Did you suspect Nick’s connection to the Forest Strangler, and if so, at what point in the story? Did this change the way you viewed his relationship with Anna?
I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers and am always pleasantly surprised when I don’t figure out a crucial plot point, as in Nick’s relationship to the killer. That definitely added to the complexity of the plot, plus gave some weight to their relationship.
Oh gosh I read this book a while ago and do not remember Nick’s relationship to the killer?? I write myself notes about the books as I know it will be a while before we discuss but I have nothing about this!
He was one of the victim’s sons, and knew who Anna was through their shared psychologist. He sought her out and had planned some sort of … I don’t know… closure? revenge? something … but then fell in love with her.
Yes, it did surprise me! One of the more interesting twists. I would have thought that it would be more of a negative factor in their relationship, but it actually strengthen it.
No, I also was pleasantly surprised when I did not see or suspect Nick’s relationship with the Forest Strangler until close to the end. At the point when I found out about the shared psychologist I did suspect that he was more than a kindly doctor and boyfriend. Finding this out did change the way I viewed the relationship between Nick and Anna. I think Nick started out having a relationship with Anna because she was the Hunters Daughter but then fell in love with her.
At some point I wondered if Nick was the new killer. Glad he wasn’t and instead was relieved to know his intentions.
It seemed rather odd to me that Nick knew who she was and entered into a relationship with her - and then fell in love with her. It seems that he needed more counseling as well as she did.
I didn’t fully figure it out, but had a pretty good sense that Anna was going to find out something about Nick that connected him to the murders in Dr. Richardson’s files when she broke into the doctor’s office. I toyed with the idea of Nick being the present-day murderer, but he never quite fit the role believably. I also considered that it might be Dr. Richardson, along with Parkes.
I was so glad Nick wasn’t the killer. Yes, I did think he was, but after I learned he too was a patient of Dr. Richardson and his mother was a victim of the serial killer, I decided he wasn’t the killer.
I did not suspect a connection of Nick to the strangler and when it was revealed, it made me wonder what his initial motive was in getting involved with Anna. Whatever his original intentions were, I am glad that he did not turn out to be disingenuous in his feelings for Anna. I would have been disappointed if he had turned out be bad!
I suspected Anna was searching Dr R files for some clue but it had to be a (shocking!) surprise to discover a file on Nick! Can’t imagine her thoughts…is it her..is it him?
At one point in the book, I said I have this figured out. Nick was the new killer and if I had stopped here what a disappointment that would have been. Like many of the others, I was glad his feeling for Anna was real.
I did not suspect at all that Nick had any connection to the Forest Strangler. Even though they weren’t honest with each other about who they were until near the end of the book, I think knowing the truth about one another will help them both heal and move forward. They can support one another. Anna said that Nick was the only one who really understood her and she was beginning to feel that she could trust him.
I did not see that one coming at all, and that is something I really appreciate in a mystery. Even the necklace scene was a bit of a misdirection.
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I did not suspect the connection. I believe it is a stretch that someone would overcome the trauma brought on by Anna’s father to fall so deeply in love with her. I admire his ability to forgive and compartmentalize. That is a tough assignment.