The Secret Place question

Folks, please, get a grip. The final chapter continues the alternating pattern in which the "present" alternates with the "backstory." The final chapter does NOT take place after the arrest of Becca. Continuing the pattern, the final chapter is from the "backstory," and is the last part of the "backstory." The final chapter finishes with Holly going to the station and starting the whole thing by going to Stephen with the card. If you will, it ends, just prior to the opening chapter of the book, merging the "
backstory" with the "prsent story." OK?

Actually, if you don't like the whole jumping back and forth in time, you could just start by reading the prologue and all of the even-numbered chapters (as in chapter 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. etc) and then when you've read the final chapter (30), you go back and start reading chapter 1, then 3, 5, 7, 9, etc. etc.... That way you'll get everything in the right order... Just saying.

The previous chapter concluded with the belief that the officiers thought Selena had planted the card. The final chapter makes it clear that Holly posted the card with the expectation that one of Joanne's circle had committed the crime. Holly wanted Selena to experience closure because of her fragile psyche. Had she known it was Becca she would never had posted the card.

I wondered about that too Liz, this book stumped me! I really enjoy this reading author but from on reading on a kindle I will pay more intention to the timeline!

I'm coming at this 10 years past the last comment, but I'd just like to weigh in that the last chapter of the book starts with the girls getting together in their 4th year, and describes the changes in their appearance since 3rd year, when the murder took place. It describes Rebecca as having grown about 3 inches and she has had her braces off. Chris Harper has been dead 3.5 months. Nowhere does it say anything about what consequences she faced. It does in that same chapter go back in time and tell about Holly putting the card up on the board, but that's later in the chapter.

Becca is still in school because the last chapter takes place before she confesses to Chris's murder. The book alternates chapters regarding narrators, but it also changes time frames. And the final chapter takes place before the actual ending of the story as its purpose is simply to reveal who put up the card on the board saying "I know who the killer is." And that was Holly. Before this chapter we only knew that Holly took the card down and gave it to Stephen. Now we know she also put up the card. BUT, the last chapter, if I got this right, has the girls in 4th form and I believe they should still be in third form. Maybe I got that wrong.
If the big reveal is the fact that Holly posted the card, I say So What. That wasn't so startling. It seemed a weak ending to me.
Also, I am not a prude, but the profanity depressed me as did most of the teenage dialogue. Let's hope the book's genre is no where near "realistic fiction." It was much too long a novel and only occasionally came to life when there was some genuine interaction between characters, like between Holly and her Dad and between Stephen and Conway. I'll stick to Elizabeth George, Louise Penny, Donna Leon, John Banville (Benjamin Black), Anthony Horowitz, and Kate Atkinson (Jackson Brodie books).

I understand the time frames. I just want to know how Rebecca is back at school. I find no clarification on that point.

I understand the last chapter is essentially a prologue. What I don’t understand and what is not explained is why Becca is back at school as if nothing has happened.

For goodness sake...it's a different timeline. You need to concentrate. The only twist was Holly making the card.

I had the same confusion as others, and I'm grateful for getting set straight. Of course it makes perfect sense now that I've been told.
But I have another big question about the book. What's with the magic stuff, turning the light on and off with their minds? What did I miss? Thanks.

Tatiana Holly knew Steve from Faithful Place by Tana French. It is about the Mackey family.

Ok, so I just finished my 2nd Tana French book (I first read Likeness and just finished The Secret Place. I love this author but am baffled by the ending of the Secret Place. My question is, what happened to Becca as Liz above asks last year .... so we as readers never get to find out if Becca goes to jail/prison?? Very confusing. I will not stop reading this author and just today bought Broken Harbor but I sure would like to know what's up with TSP ... anyone out there who can help me? Thank you! Paula Vickers, Fort Lauderdale, FL
https://www.facebook.com/paula.vicker...

She is! ^^read the comments above ^^

Makes sense to me!

Thanks Dinah, I thought it was one of, Joanne's group, because Joanne was pure evil, and so to stay in with Joanne one of them could done that!

Holly planted the card on the board because she thought Selena needed to know who killed Chris to recover. She was worried that Selena was not getting over the death. She planned it for months. Then she put the card on the board and came back and "found it". She did not know who the killer was and probably suspected it was one of Joanne's group.

Kate, I think the last chapter was intended as an alternative ending to the story, suggesting that no matter what might have happened, Holly would still have gone to Stephen Moran with a card, knowing he would help Selena. Not sure that's right, but it certainly doesn't make too much sense otherwise.
Actually, if Tana French does "Ask a Question" on Goodreads, ask her.
The fact you read the book on audio has nothing to do with your confusion.

Yes! I read this as a audiobook and was totally "thrown" by the last chapter. I had gotten into the rhythm of the flashbacks, but the last chapter - after the crime having been solved - made no sense and still doesn't. It seemed like there were two time episodes collapsed into one - one before the crime was solved and one after. There may have been clues in print that made this clearer. I will look at a book in print to see if I can get it.

Thanks Roy, I will try that!

I don't really understand what it is you mean?

I am so confused. If Becca killed him, why is she still in school and not in a loony bin or jail?????

Why did Steve knew Holly, what's the story behind?
Btw I like the book, but that last chapter was very confusing.

Thanks ! Some suggested I reread it but have not done that, I am a big fan of the author! So was disappointed. So maybe I will go to library!

re-read it & remember the different timelines (i had to, just kept reading when too tired)