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In Plain Sight
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Group read of In Plain Sight
message 101:
by
Kathryn
(new)
Jun 17, 2018 12:37PM
No. I mean, as it's explained in the book, there was a lot of bad blood between Mike McLelland and Eric Williams. Mike didn't like Eric. He blamed him for first costing him a job then writing that letter that may have cost him the DA's election the first time around. I'm sorry you didn't like the book.
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What makes you think I didn't like it? I gave it 3 stars!
I just had the impression from reading the review that you didn't care for the book. No worries. I'm enjoying getting to know all of you, and the discussion is fun. I'm happy this all worked out.
Maybe I shoyldn't have written the review while languishing on my sickbed in 93 degree temperatures.
I'm so sorry you're ill! I hope it's nothing serious, and that you're well soon. It's not fun being sick. Take good care of yourself and feel better!
*** Spoiler Alert***I am almost finished the book and have really liked it. It’s such a different case. I do think Eric was likely over-prosecuted, considering his crimes, and think the prosecution may have been so vigorous as a result of the letter he wrote that could have cost Mike McClelland an election. I think Eric’s image was everything to him, and he felt this had been taken away from him, plus he took no responsibility for his own actions. He alone, was responsible for the murders. I’ve been slightly encouraged that Kim seemed to think of things more clearly once she was off drugs, but still amazed at her inaction. The murders were so senseless. Very well written book, Kathryn!
Thank you, Dixie. Wonderful to hear you enjoyed it. And I agree with your thoughts on Eric. Yes, Kim is very repentant now, but, of course, it's too late. She does realize that she could have stopped it all at any time.
Kathryn wrote: "Thank you, Dixie. Wonderful to hear you enjoyed it. And I agree with your thoughts on Eric. Yes, Kim is very repentant now, but, of course, it's too late. She does realize that she could have stopp..."Kathryn, forgive me if you already answered this question, as I dont want to scroll through all the posts, but why do you think that Kim went along so willingly with everything Eric wanted her to do? Was it the drugs or was it her devotion to Eric or something else? Or was it a combination of things?
A combination, Koren. Kim loved Eric, but they had a rather strange symbiotic relationship. She was his main support, his cheerleader. Yet she was afraid of him, never sure what he'd do. And she was dependent on him for nearly everything, since she was sick and taking potent drugs much of their married life. Along with that, she was angry with Mike and Mark. They'd upended her life along with Eric's. Like most relationships, this was a complicated one. I think Kim both wanted Mike and Mark to pay for what they'd done and felt helpless to stop Eric.
Kathryn wrote: "A combination, Koren. Kim loved Eric, but they had a rather strange symbiotic relationship. She was his main support, his cheerleader. Yet she was afraid of him, never sure what he'd do. And she wa..."Thanks for your answer. That's what makes a book interesting when the characters are complicated.
Fishface wrote: "What makes you think I didn't like it? I gave it 3 stars!"It gets confusing when the rating system is left to individual interpretation. For some a 3 star rating would mean they liked it. For me it would just mean I didn't love it, didn't hate it.
For me, that's a 2. 1 = I threw it away/burned it/gave it to my worst enemy;
2= meh;
3=good read;
4= great read;
5= it changed my life.
Fishface wrote: "For me, that's a 2. 1 = I threw it away/burned it/gave it to my worst enemy;
2= meh;
3=good read;
4= great read;
5= it changed my life."
This is mine:
1= Didn't finish or wish I didn't finish
2= Finished but wouldn't recommend
3= Didn't love, didn't hate, just so so
4= Liked but wont go on my favorites list
5= Couldn't put down
For me In Plain Sight was between a 4 and a 5. Descent Into Hell was a 5 with a heart. My favorite Kathryn book.
Kathryn, as I read to the end I longed to hear your own, unvarnished impression of the Williams family. Was Eric as odd as others said? Did he come off arrogant? And what in the world is Kim like to talk to??? She soent so mych time in this story conked out on drugs I can't even make a wild guess about her...
At the end, I wrote how I think Eric lives two lives, one in a fantasy world, his penchant for seeing himself as the hero. Eric is kind of like an evil Walter Mitty, out of touch with reality.As for Kim, I go all the way back in the book to her growing up years, her family relationships, school, her addictions, trace her all the way through to the end.
I also explained my thoughts about her in message 109 above: "Koren. Kim loved Eric, but they had a rather strange symbiotic relationship. She was his main support, his cheerleader. Yet she was afraid of him, never sure what he'd do. And she was dependent on him for nearly everything, since she was sick and taking potent drugs much of their married life. Along with that, she was angry with Mike and Mark. They'd upended her life along with Eric's. Like most relationships, this was a complicated one. I think Kim both wanted Mike and Mark to pay for what they'd done and felt helpless to stop Eric."
Since these are real people, they're complicated. They don't fit into specific boxes. They aren't simple. They often have conflicting elements in their characters.
I hope you're feeling better.
