2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

After Sarah gives Dirk Lisle’s name, she’s soon murdered. Were you convinced at this point he was the killer? Should Sarah feel any guilt about her role in this?

I would feel guilty. Sarah certainly didn't give him Lisle's name thinking he would hurt her, but it would still be in the back of her mind.

I kind of guessed that Dirk could have been the murderer when Sarah asked him to accompany her to Coney Island. It was easy to see that he was actually the guy she was searching for. When Lisle ended up dead, I knew it was him. I had already pegged Lars for Gerda's murder, but couldn't figure out why he would kill the other women.

I think Sarah still has a lot to learn about detective work. She still rather operates from a position of wanting the facts to fit what she thinks should be case. She still clearly has some difficulty in thinking that people of her (former) social class can be murderers. She also needs to learn that maybe sharing too much about the investigations with people who don't really need to know can come back to bite you in the butt. It was totally unintentional on her part, a naive, beginner's mistake, but the fact is that her giving Lisle's name and telling Dirk so much about how close they were getting with the investigation did motivate Dirk to tie up potential loose ends. It was a painful lesson for Sarah to learn.

Oh, Veronica, I thought the same thing. Total naïveté on her part and this was just an awful lesson for Sarah. She will feel guilt because she did contribute to Lisle’s demise. I cringed when she shared so much information with Dirk. Whether he was the killer or not (and I was 100% certain at that moment), he had no business knowing these details. Even Frank acknowledged to himself she was responsible.

Sarah will forever remember this error, one she will, no doubt, never make again.

Well said, all. I too cringed at Sarah's naïveté and her subsequent guilt, which I would forever feel, I am afraid.

Sarah certainly is guilty of subconsciously thinking that people of her own class are less likely to be murderers. The whole time I was reading it I was saying 'Don't tell HIM."

Yeah, I was screaming in my head, “No, no, no!!!”

I think the more this series progresses, Sarah’s going to learn some tough lessons about the “upper class” and their proclivities.

I had figured out that Dirk was the serial killer before Sarah, and just knew this was a mistake. I also thought he killed Gerda though. My mistake :)

Lauren wrote: "I had figured out that Dirk was the serial killer before Sarah, and just knew this was a mistake. I also thought he killed Gerda though. My mistake :)"

I never thought there were two different killers too, Lauren :)

I was sure Dirk was the killer when I saw his reaction to Sarah's first invitation to Coney Island, so it was painful to watch Sarah being so trusting.
Even if Sarah never thought something like this could have happened when she gave Lisle's name, I'm sure she will forever feel the guilt.