November 2012 Group Read - The Vanishing Point by Val McDermid

[Clarissa]

Sounds interesting. I'll try to have it read by the end of the month.

[AngryGreyCat]

Ordered the book from my library so I should have it this week.

[AngryGreyCat]

Just got this I will be starting it today :)

[Bill]

I believe I nominated Vanishing Point. Does that mean I'm to moderate the discussion?

[AngryGreyCat]

I finished tonight but I don't want to give any spoilers yet until others start discussing the book. I will say that the mystery was well done and the characters were believable. The very ending was a surprise (at least to me).

[Bill]

I should be happy to moderate the discussion,

[Bill]

I am ready to post discussion topics. Should I post them here?

[Bill]

These topics are intended simply to invite discussion. If you would to post on some other aspect of The Vanishing Point, do not hesitate to share.

The first part of the book is set at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. Did you find the depiction believable and effective? Stephanie relates a lot of information to an FBI agent. Did you find this a good way to fill in the back story?

Did you find Stephanie and Scarlett convincing central characters, or were some aspects a bit too much or too little?

Did you expect the twist at the end and if so what tipped you off? Or if you’re kicking yourself for not foreseeing it, what should you have noticed?

Have you read other books by Val McDermid? If so, how would you rate The Vanishing Point compared with some of her other stories?

Do you think reading mystery stories makes us better at solving actual crimes, or do we simply learn more about how plots have to be constructed

[AngryGreyCat]

- I liked filling in the backstory by the flashback technique. I think if it would have been told and then had the event happen it would have taken away from the story. By starting with the kidnapping you immediately care about what is happening. If you started with the friendship building over the years, etc. you may not have stayed with the story to get to the kidnapping. I haven't been to O'Hare so I don't really know about that...in fact I haven't had occasion to fly since 9/11 so other than what I have seen on the news I am not up on airport security now:)

- I found the characters convincing in the context of celebrity. We expect the outrageous over the top behavior.

- I expected that she was alive at the end...but not until very late in the book. However i did not expect Stephanie to make the decision to kill her and actually follow through...usually the "good" character is too "good" to do what in this case needed to be done.

- I have never read any other books by Val McDermid but now I am tempted to do so.

- I doubt that reading mystery stories would make me any better at solving actual crimes because most of what needs to happen is actual observation in real life...and I am told all the time I am not very observant :).

[Clarissa]

Did you find the depiction believable and effective?

I have recently traveled to the USA and have a son. I know that in the same situation, I would not be filling in backstory and sitting still. I would demand to know what was happening to my son. I wouldn't be able to relate information because my mind would be a mess.

Did you find this a good way to fill in the back story?

I found that McDermid's use of backstory was better than her having the characters dialogue. And thank goodness, the backstory was interesting.

Did you find Stephanie and Scarlett convincing central characters, or were some aspects a bit too much or too little?

I found a lot of it unrealistic but as a mystery writer, I like it when my readers suspend belief in favor of escape. Isn't that why we read thrillers and watch exciting movies. I felt like I was reading a thriller.

Did you expect the twist at the end and if so what tipped you off?

I was expecting A TWIST at the end. I was not expecting that one.

Or if you’re kicking yourself for not foreseeing it, what should you have noticed?

I just don't find it realistic to believe she could fake the final stages of cancer like she did.

Have you read other books by Val McDermid? If so, how would you rate The Vanishing Point compared with some of her other stories?

I have read most of Val McDermid's books and although I found the opening exciting, I didn't relate to the characters like I do with Tony Hill and Carol Jordon.

[Bill]

On telling the back story: This is a good method (Homer used it in the Odyssey). My problem was that Stephanie gives us much much more detail than an FBI agent could or would be able to assimilate and I found it a little unbelievable.

It was hard for me to accept that as independent and capable a woman as Stephanie would have such an obnoxious and controlling as Pete. I thought he was in the story only to provide a huge red herring.

[Clarissa]

Bill wrote: "On telling the back story: This is a good method (Homer used it in the Odyssey). My problem was that Stephanie gives us much much more detail than an FBI agent could or would be able to assimilate ..."

Really good points!