Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Spoilers welcome on this thread for
Part Three The Faust Dialectic - three chapters
If the first to post could provide a brief summary to guide the discussion it is appreciated!

Chapter one The Dream Stealers
Derek has run away, leaving a tear stained note that doesn't mention Ambyr, only Lucas. This is a shock to Lucas and Ambyr but had been foreshadowed by LT and Clarissa's conversations with Derek at dinner where it seemed he knew more about the disappearances and had plans to move on.
LT and Ambyr's mutual attraction heats up and becomes more physical. How to protect the Kurtz siblings is the business at hand, taking them to Shiloh to stay until the media circus and danger pass. LT and Mike's suspicions about Derek's involvement in the disappearances grow.
The sniper who shot at LT, Lucas and Marcianna on the mountain appears to be stalking Curtis Kolmback, (the CSI tech who worked all five cases) with intent to prevent leaks about what is becoming more apparent is a very high level conspiracy. Frank Mangold still seems to hate LT and Mike, or at least what they do, but increasingly seems to be as confused by what is going on as LT , Mike and Mitch McCarron.

Chapter two The Varieties of Appetite
Shiloh, the mountain farm home of Clarissa Jones, and of LT and Mike's hanger and vintage plane headquarters becomes a hive of investigative activity. Ambyr and Lucas join in on the search for clues to the people behind the murders and of Derek. Marcianna adapts to Ambyr visiting her enclosure with LT and accepts her without any aggression. LT is smitten and Ambyr is aggressive and physical. (Not sure how I feel about that)
Suspects are elusive, but a jet setting couple from the city emerge as persons of interest. The Augustines seem to have potentially adopted on of the dead kids. (Under the table, not eligible for legal adoption.) Their natural child died under suspicious circumstances.
Curtis Kolmback wants to come in from hiding in the woods, but only to LT and Mike. Mitch and his state troopers try to protect him and LT and Mike, but the sniper gets to Curtis before he can talk. Another odd encounter with Frank Mangold. ADA Cathy Donovan also taunts our heros.

Chapter two continued....
LT decides to involve their SUNY students in the case to gain new perspective and must keep Lucas and Ambyr out of the loop. Mike originally wanted this exchange of ideas, now not so sure. He does already have full case notes to share.
The decision to include students in the investigation is a hard one to make. Four women, Colleen Burke from Boston, Vicky Ferrier from California, Linda Walker from the Bronx, and Meilien Hsueh from China; plus one male, Frankie Arquilla from Arizona. They have to decide on tbe spot to participate, and all or none of them.
And they all agree. With twenty-four hours to review the case reality sinks in, profilers don't get much time.
What would they think of the case, of Derek's involvement and a profile of his leader. LT has two profiles of his own to share with them, one a view he hopes not to have to reveal.
And then Ambyr overhears that they suspect Derek.

LT and Mike continue with their plan to go to NYC to meet the family who appear to have adopted the last male victim to try to find out what happened and who facilitated the adoption. But first, what new perspectives have the students uncovered? Locked in the plane again the next day, they are ready for their insights. The students have done quite a bit of research and have questions of LT including why he has a wild cheetah as his "pet". The throw-away children are another important topic. Frankie has personal insights. The students question Lucas's and Ambyr's being involved in the investigation work and LT's ability to remain objective as well as facts they think Mike and LT have missed. Unfortunately LT had not missed them, but had perhaps hoped he might be wrong. The students confirm his fears. The mummified boy had met with Derek, credit card records confirm it. Ambyr's credit card.

Chapter two......the discussions with the students is enlightening,for both sides. Frankie's own personal history as a throwaway child, his parents returned to Mexico; and one of the students is sure she has scooped LT. His somewhat detached revelation that he knew about Ambyr's involvement are quite a surprise to Mike and the students. and that he has known for a while .
I knew Ambyr's physical and cooing verbal interaction with LT rang a bit false, and sudden, but I don't know that I suspected her.
LT and Miket make plans to leave Ambyr in charge of Marcianna with Clarissa while they and Lucas go to NYC to interview people who knew the throwaway kids.

Chapter three "Incurable, In Each. The Wounds They Make"
The trip driving to NYC is full of evasive maneuvers when they find they are being followed, and by some serious people. Mike and LT are not able to talk freely about Ambyr with Lucas in the car but they determine that they need to lose their pursuers who appear to be Feds or cops and who are forcing Mike to continue the direction to NYC. They confront them, and Mike is shot. They manage to reverse direction back to Death's Head Hollow fear for the safety of Clarissa, Ambyr and Marcianna.
State troopers are there and Derek is dead, hanging from a tree. Ambyr is gone, a note left that she has been taken.

