2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Tracy’s research reveals some damning photos of Trisha Morley’s abuse at the hands of her husband Nick, which will undoubtedly get him convicted of her murder. But! We learn that Trisha is alive and set him up, going through extreme measure and bodily harm to do so to protect her unborn child.

First, we were given passages throughout the story from an unnamed narrator. Had you suspected it was Trisha? If not, who did you think it was?

Second, Nick is going to prison for murder. He’s certainly guilty of abusing at least three women and causing car accidents for at least three people. How do you feel about his fate…justice or something else?

Lastly, did Trisha have any other options?

That was certainly a turn up for the books!

I was thinking those passages were someone under Witness Protection. Never suspected it was really Trisha. It did seem extreme and especially the sawing off her arm! And it glossed over how she managed to remain anonymous and have a baby especially with the injuries she would have had in setting up the escape.

Was it justice for Nick? He was an abusive despicable man but whether he deserved to be set up like this, I don't think so. He should have had to answer to the legitimate full justice system thrown at him not her vigilante justice. Other options, yes, even though she didn't press charges just a full medical examination would have shown all those broken bones. Domestic abuse is taken very seriously these days. I don't think Nick would have really been able to talk his way out it no matter who he was. And Tracy did find that evidence in Italy so I'm sure the police would have been able to as well. I didn't find this a very realistic scenario to be honest.

I never suspected the passages were Trisha; I was sure she was dead. I expected that it was someone associated with the murderer or a future victim.

Nick has too much power to get arrested before it is too late for Trisha. We've seen this more than once in real life where a high profile individual gets away with abuse and murder. I don't know how Trisha had the courage to cut off her arm, but she was determined to protect her child. I can see a woman at a loss to protect herself and her child using extreme measures.

Nick got what he deserved. He is a serial abuser and will escalate if left unchecked.

Did we learn where Trisha is? I thought she was in a mental hospital then I thought she was in witness protection.

I had no idea who was narrating those passages. Trisha never crossed my mind. I was sure she was dead.

I don't feel sorry for Nick at all. He would have killed Trisha eventually.

I do think Trisha could have come forward and told the police what he had done to her. She could have her medical records released to the cops and tell them that he had threatened her family if she said anything of left him. Of course, he would be out on bail in a matter of days and could probably do something to hurt her, so maybe the way she handled it wasn't a bad idea.

Sharon wrote: "Did we learn where Trisha is? I thought she was in a mental hospital then I thought she was in witness protection."

I don't think it told us exactly where Trisha ended up. I guessed that she bought herself a new identity and ran away. I don't believe she was actually in witness protection.

I had no idea the narrator was Trisha - a very clever twist. When she was writing, she was someplace where she was able to observe her sister on a consistent basis. I think she was scared to death and desperate, but the way she faked her death really went too far in trying to appear "dead." She was actually jeopardizing her ability to take care of her child.

Trisha’s mother went to the park everyday. Trisha was living in an apartment where she could observe her mother so she was still in town.

I think she got help burying her identity. That’s who those men were who destroyed her phone. In the beginning, I believe she was in a hospital or some other facility recovering from the loss of her arm and later the birth of her baby.

Good catch, Jonetta. By the end of the book when we learned that Trisha was alive, I forgot all about destroying her phone, etc.

Robin, I had to go back and reread those passages because they took on a new meaning once I learned it was Trisha.

I was really stumped by those Trisha passages. They made no sense and I ended up throwing in the towel.

Men in power are notoriously in the driver’s seat when they abuse women. Remember, he was a human rights attorney, well respected and thought to be a “good guy.” Trisha had zero chance of winning this battle, especially if he was willing to go after her family. That’s really over the top and this man is dangerous. Add her unborn child to the equation and it becomes a nightmare.

I don’t condone vigilante justice either. It wasn’t a fair fight and Trisha was so desperate she cut off her arm for the sake of her child. I’ve no sympathy for Nick, though, because he was the cause of all this. If Trisha had other options, I can't see them.

I was stunned when I learned Trisha was alive. That’s gotta be one of the biggest twists in this series.

I agree that this was the biggest twist in the series. I didn't suspect it at all.

Jonetta wrote: "Robin, I had to go back and reread those passages because they took on a new meaning once I learned it was Trisha."

I agree that this part was confusing.

Very!

Yes, this twist got me too.

After the reveal, I went back to read the prologue and those passages from Trisha's POV. I'm not sure that the woman in the Prologue is Trisha because she would only be in the Witness Protection program if she testified or provided evidence against Nick, and she did not do that. I think she did it all on her own without official help.

Trisha did what she had to do to protect herself. I have zero sympathy for Nick.

I'm not sure who the woman in the Prologue is. One possibility is that it's Leanne. She explained that during training, the final test is one of empathy. I think the men in the prologue are her trainers, and they are taking away her phone, so she can know what it's like to be separated from her life just like a witness is.