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The Book of Cold Cases
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The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James - June 2022 Adult or Non-Fiction BOM (starts 2 June 2022)
DQs Day 2: Chap 12-195. 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?.
Telekinesis is not what I would have jumped to, but I would probably try to go with something logical first.
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 feel like there's interest building between them definitely. Both have been damaged in the past, but this relationship over the phone has definitely intrigued them both I think.
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 there's more going on there. Not sure yet what, but I doubt it was that simple.
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 definitely think cats would be the type to notice more than a human so I'm sure Winston would be more sensitive. It was definitely an eerie scene and I would think everything that has been happening would make Shea hesitant to go back. Her curiosity though I think is stronger.
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?
We had a bunch of fantastic ghost stories on my campus. I used to love telling them all.
DQs Day 3: Chap 20-2910. 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?
The house shows how trapped everything is in that single moment in time. It won't let Beth move on. It is really Lily's house. Lily even says how she identifies with the house. "It's an abomination that shouldn't exist," Lily said, "and it knows it. That's why I like it. It's exactly like me." If we're living in a world where ghosts are absolutely real than a house can have a soul and the two can be working together to trap Beth inside, the sweet when Lily was all bitter, bitter and jealous.
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 doubt Beth could have really stopped anything. I think Lily likes to manipulate Beth and torment her. Making her think she could have prevented anything would fit with her sociopathic nature.
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'm sure he hates her just for her existence. She is proof of his wife's indiscretions. And sure it was before he married her, but in some ways that has to feel like he married her under false pretenses, especially for the time. A child out of wedlock just wasn't done. And now she's forcing him to have that child in his house. None of which was Lily's fault, but he has no reason to want the child around. Doesn't make him a good person, but I feel like it's believable that he doesn't want to raise another man's child. As to who the father is...that I have no idea.
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 sees herself as an unwanted monstrosity just like the house. It's been twisted out of the shape it was meant to be in. In Lily's mind she should have grown up just like Beth, taken care of in those rich surroundings. Instead she's been in foster care and who knows how much that has twisted her. I'm sure it can't have been easy. The book has made a point of how much Beth's father twisted the house's layout to suit his own tastes and how much it never seemed to fit. I think Lily identifies with the house more than she does anything else.
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 has probably learned some of her manipulative behaviors from watching Lily. They work on everyone else, but her sister. I definitely see Lily as the alpha in that relationship. She's stronger than her sister. But that doesn't mean that Beth isn't then "stronger" than everyone else.
DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-3815. 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 don't feel any real sympathy for Lily. Sure she had things rough, and usually that would garner her sympathy from me, but she's clearly a psychopath which kills any sympathy I would have had for her. As for Beth being able to stop her, nope. Sure maybe she could have turned her in, but that's assuming that someone would actually believe her and that they could find proof. Lily was very good at manipulation, she could talk her away around most things.
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?
Ransom's always had a soft spot for Beth as the daughter of the woman he loved. And I think they didn't say anything afterwards because I think the minute Beth gets out of jail she's going to make sure Lily can't hurt anyone else. I pretty sure the don't say anything because they know the problem has been solved and Beth made sure Lily was dead.
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?
Beth's mother's guilt. She feels guilty for not fighting to keep her daughter and letting her family make all the moves when she was pregnant.
18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
I think so. I think he truly does care and that he really does understand her.
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?
That didn't occur to me at all; I don't know if there was a connection/meaning for both of them to have sisters. I think it was good for Shea to have a sister to make her relatable and not as closed off. She needed someone in her corner for the reader.
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?
Definitely control. And I wonder if it's because she was mad that she couldn't have the house when she was alive so she wanted to make Beth suffer and be forever stuck with the house. Kind of like in Matilda when the student was made to eat all of the chocolate cake he stole.
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 knew, but I think she also knew she wouldn't be able to stop Shea. It was something Shea needed to do to see it through.
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 was a little disappointed with the ending. Shea's confrontation with Lily's ghost seemed rushed. It ended how I thought it would, but I thought it could have maybe been developed more. I definitely like Sun-Down Motel better. This was probably a 3.5 stars rounded up to a 4 for me.
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?
Maybe just to illustrate how those relationships can differ and what a healthy sisterly relationship can look like. I'm not sure how purposeful it was, but I doubt it was coincidence either.
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 her house. She was stuck in that moment and it was a great way to torture her sister about how everything came about.
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'm sure the thought crossed her mind. But she seemed to think Shea had the strength to get through anything.
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 enjoyed the ending. I felt like it tied things up pretty well and still hinted that the sisters still hadn't moved on and were maybe still trapped together in the afterlife too.
DQs Day 1: Chap 1-111. 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 Sun Down Motel but I have read other books by this author that I really enjoyed. Her books are kind of creepy,which is out of my comfort zone, so I expect this one to be the same.
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 haven't noticed this, but I haven't read a lot in this genre. In the cozy mysteries I have read, the MCs tend to be single women of all ages. What I have noticed lately, across all genres, the MC is dealing with/has dealt with the death of one or both parents. It's hard to say why author's make the choice--own experiences, drawing in a particular audience, wanting to create an emotionally unstable MC who is unreliable--the reasoning in unlimited.
The choice for this book may be to increase the suspense--is it real or is it imagined? Emotionally unstable character who has a vast array of life experiences that include the death of parents,divorce, drinking, wealth can make for an interesting plot line.
3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?
