Question M

[Jonetta]

There was a secondary story involving a former gang member, Dewain Wright, who was murdered because he was trying to leave the gang. We also learn a lot about Dawson who was handed the case by Kim. Your thoughts about him, this situation and the tragic outcome? How did it connect overall to themes of this story?

[Lynn]

Sacrifice, choices, redemption these are ideas that run throughout the book and are prominent in both cases. The background Dawson revealed about being obese as a child and craving attention to the point of almost joining a gang explains a great deal about the way that he has trouble both trusting and committing.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Lynn wrote: "Sacrifice, choices, redemption these are ideas that run throughout the book and are prominent in both cases. The background Dawson revealed about being obese as a child and craving attention to the..."

Yes, I found that snippet about Kev's childhood very telling about his behaviour as an adult. We all have been wondering why he self sabotages his relationship, maybe this is the start of giving the reader some insight.

[Jonetta]

I agree about those themes running strong throughout here, Lynn. Dewain’s father made the ultimate sacrifice to save his daughters and the Billingham/Trueman’s gave up everything to protect Emily. I thought changing their names was a bit drastic but realized in the end, it was a necessary step. These parents went to great lengths to preserve and protect their families. Even Karen had to rise above Kim’s animosity about their shared past, putting aside her pride to call on someone from a painful past to save her daughter.

[Jonetta]

Oh, and Lisa, I share your perceptions about Dawson and it was wonderful to gain insight about his past. I think him handling that case was therapeutic, especially how it ended. Maybe in his own mind he now has reason to really feel good about himself for a change and stop sabotaging relationships.

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

This one seemed to have a strong theme of what parents will do to keep their children safe and the sacrifices they will make to do that. So I think it tied in well there even though I would have liked it to be a bigger storyline on its own.

As I mentioned a struggled with all the characters and just getting into the groove of the story. I also was reading another thriller and that didn't help. lol, I do try not to read similar storylines at the same time. I struggled a bit to understand why telling the gang that Dewain was still alive. If he was unable to speak how was he a threat? Did it show loyalty on the father's part and that is what will keep them safe?

[Jonetta]

Dewain’s father knew his son would never be the same as he was brain damaged. And, he knew the gang would come after his family next. By letting the gang leader know his son was still alive, it ended there and the old leader would be arrested for murder, which he was. That ended everything.

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

Thank you, Jonetta! I struggle with buying into that so that part of the story didn’t work for me. But it worked that we got some insight into Dawson’s character.

[Jonetta]

It’s a street/gang code. Even Dawson understood it, which is how he guessed what had happened.

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch]

Jonetta wrote: "It’s a street/gang code. Even Dawson understood it, which is how he guessed what had happened."

Oh ok, that was what I was missing!