For this month, we read a great thriller by a renowned author. This was a sequel to Pieces of Me, but low and behold, no one in the book club has read that yet! Could it be coming up on the reading list? Let's find out!
Two Timelines
The story has two timelines: 1980s and present day. In the 1980s we are taken through the life of a soon to be teen mother who has started her own investigation to figure out who the father of her unborn child is. Is this a case of rape or poor decisions? Were things really that ridiculous in the 80s? I mean that doctor! I was born in 1984, so I was not familiar with this topic, but could definitely empathize with Emily Vaughn's character when she was placed in several vulnerable positions.
Fellow Thrill Chasers commented that they did not remember the world being so closed minded back then. Teen pregnancy existed then, too. Yet, this was a small community. So, maybe it just doesn't happen there? Either way, it was scandalous enough to get her killed.
In present day, we meet a new U.S. Marshall who is tasked to protect, none other, than Emily's mother, Federal Judge Vaughn. Andrea has an ulterior motive to be back in the town where Emily was killed. Emily's murder was never solved, but most everybody pinned the deed on Clay, who also happens to be the Marshall's father. His sentence for his otherwise nefarious crimes is almost up and she is afraid that he will. These crimes are more clearly outlined in the prequel, Pieces of Me.
Several Suspects
Emily was killed by a brutal and fatal blow to the face, which completely disfigured her. She was trying to reveal a secret that nobody wanted out. Could it have been the baby's father? Why wouldn't it be, right? Slaughter provides twisting and sinister backgrounds on every would-be killer. Plenty of intriguing side stories that distract us from the main story line but provides context to the same.
All Thrill Chasers believed Dean did it. I'm not going to spoil the ending here but will let you in the discussion. I must admit I would not have been upset if Dean was killed in the end. Of the other suspects (Blake, Nardo, Clay, and Jack "Cheese"), I was not leaning towards the one who finally confessed. I kind of thought that the reveal was anti-climactic, what about you? The story behind the true killer was so well developed, it wasn't until you reached the end that we discover that the father is not that important.
Add a comment to keep the discussion going.
Join us for next month's book: The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
