2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

John Banks killed Nikki’s parents, claiming he was high on liquid ecstasy. Do you believe that had anything to do with what he did? Sheriff Hardin is going to “retire.” Should more have been done to him considering he helped frame a man into spending 20 years in prison? Is the county trying to limit liability? Your thoughts about the whole mess and how the first crime may have laid the foundation for the next?

I don't know if John's drug use had anything to do with the murders. He was already drugging women, taking their pictures, and sharing them with his friends. Might as well throw in a couple of murders.

Sheriff Hardin should be prosecuted for what he did to Mark. I can't imagine that there is a statute of limitations on that crime. I'm not sure if there is enough evidence to get a conviction though.

I don't think John's drug use had anything to do with the murders. He was a privileged person in the community and believed he could do whatever he wanted without consequence. He was a bad person to the core.

Sheriff Hardin needs to be prosecuted. "Retirement" isn't a punishment. He needs to serve time for what he did to Mark. I hope we see him pay for what he did in a future book.

I was disappointed Hardin didn't really suffer any punishment for his actions (or lack there of).
As Sharon said, John was just a bad dude!

Hardin should have been prosecuted!! I couldn't believe they allowed him to waltz off into retirement! He's the reason Mark spent 20 years in prison. I don't think it was "just laziness and sloppy investigating" although it was to a point, but he made the decision to neglect evidence and even got rid of evidence like the tox report all because of a personal grudge. Unforgivable!!

Maybe they didn't want to prosecute Hardin because he was involved in many cases over his career that would have to be looked at again. The people in prison could appeal based on the fact that Hardin had railroaded one guy into prison. Not telling the public and letting him "retire" quietly could be just the easiest thing to do.

I don't believe John took any drugs. He was used to manipulating everyone for what he wanted. We already found out he was willing to drug Nikki and let his friends have a go at her. How dare some girl beneath him 'embarrass' him in front of his friends. Anger fueled he went to her house and ended up killing her parents.

I think he is using the drugs as a way to get out of what he did. Still manipulating to the end.

John was a narcissist, a sociopath and a sexual predator. He knew exactly what he was doing when he killed Nikki's parents, and drugs were just an excuse. He is the kind of person who blames everyone or everything else for his actions.

I agree that Hardin should be prosecuted. Allowing bad cops to retire with no consequences is unacceptable.

Yeah, John knew what he was doing. He’s evil and as Lauren said, a narcissistic predator.

I agree with Robin as to why they didn’t want to prosecute Hardin. We see this in real life all the time. People “retire” instead of exposing the department to many more problems with other cases.