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Readalong and Q&A with Susan Fleet - Absolution
Hi Janet, just got it for free from Amazon, i prefer paper copy but wanted to try to participate in some of these discussions. Sometimes there are holds at the library and a wait is involved. As a newbie i am a bit gun-shy and not familiar with the posting but i will try.
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Our readalongs are very popular, as are our Book Pals and Pick It For me.
So join in when you feel comfortable.
I also have the book ready to read.
Michele, Welcome! You needn't feel a bit gun shy w/ this group and you already posted, so you know how it works and how to do it ! Once you have read the book, you will have questions, for sure. We are fortunate to have author participation in our discussions and that adds SO much to our understanding of the book. You have found a good "home" w/ the Good Thriller group , and I do hope that you become an active participator; a good discussion needs member participation too !
I second Betsy's comment, the more member participation the better the whole group experience.
Michele wrote: "Hi Janet, just got it for free from Amazon, i prefer paper copy but wanted to try to participate in some of these discussions. Sometimes there are holds at the library and a wait is involved. As a ..."Gunshy? Now that won't do. :) This group is wild about guns. Fictionally, of course.
So looking forward to all your questions and comments!
Will be out-of-town this weekend for a wedding but will catch you all when I return :)
Betsy wrote: "Will be out-of-town this weekend for a wedding but will catch you all when I return :)"Have a great time at the wedding. Hope it someplace warm!
It's in Annapolis, MD, and it will be an outdoor , garden wedding - 60 degrees, chilly and damp in sleeveless dresses :( At least the Officers' Club will be warm :)
I'm looking forward to reading this and discussing it with you all. I'll start reading this weekend...
I have my copy of this as well, but need to finish up something before starting. I am excited about the author letting us ask questions. That is new for me! :)
Just started reading Absolution following a dreadful short story. I'm enjoying it--good character development.
Vicki wrote: "I have my copy of this as well, but need to finish up something before starting. I am excited about the author letting us ask questions. That is new for me! :)"Ask away, Vicki! Believe it or not, I love getting questions and comments from readers. Some of them really surprise me!
Betsy wrote: "It's in Annapolis, MD, and it will be an outdoor , garden wedding - 60 degrees, chilly and damp in sleeveless dresses :( At least the Officers' Club will be warm :)"You must tell us all about it when you get back ... Outdoor weddings can be risky. In my trumpet playing days, I had a couple of rainouts and one was a gigantic thunderstorm. No drums needed. :)
10% in and getting pretty intriguing! Susan, your protag is Italian. Any Italian blood in you? I am 50% Italian. My grandfather's name was Francesco Tortoriello before he changed it to Frank Terrell.
Since you asked.... it poured on Friday, poured coming home today but.... Saturday, the day of = perfect, almost = No rain, sun in and out, a little chilly; it was truly a lovely garden wedding and, of course, my granddaughter looked lovely !!Susan, Something that I must ask and I don't mean to be critical, just very curious. I thought that you had an excellent beginning and I was really getting into the Dawn Andrews situation : her anticipation of her date that night w/ Mario, the Hunk, with the Sinner in a car staring up at Dawn's window; it was a great set-up providing good tension!
This would have been perfect but then, for me, at least, out-of-the-blue, you switched away from this and started telling us about someone named Grizzly, and I had NO idea who that was or why it was added; it just was very confusing to me and it added nothing, IMO, to the plot, as Grizzly never became a character in the book , and so.... I must ask ....
WHY did you break the great concentration that you were developing to include this going-nowhere distraction? I know that there must be an answer /explanation....
Betsy, how far along are you? I am 18%.
Christine, I finished the book before I left for the weekend. :)
Christine wrote: "10% in and getting pretty intriguing! Susan, your protag is Italian. Any Italian blood in you? I am 50% Italian. My grandfather's name was Francesco Tortoriello before he changed it to Frank Terrell."Nary a drop of Italian blood, but Frank is half Irish (on his mother's side) and so am I.
Betsy wrote: "Since you asked.... it poured on Friday, poured coming home today but.... Saturday, the day of = perfect, almost = No rain, sun in and out, a little chilly; it was truly a lovely garden wedding and..."Sounds like you had a great time at the wedding! Glad the weather cooperated!