After Beth stated that she hadn't done any interviews over the years, I kind of expected her to back out and play a "cat and mouse game" with Shea. I'm curious to "why" Beth agreed to meeting with Shea. I also wasn't expecting Beth to ask Shea as many questions,or more, than Shea was asking her.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
From the previous books I read by this author, the addition of ghosts seems to be her style and she does a good job of weaving the supernatural into the story. It's setting the scene and preparing the reader for what's to come : ) Although I don't like horror/super scary stories, for some reasons I tend to be drawn to ghost stories. So I'm liking the ghostly additions. It's just enough creepiness without scaring me into nightmares LOL
DQ Day 25. 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 freaked out and ran. I don't try to try and rationalize crazy.
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?
Yes. They are each other's security blankets. I can see them becoming more then friends.
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 already read past but looking at the time (50's) and her age it made me suspicious that it was something other then mental health.
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?
Cats are smarter then we are when it comes to that stuff. Winston would have never walked into that house in the first place.
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 spent enough around campfires as a kid telling ghost stories. Now I steer clear.
Day 310. 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?
The house is it's own character and talks to the other characters. Shea learned that the house is cold and creepy. And that nothing has changed. And that there wasn't a lot of warmth.
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?
At this point I think Lily is just a jealous sociopath. And she's using the note to place blame.
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 haven't even thought about Lily's father yet. I think Julian thinks he's been tricked. And that he also sees through Lily and her manipulations already.
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?
Maybe Lily is the product of incest or rape and knows it. Or she's been bounced around so much and feels like an ugly duckling.
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?
At the time of their childhood Lily was because she was more worldly. As they got older and Beth paid the price for the murders I think she developed more manipulative skills.
DQs Day 3: Chapters 20-2910. 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?
Not everything is immediately visible or is what it seems at first glance. I think that Beth knows that people won’t believe her if she tries to tell them about her house. She invites Shea in to experience it all for herself. There seems to be an entity inhabiting the house and it’s not at all benign.
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 really have no idea what to think at this point! While Lily was experiencing the seamier side of life, Beth was more sheltered. All she knew was what she saw from her parents’ and Lily’s behaviors. Nothing good or ‘normal’ at all.
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 really know how any adult could be so horrible to a young child. Whatever happened was not Lily’s fault! Im guessing that he felt tricked into marrying Mariana & that he had received ‘damaged goods.’ I am hoping that it doesn’t turn out to be something heinous like incest or rape.
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?
That’s exactly why I’m afraid there’s something awful to be revealed. I don’t care for that abomination remark. A young girl doesn’t just come up with a word like that all by herself. She had to have heard it somewhere…
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 learned her manipulative behaviors directly from Lily. Beth seems to naturally choose the path of least resistance. Otherwise she would have taken off years ago. There’s some reason holding her back. I haven’t a clue as to what that is yet!
DQs Day 1: Chap 1-111. 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 prior book. I thought the book would be about a woman wrongfully accused. Did not expect the ghost stuff. But love that.
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 because people who have been through some stuff makes them grow up sooner and takes the rose colored glasses off of life. Yes I grew up quickly being the child of divorced parents, having a sister who is autistic and then having my own divorce with an autistic son.
3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you? None of the comments stuck out but really didn't expect the ghost stuff to start so quickly and violently.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)? They definitely add to the story giving it another whole dimension. Who is haunting the house and why.
DQs Day 2: Chap 12-195. 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 believed it was ghosts immediately. The mind tries to think logically as that is what we are used to. The paranormal is so unexplained.
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 knew Shea would wind up keeping Winston. She needs someone there to keep her company. I think Michael is definitely interested in Shea just by always being there to answer questions for her. He is intrigued by her. I think they will end up together by the end of the book. He will probably try to save her from some predicament.
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 first it was assumed she went to some sort of asylum that she might have had a nervous breakdown. I think perhaps it is something else but possibly pregnant because that's what they did back then.
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? Yes it was creepy as hell. I am glad I was reading it during the day. I believe most animals have more perception to the paranormal than us. I would go back to the house but I would somehow want to protect my self with some prayers or holy water before going.
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? Definitely. I lived with my husband in a mother-daughter type of house with my parents downstairs. My mom got very ill with lung cancer. I was upstairs and the lamps I had in my bed room were touch on and off and from my grandmother. They started going off and on constantly. So I knew my grandmother was trying to get my attention. (it had happened before but not this urgently) I went downstairs to check on my mom. (my husband told me that as soon as I went downstairs the lights stopped). My mom could not breathe and was gasping for breath. She passed out, so I called the paramedics and started doing CPR until they got there. They told me I probably saved her from brain damage because I got there so quickly. I have more stories but I'll save them for later.
DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-3815. 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 a little sympathy for Lily because she could not help she was born and so carelessly sent away from her mother. Living in foster homes can really bring out the worst in some people because lots of times they are abused and wounded psychically. I don't really think 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? I think Ransom is the father of Lily. He feels guilty as well and that he had a part in this.
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? Probably because she is the daughter of someone she really loves not had to marry like Beth's father.
18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true. I hope she can. I feel like he will be her savior in this story.
DQs Day 11. 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 any other titles by this author. I don't really have any expectations about this book. This first section has hooked me and I am anxious to get back to 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 have noticed a few books lately that have middle age and older women as MCs. I think there is a market for it. Divorce is another change in life. Changes are scary and can set up a good background for a potentially scary book. So far, I am curious about why Shea got married at all. She has so many trust issues, I am interested to know more about how that relationship formed.
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 found the interview reasonable. I did not have any thing that stuck out to me. Just a get to know each other filled with half-truths and deflections.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
It's an interesting technique. Old, unsolved cases certainly haunt people and places. This physical manifestation makes a shared experience, even if Shea and Beth aren't talking about it, yet.
