Convicted discussion

Personally I would have rather have seen Claire move on with Harry. I don't believe I could have ever forgave Tony and moved on with him.

Having said that, I'm not Claire and I know other people have managed to salvage relationships that were at one time quite abusive.

There is ONE thing that really and truly bothers me about what happened and about Claire.

Claire thinks Tony may have MURDERED HER PARENTS but yet she forgives him for this and even remarries him while not knowing! This does not seem realistic to me at all. Plus she thinks he's murdered other people besides her own parents.

I could understand her moving on with him and forgiving him of the things he did to her personally (although I wouldn't have done it) but I can't fathom being willing to try to make a relationship work without knowing for sure that he didn't murder all those people.

I'm also really disappointed that Claire didn't get revenge on Tony. Sure her book was released but at that point she didn't want it to be. I wanted Tony to suffer at Claire's hands and it didn't happen! :'(

Mrsbooks wrote: "Personally I would have rather have seen Claire move on with Harry. I don't believe I could have ever forgave Tony and moved on with him.

Having said that, I'm not Claire and I know other peopl..."

I understand your thoughts on this matter. AND I agree with them even though the not so good part of my soul loves Tony. I think though that in the book, even though he wanted them dead because of Catherine he was not the one responsible for their death. The thought was there but he never actually carried it through. One can argue that the thought of one's husband even considering the murder of one's parents is certainly enough to be a turn-off and that is a valid point. But with books such as this one, I can suspend reality for a few hours or days and not feel indignant because it is not really happening. I have much bigger issues with the book such as how drawn out their story was. The 360 degrees turn-around of Tony----he became a wimp overnight---which was not attractive. Claire's birthing process was laughable.

Paula wrote: "Mrsbooks wrote: "Personally I would have rather have seen Claire move on with Harry. I don't believe I could have ever forgave Tony and moved on with him.

Having said that, I'm not Claire and I..."

My beef, I guess isn't so much that he may have wanted all these people dead (maybe it should be though? Lol) but Claire thought he was responsible when she decided to forgive him and move on.

At that time she didn't know he hadn't killed those people but assumed he had. My imagination let's me get beyond her forgiving him all that other crap but I can't fathom this one.

Such a simple thing the writer could have made her get over it AFTER she found out he wasn't responsible for her parents murder. I don't know, perhaps it was a way to show exactly how much Claire loved Tony? Didn't work for me though. It only made me think she was crazier than having Stockholm syndrome.

Paula wrote: "Mrsbooks wrote: " I agree with them even though the not so good part of my soul loves Tony..."

LOL... me too. I was team Tony from the start of book 2

But IRL I would never have been able to be with someone like that.

I had such a hard time with this!

I think the fact that I have yet to read "Behind His Eyes" is a testament to the fact that I am not completely Team Tony. I don't really care how he feels at the moment, that man is LUCKY and Claire I feel is kind of loopy. There's a whole lot of Stockholm syndrome going on there.

Aside from the whole- kidnap and rape thing [which I am not belittling in the least] there's the whole- "Go spend some quiet time in jail- thing! The hits just keep coming with them! I couldn't believe it!!! Then after EVERYTHING [including a mental breakdown]- they end up mostly happy ever after? It was brutal to try and wrap my head around, while I loved the writing and depth of the story... to call myself Team Tony..... I just can't do it.

Tony was too bad, and Harry was too perfect... there needed to be some kind of other resolution in there to get me over Harry. Dare I make a Twilight reference, and believe me, I'm beating myself up so you don't have to do it for me. I was completely Team Jake- but they gave me a reason to be okay with how things turned out. And Harry going back to the other woman just wasn't good enough for me. How can anyone make that kind of a decision more difficult than it needs to be?!?!

I had these same delusions with Ana and Christian- and I doubt I would pay any money to be in either of these women's heads... but seriously... after what he did to her INTENTIONALLY, she can forgive? I don't think that's strength of character or strength at all.... I would say it's still basically fear.

Claire had the PERFECT opportunity to kick Tony in the nads... and I wanted it SO BAD!!! She got one up on him, albeit with Catherine's help, and with he book, but she was such a baby- and then HE was such a baby!!!! I couldn't believe it! Just *poof* Tony's a pussy..... at least Christian kept his man card while trying to learn how to not be a total asshat.

That instant turn around for Tony also made me hate him a bit more, because at that moment it became fairly obvious that he CHOSE to act that way- he didn't have to learn or adjust his behavioural habits. Dick.

