Books,books&BOOKS. discussion

This is for Holly and Pamela:)

"They'd been on the train for five hours before Arlen Wagner saw the first of the dead men. ..."

An interesting first sentence to a story that slowly opens up with a clue here and there to guide you ... talk of veterans, being together for several months ... "a good hitch." ... language that leads to the conclusion that Arlen is something more than he seems on the train heading to Florida.

I was quite taken by the first sentence and right away knew (if I hadn't already read it in the reviews) that this book is going to be a thriller and is tied to the supernatural. Its not something I generally reach for when looking for a good book to read but I was hooked.

What about the description/lead into the book caused you to want to read this? Was there something that caught your eye right away?

Its interesting because eventually you find out that the setting is 1930s Florida -- I wasn't expecting that. I somehow expected this to be current times. Were you surprised?

By the way, Holly, I'm reading this on a kindle, so I'm about 5 percent/chapter 4 in the book so far.

Okay, I'll have to catch up to you then.

I'm only on Chapter 2, but I'm already hooked!!!!

I read what it was about and was instantly intrigued. I love novels like these. Plus I really love the cover; it's very pretty.

Read up for 9 percent of the book and the vibes are definitely getting dark and ominous.

Just wanted to let you know that I finished it today. I just couldn't put it down! I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did, and I can't wait to discuss it with you!

Oh. I was pacing myself so I didn't get so far ahead of you! Normally, I finish books, on average, in three days, so I've been reading other books. Fished up Jeffery Deaver's "The Twelfth Card," and just started the Tanya French's "In the Woods," which is very good.

Finished the book and it was better than I expected, although I could have done without the paranormal and I think the book would have worked out as well. Some people have a good sense of when something bad is about to happen and I think writing Arlen as just having that would have worked as well.

But I do have questions:
If Rebecca was so strong, why did she not realize that her plan was not going to work for her and her brother any better than it did for her father?

If Arlen was so strong,why did he sleep with Rebecca, especially knowing how Paul felt for her? It sets up a love triangle that you just knew would end badly -- as it did -- and I could have almost guaranteed that Paul would return, and betray them. Only thing I didn't expect is that he would be smart enough to go to the feds. I thought he would go to Wade.

Didn't you think that Arlen should have died in the end? It would have been a much truer ending -- this was too positive.