DQs Day 2: Chap 12-195. 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 most certainly would have tried to explain things in a rational way. I am not sure I would have jumped to telekinesis, but tricksters exist. Ropes, old houses, weird foundation settling. Whatever it takes to make sense.
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 don't know if they will end up together. But I do think Shea wants to trust him. I don't know Michael's character enough to understand his motivations, but I do think Shea is ready for a friend who "gets her".
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?
In the 1950s, a woman being sent away could have any number of meanings. It certainly didn't take much to get yourself committed in the day. I would not hazard a guess on what happened with Mariana based on my current evidence.
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 love how animals have extrasensory perception. Cats (and to some extent dogs and other animals) know when a storm is coming and earthquakes are imminent. Some animals are aware of illness and death before it occurs. And I guess they know about dead people coming across in recordings. I am not sure I would return to the mansion after this event. But, Shea may be a lot more curious and determined than I am.
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 nieces and I talk a lot about our resident ghost. She lived in the apartment with my husband and I and apparently moved with us to the new house several years ago. She has not been as brazen as she once was, but my nieces' favorite story about our ghost is about an electric hand mixer. We were baking and had unplugged the hand mixer. While we were scooping cookies onto the baking sheet, the mixer turned itself on and threw batter around in the kitchen. I assume it was actually a short somewhere in the mixer, but the girls and I giggled that the ghost was upset we weren't sharing our cookies with her fast enough.
She mostly gets blamed for odd lights being left on, missing items, and strange sounds or smells around the house.
DQs Day 2: Chap 12-195. 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 probably would try and be logical about it too.
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?
At the end of chapter 19 she calls him to meed so I think it is going to happen very soon. I hope it works out well for them, but I don't know if it will.
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 probably wasn't crazy. Given the time period that she would have been "sent away" it was probably for something dumb. My theory though is that it was a pregnancy but as she was unmarried at the time, it would have been shameful for both the pregnancy to be known and for her to keep the baby.
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'm sure if I heard it myself, I probably would find it scary. If supernatural beings exist then I definitively feel like a lot of animals are more in tune with it than we are.
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?
Personally I have not, other than my own mind playing tricks on me, but I know several people who claim to experienced something.
DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30 - 34In 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 have sympathy for any abandoned and/or abused child. But Lily is a sociopath, obviously. I really don’t think Beth could have done a damn thing to stop 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?
I think Ransom is quite protective of Beth, perhaps because of Mariana. He’s the only fatherly figure in her life, really. If they were to tell the police about Lily, both their lives would be forfeit.
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 Mariana felt a great deal of guilt for giving Lily up for adoption and for what subsequently became of her. It was very unfortunate that Mariana should have made that comment about loving Lily in Beth’s hearing. Their whole family dynamic is totally messed up!
18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
Michael seems to be a good guy. I dearly hope he is what he seems to be.
DQs Day 3: Chap 20-2910. 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 seemed to see what a lonely childhood Beth had that made her so hard and cold.
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 is beginning to hint that Lily was the murderer and I guess could have happened differently that would have stopped the murders.
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.)
He hates her because she is a child his wife had out of wedlock. Maybe he didn't know about it until not long before Lily showed up which could add to his resentment.
I'm not sure Lily's father is going to be important to the story so I'm not sure it will even be mentioned. Maybe just played off as some "young love" sort of thing.
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'm not really sure. I can understand why Beth hates the house, but I'm not sure why it would be an abomination.
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?
It seems like Beth has spent so long being in the shadows and just keeping to herself that she doesn't express herself much. So in that regard Lily is definitely more outgoing and seems more controlling.
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, but I am used to authors writing different genres, or even changing their writing styles between books (and improving) so I am expecting a good mystery time :)
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?
No earthly idea. Maybe she thinks women dwell over old things that feel lack closure? Feels sexist to write, but it wouldn't be the first time.
3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?
At that time, the book felt quite generic to me, same old same old. The interview is just starting though, and it takes a while for people to get each other's rhythms and get comfortable in each other's presence (especially with Beth's reputation) so I am hopeful.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
I strongly detest supernatural elements in my mystery books. If you aren't good enough to create suspense and tension without throwing in even the suspicion/implication of ghostly presence, then maybe do more research before you write a thriller/mystery book?
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?There are no ghosts, so I probably opened things myself and forgot, or some other of the 10k possible normal explanations before we dwell in the supernatural.
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 would say, as far as professionalism goes, Michael ending up a love interest is such a no-go. Way to shoot your career in the leg. Maybe they could meet, but I would be peeved if they made a move on one another.
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 mean, in the 50s, they regularly electrocuted people in mental institutions, so Beth's mom being sent to one isn't out of the question. Less paperwork, less security, grease an employee a bit and everything is possible. Though I suspect she was sent to a "camp for proper girls" or something, because Beth's mom was pregnant out of wedlock.
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 see at different spectrums, and get spooked by a speck of dust. I paid it no mind and would absolutely go back to the house. I would bring a business proposal to give tours to spook out tourists though :P
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.
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?Kids are not, and never should be responsible for the behavior of their siblings. Not to mention, Lily is good. It would take meticulous planning to reveal her actions in any meaningful way.
This is parental abuse consequences, plain and simple. I feel sympathy for Lily the same way I feel sympathy for the bear that kills the human that goes too close to her baby cubs. When you suffer so much neglect and abuse, you become a wounded animal with the same instincts.
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?
