2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Natalie and her husband Noel were potential suspects and even she later asserted that he might have killed John. When they both ended up dead along with Tara Davenport, what theories did you develop in this moment?

I was seriously shocked by their deaths. I could see Patricia killing John, but not those just not really closely related to him. Maybe his parents, but not anyone else. I was seriously rethinking her as a suspect.

Yeah, that flattened me. Granted I thought Natalie might be a suspect but she was barely staying on my list. I went directly to John’s son. For one, the women were being sexually violated so it had to be a male.

Natalie was a nasty piece of work and her attempt to cast suspicion on her husband was despicable. However, she did not deserve such a horrific death and Noel was innocent of all wrong doing. I felt worse for him than Natalie.

So did I, Lauren. Do you think she knew about Patricia? They were together for three years.

I'm sure she did know about Patricia. Natalie struck me as being very much like her parents and if they disavowed the relationship, Natalie went along. The one thing about Natalie that didn't ring true was her marriage to Noel. I can't see her parents approving of that.

Natalie “settled” for Noel who seemed like a decent guy. Nick didn’t care for Natalie and that was enough for me.

Jonetta wrote: "So did I, Lauren. Do you think she knew about Patricia? They were together for three years."

Interesting question.
Natalie was so self-absorbed and while she might have suspected that John cheated on her, I don't think she knew about Patricia and Thomas specifically.
If she had, she would have outed them to Sam when she was questioned. She would have no problem throwing suspicion on to them and diverting it from herself.

Jonetta wrote: "Natalie “settled” for Noel who seemed like a decent guy. Nick didn’t care for Natalie and that was enough for me."

Noel deserved better than Natalie who obviously married him for his money and connections.

I have no sympathy for Natalie and any I might have had for John evaporated quickly. But Noel was a decent guy and his death and Tina's were really tragic.

Lauren wrote: "Natalie was so self-absorbed and while she might have suspected that John cheated on her, I don't think she knew about Patricia and Thomas specifically.
If she had, she would have outed them to Sam when she was questioned. She would have no problem throwing suspicion on to them and diverting it from herself...."

Great point. She’d have pointed in that direction in a nanosecond.

Lauren wrote: "But Noel was a decent guy and his death and Tina's were really tragic..."

Two very innocent people who did nothing to earn Thomas’ rage.

I remember the first time I read this book, I was convinced that Patricia was the killer. It certainly sounded like killing John and his latest girlfriends were revenge killings. I remember the police saying there was a baseball bat at the scene of Tara's death. They alluded that she had been beaten with it and other things were done...
I assume that meant she had been raped with it. It made me think that the killer was a woman.

Robin I had the same feeling. I thought the women were raped by objects, the bat, the brush, and something else. That is why I stayed focused on a woman.

Natalie was my top suspect. I wondered if Patricia was a good actress. She moved up my list shortly after she came on scene.

The killing of Noel and Tara floored me. Noel was a good man and loved the crazy Natalie. It was a senseless death. I don't know how Thomas justified it. Poor Tara was so used by John. I don't know how Thomas justified killing her either.

Sharon wrote: "I don't know how Thomas justified it. Poor Tara was so used by John. I don't know how Thomas justified killing her either."

In Thomas's mind, Tara deserved to be punished for sleeping with his father. Noel was just collateral damage. Thomas was beyond caring.