The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James - June 2022 Adult or Non-Fiction BOM (starts 2 June 2022)

[Sana]

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11
1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?
No I haven't read Sun Down Motel but it's on my tbr. It's my first book of this author and I've heard good things about it.

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?
I guess it makes the character more complex and interesting.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?
The whole interview was intriguing to me. And I hadn't expect Beth to invite Shea to her house with all the paranormal activity going on.

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
Revealing the ghost so early in the story took away the element of suspense for me.

[Sana]

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?.
In the beginning I thought it was telekinesis and that Beth was playing some kind of mind game with Shea.

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?
They look quite interested in each other. I hope it is. Shea needs some happiness in her life.

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?
I felt the secretary was jealous of Mrs. Greer so I wouldn't trust her.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?
Well I wouldn't want to but there is also a great deal of curiosity about the what happened.

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?
Nope.

[Sixty]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?

She probably learned there is something really off there since nothing has been changed in decades.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?

She probably couldn't have stopped it, but maybe Lily wants her to think that. It's hard to say given the information we've received so far.

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)

Babies out of wedlock back then were seen as a shameful thing, and he probably thought he was marrying a virgin (or at the very least someone who hadn't had a child previously). He probably saw her as a living reminder of his wife's "transgressions," and instead of handling it in a mature, healthy way he took it out on a child instead.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?

She probably feels she wasn't meant to exist since she had been abandoned simply for being born out of wedlock.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?

She definitely seems to be more powerful in their early lives, perhaps that changes as Beth matures.

[Sana]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?
That there was something very wrong about the house and Beth didn't grew up happy in that house.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?
I'm not sure if Lily would have listened to Beth but Beth always knew what lily was and she should have reported her to the authorities and get help for her when she first has realized about what her sister had done.
12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)
Lily's presence must have shocked Julian. The story happened in 70s when the people were more conservative. Julian felt resentful that her wife had a child out of wedlock and staying at his place.
13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?
Lily was abandoned by her parents. She feels unwanted and her life in foster home has been ugly. She can relate to the house evil vibes and it's uglyness feeling that they both are "abominations that shouldn't exist".
14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?
I think Lily always had the upper hand in their relationship. Beth learnt her cold, manipulative behavior from Lily.

[Jhmingos]

Day 1: Chapters 1-11

1. Have you read The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?
My first read from the author was The Sun Down Motel but I’ve also read The Broken Girls from her too. So I can in with a lot of expectations when I started on this book. I really enjoyed the first novel but found the second book so similar and was disappointed. I came in with this novel to be like other others. There are going to be changing POVs and time periods, some haunted paranormal climax, and the MC in the modern POV is researching the other person's life.

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?
Yeah I’ve had a couple of books that have had that too. I’m not sure why but for this novel, I think it’s to show the MC’s difficulties to get close to someone. It kind of makes sense for her character to show that she has trouble with relationships and making someone vulnerable with someone. She starts out as a loner who keeps all her friends and families at arms length.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Anyone comment really stick out to you?
I still don’t understand what made Beth agree to be interviewed by Shea. I wasn’t sold on the reason and seem like a weak plot hole.

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
I like the paranormal elements of the book and it’s kind of the author’s signature. There’s always something ghostly in her novels.

[Kerri]

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-38

15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?

I do feel somewhat bad for Lily. She was born into a terrible situation, cast off as soon as she was out of the womb. Who knows what her foster homes were like when she was a child, but it doesn't seem as if they were happy when we get to know her. Of course, that could be entirely because of Lily. I feel bad for her but it doesn't change the fact that she is manipulative, greedy, and a killer. And I don't think anything that Lily did could have been prevented by Beth.

16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?

Wells is definitely a guy that is used to getting what he wants and controlling the narrative. It was an interesting interview that made him look like a tough guy standing up to this possible serial killer. It makes me wonder if he couldn't have done more to stop Lily... but I feel like he was hesitant because what evidence was there, really?

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?

I think Lily is the favorite purely because of guilt. Mariana felt terrible about giving her up as a baby and is trying to overcompensate.

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.

I'm really hoping so. I want Michael to be exactly what we see on the surface: a nice guy trying to help Shea. This is a thriller, though, so I probably won't get what I want 😂

[Mary X]

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that? I believe in ghosts so that's likely where my mind would have gone: that it was a ghost doing those things.

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well? My past experience with this author's books makes me feel like they will end up together. It might not be a definitely confirmed HEA at the end of the book, but they'll be together.

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?I think she was likely the victim of the backwards thinking of the time of how young ladies should act and behave.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that? I think animals and many small children can see and sense things that most adults can't. Not sure if I would go back to the house. While I believe that spirits can contact living people, I'm not necessarily eager to have that experience myself. I like to live vicariously through others as far as that goes.