To answer Betsy's question about the beginning: out-of-the-blue, you switched away from this and started telling us about someone named Grizzly, and I had NO idea who that was or why it was added; it just was very confusing to me and it added nothing, IMO, to the plot, as Grizzly never became a character in the book , and so.... I must ask .... WHY did you break the great concentration that you were developing to include this going-nowhere distraction? I know that there must be an answer /explanation.... "Dawn and the killer are only half of the equation. What follows is an introduction of my main character, Frank Renzi. He's hunting a serial killer. Hence the scene outside headquarters and one suspect's lawyer, who claims his client has been unfairly targeted because he's black. This is a major theme in the book. But then Frank spots Grizzly, who's about to attack a television reporter. He manages to capture Grizzly, with the help of his partner, Kenyon Miller. The scene also conveys the mood of city residents, black folks upset by the racial profiling, white folks worried that their female family members might be the serial killer's next victim.
OK, got it, and that makes sense - thanks!I thought that your character Rona Jefferson, the black columnist for the local paper, played a pivotal role in what you said above = continuing to stir things up with her complaints against the NOPD about racial profiling. You developed that well with her constant focus and gripes.
Susan, During the time period of the book, WAS New Orleans experiencing racial problems and escalating black/white tensions?
Betsy wrote: "OK, got it, and that makes sense - thanks!I thought that your character Rona Jefferson, the black columnist for the local paper, played a pivotal role in what you said above = continuing to stir..." Susan, During the time period of the book, WAS New Orleans experiencing racial problems and escalating black/white tensions?
In my view, having lived there nine years (before, during and after Hurricane Katrina), there have always been tensions. Orleans Parish is 50% African-American. While New Orleans it is not segregated, many areas, eg, Lakeview, tend to be mostly white; the lower 9th ward and Treme, predominantly black. After Katrina. racial tensions seemed to increase, not sure I can give a simple explanation for this, and again after Obama was elected president.
The situation within NOPD is also complicated. The (white) detective I consulted prior to writing Absolution was concerned that I might paint the NOPD as racist. I assured him this was not my intent, that in fact my protagonist's detective partner was black. That said, in reality, some seriously bad racial incidents involving NOPD police happened after Katrina. Too long to go into here. For those interested, just google the Danziger Bridge incident.
Susan, i just finished this book. Read in one afternoon as it kept my interest and the pace was great. Wonderful character development that I imagine is pretty true to life in their beliefs and prejudices in new orleans. I especially enjoyed the way you introduced and developed Frank Renzi. Enough back story for us to know him, but it didn't bog down the beginning of the book. The strong personalities of Norris, Frank and Rona really added to the authenticity of the story for me.
Susan, I'm sure that we would all benefit from your research on serial killers, as that's what we're reading about in your book.The only thing that comes to my mind is that they are predominantly men (although I vaguely remember Charlize Theron portraying a woman serial killer in the movie "Monster", which was based on a true story).
Why, in your opinion, is it men who become serial killers? Think Ted Bundy, Robert Speck, Jeffrey Daumer, John Gacy, Boston Strangler.... can't remember others.... And they all seem to gain the trust of these unsuspecting women , as did our killer.
Michele wrote: "Susan, i just finished this book. Read in one afternoon as it kept my interest and the pace was great. Wonderful character development that I imagine is pretty true to life in their beliefs and pre..."Thanks, Michele So happy the book held your interest. And the pace? One reviewer called it "relentless." :)
Also thrilled that you found the characters believable. I work hard to make them so! Even my "victims" have a backstory, tho I may not put all of it in the book. Frank, of course, is completely real in my mind! The challege for me is to keep him interesting in each successive book ... I'm working on #7 right now ... so I try to sketch a brief history in each book, but also try to add something new and fresh about him, to make him more complex.
Like a different girlfriend? :) You'll have to read Diva, Book 2, to find out!
that was going to be my next question, as i really seem to enjoy series. I will definitely put this series on my TBR list. and read Diva soon.
