Question C

[Jonetta]

Rachel Walling is back and we learn her career never rebounded from the mistakes she made in The Poet. Do you think her treatment was unfair? Did your opinion of her change any after this story? Why or why not?

[Robin]

I do think it was unfair. The killer out-witted everyone, not just her. Rachel, at least, became suspicious when her boss ordered her to go to Florida, then came back to save McEvoy and shoot Backus. It was more than other FBI agents did.

I liked her a little more in this story, probably because she wasn't a suspect in this book.

[Jonetta]

I think they just made her the fall guy and punished her more for sleeping with Jack McEvoy. How the FBI could have had a long-term serial killer in its leadership ranks, especially over the behavioral unit, was on them, not Rachel.

[Lauren]

I agree, Jonetta.
Rachel was made a scapegoat because of her relationship with Jack McAvoy not because she made mistakes on the Poet case. Also, she was the one who ultimately figured out that Backus was the Poet and this may have put the noses of the powers that be out of joint as well.