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share? I have a few friends who have had experiences with "the other side" and I believe them. A friend, while house hunting, once had an immediate sense of something really bad while looking at a house. She found out someone had been murdered in it. Another friend had a visitation from a good friend who had just passed.

[Mary X]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room? I think being able to see some of the house and how cold, unwelcoming the house was gave Shea in insight to the cold, mostly unloving childhood that Beth had. How having parents who merely tolerated each other after basically an arranged marriage, affected Beth. I also think that there's really more than one spirit in that house. It also holds all the anger, frustration and disappointment of the people who lived and died there.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have? It becomes pretty obvious who the serial killer was once you hear the story Marianna told the girls when they were kids. I think the only way could have stopped it as to kill Lilly when they were very young and that wouldn't have necessarily occurred to most kids/teens: "hey I should probably kill my half-sister because I think she's going to become a serial killer". There wasn't much Beth could do about what Lilly was getting up to when she was traveling under assumed names. Especially in that time period before the internet.

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.) There wasn't much given into Marianna's life at that time to speculate on who Lilly's father was beyond the likelihood that she was seduced or raped by one of the men Lilly killed. Then probably blamed for letting it happen. I think Julian resented that he wasn't told of Lilly's existence before he married Marianna but he shoudn't have taken it out on Lilly.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this? Lily was clearly never made to have felt loved or valued and so felt she was an "abomination" just like the ugly house. I also think that there were probably other dark spirits at the house that helped feed the despair and sadness of the people who lived in it.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not? I think Beth's guilt at having been raised by their birth mother in a life of privilege caused her to give Lily more power in their relationship. I also think that early in their relationship, Beth gave her more power because she thought there was a chance to have familial love from her sister that she didn't get from her parents.

[bamaace83]

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11
1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?

I read it last year for BOM and it was pretty good. I don't really have any set expectations for this book. I hope it's a fast read and doesn't become too boring.

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?

I don't read a lot of this genre. I think older investigators bring more life experience than younger ones. Also, being divorced means she has had some hardships in her life which adds another element to her detective skills.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?

I think it went like as expected. I like how she said I'll let you make your own conclusion on guilty or not.

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?

The ghosts are creepy. I think they are going to play more into the story but not sure how just yet.

[Mary X]

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-38

15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her? I do feel some sympathy for Lily. She didn't ask to be born and she was basically punished for the actions of her parents and grandparents. They could have adopted her out into a loving family but instead had her raised in the foster system. I supposed Beth could have killed her sister when they were teenagers but what teenage girl is going to have the emotional strength and wherewithal to do that? Especially someone like Beth who was desperate for a friend or someone to feel close to her whole life.


16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders? I think they didn't tell anyone because they were still trying to preserve the memory of her upper crust parents and family as beyond reproach. Saving the family name at all costs. Also with Lily disappearing for long stretches all the time, Beth probably thought the authorities wouldn't believer her anyway.

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is? I think because Marianna has a tremendous amount of guilt about what happened to Lily. She probably also would have kept Lily if she could and so Lily was the child that Marianna had been denied.

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true. I think she can.

[bamaace83]

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?.

Nope, I would've just left because that house is creepy and there's no real reason all those things were happening, especially the blood part.


6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?

I think it would be okay if they got together. I'm curious to see how their friendship progresses. I think he may be a little interested.


7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?

I think she's crazy and I'm wondering if she's really dead?

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?

If the cat is spooked, then it is time to go! I think animals totally pick up on weird things happening and that cat knows something ain't right there.


9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?

Nope, I don't think I've had any of these type experiences.

[Jenn]

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?.

I used to be part of a paranormal investigation group. While I am a definite believer in the paranormal, I always look for the natural first. I would have looked for reasons the doors opened on their own and the taps turned on. I would definitely have had the creeps. If I was alone I probably would have got the heck out but when you're with a team it's less scary.

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?

I think that since The Sundown Motel had a romantic angle that Michael and Shea will end up together. Plus it would show growth since she's afraid of men and relationships and a whole slew of other things.

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?

At this point, thinking about the decade it was my mind went to unmarried pregnancy. I don't think she is crazy. I think she had a child out of wedlock and the other child is the killer.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?

I wouldn't say it was scary. There is a little fear but also excitement on an investigation when you get an EVP on one of your recordings. So it would chill me a bit if I was home alone - but with a group I'd be ok. I do think cats and other animals can sense the supernatural. In fact when I hear a weird noise in my house I look to my pets to see if they reacted. I would go back to the house yes- because curiosity would drive me to.

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?

