2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Lara shares the devastating information about Joy Hayes’ assassination. She believed that Zack had orchestrated everything. Was there enough detail to implicate him? Were you surprised to learn that Joy was the intended target?

Lara took the facts she had and turned it into the most devastating accusation she could come up with. I never believed that Zach was behind his wife's assassination. I was surprised that Joy, not Zach, was the target.

This was a suprise to me too. I never thought that Joy was the intended target. Good twist!

Lara's conclusions made sense for someone who had no personal knowledge of the kind of man Zack is. She also had Freddy's conspiracy theories in her ear to solidify her suspicions.

I had a passing thought in the first book that Joy might have been the target but couldn’t justify it. Snipers don’t normally miss the mark this badly. But, I dropped the notion so this still came as a surprise.

I also wasn’t clear as to how Lara could make that definitive leap that Zack had orchestrated Joy’s assassination. It’s a theory until there’s something more to make it fact. She left no room for doubt in her own mind and I couldn’t understand that. She certainly couldn’t have published that with what she had.

I was surprised that Joy was the target. I was sure the sniper missed. I guess I'm as naive as Lara. I didn't see how Lara jumped to the conclusion that Zack was behind the death of his wife. I felt like she was more interested in the scandal than the truth.

Jonetta wrote: "She certainly couldn’t have published that with what she had.."

Agreed. I think she also realized this otherwise she would have published it.

Sharon wrote: "I felt like she was more interested in the scandal than the truth.."

That isn't the impression I got. If that were the case, she would have published the information that she had without waiting to get confirmation.

Lauren, I understand what you are saying. For me, it felt like she was doing her due diligence to confirm Zack was involved because she wanted it to be true. She likes scandals.

We see that every day. People publish lies and half truths because a couple people will "confirm" what the reporter wants to hear.

Lara took the facts she had and made them fit the narrative she wanted: Zach had his wife killed so he would win the election.

Sharon wrote: "For me, it felt like she was doing her due diligence to confirm Zack was involved because she wanted it to be true."

I agree that she had convinced herself that Zach was guilty of killing his wife, but the evidence she had seemed to point that way very strongly. Even Connor and the others acknowledge this.

Nevertheless, she refrained from publishing it without corroboration, which is the ethical thing to do. Moreover, once she learns the truth, she immediately realizes that her assumptions were inaccurate. If she were only interested in the scandals, she would have published the information regardless of its accuracy.

I am certainly no fan of overzealous reporters who can't be bothered to get to the truth, but I don't see how Lara fits this mold. All of her stories are confirmed before she publishes them and they involve corrupt politicians. She uses the scandalous elements to reel in the readers and then exposes the truth.

You make good points. It is possible that my opinion is partially based on my dislike of Lara. I also believe that "fake or slanted news" is a real thing, even among respected news people.

So do I, Sharon.

I was shocked that Joy was the target.
Reading through all your comments I agree with most everything.
Lara isn't a gossip or scandal for the sake of scandal writer. So she would have done her due diligence and find evidence to corroborate her findings. This while also having Freddy in her ear. The result of it was that Zack won the presidency but finding something on video and nothing else? She needed more I feel. Because for me it just wasn't enoght to implicate Zack and being behind the assassination.

Sharon wrote: "You make good points. It is possible that my opinion is partially based on my dislike of Lara. I also believe that "fake or slanted news" is a real thing, even among respected news people."

I totally get that. I didn't really like her character either. Too wishy-washy.

Yes, journalists, today are seriously lacking in integrity. They write clickbait headlines and their articles often lack objectivity. They don't report the news anymore, they give opinions.

I don't think Lara had enough info to make any accusations against Zack. I was really surprised that Joy was the actual target. I never thought that Zack had his wife killed.