Koren, did you notice that Colton Pitonyak has filed another appeal? Thought you'd be interested since you enjoyed DESCENT. A few friends of his have changed their testimony. Remember: Colton said he was there that night and that he shot Jennifer. He also said no one else was there. https://www.mystatesman.com/news/crim...
Kathryn wrote: "Koren, did you notice that Colton Pitonyak has filed another appeal? Thought you'd be interested since you enjoyed DESCENT. A few friends of his have changed their testimony. Remember: Colton said ..."No I had not heard that. I really haven't kept up with what happened after the book so thanks for the info.
You're welcome, Koren. I do hope you're feeling better, Fishface. Take good care of yourself. As my Aunt Jean always said, "Not much is more important than your health!" (Aunt Jean was a sweet woman.)
Thanks all for the discussion. I've enjoyed it. I'll pop in if anyone has any more questions, but it feels like it's winding down!
Kathryn wrote: "You're welcome, Koren. I do hope you're feeling better, Fishface. Take good care of yourself. As my Aunt Jean always said, "Not much is more important than your health!" (Aunt Jean was a sweet wo..."
You do such a nice job of covering things in the book that it doesn't leave very many questions unanswered.
Thanks, Koren. That means a bunch. I really do try hard. Sometimes I can't find out everything, but I do my best.
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I still haven't finished! I'm 50% finished. I haven't picked it back up since I took a mental health break. I'm planning on starting again this weekend.
Kathryn, I’m already looking forward to your next book! Are you working on it yet and can you tell us which case? “In Plain Sight” was so darn good! Thank you!!
Thanks, Dixie. I'm writing a fourth Sarah Armstrong mystery. It'll be out this fall. I'm very excited about it, and I'm having a blast. Three true crime books in a row, I needed a bit of a break! Do you read fiction, too?
No fiction for me, Kathryn. I stick to true crime, historical true crime and non fiction, in general. But I will watch for your next true crime!
Thanks, Dixie. Again, it's been fun meeting all of you. I hope Fishface is feeling better!
I'm expected to live :)
Is it weird that I've slowed down reading this book, because I don't want it to end?
Thank you, Erin. That is a wonderful compliment.
I'm new and would like to know when you guys or how you do monthly discussions..love true crime..reading Ann Rule right now. Thanks and Happy Reading!!
Erin wrote: "Is it weird that I've slowed down reading this book, because I don't want it to end?"I totally understand! I didn’t want to finish either!
That’s when you know it’s a great book! =)
I just finished the book, man was that good. I gave it 4.5 Stars In Plain Sight was so good someone needs to make a documentary about it and if one already exist I need to find it. This book was my first Kathryn Casey book but it won't be my last.
Means a bunch to hear that you enjoyed it, Erin. No documentary yet, but it would make a wonderful one, or a movie. The story is so complex. Such a strange, strange case. And thank you, Dixie, kind of you, too!
I wouldn't stop at "strange;" it's pretty near unique. Not that attorneys are immune to bad behavior, but this guy is a whole new breed of cat -- as a prosecutor I know likes to say. :)
Erin wrote: "I just finished the book, man was that good. I gave it 4.5 Stars In Plain Sight was so good someone needs to make a documentary about it and if one already exist I need to find it. This book was my..."Erin, a couple years ago ID had a doc about this case. I'm pretty sure it was on an episode of 48 hours.
Thanks Ashleigh! I'll check it out.
Funny little coincidence. I opened one of Robert Keller's compendia at random and the first thing I saw was a paragraph about Nathaniel Code killing a child named Eric Williams.
Erin, I tried looking for it, but I can't find it. And since Kathryn says there hasn't been a documentary about this case, I suppose I'm confusing some other case with this one. I could've swore I'd seen an ID episode about this case, though. 🤔
Ashleigh wrote: "Erin wrote: "I just finished the book, man was that good. I gave it 4.5 Stars In Plain Sight was so good someone needs to make a documentary about it and if one already exist I need to find it. Thi..."Oh, I thought you meant like a limited series! There is a Dateline and a 48 Hours on the case.
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https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/vide...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgG33...
You're welcome.
Mod
Hi Mallory! This is the first time we have done a group read, normally I post a challenge and everyone picks a book(s) that fits the challenge. I usually make them for two months so everyone has time to find a book to suit the challenge.
So Bel, what do you this of the results of this daring project?
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I think it changed the whole dynamic, for sure.
I read this book over a period of a few days, which is saying something for me, lol. I always hate to say I "enjoy" true crime book due to their nature, however, I found this one enthralling. It was well-written something that many true crime books lack. I truly did not want to put it down.Eric William ticked me off from the get-go with his belief that he is smarter than everyone else, I know folks like that and they always rub me the wrong way. I'm convinced that if he didn't taunt the police he probably would not have gotten caught. It was his ego that was, in part, his downfall.
Maybe ALL of his downfall. If not for his ego he never would have come up with this harebrained scheme in the first place, I suspect.
Fishface wrote: "Maybe ALL of his downfall. If not for his ego he never would have come up with this harebrained scheme in the first place, I suspect."That's true, I hadn't looked at it that way.
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Obsessed with True Crime
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