Michele wrote: "that was going to be my next question, as i really seem to enjoy series. I will definitely put this series on my TBR list. and read Diva soon."Great! A creepy stalker and ... a new gf for Frank. :)
Replying to Betsy's question re why more male SKs than females. Betsy wrote: Why, in your opinion, is it men who become serial killers? Think Ted Bundy, Robert Speck, Jeffrey Daumer, John Gacy, Boston Strangler.... can't remember others.... And they all seem to gain the trust of these unsuspecting women , as did our killer. I'm no expert on serial killers, but I have done a lot of research and write about them on my blog. With male killers, most of them seem to be lust murders, men obsessed with raping boys or women. It's a power trip. And as you point out, many, like Ted Bundy, become very proficient at persuading their victims to trust them. Jeffrey Daumer looked so normal, and he was so sick!
Female serial killers want power too, but they can't rape the way men do. A few of them do team up with male killers, but most female serial killers are caretakers, or nurses and most crave attention. They want to feel important. Like Jane Toppen. see http://darkdeeds.susanfleet.com/blog_...
And Kristen Strickland, who murdered dozens of veterans at a VA hospital. http://darkdeeds.susanfleet.com/blog_...
If you read about these women, you'll be glad there are fewer female serial killers than men. These two women were ruthless!
I'm 15% through the book and am enjoying the story. Susan, I think it's really adventurous to tackle serial killers and racial tensions in one story. I admire you for that.
Wasn't it your first novel?
Rona is a particularly intriguing character. I'm really liking her, (though I wondered if she would really cry when she told Renzi about her father's death? She hardly knew him...) I think she's going to be pivotal to the story - let's see how it pans out...
I'm finding Frank more of a mystery character at the moment. I like his attitude, though we don't yet know that much about him. The team work between him and Kenyon is very enjoyable to read.
Was it easy for you to get inside the mind of a police officer? Did you do some research to help you? I'm intrigued.
Thanks, Susan, for the info. and links re/ serial killers. Found it interesting HOW ruthless female serial killers are.... power a dominating part of their personalities.And, while we're tackling some good questions, like Ann's, I have wondered....
What is the killer's fascination with tongues?
I like, Susan, how you named him the Tongue Killer, which certainly gets our attention!
18% in and really liking this story. What I think best is character development -they talk and behave in believable ways. I like the New Orleans setting too,-the racial tension and also the Catholic angle. I think it's interesting that at this point in the story (view spoiler)
Hi all, going to tackle part of Ann's question first. "Susan, I think it's really adventurous to tackle serial killers and racial tensions in one story. I admire you for that. Wasn't it your first novel?"My first published novel, yes. I'd written 3 earlier ones but put them away as "not ready for prime time." Most of my novels are inspired by news items about crime. FYI: my father was a print journalist, so I began reading newspapers at a very young age. In fact, I sometimes joke that my father is responsible for my dark side because he often took me to the police station ... he taught me how to play pool on the pool table in the station.
But I digress. Absolution was inspired by an actual serial killer case. When I moved to New Orleans in 2001, a killer was terrorizing young women in Baton Rouge, about an hour away. Like everyone else, I followed the case. Long story short, an FBI profiler brought in by the police said the killer was probably a white male in his 30s who had trouble attracting women, possibly due to his appearance. But the neighbors of one victim said they'd seen a black man hanging around the vic's apartment before she was murdered. So guess what: police finally arrested Derrick Todd Lee, a black man, married with two children, and a known womanizer. For more details, see my blog post: http://darkdeeds.susanfleet.com/blog_...
So I said, What if the serial killer was stalking women in New Orleans? I deliberately created a killer very different from the one in Baton Rouge. But I decided to include the racial profiling issue because for one thing, I felt it would deepen the story. There are a zillion serial killer novels out there. And also because 50% of the New Orleans population is black. And the mistakes made by the Baton Rouge police got a lot of media attention.
And now ... to Rona. Quoting Ann: Rona is a particularly intriguing character. I'm really liking her, (though I wondered if she would really cry when she told Renzi about her father's death? She hardly knew him...) I think she's going to be pivotal to the story - let's see how it pans out..."