Perhaps fear, perhaps guilt, perhaps "let sleeping dogs lie" as in, Ransom knows Beth isn't guilty so let's not stir the pot.
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 are dealing with an unreliable narrator at this point. Maybe Lily was not the favorite, but was favored the same way you would placate a bully so they don't take your lunch. Maybe Mariana is overcompensating for not being there as her mother, especially with what we suspect Julian is doing to Lily.
18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
When something seems too good to be true, it probably is. He is hiding details of his family's involvement with the case, and is being overall too accessible. I call BS.
DQs Day 3: Chap 20-2910. 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 Shea learned that Beth's childhood was lonely. I am not sure about the comment about the house needing to fill in some information, but I am thinking it was Beth's way of inviting Shea to snoop.
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, exactly. I think there is more to come about their early adulthood years.
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 do not have a thought about who Lily's father is. I don't believe I have had an opportunity to meet many suspects for that particular role.
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 is a common feeling among foster children. Many do not feel loved or useful or wanted and go on to feel like an abomination. I prefer to think this is not as common as it is in literature, but so many stories about this upbringing follow this thread.
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 was powerful. Beth gave her that power. But Beth also learned from Lily, allowing her to become more powerful on her own.
DQs Day 1: Chap 1-111. 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 anything by Simone St. James before. I expect this to be a fun twisty thriller. That's pretty much all I want out of a thriller.
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 experienced this in other thrillers of late. I think it lends a sense of believability to make the MC a bit older. I think Shea's specific circumstances lend an interesting twist to her circumstances and makes her somewhat sympathetic instead of just odd for her love of true crime.
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 found the quick flow of the questions and answers different that expected, and it feels a bit like Beth is interview Shea as much as Shea is interviewing Beth. Though Beth's reiteration that women were nothing more than tits and ass in the 70's was interesting. Like she was trying to create a sort of mask of what the time was like.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
I was surprised since the chapter from Beth's perspective kind of made it seem like it was all in Beth's head. But I really enjoyed the whole scene and I'm looking forward to reading more of such experiences.
DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-3815. 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?
Yes, I do have sympathy for Lily. She is in a bad situation. That does not mean she should start killing people, but what a terrible environment to be raised in. I do not believe Beth could have stopped her. I believe Mariana could have intervened earlier to ease the harsh feelings. I believe Julian could have chosen a different response and maybe had an impact as well. But sometimes people are born to be serial killers (I guess?).
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 liked how much Ransom knew. He is a family lawyer who has been associated with Beth's family for many years and he knew all of their secrets. I thought it was interesting that he still wanted to tell his story in his own time. The documents he turned over were good, too. Is Lily dead? Did Ransom and Beth already know this? It would make telling the police moot and potentially dangerous for them.
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?
When I read this section, I thought Mariana was most likely in love with Lily's father in a way she never was with Julian. First love, young love and all that is pretty deep.
18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
I hope so, I like Michael.
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 giving both women older sisters, the author draws our attention to the parallels between them. They both feel like prisoners in their own lives. They struggle with relationships. They live mostly in isolation. And both crave anonymity. Showing these similarities makes the divergence more clear.
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 think Lily kept the house the way she knew it. She claimed the house was her own and in a way I think she was also chained to the house. Changing it would not be advantageous to 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?
I don't think Beth knew ahead of time that Lily would try to kill Shea. Beth has shielded others from the wrath of Lily when she believed their lives were in danger. I think Lily had a story to tell and Beth couldn't interfere.
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 did like the ending. It was very satisfying. I did not find any revelations surprising, but neatly tied up.
Team HelenDQs 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 read The Sun Down Motel and given that we have another book by the same author where I suspect the home plays a critical role definitely has gotten me excited. My issue with the former book was how the last third felt a bit rushed - so I hope this time around there is a more uniform narrative progression. But the dual narrative, the past-present jumps are all commonly used tropes - it works most times, hopefully this is one of those.
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?
Great observation! And it is very true. Especially this female-female dual narrative is a very popular stylistic choice. I see two reasons for that, one the middle-aged divorced woman, thanks for her experiences and outlooks, can provide a very interesting perspective. It is not as rosy as a teenager nor is it bleak and morose as someone who has given up hope on life - there is the baggage of history and the anticipation of a future. All that somehow keeps the character's perspectives balanced. The second reason I see is primarily the target audience to which thrillers/mysteries like these are promoted to, which is majoritively middle aged women. So, them seeing someone like them at the helm, can be a reason for great sales.
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 see Shea getting smitten by the whole idea already, and that is going to land her into a pickle. Beth has been exactly as I expected her to be - cool and calculated, It makes for an interesting second fiddle to Shea's excitement.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
They definitely intrigue me, if anything. The minor reference to Beth sensing her mother's ghost the night before was interesting - but this is where the fun will begin for Shea, as she gets sucked into this vortex of the Greer family.
DQs Day 1: Chap 1-111. 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 Sundown Motel. I don’t have any specific expectations for this book except that several friends have recommended 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 think a string female character with baggage is compelling for women who enjoy crime. And this type of plot line generally involves a level of obsession that can damage relationships. The MC doesn’t seem like an average 20 something so far. Or maybe I’m just getting old.
3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?
Beth was much more direct than I was expecting. It’s as if she’s long past caring about how people view her and is sharing her blunt truth. No one comment stood out as much as her tone.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
I’d say it’s more a source of intrigue than a distraction at this point. I’m not sure what to make of it, as I wasn’t expecting a ghost story in and amongst the crime story. I want to see how it weaves into the story.
