Question H

[Jonetta]

Olivia’s mother, Bernadette, is unconventional and has a fractured relationship with her daughter. What did you make of her? At any time, did you think she was connected to the serial killer? Why do you think she never told Olivia about having an older brother?

[Lynn]

Bernadette seems to me to be very a very shallow individual. I think she didn't tell Olivia about her older brother because she didn't want to be bothered with explaining the situation to Olivia. I never thought she was intentionally connected to the serial killer, but there might have been an unconscious connection.

[Lauren]

Bernadette is a self9ish and manipulative woman. She only cares about how others can meet her needed, including her various husbands and her daughter.

As to her connection to the serial killer, I didn't think she was an active participant in the murders. She kept back the knowledge of her son because she is too self-absorbed to think of a connection.

[Sharon]

Bernadette doesn't think of herself as a mother, let alone act as one. I felt like she only showed up in Olivia's life because she wanted something from her. Since she doesn't think about Olivia except when she needs something, there is no way a child she gave up for adoption is going to cross her mind.

I didn't think Bernadette was connected to the killer. She makes bad decisions but I don't think she would keep that quiet.

[Jonetta]

They don’t come much more shallow and self absorbed than Bernadette. She gave away her first child and never looked back. Her third child died while she was in an alcoholic snooze and shifted the blame to her other daughter. Then she decides she’s going to jump from one relationship to the next, looking for I don’t know what.

She’s a peach. Bernadette didn’t tell Olivia about her brother because it never occurred to her to do so. I never thought she had a direct connection to the killer but did feel like it was someone with some kind of link to her.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Agree with all your comments. Bernadette is the poster child for a "bad Mom".

I wonder how much of the brother's mental health problems were because of his fractured childhood and how much the way his brain was put together? Not all people with terrible childhoods end up serial killers, thankfully.

[Anita]

Olivia was fortunate that she was raised mostly by her grandmother. Bernadette had a overly developed sense of self worth. The world revolved around her and when it didn't, she left. It would have never crossed her mind to tell Olivia she had an older brother. That was a closed chapter in her life. Done. Finished.