Question G

[Jonetta]

We get the point of view of the killer who gives us some insight as to the how and why of his behavior. When, if ever, did you realize his identity? Who were your original suspects after reading his first point of view? He suggests that it’s a remedy for his PTSD...your thoughts about that?

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

This was really interesting. I actually thought it was Joshua Forbes for quite a long time.

I have no background in psychiatry but I guess disorders such as paranoid schizophrenia can be inherited. So not only the genetic component but the contributing factor of upbringing would have weighed heavily as well on Ryan Moody's behaviour. To his deranged mind it made sense.

[Robin]

I thought the killer was Joshua and he had seen his father kill the Verbeek family years ago. Ryan Moody wasn't even on my radar until he was revealed near the end of the book.

[Jonetta]

Ryan Moody didn’t hit my radar until his brother went missing and even then it took me awhile to move in his direction. For Clint to disappear the next day after he’d had that bar fight with Ryan didn’t sit well.

I was very perplexed about the identity of the killer. I didn’t think it was Joshua as he was my pick for Truman’s situation. I came up with quite a few scenarios, including one involving Britta until it was clear the killer was male.

I still hadn’t let go of Grady and his brother, either.

Regarding the PTSD, Ryan’s father got off on abuse even before he served in the war. It provided a release for him. I think Ryan became severely damaged after witnessing what his father had done and was tortured about it. He was triggered by Britta’s return and it all came back to him and since it seemed to bring his father some mental peace, he decided it would give him the same. Convoluted but sensical on a certain level.

[Sharon]

I like when an author uses the killer's point of view to tell his/her story. It is more in depth, then getting their story during the interview process. I didn't suspect Ryan until late in the game. At one point I thought it might turn out to be someone we hadn't met yet.

I agree that Britta triggered Ryan to start on the killing spree again.

[Sandra]

I love getting the killer's pov also. It helps clue me in to what makes him tick. I didn't suspect Joshua as the killer - I just felt he was a red herring when it came to the family murders. At one point, I wondered about the guy Steve?? who discovered the first family (I think it was) and kept showing up in places later but it just didn't gel for me. I began to put it together when Clint disappeared. Savvy of the author to have the earlier bar fight scene that Truman broke up to lay a bit of groundwork.

[Charlene]

I was with Jonetta on this part. I was even slower on the uptake about the missing brother.

[Christina T]

I also like the POV of the killer but never really suspected Ryan Moody. Once Truman was kidnapped the rest of the story really was not in my head so I didn't even really try to figure out the murderer. I just knew Elliot would tell me who did it in the end so I was ok with that.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Usually my mind is working overtime trying to work out "Whodunnit". But in this case I never suspected Ryan Moody. I think the author had bit of a red herring with Joshua.