Yes, sure. I'll start with an early encounter. My grandpa died when I was 6 years old. When I was 14, my brothers and I were visiting family at the farm where my grandpa lived and died (hospice). We were sitting in the living room and something pretending to be my grandpa walked up the stairs. My brother and I gave immediate pursuit up the stairs. The entity went into the attic which is a place that from the time I was little to present day I have refused to go into because it has such a dark creepy vibe. I always horrible nightmares in that house sleeping in the room by the attic and the fact that this being went in there makes me know it wasn't really my grandpa. In the days after he passed away, before some of the farm hands and neighbors knew he had passed on, they talked to him in the barn or saw him walking the fields.

[Jenn]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?

I think the house confirmed for her that it was haunted. That the key players were all still there. That everything she heard and saw on her first trip was real and supernatural.


11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?

I don't know if it's because Beth could have told someone about the gardener and some of the other things Lily said or did - she got her help. Or it could be that if she gave her the things she wanted like the house and money she could have stopped Lily's actions. Part of me also wonders if she wanted Beth to kill her so that she could belong to the house. Part of me wonders if Beth actually did eventually kill her. or maybe Beth killed her mother? Why else would she cover for Lily? Beth has to have done something for there to be a reason to cover for Lily.

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)

I think Julian is all about reputation and I think part of it is the fact that Julian knows that the fact his wife had an illegitimate child could tarnish their reputation. This was the 50s and 60s and they thought a lot differently about this kind of thing back then. I also think that Julian could see some kind of darkness in Lily.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?
I think she meant that there is darkness in both her and the house. I am picking up that the house traps the ghosts of the people that died there. And since Marina still seems to be around it makes me wonder if Lily killed her too.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?
I think that Beth learned a lot from Lily in the time she spent with her. I also think Beth became hard as a coping skill. You can see in some of the interactions with Lily that Beth choose how to speak to Lily in a way that isn't going to set her off. Lily did say that she was going to make Beth like her - and alluded that she would show her how to make bullies and others afraid of her.

[Trinia]

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?
I would have seriously considered ghosts! But first I think I would have thought another person was sneaking around the house.

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?
I think they will eventually meet, it's inevitable right?!? I'm sure Michael is curious, and being newly divorced I'm sure he's a bit lonely too.

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?
My first thought was that she had a psychological illness.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?
OH Boy this put chills up my spine! And the fact that Winston reacted really woke me up. I think I would return but not alone.

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?
not really....

[Trinia]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?
She got to experience the gloom of the ugly house. I personally can't imagine a house of that description being ugly. I would love to see it!

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?
I hate to jump to conclusions. but this makes me think Lily is involved directly with the murders. And as manipulative as Lily was, I'm sure she has something juicy on Beth!

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)
I was wondering just this thing! Why on earth was Julian so bitter, he just seems like a pathetic testosterone creep!

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?
Lily obviously feels unwanted, just like the house that no one loves.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?
I think Lily is really the more powerful one because she has nothing to lose. Beth had everything and can lose it all. Lily also has/had the experience of survival from her growing up which makes her more cunning, Beth was just lonely and unhappy.

[Mia]

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11

1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?

No, I have not.

I don't really like reading crime or thrillers, so my expectations for this book was quite low. I only picked it up because of the extra points for tower teams to be honest. But then again, you never know if a book you never would have picked out yourself can surprise you. Which is kinda why i like joining these reading challenges.

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?

Soooo firstly, as a woman in her late twenties I take offence being labeled a "older woman". And secondly, it makes so much more sense for a MC to be " a bit older" in these types of books, as you usually have a bit more experience in life, and bit more emotional maturity.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?

So far it's how I expected it to go. Two broken women with major trust issues trying to scope each other out whilst fumbling to reach out to someone, just anyone that will remove the crushing weight of loneliness trauma inflicts you with.

"There was no one to look out for me, and I didn't know how to look out for myself"

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?

At this point in the story I actually feel like they detract from the over all vibe. It feels a bit unnecessary. But i'll save my judgment for later.

[Kristen]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?

It shows that Beth has left the house exactly as it was when her parents were alive. Especially, when entering her room from when she was a little girl with everything the same. I think Shea is aware there's a huge secret Beth and her family had/has.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?

I don't think Beth could have stopped it. Lily is the type of person who does what she wants when she wants.

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)

I think Julian can see right through Lily. He's not dumb and I think he knows she's a dangerous person ever as a child. I honestly don't have a clue who her father is. It's possible her mother was raped.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?

I think Lily feels like she shouldn't exist since she was born out of wedlock and given away like a piece of property.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?

Now I think Beth is more powerful because she's not afraid anymore. Also, I feel Beth learned a lot from Lily and figured out how to get under her skin.

[Mia]

DQ's Day 2

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?.

I would have tried to explain things logically as ghosts don't exist outside of your imagination.

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?

They have a flirty tone, so i'm guessing the characters are going to try to end up togheter.