DQs Day 2: Chap 12-195. 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 do believe in the paranormal, but always assume there is a boring and logical explanation for things. So, I would have agreed with the PI that there was a logical explanation to consider first. I’d only think it’s paranormal when all other options are exhausted.
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?
Of course the romantic in me wants to see them together. He seems to be the person she’s most honest with and always takes her calls. And how haven’t they seen each other yet if he’s the trusted PI????
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 doubt she was crazy, perhaps independent and head strong… but not sure what the motive was yet.
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?
Cats are smart… so it’s not scary to me. I think animals pick up on things, including when their human is surprised or scared. I’d go back… I’d want more evidence.
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 scary, no. But I’m certain I saw a recently deceased college in our shop about a week after they passed.
DQs Day 5 Chapters 39-489. 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 do. I think it’s so you could compare the normal relationship Shea has with Esther to the manipulative, twisted relationship between Beth & 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?
I think that spirits are stuck where they were when they died. They don’t do well with change. The author mentioned several times that Beth tried to throw things away, break things and even run away — but things just moved right back to the way they were. I think Beth just gave up. Much easier to just stay sedated.
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 hoped that Lily would just reveal the truth. She kept saying that Lily liked Shea. She needed Shea to be alive in order to leak the truth.
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 thought the ending was a little abrupt, but all in all I liked it. I thought Beth should have hung on a little bit longer to develop that bizarre relationship. I did appreciate her paying for all Shea’s medical bills and orchestrating her rise to fame. I’m glad she & Michael are together. I would love to hear more about the two of them!
DQs Day 3: Chap 20-2910. 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 she learned the house is creepy (which Shea already knew). Shea was also able to learn that it was more of a museum than a home and that while comfortable… Beth’s room seemed really impersonal even though it was a shrine. I think Shea learned more in the Study.
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, but that Lily is very manipulative. Beth seems too timid to stand up to Lily (or anyone else) and she has been conditioned to try keeping the peace in a dysfunctional family.
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… I don’t think Julian is the father. I think he either didn’t know about Lily before they got married or if they’d agreed Lily would “disappear” into the foster system so Marianna could have her seemingly perfect marriage. My guess is that seeing Lily makes Julian think about everything “wrong” with his wife.
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?
The house is often described as a “Frankenstein” and it’s not a loving or loved place. The house is cold and isn’t a home. I think Lily also feels she doesn’t have a place and isn’t loved or wanted.
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 was the more powerful and that Beth feared her. Beth is smart and observant, and I think (consciously or not) that she learned from Lily. That - combined with what Beth went through when accused of murder - made Beth into a more calculating and cunning (and bitter?) person than she was as a child.
DQs Day 1: Chap 1-111. 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 did read it back when it was a BOM during another challenge here. That one was a lot different than I had expected because I’d thought it’d be JUST mystery and I wasn’t expecting the paranormal aspect, so I think that’s helped set the tone for this book — from the description you could almost think it’d be strictly crime like (with a person hiding in the shadows maybe) but my expectations were that it’d be paranormal. (I haven’t looked at the actual tags lol)
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?
“Usually a bit older” at 29 oh nooo *cries in 31* just kidding. Anyway, i think it’s probably for relatability and believability sake. If a character is too young it might not be looked at as quite realistic enough.
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 the fact that Beth is practically interviewing Shea as well stuck out to me the most. And the comment about Beth not finding much about Shea when she looked her up… I don’t think that that was necessarily true especially since she asked her why she didn’t drive.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
I don’t think they’ve really added it detracted from the story yet, though it’s interesting to note Beth’s mother can be heard screaming even though as far as we know she died elsewhere. Though I suppose sometimes you hear that ghosts stick to important places not necessarily where they died.
Finally getting around to this one and checking in!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 it, first title by this author. I expected it to be a little different from mysteries I normally read, but beyond that I wasn't entirely sure!
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 read a few titles/series with an older protagonist who is single or divorced. Usually in a series it allows them to bring in a love interest. For this book, I think it helps that since recent changes in her life, the MC has been turning her energy toward her cold case blog.
3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?
- No one comment, but the tone was different than I might have thought.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
- They are intriguing as I try to figure out what's happening. We'll see if I still feel that way later in the book! :)
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 feel like at first I would have been looking for a logical explanation. But when I couldn't find one, my mind would have gone to the supernatural.
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?
- She certainly seems interested... feels like definite possibilities there!
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 wasn't sure what to think of this. Definitely a reveal but I felt like there was something we were missing or that the secretary had some sort of ulterior motive.... found myself wondering if that would pop back up later.
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?
- It would certainly freak me out! I like to think animals would definitely be attuned to those kinds of things. Would I come back? I don't know... my curiosity would be heightened, but I might be chicken, LOL!
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?
Nothing I can think of, though as a teenager my friend pulled a prank on me with a ouija board... I was freaked out until she couldn't help it and fell over laughing!
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 obviously saw the house was caught in a time warp, but she also learned she was dealing with much more than met the eye. The house held a lot of secrets.
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 think Beth was keeping some secrets, but could she have stopped it? Hard to stop someone who is determined to do evil.
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.)
My first thought was that the reveal of her father would be a twist of some sort later on. And yes, he treated her poorly. It was a reflection of a "sordid history" in that time, and a reminder of secrets that his wife had kept from him.
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 saw her life as messy and twisted. It was, compared to Beth's... society (and her own family) had already decided she needed to be cast aside.
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 learned everything she knew from her experiences with her big sister!