I also agree that it took FOREVER to get to the point of these, while the anticipation of trying to figure out what the hell was going on was something that my brain loves.... I often had to put the book down and just breathe- because I felt like they would never end.

All in all- like everyone has said- I am not Claire... I likely would have tunnelled out of the room and killed him in his sleep TBH, but that's me. My mind wanted so bad for her to show him... TRULY show him what it's like to be puppeteered [is that a word?] but she didn't. She could've answered the phone and destroyed him... THAT would have made the perfect opportunity for him to redeem himself to ALL of us by finding her, and not stopping until he did, and having nothing and being nothing and wanting nothing but her and the baby.... make him have to forgive HER!!

Ultimately, I wanted his head and heart on a platter... I wanted him to beg and plead and crawl across the coals... bit alas- my bloodthirst was unquenched... and I still hate him, and her a bit.

Agreed. The rant I could write about this series.....

HAHA you hit so many things that I had a difficult time relating to too.

It's not that I'm NOT Team Tony, I'm just not on Team Tony either. I think I totally could have been, if my desire for revenge had have been met. I know that's not a good basis for a relationship, therefore not very realistic. It would be difficult enough to get past all the abuse but when you add more things like revenge to the pile it's definitely not good relationship material, but it wasn't from the start anyways.

First off when she gets back from Prison and she acts all riled up and ready for revenge and one of the FIRST things she does is contact the reporter to get her to print a retraction and apologize, while announcing a future interview exposing him??!!?? What the hell??? Seriously?

If he had left me rot in prison like her I would have been FUMING. So when she did that, I was so upset. What person who really and truly wanted to get even and expose someone, would give them a heads up about it? Especially when she felt he was so omnipotent. If it were me, I'd have contacted a reporter, been video taped, sent to different stations and a whole butt load of internet websites BEFORE he even knew I was released from prison. ARGH, I was so irritated with her lol.

And I guess that's my problem. I can't relate. She obviously didn't REALLY want to get revenge right from the start. She was mad and very hurt, but that was it. Which makes no sense especially when she suspects he murdered her parents!?!

Had she exposed who he truly was and what he did and had he learned from it, I could have moved on with her. Obviously, of course, after knowing for sure he didn't kill all those people. But I couldn't go with it because it felt like he changed so quickly and without cause.

I totally agree when you said she was weak. As I was reading Tony and he was talking about those times that Clare showed such strength, I didn't get it. Not at all.

I also couldn't fathom her lack of attempts to escape at the beginning. I personally don't really want to read such gruesome details about rape and abuse but because they were lacking, I think that contributed to my not understanding her.

Catherine came in all the time with food and sometimes another server did. Not once did she try to tackle these people and escape. I remember reading and being astonished that she didn't even think about trying the windows until the second or third day!!

Mrsbooks wrote: "Tony was too bad, and Harry was too perfect"

But that was just it, Harry was TOO perfect. Because EVERYTHING about him was a lie. Harry wasn't really "Harry" and having read all 6 books and having every thing come out proves it to me even more. His whole persona was lie because he was on the job. He even had another woman that was waiting for him and a child that he had abandoned. And yes, you can spin it in a romantic way but he abandoned his child. And I think his affair with Claire was more a game, a challenge. I truly do not think that he was invested in her as a potential life partner. Even when he thought the baby was his, something just struck me as off. And what I took away from the last 3 books, in my mind, confirmed it. I just can't see him as a romantic hero.

Peggy wrote: "
But that was just it, Harry was TOO perfect. Because EVERYTHING about him was a lie. Harry wasn't really "Harry" and having read all 6..."

I totally agree. I just finished reading the last 3 books and Harry was kind of a jerk. I think he was attracted to Claire but nothing would have lasted from them ending up together.

But then again since the 2nd book Truth I have been Team Tony.

Michelle wrote: "Peggy wrote: "
But that was just it, Harry was TOO perfect. Because EVERYTHING about him was a lie. Harry wasn't really "Harry" and having read all 6..."

I totally agree. I just finished reading t..."

When I read Consequences I had hoped this wouldn't turn into a romance, as those seem so common. I thought maybe it would dally with that thought and then turn into some sort of awesome thriller and have it end with Claire killing Tony or something like that. As I read Truth, it became apparent that wasn't going to happen. It was also obvious that Harry wasn't going to be the "Hero" of the story, as much as I may have wanted him to be.