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?

Well, I believe she's the lady killer. She killed her husband, and those guys. Probably because all three of them were guilty of the same crime. not sure which crime yet, but i'm guessing it's getting cozy with the secretary.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?

No, I didn't find it scary. No I don't think the supernatural exists. So no, I wouldn't have a problem going back into the house.

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?

no ;P

[[deleted user]]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29
10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?

She got a better idea about just how wrong the house is, especially because of the way the entire thing hasn't changed in decades. And of course, she's given her first glimpse of Lily.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?

It's actually a pretty obvious clue now that we have more context: "two girls, one bitter and one sweet." Two sisters, one a murderer and one not. As for whether Beth could have stopped them, I don't think that's entirely fair.

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)

I don't think we have enough information right now to know who Lily's biological father is. As for Julian, the fact that he was probably lied to probably doesn't help, or the fact that his wife seems to prefer Lily.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?

A mixture of Lily having some issues with being abandoned as well as perhaps some self awareness. There's definitely something off about Lily.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?

Considering Lily framed Beth for murder it seems she has most of the power. Especially with the way Beth is still haunted by it, both figuratively and literally.

[[deleted user]]

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-38
15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?

The serial killer with the abusive childhood is pretty common, both in fiction and in real life. I can feel some sympathy for Lily-the-abandoned-child while also not feeling much for Lily-the-serial-killer. Not sure there was really much Beth could have done, at least not at first. After her father was killed it's a little harder to deny.

16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?

I quite liked that scene. We got a lot of information, though I did think the idea that he was in love with Mariana came out of nowhere and didn't really do anything. I think Beth never told anyone about Lily because she felt both responsible for Lily and she thought it would look like she was just pointing fingers. Like "this sister no one knew existed did the murders." As for Ransom, he was probably under contract.

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?

Hard to say, it's not like Mariana had a good relationship with either of their father's. Might just be because Lily's the oldest, she has more of Mariana's colouring? And clearly abandoning Lily messed with her, so maybe it's a way to balance out her own guilt for that.

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.

I hope so! I like the relationship the two have and I want Shea to be happy!

[[deleted user]]

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)
19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?

20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)
19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?

You know, till this question I hadn't even thought about that point. But it is a valid one, the difference between Shea's strong connection with Esther even though at times they are apart physically and mentally in comparison to the totally dysfunctional and toxic one between Beth and Lilly. Insightful question.

20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?

Just Lily's way of keeping control over Beth even beyond the grave.

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?

That's entirely possible, Beth is a strange woman it seems the response to what has happened to her throughout the years.

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?

To be honest this is my least favourite of the Justine St James books I've read. Where was the twist? And all of sudden the mention of the evil sister half way through that no one not even the police can trace or have any idea of? It didn't work for me. And even Shea. There was the hint of more in her past that she wasn't revealing and that plot line just didn't eventuate. I'll be interested to see what everyone else thinks but it was an average read for me. 3 stars.

[Linda C]

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-38

15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?
If Beth is telling the truth about Lily, then I feel sympathy with the young Lily who was abandoned, had a terrible foster experience and a terrible shadow existence with her mother and step family including Beth. But how she determined to get her justice was wrong and the random killings were a roll into sociopathy. No sympathy.
However, I am not 100% sure this is all a true version. I think there are still some twists to come.


16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?
Because even more murders would have come out, her parents actions, and the fact that Ransome would be a target as well as Beth. I think Beth planned on killing Lily to end it all, but whether that went as she planned I'm unsure. And there are still the ghosts in the house.

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?
Mariana has resented having to give up her baby and idealized her, so that all got transferred to Lily when she met her. Mariana also had issues with her husband and Beth looked like her father.

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
I hope so, she is going to need her sister and Michael to bring her back to a normal life when this is all over.

[christene_littlelibrary]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?
Shea saw that the house has been the same and no one else touch things even Beth's childhood room. She also met Lily and spooky-ness of the house is just getting worst than her first visit.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?
Two girls, and one of them is the murderer. Beth suffered because she protected her half-sister (Not sure maybe more twist at the end of the story). But not sure about what Lily said that Beth could've stopped it

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)
Julian's treatment of Lily maybe because he was lied to by Mariana. He only just found out when the mother of his wife passed away. As to Lily's biological father, not sure though.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?
Honestly, I'm confused about the happenings in the house like how did Lily wrote "I was here" on the window when she was still alive at that time. But maybe Lily meant that the house was just like her full of secrets and darkness?

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?
I think that Beth really wanted to be more like Lily in terms of having power or manipulate others that she also become one and good at it. Idk based on what I understand, Lily is more powerful than Beth in terms of experience and manipulating others.

