2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

There are numerous suspects in this installment - Anthony Ledger (Ashworth), Sir Francis Rowe, Hector Kneebone (the actor), Icarus Cantrall (the Professor/fence), Leigh Filby (the Reverend), Comte de Brienne and Sinclair Pugh (the MP). What did you think of their characters and did you have a primary suspect or guess the killer?

I never really suspected the Reverend ( at least I hoped he wasn't involved) and I wasn't too sure about Cantrell but he was never really a serious consideration for me. The rest however I thought were low scumbags and couldn't decide who I wanted to be guilty more. Probably Ashworth because I didn't want Stephanie to have to marry him. I admit though that I didn't consider there were TWO murderers.

I actually suspected the Reverend for a while thinking that the killer had to have had knowledge of the children and their habits. However, I ruled him out once it became clear that Toby (and Paddy before him) was the Judas Child luring the children to the killers.

I ruled out the Professor very quickly as well as the actor and de Brienne seemed so disgusted with de Sade's writings that I also dismissed him. I kept thinking that Ashworth was too obvious so my main suspect was Rowe. I was half right as I also didn't think there were two.

I have noticed that in all the books they always point to Jarvis as a suspect or thinking that he is behind the crimes. I actually thought the suspect was Ashworth. I didnt guess Rowe but he was so terrible. Well all of them were terrible men. I didnt suspect there were two suspects either.

I was hoping that Ashworth was the suspect so that Sebastian would prove to his sister and Stephanie that he was right about what a terrible man he was. That would prevent Stephanie in marrying him.

Stephanie being pregnant would complicate things. She would've had to be sent off "to visit relatives" or something to have the baby in secret. There's no way she would be able to remain in London throughout her pregnancy w/o a husband. And then keeping the baby would likely have been out of the question. Though perhaps Sebastian and Hero could've adopted it?

In addition to the two culprits, I also suspected Pugh until he turned up too soon the be a "viable" suspect.

Charlene wrote: "In addition to the two culprits, I also suspected Pugh until he turned up too soon the be a "viable" suspect."

I really wasn't expecting Pugh's demise. I thought Harris would sting him along more as a suspect.

Did Pugh kill himself or was that Jarvis' hand at work? I already can't remember.

Yes he killed himself but Jarvis drove him to it by threatening to expose his visits to the brothel.

Ah, okay, thanks. I knew Jarvis had a role in it somehow, lol.

Like all of you, I never considered two culprits until it started to dawn on Sebastian. I toyed with Reverend Filby for awhile but he just didn't match the physical description and I finally resolved that the person would have to be projecting a malevolent spirit or aura and he certainly didn't. I was convinced it was Ashworth because he was completely devoid of any morality or compassion. I wasn't sure about Comte de Brienne but he stayed on my list. Rowe was on there, too but maybe in second or third place.

I never considered the Professor. He had too many children at his beck and call and wouldn't need to covertly snatch them. And, he seemed to be harboring them. Kneebone just didn't seem to have the stomach or resources to pull this off.

Ashworth was definitely the one I most wanted to be guilty.

Jonetta, since you just read the book and it's fresh in your mind, was there any indication that Stephanie was wholly consensual in giving herself to Ashworth? The more I consider it, the more likely it seems to me that he ended up taking what Stephanie wasn't completely ready to give. Like maybe she tried to halt things but he was past any point of accepting that she had changed her mind - and then she had no choice but to accept his proposal.

Honestly? That was my thinking immediately upon learning she was pregnant. Never did I get the sense that she had any strong feelings for him. In fact, the way she was tearing through Hyde Park on that horse had me thinking she was looking to be in an accident. I will not be surprised if we later learn this creep forced himself upon her.

It would most definitely be his style. The creep.

Interesting. While I wouldn't put it past him to force her, the impression I got was that her mother encouraged her to sleep with him and perhaps even get pregnant so he would marry her.

Lauren wrote: "Interesting. While I wouldn't put it past him to force her, the impression I got was that her mother encouraged her to sleep with him and perhaps even get pregnant so he would marry her."

I'm more inclined to this belief as well Lauren. It felt like Amanda would do anything to earn social status.

I wanted to be Ashworth so it would prevent the marriage to Stephanie. It never crossed my mind there might be more than one murderer.