Dead Scared discussion

I loved this book but I was irritated by plot holes, or what seemed to me like plot holes.

1. That questionnaire. NONE of the other students mentioned to Evi that they had filled it out? Even when she was asking them questions that they'd already answered on the form? Why wouldn't you say "I'm on this medication, didn't you read it in the questionnaire?"

2. So one police officer is in on it. Were none of his colleagues interested in the suicides or noticed that things didn't quite add up?

3. Why didn't Lacey realise it was a little bit convenient that incriminating receipts were found in every victim's room? How many of us keep receipts like that?

4. Lacey is able to identify the men who humiliated her, despite them being masked and she never having never met them before. Nobody else did, besides the three or four people that were in on it? The lawn was supposed to be full of people, and others surrounding them in the dorms. Even if they thought it was a harmless prank, once they saw it was a lecturer it would surely become more sinister and they would report it.

5. Several women thought they were being attacked at night, but none of them thought to hide their own secret camera and find out?

6. Bryony can clearly write short words and nod and shake her head. Yet when she writes BELL, Lacey decides she is too exhausted to nod or shake one more time and doesn't ask straight out "Do you mean Nick Bell?". When she finally does ask, she doesn't get an answer and doesn't bother to delve deeper.

7. Seasoned killers don't bother to check if the man they just tried to kill is actually dead. Little bit careless, wouldn't you say?

Just a sample. I thought there were so many instances in this book that showed how the whole operation just couldn't work.

Gemma,
Her newest in the series is out this month. Maybe she'll have cleaned things up a bit. I have enjoyed her books but still think Minette Walters is the queen of psychological mysteries.

The receipts one made me laugh. I never keep receipts. I thought the same as you.

Oh yes you are so right. Even though I LOVED this book I did find a couple of things that you've mentioned really annoying.
In addition to the ones you've mentioned I didn't understand why all of the women stayed in the same room. If I was Evi especially I would have stayed with someone for a while, it's not like she didn't have offers. The state some of the girls were getting into surely they would have gone home if only for a week or so to recover.
And use a camera please! If you're convinced bad things are happening to you it's the only way to prove it and a fairly simple thing to do? Is it so beyond the realms of possibility that you are being watched in turn by hidden cameras?
I don't like to say bad things about Lacey (because I love her) but she could have been a teensy bit more careful instead of busting in like a bull in a china shop on her own.
After all that bitching I still loved this book and can't wait to read the next one...bizarre isn't it?

I have issues with the authors storytelling but she does still manage to write a taunt psychological thriller. In my opinion, she is not as good as my personal favorite, Tana French but very readable nonetheless.

I agree, ladies. But there's something about her characters that makes for compulsive reading & I'm impatiently waiting for the next one. Just as an aside.....do you think Lacey & Mark are ever going to hook up again? She has so many secrets (like her real identity, for one).
Also love Tana French, except for the last one...not my cup of tea, but really enjoyed the first ones that had some recurring characters.

Sandy, I am not a romantic person but I really think Lacey needs Mark - it is very frustrating ha! I am reading the third book now and loving it - I think the next one is out in May??
I haven't read any Tana French books yet but would like to as she has been highly recommended.
Have got Faithful Place on my amazon wish list - is this a good place to start?

You can start with faithful place. It is the best one of the series. You don't have to read them in order as the characters don't really repeat although I would read #1 (In the Woods) before reading #2 (The Likeness) Tana French and S.J. Bolton have a similar style of writing but S.J. Bolton is much darker while Tana French more fully develops her characters.

I'm torn now Tim! Have added In the Woods to my wish list and will probably go for that first as I feel like I should go with the first one in the series (maybe price wars will decide for me!!).
I love Bolton's style - I like that Lacey is strong but vulnerable (if that makes sense) - I love her sessions with the psychiatrist when she thinks she's got one over on them and I love the mysteries she solves. It is certainly a bit bleak in places but with a dash of humour and a tiny winking eye Lacey is awesome. Yes procedurally her books are flawed but she is one of my faves for sure.

Tana French isn't perfect either. The first two are flawed in some way. People either love or hate the first book and the plot in the second is ridiculous. Actually, the stories in the first two French novels are very similar to the first two Bolton novels.

I just read Dead Scared and I am left puzzled really.


Was there anything more about exactly how many were in the murderers gang?

What was the motive for each of them? How did their group form?

How did they stun the victims at the early stages?

Not every victim was room-mate of Taliath, then how did they access them so easily?

Was Megan actually killed? If so, then why?


I mean I followed the pages again and again but I felt lots of things were left unexplained and unresolved. The ending felt like the author had some close deadline. I am head over heels fan of S J Bolton's Now You See Me. It is one of my all time favourite thrillers but this one felt kind of unresolved. May be it is my fault. It would be really great if anyone helps me!

Titas (Emperor) wrote: "I just read Dead Scared and I am left puzzled really.


Was there anything more about exactly how many were in the murderers gang?

What was the motive for each of them? How did their group form? ..."

I think I can answer two of those questions- The maintenance man Tom, was the original leader of the group. I just assumed he add access to all of their rooms, even those in the different colleges.

Yes, Meg was murdered. She might have caught on that her lover was accessing her computer, or maybe he was afraid that she and Evi would finally figure it out.

There was a gap in what happened to Evie, the plotline involving harry, did I miss anything? About her patient dying and Harry the vicar. Also what was the significance of the fir cones? And the bone man?