Lucas goes into a deep depression at the loss of his friend Derek and with Ambyr's being taken. Only Marcianna can break through to him. LT determines to go to the home of Kevin Meisner where he expects to find Ambyr. Kevin was the state hired driver who is in love with Ambyr.
The scene in Fletcher Hollow is a mix of dismal poverty and a well maintained farm and barn where Kevin and several men including Ambyr's uncle are not threatening to LT who finds Ambyr inside the farmhouse packing her very expensive wardrobe to flee with Kevin. The confrontation with Ambyr confirms she is not a captive but a willing participant in the adoption scheme that led to the four teen's deaths. She may care for LT, but she is not detered in her mission to esape and continue her work, explaining how the kids took their own lives and the coverup was to protect the covert business.

And to LT's horror while he was gone the sniper has struck and Marcianna has been shot protecting Mike and Clarissa and Lucas.
The sniper is the trooper who shot Latrell, and he is determined to kill LT even as he is dying from Marciannna's clawing his arm and hitting an artery. He is one more male in love with Ambyr and is shot by Frank Mangold, a surprising ally.
LT goes to one more confrontation with Cathy Donovan in the ADA's office. The smug district attorney attempts to weasel out of her predicament and Mangold makes sure LT sees Ambyr's manipulation. Tough love.
The healing for Lucas is aided by Marcianna, also recovering from her wounds. A satisfying end as the team of Gracie and Mike, LT and Lucas stick together contemplating life a century ago in Surrender and the meaning of life now.

Ann wrote: "Chapter two The Varieties of Appetite
Shiloh, the mountain farm home of Clarissa Jones, and of LT and Mike's hanger and vintage plane headquarters becomes a hive of investigative activity. Ambyr an..."

Thanks for taking over the summaries, Ann! It took me a while to pick back up listening, but i finally finished this morning.

I had the same reaction to Ambyr's aggressive pursuit of LT. It didn't sit right with me. I'm not sure if it's because I don't like that in general from women, or if I was feeling protective of LT.

Ann wrote: "LT and Mike continue with their plan to go to NYC to meet the family who appear to have adopted the last male victim to try to find out what happened and who facilitated the adoption. But first, wh..."

I loved this section where the students are brought in to analyze the case. it was fascinating to hear what their research uncovered and the theories they had as a result.

Ann wrote: " knew Ambyr's physical and cooing verbal interaction with LT rang a bit false, and sudden, but I don't know that I suspected her..."

Agreed. Rang false is a good way to put it. I was already not at ease at her and LT's relationship, but I think it was just because it seemed like such a stereotypical plot twist for this kind of book. Then when she got all "I'm so into you" and was pushing him into intimacy, I was rolling my eyes.

Unfortunately, I lost my place and listened ahead before I got oriented, and heard something that revealed she was a suspect. That was a bit of a downer (you know how I hate spoilers!).

Ann wrote: "She may care for LT, but she is not detered in her mission to esape and continue her work, explaining how the kids took their own lives and the coverup was to protect the covert business...."

Things got a little confusing plot-wise from here. Am I correct that Derek did not commit suicide but all the others did?

Ann wrote: "And to LT's horror while he was gone the sniper has struck and Marcianna has been shot protecting Mike and Clarissa and Lucas.
The sniper is the trooper who shot Latrell, and he is determined to k..."

This was another plot point that was revealed to me (Marcianna's shooting) ahead of time because of my casting about to find my place. That rarely happens to me but is the one down side of downloading the disks onto my iPod Shuffle.

Ann wrote: "LT goes to one more confrontation with Cathy Donovan in the ADA's office. The smug district attorney attempts to weasel out of her predicament and Mangold makes sure LT sees Ambyr's manipulation. .."

This is another plot point that eluded me in its unveiling. Was there a point, before the confrontation in the ADA's office, where LT explains that he thinks Donovan is behind everything? I seemed to have missed that, and all of a sudden they are heading to her office to confront her.

Ann wrote: " A satisfying end as the team of Gracie and Mike, LT and Lucas stick together contemplating life a century ago in Surrender and the meaning of life now. ..."

And contemplate the prospect of a new crime to solve. I wonder if there is a sequel in our future?

Lucas's outcome in terms of living with LT and Clarissa as a foster was predictable, but satisfying all the same.

Carol: I think that was the case. The group that profited off adopting out the teens under the table didn't want any loose ends related to the suicides of the victims so they covered them up and staged murders. Derek appears to have simply gotten in the way. Sad..
. Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Things got a little confusing plot-wise from here. Am I correct that Derek did not commit suicide but all the others did? "

I would welcome a sequel, Lucas's future life with LT would be fun to see
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "And contemplate the prospect of a new crime to solve. I wonder if there is a sequel in our future?
Lucas's outcome in terms of living with LT and Clarissa as a foster was predictable, but satisfying all the same. "