Challenge Corner discussion

With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid.

Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia’s unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored. Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a recognizable stranger she’s certain is her husband. It turns out the man she’s been convicted of killing may not be dead after all. But as the days tick away toward Talia’s execution, what will it take for her to be believed?

Starting this now! Page 1 (view spoiler)[ Great beginning, certainly hooks you! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 (funny having chapters in such a short story!) (view spoiler)[ Well, I think we're supposed to be sympathetic towards Talia, but spitting in people's drinks and screwing up other people's wedding plans don't make me think she's the nicest person. Not that she deserves to be on death row, obs. Just saying.
The minute it said something and the guy's nose, I was like - that's Noel.
Let's see how this develops... maybe he's not the wonderful husband she thought? (No surprises there in this sort of book!) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10 (difficult to know when to stop in such a fast book) (view spoiler)[ So, Noel was cheating, and now he seems to be alive... I reckon that Talia DID try and kill him (her alibi that she was elsewhere doesn't hold up when it's an explosion), and she's not admitting it to herself? And since the dreams of her past have Noel being sort of omniscient (like telling her to wake up), maybe he will reveal it to her? And actually, they were both really nasty pieces of work, and he knew she was going to do it, so made sure he wasn't at their flat?

Or he framed her in some complicated way for life insurance and 'Father Decker' is going to get his inheritance?

I think they're both going to end up being nasty people tbh... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ I think Rhea is in on it... (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ Nice twist! Rhea wasn't 'in on it' but I knew there was something funny about her - didn't see the coma thing coming, but we didn't find out about the car accident until after.

Fun, fast read. Only problem was, I guessed everything just a second too soon, if you know what I mean? Like, the minute they mentioned the car crash, I thought: 'ah, she's in a coma', and the minute they mentioned her alibi, I thought: 'oh, so she did it then.' (In the dream scenario of her world at least).

Overall, a fun read! Not exceptional or anything, but good enough :) (hide spoiler)]

Looking forward to what you think along the way - what your guesses are as the story progresses ;)

Starting this now.

Chapters 1-4
(view spoiler)[
This is good so far. I'm curious how Talia ended up convicted when she was in a public place when her husband was murdered? Did it really only take the prosecutor saying she set it up? What proof of that did they have?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 5-8
(view spoiler)[
Ok so Noel died in an explosion, I can see how Talia could set that up and then secure her alibi which is what the prosecutor argued. And that scene showing her as super jealous at the party? I can see that leading to her killing him if he maybe cheated on her.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9-12
(view spoiler)[
Ok so that flashback chapter makes it sound like she did actually kill him since she left the gas on the stove on knowing Noel wouldn't be able to smell it. So did she actually kill him and she just hasn't been able to admit it to herself? And I wonder what the deal is with this Decker person who she thinks looks like Noel.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished.

Chapters 13-17
(view spoiler)[
So was she in a coma the whole time? That would make some sense and then the epilogue took place after they turned off life support so she died but her better place was where she was still with Noel? I did enjoy this but feel like the ending was a little unclear which I don't love in my books.
(hide spoiler)]

Melanie wrote: "Finished.

Chapters 13-17

..."

Yay, glad you finished! I enjoyed it but (view spoiler)[ kind of the opposite to you actually! I guessed everything that was going to happen - including the coma part lol. (hide spoiler)] Did you read my comments? It was fun, but it was too predictable for me - and a bit formulaic tbh. You kind of know what to expect too much from Freida McFadden characters...

I'm thinking of joining this one!

Prologue: (view spoiler)[Very interesting. Who killed the husband then? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 1-5: (view spoiler)[OMG, the spitting in the drink was so freaking gross. I was in the middle of drinking something and now I don't even want that and I know it is spit-free! Okay, so Noel is alive? Is this like gone girl? Or something? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 6-10: (view spoiler)[So... he's definitely cheating on her, right? All these late nights and the face he made?!?! If he isn't, then it's a little weird he smells like perfume. You know? Unless he made perfume... but he doesn't. And ugh, I don't like him. Can I even trust her dreams?!?! I'm losing my mind. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 11-15: (view spoiler)[I'm so confused, lol. So she did want to murder him? I still think he was cheating. The new identity is weird and then that guy saying we know you are innocent?!?! What the heck is going on here? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 16-Finish: (view spoiler)[OH. Okay. So, she was in a coma. He didn't die... and she did? Well, shit. Okay. Very interesting. (hide spoiler)]