Question E

[Jonetta]

Finlay Armstrong was the primary suspect in Heather Johansen’s murder. When his wife Kimberly was killed, he topped the suspect list. What were your thoughts about his guilt or innocence, initially and as the story progressed? What confirmed your initial opinions or changed them?

[Robin]

I thought he was innocent and had been set up. He was Heather's ex-boyfriend and was nearly stalking her until Roy Calloway stepped in and had a talk with him. Then he seemed to stop. Finlay was hunting when Jason Matthews was lured out of his vehicle and shot. And, Kimberly was beaten before the house was set on fire with the gasoline that Finlay had purchased earlier in the week.

All of the evidence pointed toward Finlay. It just seemed too convenient to me. He was a cop so he should have been smart enough to have an alibi for these murders. Why use the gasoline that you just purchased and can be traced back to you? I can understand the police looking at him, but I just didn't buy it.

[Sharon]

I thought he could be involved. I did think it was very obvious which isn't Dugoni's style. However, he has bad cops in his stories, so I couldn't remove Finlay from the list. I did expect a major twist if he was the murderer.

[Sandra]

Right away, I saw him as a possible suspect. Later on, I discounted him because it was just too obvious for it to be him. These books are more twisted than that. I guess I would have been disappointed in the author if it had been.

[Sharon]

I would have been disappointed too unless something unexpected came out about Finlay

[Jonetta]

I was neutral. Dugoni throws curves all the time like he did with Edmund House (he was convicted, then investigated again because he was believed to be innocent but was really guilty). Deep down, I thought he was innocent though because he seemed to be truly despondent about his wife’s murder. And, he’d let go of Heather long before she was killed.

[~Melissa~]

I wasn't really sure what to think about Finlay. At times, throughout the book I felt he was innocent and then something would happen and I'd think he was guilty, lol. Like Sunnie - he kept showing up at odd times throughout the book.

[Charlene]

I didn't seriously consider Finlay to be a murderer; it just didn't fit (or it fit too well to early).