Because of the obviousness of where the story was going, I didn't really entertain my thoughts too much by imagining Harry as the guy who would save the day and claim Claire's love. So the thoughts I have on Harry are sort of vague because I wasn't focused on him.

My impression though was that he started an interest in Claire because of her story and his job. But then he fell in love. I can't hold against him his initial interest. In the end it's really moot. Especially if we don't hold Tony's initial interest in Claire against him. If Tony can be forgiven for his interest when it was so morbid then why not Harry for something not even morbid, like his job?

I did also at times find Harry to be a bit of a jerk but I totally understood where he was coming from. I actually thought he was far more tolerant and patient with Claire than I ever could have dreamed of being. I would like to say that if I had a friend who went through such horrific things that I would be able to support them, comfort them, encourage them, help them, etc. I know I would definitely try my best. But if my friend continually went back and put herself in a position to experience all that again... I think I would have to cut the friendship off to save my own sanity.

Is it a sign of love to stay and watch your friend dig their grave deeper? Or is it a sign of love when you are unable to bare watching because their pain is your pain and you can't stand by and watch them make the same mistakes? I become so consumed by the people I love, when they are in pain, I'm in pain. Sometimes their story feels like my story.

Yes I thought Harry was kind of jerkish and in the same breath, in those exact same instances, I thought he was a saint.

@ Mrsbooks - Have you read all 6 books?

Peggy wrote: "@ Mrsbooks - Have you read all 6 books?"

I've read them all except Convicted: The Missing Years. I'll read it eventually though. I'm just finding it difficult now that I already know how everything ends. I devoured the first 3 within days though lol. Its definitely a riveting story.

Mrsbooks wrote: "Peggy wrote: "@ Mrsbooks - Have you read all 6 books?"

I've read them all except Convicted: The Missing Years. I'll read it eventually though. I'm just finding it difficult now that I already know..."

The missing years does go beyond what we already read ;)

Michelle wrote: "Mrsbooks wrote: "Peggy wrote: "@ Mrsbooks - Have you read all 6 books?"

I've read them all except Convicted: The Missing Years. I'll read it eventually though. I'm just finding it difficult now th..."

Does it really? I thought it was Tony's impression or thoughts during the book Convicted?

Mrsbooks wrote: "Does it really? I thought it was Tony's impression or thoughts during the book Convicted?."

YES... it was one of the best books of the whole series and it actually has 4 POVs - Tony, Harry, John and the PI guy(can't think of his name)

Michelle wrote: "Mrsbooks wrote: "Does it really? I thought it was Tony's impression or thoughts during the book Convicted?."

YES... it was one of the best books of the whole series and it actually has 4 POVs - To..."

Oh goodie! Lol. I can't wait to read it now.

Mrsbooks wrote: I've read them all except Convicted: The Missing Years. I'll read it eventually though. I'm just finding it difficult now that I already know..."

That is what I was thinking, lol. Read that last book, it will give you a whole new outlook on Harry. You get Harry's background along with more in site on his involvement with Claire's case. Plus some other goodies. I also read this as you haven't read #1.5 and #2.5. You really need to read those too. They are not just a rehash of the first 3. I mean, they are the same story from Tony's POV but there is new info in there too.
Book #4 is my favorite in the series though cause it is where it ALL came out about everyone and everything. It really pieces the whole story together. That it is why Aleatha decided to make it a full book and not just another 'Behind His Eyes' novella.

Can anyone touch on who the presumed female at the end of Convicted is, sending the packages to Nichol Rawls? I'm not sure if I missed additional clues at some point or if it was intentionally left vague, but it's been bothering me not knowing.

You need to read the next book then! lol

Michelle wrote: "Peggy wrote: "
But that was just it, Harry was TOO perfect. Because EVERYTHING about him was a lie. Harry wasn't really "Harry" and having read all 6..."

I totally agree. I just finished reading t..."

Yea, I actually did not like Harry. Also, I much preferred Tony with all his flaws (and he had some major ones) to Claire. I could not stand Claire some times and I have never not support a woman in any of these cases before.

Janny wrote: "Can anyone touch on who the presumed female at the end of Convicted is, sending the packages to Nichol Rawls? I'm not sure if I missed additional clues at some point or if it was intentionally left..."

You need to read #1.5, #2.5 and #4. They will give the answers. :)

The fact that we wrestle so much with these fictional decisions is testimony to the great writing of this author.

In real life people make crazy decisions we could never fathom making ourselves. Some people forgive things we believe we could never forgive... Other people do not forgive what we consider no-brainers!!! That is life.... THIS was great fiction!