[Tammie]

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?
I would have definitely thought it was ghosts. After I settled, I would likely sift through several other options.

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?
I'm not too sure about Michael. I know Shea is attracted to him and that's why she reaches out after being challenged to do so. I couldn't really tell after this first meeting though, whether something would come of it.

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?
She seemed like a very credible source to me despite her eccentricities.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?
I would never go back to that house no matter what...but I'm a definite fraidy cat. I do think animals can hear things humans cannot...I've read about that being a fact before.

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?
My experiences have only been in dreams...nothing real beyond a haunted house experience that has me never doing such a thing again!

[Tammie]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?
It's creepy that so many things have gone untouched. I wonder if there is a reason beyond that other than Beth just not wanting to? I do think the house has some kind of tie to the sisters. Not sure what it is yet.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?
I wonder if it has something to do with how Beth allowed Lily 'to come inside'. I think Beth has somehow fueled this, perhaps unknowingly through Lily somehow.

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)
I wonder if one of the other victims was the father.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?
It's totally creepy...I am clueless on this. But somehow the two have become tied together. It likely has something to do with how she died.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?
Lily taught Beth how to 'get what she wants'. I think Lily is definitely pulling the strings or Beth would have left that house.

[Bobbi]

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)

19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?
I think as Shea learned more about Beth and Lily, she strived to fix the distance in her relationship with her own sister.


20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?
I'm sure part of it was to torment Beth, but I think more than anything, she wanted the house to stay as it was when she proclaimed it hers. It also kept Beth stuck with her.

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?
No, I don't think Beth knew. She lived with her ghost for 40 years and while she may have played mind games, she didn't kill Beth, her actual murderer.

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?
I liked it okay, but it reminded me a lot of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Older woman tells her story to a "reporter" who then writes a book about said older woman after she passes away.

[Linda C]

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)

19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?
May have been just to contrast the two different old sisters. But also, Shea's parents have moved away, so Esther was the family who was present to try to keep Shea from going down a dark tunnel.

20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?
It represented what Lily wanted when she was a lost child and having it made her feel she had gotten what she deserved.

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?
I think Beth knew Lily would fill in the blanks that Shea didn't know; that Lily would try to intimidate her and maybe try to kill her. However, I think Beth was beyond caring, she just wanted to break Lily's control of her and whatever she did to Shea might make a change.

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?
Conclusions for the good characters was satisfying, but the last 20 pages seemed anticlimactic and dragged out, just to get to the point that Beth beat the rap by dying before she was caught. It also made it seem that Lily's evil hadn't ended with Beth. So both sister's did not pay for their crimes and that there was still potential for more evil. Not a good resolution as far as I'm concerned.

[Amy the book-bat]

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-38

15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?

I feel bad that Lily had to be given up as a baby and that she had some bad experiences in Foster care. However, as she became more and more hatful and manipulative, I lost sympathy for her. As far as Beth being able to stop her, I would say no at the beginning. Her mother certainly didn't listen to her and with her enormous guilt over giving Lily up, she wasn't about to hear anything negative about her precious baby. Later on, when the Lady Killer murders happened, Beth might have been listened to and believed by some and might have been able to stop Lily then but she was so manipulated that she just didn't say anything.

16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?

I think Ransom was definitely in control and is gatekeeping the information being released. I think they were afraid to reveal Lily's existence for various reasons. Ransom was in love with Mariana and was trying to protect her memory. Beth was afraid of Lily's retaliation.

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?

Mariana is extremely guilt-ridden over giving Lily up when she was born. She will do anything for Lily because of this. Poor Beth gets left in the shadows.

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.

So far I don't see anything wrong with Michael. He is a former cop, so it makes sense that he would be protective.

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)
19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?

I guess by having both women have older sisters, the author is trying to make their lives more similar to each other. I think the relationship between Shea and her sister is healthier than that between Beth and Lily.

20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?

It was the only "home" she felt a connection with and I think that by keeping it the same, it preserved whatever happiness she had gotten from it. It also helped that it was a way to torment Beth.

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?

I think she probably had an idea that Lily would try to do something. She did encourage Shea to enter and try to talk to Lily. If something had happened then, Beth would have an iron-clad alibi.

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?

It ended pretty much as I had predicted. Nothing really new. Felt like stock thriller ending (minus an engagement between Shea and Michael.)

[Mia]

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?

That it's haunted.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?

I have no idea.

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)

Well, it brings shame to the family and the name that your wife has a kid from before. And Julian seems like he's very concerned with how others view him. The big house, the fancy cars etc.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?

I think mabye lily is the product of incest.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?

Yes I do think so. Just because you get better at mimicking your abuser, don't mean you suddenly got the power.

[Cat]

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)
19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?

I think having a functional relationship in contrast to the very unhealthy one between Beth and Lily helps with keeping the book from unrelenting gloominess.