I have to say I really enjoyed creating Rona. Edgy with a chip on her shoulder bigger than a Sherman tank. At first Frank doesn't like her, but ... as you'll see, he later comes around. Reactions from my readers tend to be, well, black or white. Some people love her, others can't stand her. Ann, I take your point about her being tearful when she talks about her father's death. But this is an extremely emotional woman, to the point of volatility ... as you will see when you read more of the book.
Hope this answers that part of the question ... on to the next.
Second part of Ann's commen. She said: I'm finding Frank more of a mystery character at the moment. I like his attitude, though we don't yet know that much about him. The team work between him and Kenyon is very enjoyable to read. Was it easy for you to get inside the mind of a police officer? Did you do some research to help you? I'm intrigued.I'm glad you like the interaction between Frank and Kenyon (also a continuing character in the series). I enjoyed writing it and tried to draw contrasts between them, but also note their similarities. More about Frank and his background will be revealed later in the book. Maybe because of my experiences with my father, meeting police at an early age, I don't find it difficult to write from the police viewpoint. Also, I spent several hours at different times with a former NOPD homicide detective (currently working domestic violence). His comments were invaluable, especially some of the funny things he told me that happened when he worked homicide. It really is true. Police tend to use black humor at murder scenes to get them through the horror of it all.
I've also talked to two MA State Police Troopers, And last year I acquired another terrific consultant, an NOPD Detective who works in the 8th District station on Royal Street. Just like Frank!! :)
And finally, i admit to being a research freak and have several non-fiction books about cops. And serial killers. And stalkers.
I lead a dark and stormy life .... fictionally of course. :)
Betsy wrote: "Thanks, Susan, for the info. and links re/ serial killers. Found it interesting HOW ruthless female serial killers are.... power a dominating part of their personalities."Pretty bad, right? And you didn't even read about Bad-Luck Belle, who dismembered her victims and fed them to the hogs!!
And to your next question: I have wondered.... What is the killer's fascination with tongues? I like, Susan, how you named him the Tongue Killer, which certainly gets our attention! "
Ah, the tongues. Well, as those who've finished the book already know ... this will become clear later. I once took a script writing course with Dan Decker, who said: Never answer the question. If you answer the question in the beginning, why keep reading?
Terrific advice. And I try to follow it. If I explained all about Frank in the beginning, and I told you right from the start why the killer was so utterly ... [screwed up?] you wouldn't need to read the rest of the book. So I try to think of my main characters as onions, and peel of one layer at a time. The more suspense the better. Imagine if you knew all about Norman Bates and the secret of the Bates Motel before the end. Not good, right?
Thank you for giving these insights, Susan. It's so interesting to see more background to the story.
Susan, I did finish the book and I do remember two theories re. the tongue mutilations. One was that b/c the killer was once a stutterer, a disability involving the tongue, his rage was directed at that part of the body. The second, which made more sense to me, was that perhaps it symbolized the penis and his sexual inadequacies. I guess that I just wondered which was correct or if I am still off base ??Something else I wondered about early on: already @ 16 % Kindle we know who the killer is.
Could you explain to us, Susan, why you thought it would be the most effective for your readers to have this information so early in the book? Does it do anything, in your opinion, to the suspense level?
Perri wrote: "18% in and really liking this story. What I think best is character development -they talk and behave in believable ways. I like the New Orleans setting too,-the racial tension and also the Catholi..."Thanks for the comment about my characters, Perri. In case other folks haven't finished, I'll just say that I recently got a 5-star review from an Amazon reader with the header: Priest on the run! Which could refer a couple of my characters.
Ann wrote: "Thank you for giving these insights, Susan. It's so interesting to see more background to the story."You're welcome, Ann, happy to offer them!
Betsy wrote: "Susan, I did finish the book and I do remember two theories re. the tongue mutilations. One was that b/c the killer was once a stutterer, a disability involving the tongue, his rage was directed at..."Maybe Tim's rage was directed at Nanny, who tortured him mercilessly, and he displaced it onto vulnerable women. Or maybe it was rage at his father, whom he viewed as uncaring, or rather caring more for Nanny than he did for him. Certainly, he was conflicted about his own sexuality. Actually, I don't think there is a correct or incorrect interpretation and/or explanation for why he committed these horrific crimes. Nor do the experts know why actual serial killers commit them. They just offer theories.