Mod
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 when SDM when we did it as a prev bom. Expecting this to be a sad baseline story with flashbacks (or 2 timelines) with a supernatural twist.
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?
Makes a change from the middle aged, divorced and alcoholic/heavy smoking man… suspect the divorce is to add some character interest and the female is to acknowledge that a lot of women read and have jobs and lives!
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 stuck hugely from this.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
I was a bit meh about them honestly. Not sure what if anything they add to the plot.
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'd have thought Beth had rigged something 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?
They'll meet by the end of the book. I'll be disappointed if they end up as more than friends as that would require lightning fast and unrealistic character development.
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 wondered if this had anything to do with alcohol and drug use. Or being a 'difficult' teenager.
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 want to come back. Would be v freaked out by that and especially it vanishing afterwards.
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?
None.
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 she learnt a bit more about they timewarp the whole house seems to be in.
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 stood a chance of stopping the murderer without being killed herself.
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 felt betrayed by Mariana and her family and didn't know how to deal with it. I suspect he didn't like the favouritism shown to Lily over Beth.
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?
If you've continually been given the message that you aren't wanted, that's going to do a lot of damage to you.
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 she probably was at that point.
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?
Lily was already killing and the only way Beth could have even tried to stop her would have been going to the police or the mental hospital. I don't think either would actually have made a difference though and might have ended up with Beth dead.
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 suspect they were worried that it would still look like Beth did it and even that Lily had some evidence to implicate Beth.
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?
Absence and guilt would be my guess.
18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
Sometimes too good to be true is what you need.
DQs Day 1: Chap 1-111. 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 so I dont know what to expect from this book. It seems to have good ratings and be my normal sort of read though so I am excited!
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 read quite a few mysteries and thrillers about murder cases. Most I've read are about girls in their teens or 20s/30s. Im not sure why its not usually about men. Maybe the author figures the audience is moreso girls.
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 thought the interview went exactly the way I expected it. Although I wasnt expecting her to get the dectectives to talk to the main character. I did think she would swing the interview in her favor a little which she seems to have done or maybe she is innocent.
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 ghostly occurences may not be actually occurring. Maybe Beth has some PTSD still from her father being shot (by my assumption: her mother since her mother was begging for forgiveness of her). I think the ghostly occurences are intended to make Beth an unreliable narrator.
Team HelenDQs 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 tried to find a logic to that - but that is primarily because I am not necessarily big into believing in ghosts.
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 absolutely think they will end up together, primarily because the author has setup this whole backstory of Shea's relationships and Michael would essentially be the perfect reason for her to steer her ship in a more steadier fashion. Also, I really do not see a whole lot of active participation in the case from his side - it seems like she is doing all the heavy-lifting and he is her bouncing board - so this would be the main purpose this character would serve eventually.
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 do not want to bucket Mrs. Greer into that crazy slot - because historically women have very easily been subjected to that for just being a little different or out of the norm. I am sure there are theories as to why she is the way she is, but I doubt how much we will get to learn about 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?
I did not find it scary, but I do think animals have an heightened sense of things in general (which is also necessary to essentially survive for them), so not surprised that Winston got spooked at that. And, I may be saying this because I am writing this nonchalantly sitting on a couch with no prospect of seeing a ghost anytime soon, but I would actually love to go back to that house, because I would have tons of questions. I would be more mindful and aware of my surroundings though!
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 none so far. Ugh!
Team HelenDQs 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 main takeaway for Shea would be to understand what kind of child Beth was and the childhood she lived. Many times our surroundings act as a great reflection of our personality and since nothing really was changed for 40 years, it might give Shea a great insight into how this whole saga started,
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?
The note really is a testimony as to how cold-hearted and nonplussed Lily is. Lily was charged by greed and the want to have more, which is rightfully thought was hers and was willing to cross any borders if needed. Beth just wanted to enjoy the sisterhood that she and Lily could have built up on. Beth could have made an attempt to stop it, but I don't think Lily really cared much about anyone but herself to be bothered by 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.)
Part of it is his fragile male ego to see his wife's child from another man - and part of it is how Lily's presence breaks his image of his family of three. Lily's father may not even be a man of significance and maybe that would also trigger Julian's frail ego.
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?
That was the one moment where we see the humane side of Lily. Through the foster system as she travelled through those houses, it extremely likely that she was ill-treated. And maybe hearing all those unsavory things about herself from childhood would have made her into that bitter person who really hates everyone, including herself.
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?
Beth's manipulation is more of a survival instinct - Lily's was more innate and self-satisfying. And I wouldn't be surprised if Beth learned all of that from watching Lily manipulate everyone and everything around her to get her way and thought that that might be the best way to survive and sustain after being in jail and being villainized all her life.
DQs Day 1: Chap 1-111. 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 and I really enjoyed it. I don't typically like ghost stories but Simone St. James can really write a great one. It did create expectations for this one and so far they have been pretty on point.
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 this was done to connect Shea and Beth's stories. Both are single women going through difficult times. I think it also is to show that Shea has trust issues and issues being around people but for some people she doesn't feel that way around Beth.
3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?
No comments but I wasn't expecting the ghost in the house to show itself to Shea so quickly. I thought it would be more subtle in the beginning and work its way up to full blown haunted!
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
They help to create a lot of questions regarding all of the death in the story. It is setting the tone of the story and I am enjoying it so far!
DQs Day 2: Chap 12-195. 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?
The cabinets and taps maybe I would have tried to explain away but the blood in the sink I don't know if I would have been able to explain that. It definitely would have freaked me out and I probably would have said something to Beth about it.