20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?

Well, mostly to torment her sister, I reckon. And to make the point that the house is hers, as per the "agreement" the sisters made.

I still don't understand how 70s ghost could mess with 2010s tech, nor how her reach, for that one special moment, got to Shea's apartment, when otherwise it was constrained to the house (and Beth, maybe)

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?

I don't think Beth was thinking! That bit was particularly creepily effective.

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?

I liked the ending. I'm sad that Detective Black kinda vanished, but happy that Michael wasn't a toxic character :)

[Cat]

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[Audrey Jane]

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[Vaidehi]

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11

1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?

I haven't read the other book. I haven't read the author before as well. So I started the book with a blank mind. But it has a great start and I am holding my breath more times than I want to!

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?

Is that so? I don't read this genre (too scared to do!) so I am not aware of it. But it's a good observation. For this book, I am thinking that there might be some thoughts behind it. Beth is in her sixties but when the murders happened, she was in her twenties. Shea is also in her twenties when she is starting to meet Beth and listen to her story. May be the characters will find it easy to understand each other! I am also thinking, was Beth's mother of the same age when she died or did something? I am speculating now.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?

Yeah totally... It had the vibe that I wished for. And Beth was everything that I like - calm, observant, truthful, even courageous at times, but above all, she is not desperate to prove her point. She is patient to let Shea see herself. Beth was portrayed to have attitude of "a girl minding her own business" and while Shea was interviewing her, she also felt it. She said, "“If anything, she looked thoughtful, with no emotion at all. In that moment, she had the face of a woman who just minded her own business, and I had the crazy thought that sometimes it was a relief to be friends with someone who didn’t have any emotions.”
I like the consistency of the character by the author.

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?

For me, it was kind of unexpected. I mean she just entered the house, could have avoided this visit and let Shea have confused opinion or show the presence in a less subtle way! That was way too movie-type.

[Ushashi]

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-38

15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?
Knowing what Lily did later and how remorseless she was, I don't feel any sympathy for her. I am not sure if Beth could have stopped her, but she certainly could have tried. So her feeling of guilt is justified.


16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?
It was an interesting chapter with a lot of information. I think they were both scared of Lily and had no idea where to find her, so they avoided telling the police.

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?
It was actually annoying to see the extent of Marianne's favoritism. But I think it is because she missed Lily for such a long period of her life and also felt guilty for her life in the foster system.

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
Since I've finished reading, it was good to see my apprehensions of Michael not come true.

[Kerri]

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)

19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?

I think it was so Shea could empathize with both Beth and Lily. She has an older sister who is, admittedly, way less awful than Lily, but she knows what that connection is like. I also think it's used as a juxtaposition to the relationship between Beth and Lily.

20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?

Because it's her house and she refuses to let anyone change it unless it's her. I also think she did it to torment Beth because that's just the kind of person she was. Can't imagine her ghost would be any different.

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?

Oh I'm sure she suspected that was a possibility. Lily murdered two random men just because Beth told her 'no'. I think Beth knew she wouldn't hesitate to hurt Shea since she's been poking around.

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?

I had pretty much figured out most of the twists halfway through the book. The ending was... okay? Even though everything turned out how I thought it would, I still didn't feel satisfied. The ending just kind of fell flat for me. I was happy that Michael turned out to be a good guy, though! Shea deserved some happiness.

[Jhmingos]

Day 4: Chapters 30-38

15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?
I do feel sorry for her but she’s still obviously a bad person. I think Beth was too young and naive to have stopped her. Lily seem like a predator who might have manipulated Beth and her mother even at a young age.

16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?
The interview gave a lot of insight and information, especially information from someone who was on the outside. More objective and less emotionally attached. I think Beth still feels this guilt for how Lily was and a sisterly love for her too. It would also drag her family’s personal secrets to the public and I think she wanted to protect their reputation. For Ransom, it was probably more like attorney-client privilege.

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?
Again, I think it’s from feelings for guilt and shame of having to give up Lily and her suffering in the foster care system. I’m not sure it’s feelings of the typical love you have for a family.

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
I think Michael’s character is like the one from the Sun Down Motel. Just a romantic interest who’s supportive and kind as the MC goes deeper in the investigation.

[Andrea]

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)

19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?
I hadn't thought about it, but I think it is a good point. I believe the author wanted to draw a parallel between both sisters and managed to show what a healthy and unhealthy relationship are like and how they can affect people.

20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?
I guess she tought the house was hers so only she could change it. And she didn't want to let Beth forget, so she kept everything as it was, and kept showing her the ashtray to remind her of what she had done.

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?
I think she suspected that might happen.