As for revealing the identity of the killer early on ... I don't view my books as mysteries, that is, Who-dunnits where the reader must solve a puzzle. They're crime thrillers. The suspense comes from making the reader worry: What's gonna happen!! Also, being inside the killer's head and knowing what he's going to do, or at least that he's planning something bad, eg. the blackbird, increases the tension.
You are very good at creating suspense, Susan, and you did make us "worry" about what would happen next and it is always interesting to be inside the killer's head , making it a psychological thriller also !I want to say that you created a wonderful character in Sean Daily ! Even though we know some not-so-good- things about "Father" Daily, we find him so VERY likeable.
What did you guys like about "Father" Daily?
Also, what are your thoughts about his beloved Aurora? Did it bother you that they were "together" ?
Great comment about Sean Daily, Betsy. I look forward to hearing what others thought about him. And Aurora. During my trumpet playing days, I played services in many Catholic churches. In fact I was sort of the "resident" trumpeter for several of them. I got to know a couple of the pastors pretty well. Sean is a combination of them, not so much looks as their personalities. And because he was such a "nice guy" he had to have a soulmate like Aurora! Okay ... anyone else want to share their thoughts on Sean and Aurora?
I would also love to hear what y'all thought about Lisa Marie. Was she as innocent as she first appeared? Did her infatuation with Tim seem credible? What about her father? What did you think about the ending in the "On the Run" store?
I did find Lisa Marie's feelings for Tim credible. They were both misfits, looking for someone to love them and they found it in each other, although much too late. She said, "Tim, you're my knight in shining armor; I feel happy." ...."We're a couple" and he thought, "She loves me" = pathetic almost. With the kind of childhood that Tim had and the impact of Lisa Marie's family on her, what chance did they really have ?? How sad that she felt that Frank/cops ruined everything for them which is when she shot Frank in the chest, standing up for "her man". Their luck had run out! And you know, I think that Tim was OK with that. There would be no more searching for another girl and another and another, as it had become a living Hell. He felt peaceful. I really liked this part.... showed some humanity.
Susan, You made Sean Daily very "real" to me ! Many people have things from their pasts of which they are not proud, things that happened and they may have been blamed/accused falsely; that does not make them bad people and Sean Daily was not a bad person.I totally understood where he was coming from: an unsolved murder, circumstantial evidence, a federal arrest warrant.... not very "priestly" so he would be reluctant to get involved. He was not at first forthcoming in telling about the current murdered girl talking to a priest the day before her murder but Aurora said, "Either you tell or I do", and he did tell Aurora the whole truth. He loved her and wanted to protect her and their relationship. When he doctored the sketch of the killer, it made a big difference in the killer's identification. He also was concerned for his dying ex-wife and his son Ralph whom he hadn't seen in a long time and those feelings were strong and true. He had struggles, like many of us do, and did the best that he could. I liked Sean Daily, a lot !
Susan, I finished the book and loved it. I think you did an awesome job wih the characters. Character development is very important to me, and I give you an "A" for that! One thing though--the doctor in the story blatently violated the HIPAA laws. I don't think she could get away with that in real life!
Just started reading today and am at 20+%. I'll catch up to the thread when I've finished, because I started reading and encountered some spoilers. We all may be at various stages in the book, so it would be great if those with specific comments could hide them with the spoiler alert. Thanks!
Betsy wrote: "I did find Lisa Marie's feelings for Tim credible. They were both misfits, looking for someone to love them and they found it in each other, although much too late. She said, "Tim, you're my knight..."Thanks for the wonderful comment and analysis of Lisa M and Tim. That's really how I felt .. 2 misfits who deserved each other. He was by far the more toxic of the two. Of course, she didn't know what Tim had done, until the end.
Betsy wrote: "Susan, You made Sean Daily very "real" to me ! Many people have things from their pasts of which they are not proud, things that happened and they may have been blamed/accused falsely; that does no..."Repeating what I said above ... that's how I saw the character. Sad past with misdeeds, but as Aurora said, he did a lot of good, even if he wasn't a priest. See? My characters are real people to me! :)
Hope many of you will read and join in.