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 sure but the interaction between Shea and Michael is intriguing. I can't tell whether he will be there to help her through everything in the end or if there is something more going on with him.
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 don't think she was crazy. I think something more was going on. Maybe abuse of drugs or alcohol?
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 they can definitely sense things more than humans can. It was very creepy reading that part even though I did expect it to happen. I would not have gone back to the house, at least 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?
I have had 2 encounters with crazy/unexplainable things but they are too long to share here! Shortened version of one - I was in the woods with friends and saw a floating white light (looked like the shape of a person) across this little creek, when we ran from it there was a woman's scream so we turned around to run back to the entrance and passed a fire pit that was burning (when it wasn't burning 2 mins earlier when we first passed it) with absolutely no one around. Crazily, I did end up going back there multiple times but not that night!
DQs Day 2: Chap 12-195. 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'm trying really hard, but struggling to put myself in Shea's shoes because I would never interview a murderer. I understand that she is assuming that Beth is trying to manipulate her, but I don't think that even manipulation can explain everything that happened to her that day. I think I would've been very spooked.
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 a little worried about Michael just because Shea has pointed out time and time again that she knows nothing about him. I know that he could just be a normal guy and that she has trust issues, but I don't know, he could be a murderer! (Now I sound like Shea haha)
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 that a lot of people struggle with mental issues and during this time period they were just more on the hush. I don't think we should call her crazy though. It could have just been something like anxiety or depression, but during that time period, that was seen as being incompetent or insane, etc.
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 got goosebumps at this. I do believe that dogs can sense things that we can't. I would not be going back to that house after that.
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 closest thing I've got was after having a really rough day and taking a nap I woke up to hearing the voice of a little girl whispering "It'll get better" in my ear. Obviously there was no one there and it was probably my subconscious.It didnt freak me out though, it actually calmed me down a bit.
DQs Day 2: Chap 12-195. 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 might have tricked myself into thinking Beth was REALLY stealthy or that someone else was also in the house doing it. Just because I'd refuse to believe it was ghosts. But I think I'd go ghosts before telekinesis.
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're playing around with her interest enough that we might see them get 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?
Well, it seems like there are ghosts in the house, and I'm wondering if maybe Beth's mother was always susceptible to seeing and hearing ghosts, and maybe no one believed her and then thought she was "crazy."
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 listened to this as I was trying to fall asleep and it was pitch black in my bedroom, so it definitely scared me more than I think it typically would have! I would probably NOT go back to the house if I heard that -- I've blatantly refused to go to a house others have told me is haunted -- but then again, Shea REALLY wants answers so I think that'll outweigh the fear.
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 personally have not really, but I also don't want to. I do think some people are more susceptible to it, and your openness to it also plays a factor, and I don't want to see it.
My husband and a few members of his family are sensitive to what I'd call paranormal energies though. I found out when we were house hunting and we knew the owner had died, and we didn't know if the owner had died IN the house, but I felt uneasy in that house. I assumed it was just because I knew someone had died, but I told my husband about it, and he said there was no one actively there but someone had definitely "walked through the house." :-| We did not get that house.
Also, several members of his family saw something at his grandpa's old house. My husband and his brother both (on different days) saw something in the bathroom, and his cousin heard whispers and stuff. His grandpa recently bought that house AGAIN, and that's the house I mentioned in the previous answer that I refuse to visit. Lol.
DQs Day 3: Chap 20-2910. 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 learned that it's a crazy place to live! There are so many things that have happened there. So many secrets that it's hiding.
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 think Beth could have stopped it by telling someone her suspicions about Lily. If she would have told someone she was a murderer than maybe some of those people would still be alive.
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 wasn't a happy person in his marriage to begin with. Then finding out he was lied to by Mariana, he probably felt even more like a fool. I have no idea who her father is. I'm sure it is someone insignificant to the story 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?
She meant that she was conceived under less than desirable circumstances and 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 is the more powerful one because I think Beth is scared of her. Maybe Beth learned how to be who she is now because of her relationship with Lily.
DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30-3815. 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 sad for her because of the life she was forced to have. She was abandoned by her mother and abused in her foster homes. However, she had every opportunity to be a different person and she choose to murder instead. I do think Beth could have stopped her by telling someone her suspicions and maybe Lily could have gotten help.
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 interesting. Her relationship with Wells is very unique but lovely. Beth has someone who cares for her. Wells is almost a stand in father. I think they never told anyone because there was no proof and Beth is scared Lily will get off on the charges and go after people she cares for.
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?
Lily is the child she didn't get to have. The one that was probably forced away from her. I'm sure Mariana didn't choose to give up Lily and she probably felt guilty and shame over that. Lily is the image of the perfect child so Mariana pretends that's what she is.
18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
I hope she can. Shea needs someone to trust and be on her side. I'm torn with Michael. He could be a friend or be tricking her.
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 is. It shows the different relationships sisters can have. While Shea's relationship is not conventional because of how much Shea keeps to herself. Her sister loves her and they are both there for each other when they need it. Beth has always had an unbalanced relationship with Lily and it shows how dysfunctional it can be.
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 is both a way to torment Beth but also because that is how the house was when she died.
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?
Yes, I think she did. She knows how unstable Lily is even while dead.
22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?
Nothing was really surprising. I felt it was leading up to the reveals throughout the book. I still enjoyed the book and the ending.
DQs Day 3: Chap 20-2910. 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 obviously learned about Lily in this scene. I think she learned the background that Beth wasn't willing to admit, maybe she is scared or something to say it out loud since it seems like Lily is haunting her.