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?
The ending was ok, I liked that Shea managed to become a writer. Beth's ending was ok, she managed to skip being convicted for murder and got the chance to clear her name on the deaths of the men Lily killed.

[Taylor]

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-38

15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?

I do feel sympathy for Lilly, because I understand that is terribly hard to be a neglected and/or abused child. Unfortunately, she didn't have anyone truly looking out for her best interest, so even once she started showing signs of mental illness, no one did anything to help her. I don't think that Beth is responsible for anything that Lily did, but I do think she could have pushed the issue harder with her parents and expressed her concerns. But she was also a neglected/abused child, so I think it was hard for her to speak up and possibly cause conflict.

16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?

Well, it seems like Beth didn't tell anyone about Lily because she thought that Lily would get away with it and become even more dangerous. With Wells, it seems like he may have not said anything because he didn't want to hurt Mariana's reputation. However, I think both of these reasons are pretty weak excuses, and at least one of them should have spoken up.

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?

We don't know anything about Lily's father at this point, but maybe Mariana actually loved him, whereas she was sort of forced into a marriage with Julian, and she may have seen Beth as more of a marital duty than an act of love. It also could just be guilt that Lily wasn't able to live a rich lifestyle.

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.

I think that Shea can trust Michael. I have hopes that everyone will end up with a relatively happy ending, so I'm hoping that she has found the person who can help her heal.

[Taylor]

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)

19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?

I don't know if it was a purposeful connection, but I think you can kind of see the comparison of the different things that can happen after trauma. If you compare Shea to either Beth or Lily, who all had traumatic experiences, you can see that Shea may have fared better partly because of her relationship with Esther, because Esther truly cared for her.

20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?

I love this question, because I honestly hadn't thought much about this as I was reading. While I do think the majority of it has to do with tormenting Beth, I also think that Lily just didn't want to be forgotten, so she kept the house the way it was when she was having the most impact on the world.

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?

I think she thought it was a possibility, but I think she was willing to risk Shea's life for the possibility that Lily wouldn't kill her and someone finally understanding the full story.

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?

I liked the ending for the most part. I was happy to see Shea healing, but I wish that Beth had had the opportunity to also heal. And I wish that there would have been a better conclusion for the relationship between Beth and Joshua. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. It was better than I had expected.

[Louise]

DQ Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?.

I would initially try and find a logical explanation but would probably realize ghosts were involved

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?
I do think they will end up together. They seem to have a lot in common and already have a relationship of sorts

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?
My first thought about this was that she was sent away to a sanatorium because she was pregnant.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?
Animals do have a sense of the supernatural they can pick up signals that we overlook. I would go back, as I don’t get spooked easily, and I firmly believe that there is more to fear from the living than the dead.

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?
I have had my fair share of ghostly experiences they have never scared me. My late partner had a ghostly experience while working away, although it wasn’t until he was back home that he realised. He was working in this old stone cottage of a family friend, redecorating it so that the family could sell it. The cottage belonged to the grandparents and the grandmother had been put in a care home. As the cottage was in the middle of nowhere he was given permission to stay in the cottage. We would talk daily and he would relate incidents of seeing an old man walking past the window to the front of the cottage and when he’d go and check there would be no-one there; taps being turned on despite knowing he’d turned them off; walking up the stairs to an icy chill that the heaters couldn’t get rid of; waking up to turn lights on and nothing happening; going to use the bathroom in the night and it being pitch black with not even ambient light filtering through. The worst experience he had while he was there over 5 days was whilst he was decorating the staircase he would feel someone tug at his t-shirt while he was working. It wasn’t until he was home he realised that this was likely the grandfather (who had passed away in the cottage) trying to discourage him from changing the home that he and his wife had lived in all their married life.

[Ashlee]

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11

1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?

Yes, I did read The Sun Down Motel, and I really enjoyed it. I guess I do have high expectations for this book. As The Book of Cold Cases began, I felt that it didn't bring enough excitement, but now that I have reached the end of this first part, I am intrigued.

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?

I think I find this question hard to answer because I don't have thoughts about it one way or the other (young or old). Unfortunately, divorce comes at all ages. I think this is just showing an eclectic job at a young age.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?

Nothing really stuck out to me. I certainly didn't imagine that the "ghost" would show itself so quickly. I kind of feel like Beth was setting Shae up for this "visit" by asking Shae to refill her drink.

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?

I think the occurrences definitely add to the story. A plot line that I originally felt was moving too slowly became a bit more exciting.

[Alisha]

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-38

15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?

I do feel for Lily. She was born into a situation that wasn't her fault in any way and everyone around her is abusive towards her (except maybe Beth). I don't understand any of Beth's motives at all. Why didn't she try to stop Lily ever? Why didn't she let everyone know she was the killer? It makes no sense to me at this point in the story and maybe it'll all come together in the end.

