sophie Phillips’ life is ripped apart – her police officer husband, Chris, is shot on their doorstep and their ten-month-old son, Lachlan, is abducted from his bed. Suspicion surrounds Chris as he is tainted with police corruption, but Sophie believes the attack is much more personal – and the perpetrator far more dangerous...

While Chris is in hospital and the police, led by Detective

Ella Marconi, mobilise to find their colleague's child, Sophie's desperation compels her to search for Lachlan herself. She enlists her husband's partner, Angus Arendson, in the hunt for her son, but will the history they share prove harmful to Sophie's ability to complete her mission?

And could one dangerous decision cause Sophie to ultimately lose everything important in her life?

I had this Australian author recommended to me. The 8th book in the series was released this year, so I thought I would check out the first in the series. This book was published 2007, so should be easy to get from your library. I downloaded the audiobook through an app called Borrowbox that my local library uses.

There is no set schedule, so feel free to read at your own pace and drop in for a chat.

Please clearly mark **SPOILER** or (view spoiler)[ hide under a spoiler (hide spoiler)] anything that may give away the story.

Chapter 1 and 2
Lots of scene setting and background in the first two chapters. I'm enjoying the details about working as a paramedic and the relationship drama with her husband. We haven't got up to the details from the blurb yet. I had forgotten what was going to happen, but I don't think it will be far away now.

Chapter 3 & 4
Picks up the pace now! Very exciting. So far, POV split between Sophie and Ella. I'm enjoying Sophie's POV more at the moment.

Chapter 4 & 5
Do you have a favourite Point of View?
Who do you think shot Chris and kidnapped Lachlan?
Do you think Lachlan will be found alive?

(view spoiler)[
I'm really enjoying Sophie's POV, but she is starting to come across a bit unbalanced. I hope she doesn't jepordise the investigation.
I really hope Lachlan will be found alive. I'm thinking that it is to do with the corrupt cops robbery gang, but I haven't ruled out overdosed surgeon whose wife and baby died. So much drama!
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 - 11
I'm really enjoying this....getting lots of housework done while I'm listening to the audiobook.

(view spoiler)[I think the plastic surgeon is a red herring, but maybe the woman he was with is associated with the corrupt cop gang and maybe she tried to set him up and thought that he would die. Maybe she was the same woman as the nurse who killed the other guy (I'm so bad at remembering names and it's hard to look them up in an audiobook). The gang looks like it goes quite high up and is good at covering their tracks. I think Chris knows something, I don't think he will talk though, I think he will try to get Lachlan back on his own. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 - 15

(view spoiler)[
Sophie has gone all vigilante. I have a bad feeling about this.....and I don't trust Angus.
(hide spoiler)]

This is getting even better. I can't put it down. Will finish soon.

Finished
What a great read.

(view spoiler)[
So that's why Angus gave me the creeps! I hadn't guessed it would turn out like this. Lots of great twists. I liked Sophie, I hope she isn't found guilty of murder because she didn't actually kill him. She should serve time for kidnapping and drugging him though.
(hide spoiler)]

I have already downloaded the second book. It's in the queue of books I have ready to read.

Just finished Chapter 2 and it is just putting out hints of an interesting story to come. Lots of introduction of characters and relationships but I didn't expect the twist at the end of the chapter. Excited for Chapter 3.

It picks up the pace from here in Kirsty.

I have just finished Chapter 4 and yes the pace has picked up. Lachlan has just been kidnapped and Chris has been shot. Not sure what I would do in her situation. I imagine there would be alcohol and food involved. Not sure who I think has done it but I keep going back to the doctor from earlier in the book.

Just finished the book and I am absolutely amazed at how it turned out. I didn't see the twists coming and to think that it all stemmed from one little segment at the beginning of the book. To say more would give it all away.

I didn't see those twists coming either. I loved this one. I have gotten a little carried away and read book two then started book 3 today. I liked the first one better than the second, but they have all been great so far. I had the series recommended to me at the Billeroy Bookclub a couple of months ago.