Mystery Madness discussion

Here is our discussion thread for chapters 1 - 14 for Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena. Feel free to leave spoilers, but just note that at the beginning of the comment just in case.
So far I've read 7 chapters and would love to give these people a good talking to! LOL!
Please share your thoughts as you read.

Note: This comment (near the end) contains some predictions for how the story will play out.

Wow, I'm kind of speechless about the mess that these people are in. There is so much to unpack here. On the one hand I do feel for the parents with an unruly child. We had a different situation with our oldest but it turned out to be autism and seizures that were causing the issues. Still when she was in early elementary school she was out of control and we were at our wits end. It wasn't defiance, but we still had a lot to deal with. So I totally get the out-of-control feeling and all of the emotions that go with the frustration. I even understand how things can get physical when you are at your wits end. If you have to tackle them to keep them from running out into traffic, then that is what you have to do to keep them safe. I know that this situation is different, but I get it.

What I don't get is the affair. This situation was an avoidable mess that never should have happened and now they are paying the consequences. Several people are going to be hurt before this is over, including all the children involved.

I have a few predictions and possibilities on how I think this will play out. Its likely that the girl has just run away and its possible that Nora's son is the "boyfriend." However right at the end of chapter 14 someone mentioned that it could be him, so that automatically makes me think that it isn't, since its way too early in the book for that to be revealed.
I usually look to see who is the most unlikely suspect and predict that they are the culprit. Sometimes I'm right and other times I'm not. It's just fun to guess. That being said, I'll be carefully watching the mom and also Nora and her family.

The title sort of gives away the fact that all of the characters have something to hide. So it's really hard to sympathize with any of them. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Who knows, it could even be that the police are lying about something.

I sadly couldn’t get past the affair and the son and the dad’s feelings toward the daughter so I had to DNF. There is a lot going on for sure!!

I finally got started on this book a few days ago. The plot reminds me of an old quote from author Walter Scott “Oh, what a tangled web we weave….when first we practice to deceive”. So far each character has lied and several are just digging themselves deeper. I am invested in what has happened to Avery. For some reason, I don’t think she’s dead.