16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?

See above.

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?

Is Lily clearly the favorite? I didn't get that impression at all. I think Beth's mom really does feel guilty about Lily and wants to make Lily feel welcome.

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.

I don't know. It does feel like he should have some kind of angle to help Shea here. But I don't know what it would be. I hope he turns out to just be a good guy.

[christene_littlelibrary]

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-38

15. In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?


16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.

[Truitt_T]

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11

1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?

I have not read The Sun Down Motel or any other books by this author. It seems she’s pretty popular, so I’m optimistic.

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?

Perhaps because when you’re over 25, it’s no longer all that interesting to read about 18 year olds, lol? I would think writing about women who are a little older would simply be more fun - they’d have a wider range of experiences to call on and there’s just more to work with. ANd I can’t help but think that at least some of it isi reader demand.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?

I loved Beth’s comments about how any woman in the 1970s with tits and ass was a piece of meat - not a direct quote, but close. Of course, Beth’s comments about how she was sexualized by the police and the media are going to draw sympathy from a contemporary reader - is that the idea? Confuse us about Beth? How sympathetic are we supposed to find her?

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?

I was pretty happy with the story as a crime/mystery/thriller, without the paranormal. I’m not a big fan of horror, so I’m a little worried about the creep factor with the ghosts. We’ll see how it goes.

[Ashley]

Finally got the book from the library!

DQs: Chapters 1-11

1. Have you read The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?

I have not read any other books by this author, but I'm excited to get into this one!

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?

I have not really experienced this, because this is not my usual genre. I think authors might make this choice for many reasons:
> It allows for more freedom of movement with the MC, travel, etc without the baggage.
> There is a certain amount of “trauma” involved in a divorce, so it makes the MC more likely to take risks, like chasing down a killer!
> More LIFE EXPERIENCE!

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?

I’m not sure I had any expectations for the interview, but I assumed that she would be as closed as she was. I do think that she wants someone to believe her, though I’m only guessing at what needs to be believed at this point.

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?

It definitely presents a potential plot twist, maybe paranormal, or maybe just psychological, in nature. Both would add good depth to the story.

[Ashlee]

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?.

Ghosts. I'm not explaining anything. Just get me out of there.

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?

I curious about who Michael is going to turn out to be. I'm not sure that he is who he says he is.

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?

I think something is going to come out about Mariana. I don't think she was crazy. There is talk of her being part of an "arranged" marriage. I also think that the secretary had feels for Mr. Greer, so I'm not sure her opinions mean much when it comes to Mariana.


8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?

I do think that animals (and children) can feel or see the supernatural. I would absolutely not return to the house.

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?

The previous owner of my cousin's home died in the house. When her daughter was a toddler, she would speak of "the man who came to her bedroom to talk with her." As a child, she was able to describe exactly the way this man looked in life. Also, she experienced the same episodes of throwing things out in the trash, only for them to again appear in her home.

[Ashley]

DQs: Chapters 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?

Considering the amount of paranormal books I read, I’d like to think that I would immediately believe something supernatural was afoot, but in real life, I am a staunch non-believer in anything supernatural, so I probably would have been more inclined to think it a set up!

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?

My secret with is that they end up together. It sounds like a good match! I think it’s a no-brainer that Michael is also interested (at least I hope so!).

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?

My initial thought was that the father was having an affair with the secretary and she is looking for someone to villainize for his death that is more reachable and relevant to her, instead of just blaming the person who committed the crime.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?

I did get a bit of a chill when this happened and the fact that Winston was spooked lends credibility to the ghosty nature of Beth’s home. Personally, I’d probably keep going into the house, because I learn nothing from scary movies and I would want to “solve” this issue

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?

I have NONE! As I stated above, I tend to be a non-believer in “ghostly” experiences and therefore usually right things off quickly!

[Ashley]

DQs: Chapters 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?

I don’t know that Shea learned anything from the house itself, more the state of the house as it’s been left by Beth, which I think helps her begin to understand Beth more.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section, we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?

This is really a mystery to me at this point. It seems to me that there is some kind of psychological issue going on with Lily, and that her gaslighting of Beth is part of that??

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)

Perhaps her father is/was a friend of Julian, or someone he knows, and that causes some unresolved animosity? Maybe it’s just a generational thing, ie “bastard children” are never wanted…

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?

I think this has a lot to do with how Lily was made to feel that she should not have been born or that she wasn’t wanted, because she was born outside of marriage, etc.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?

I think Lily is psychologically impared in some way, and that’s why she holds the power in that relationship. People like that are good at manipulating others. Perhaps Beth learns this behavior from Lily.

[Ashley]

Posts for Participation Verification:

Chapters 1-11: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Chapters 12-19: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Chapters 20-29: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...