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 think this was about Beth inviting Lily to her house. Lily also said that Mariana was "hers" and not Julian's. Beth's thoughts to when Lily asked what she wanted was originally "that she wanted Lily to leave." Maybe Lily realized this and used it against her for years. She could've kicked Lily out instead of allowing her to shoot her father.
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 the issue is is that it's not Julian's child. She must've had an affair while they were married and maybe Julian is disgusted towards Mariana and takes it out on Lily whenever he sees her because it's a reminder of Mariana's betrayal.
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 that this quote was sad. I think she is saying that she wasn't Julian's and was born out of wedlock so she shouldn't be recognized as a "real" person. I'm pretty sure that children born out of wedlock during this time period were shunned or treated differently, but I may be wrong.
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 do think that Lily has more power because she is the one teaching Beth to be manipulative. Beth wouldn't have known how to control people if it weren't for Lily.
DQs Day 1: Chap 1-111. 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 read The Sun Down Motel and enjoyed it. The use of a dual timeline in that book was successful so I’m hoping that I like it here. Going by the synopsis, it seems like I’ll like 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?
- Maybe it’s the books that I’m reading, but I haven’t noticed protagonists being overwhelmingly older. A lot of them are women but they vary in age.
I think the author chose to have the main character be divorced because it places them in a certain type of mental space. It also tells you something important about the character instantly – the character was married, something broke up the marriage.
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 interview started off very conversational, which I suppose makes sense because Shea is very much not a professional in this setting. The power balance in this scene is interesting. So far Shea has revealed a huge secret about herself, but Beth hasn’t really revealed anything new.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
- As soon as the ghost stuff started I remembered The Ghost Down Motel instantly. I wasn’t expecting ghosts, but it's an interesting addition. I think it’s odd that Beth just sends Shea off into the house to possibly have a ghostly encounter.
DQs Day 3: Chap 20-2910. 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?
Definitely that it was haunted! Lol. But in particular, I don’t know.
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. It seems like they’re leading it up to Lily being the murderer… but we’ve still got so much book left! I don’t feel like we should have that answer so early so I don’t trust 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.)
I don’t know but it makes me think maybe Lily’s father is the reason Julian hates her so much. I really don’t know. I’m thinking we au find out and it may be related to Lady Killer victims. (That or the victims are potential related to her foster families. Those are my working theories lol.)
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?
Huh. I hadn’t really thought about that in depth. Maybe it relates to her father — maybe he was a monster. Or maybe Lily just feels unwanted and unloved and so she relates to the house.
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 just had a bonkers thought as I tried to think of Lily’s that maybe Beth IS Lily. Like Beth died and Lily took her identity. It’d make sense for the personality change. But maybe that’s too much of a twist lol. In the narration we’ve gotten thus far, Lily definitely seems to be in charge.
DQs Day 1: Chap 1-111. 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. I liked it and this one actually reminds me of it. A very similar premise and execution. I expect this one to be just as good
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 it is because the other way is to make the MC innocent and inexperience, which looses credibility for many mystery readers. It is like those horror movies where the stupid, innocent Mc with no real life experience makes the wrong choices, misses the obvious, acts like a ditz. I would bet readers do not enjoy such books. I know I don't. Yet they can't make them married and settled with kids and whatnot, because who has time for investigation or research when you need to take care of your husband and kids? Claiming it is possible to do it all would be unbelievable. So they use divorced characters. They are not naive anymore, they have life experience, they have relationship experience, more often than not their divorce opened their eyes about some hard life truths. Divorces are usually not so amicable, so they have some pent up emotions that can leak onto the pages of the books and give that extra edge of resentment, anger, depression or whatever their emotion of choice is. Divorced characters also have the free time, energy and means to do stuff for investigations. To sum up - unmarried are too naive and inexperienced, the married are too busy with mundane everyday stuff caring for their family, but divorced are perfect for this kind of thing.
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 find it a bit odd to begin with. She has social anxiety, but decides to follow someone in the middle of the day, someone who is a known murderer? If it is because Beth is a woman, therefore, less dangerous, then it is a stereotype. But whatever. The interview itself was interesting. Gives me "the thirteenth tale" vibes.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
Surprising. I did not expect there to be ghostly occurrences. i thought it was purely a thriller not a paranormal book, but the fantasy vibes are strong. I think it is only there to muddle the waters though and it will be revealed there is no ghost.
DQs Day 2: Chap 12-195. 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 am pretty sure I wouldn't have noticed or cared :D
But if I did, I would be fine with it being ghosts. I would tell them to turn them off when they are done playing though.
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 there is a potential for romance there, but the author is not usually developing romance in her books, so I am not sure what to expect. I think they are both interested though. Maybe there will be a sort of cliffhanger at the end where they decide to give it a try
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 did guess correctly where she was sent. The age made me suspicious of true reasons. I still think she was crazy though, in her own way.
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, not really scary. I guessed there will be something paranormal again when the cat went weird. It was to be expected, because the topic of ghosts had to be introduced to the Mc in some way and this was very fitting.
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?
Hmmm... Not really? At least I can't remember anything now.
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Sun Down Motel (other topics)The Sun Down Motel (other topics)
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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?
Nothing has changed in years and the house has a life of its own.
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?
You can't control crazy
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.)
No idea who the father is. Maybe he doesn't like her because it is part of his wife's life before him?
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 unwanted & different, the house is different, Maybe the feel each other's pain?
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 certainly seems to have had power in the past, but is Lily still alive? She still seems to be controlling Beth's life.