On The Same Page discussion

In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect--a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.

Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases--a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea's surprise, Beth says yes.

They meet regularly at Beth's mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she's not looking, and she could swear she's seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn't right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?



The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

I'm reading along this month!! I've been sooooooo excited about this book!

I read last year. Not ordinarily my thing but I really enjoyed it. I'm going to see if I can fit "Cases" in this month.

Not sure if I will fit this in this month (library list pretty long), but St. James is one of my favorite writers. I believe I've read all but one of her books (not counting this newest). I'm definitely looking forward to reading at some point.

I just finished this book the other night and OMG was I hooked from page one!!! This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year because Simone St. James is one of my favorite authors. I read The Broken Girls and The Sun Down Motel. I loved the plot and characters of The Book of Cold Cases. I thought Beth and Shea were great characters. Beth was kind of an unreliable characters and did not know if she was telling the truth or not.

I will wait to talk more about it when others had read it so I am not spoiling anything

I finished. I gave it 4 stars. The story was spooky... especially that last chapter before Part 2, gave me chills!!! Here's the one part I struggled with that kept it from being 5 stars - (view spoiler)[the ghost of Bsth's sister. While i could get there was a ghost haunting the house, I felt it was a little too far thst she would throw Shea over the cliff. (hide spoiler)] Other than that, i really liked the story.

Here's an interview Goodreads did with the author:

Simone St. James, author of The Book of Cold Cases

Goodreads: Summarize your new novel in a couple of sentences.

Simone St. James: A true-crime blogger gets an invitation to interview a woman accused and acquitted of being a serial killer in the 1970s. When the two women meet, the truth will come out, and so will a lot of secrets, some of which are still haunting the present.

GR: What sparked the idea for it?

SSJ: I love true crime, and I wondered what would happen if you had a terrifying serial killer who was a woman. It changes everything about the story. And what if the person interviewing the killer is a woman, too? The dynamic would be so different. So I explored where that would go.

GR: Who are some of your all-time-favorite mystery and thriller writers?

SSJ: Gillian Flynn, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Tana French, Michael Connelly, Susan Elia MacNeal, Riley Sager. I could go on and on.

GR: What are some new mysteries you've been enjoying and recommending to friends? 

SSJ: Who Is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews and A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham.

GR: What's one unsolved mystery you can’t get out of your head?

SSJ: I’d love to see the Zodiac case solved. Whoever he was, he’s probably dead now, so we’ll never get to interview him. There are so many questions we’ll never have answers to. It’s definitely a mystery I can’t get out of my head.
 
Link to full article --> https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...

Jennifer, i found some discussion questions. Would you like me to post them?

That would be excellent, Lindsey! Thank you!

1. There are multiple instances where Beth’s looks are used against her during the investigation and media coverage of the Lady Killer murders. What do you think the author is trying to say about a woman’s looks and how they relate to victimhood?

2. Think about how the Greer mansion is described in the novel. What do you think the mansion’s construction symbolizes?

3. The novel explores the case of a female serial killer. Why do you think the author chose to write about a serial killer who is a woman?

4. Why do you think Beth and Detective Black believe Shea is the only one who can solve this case? Do you think there are similarities between Beth and Shea that influence them? What are your thoughts on the parallels between Beth and Shea?

5. How do you think Shea’s time with Beth and diving deeper into the Lady Killer case helped her in her own life? Why do you think this is?

6. Discuss the note Am I bitter or am I sweet? Ladies can be either. This comes up various times in the novel. How do you interpret this phrase, and how do you think it influences the characters and their actions?

7. The novel shows the relationships between Beth and her family and Shea and her family. How would you compare these relationships? How do you think they have shaped Beth and Shea either positively or negatively, if at all?

8. Do you think that Beth Greer is a murderer? What is influencing your opinion?

9. Think about the ghosts in the novel. What do you think motivates them to stay around? Do you think they are good or were evil?

10. Thinking of your answer to the previous question, what is your interpretation of the ending?

11. Beth and Shea both face struggles in taking control of their own lives. Even though their circumstances are different, what do you think the author is trying to tell us about female autonomy with these two characters?

This book sounds so good. I am trying to fit it in this month, but not sure I can. Like the Interview with Simone St. James. Probably, will read this in May.

Lindsey wrote: "2. Think about how the Greer mansion is described in the novel. What do you think the mansion’s construction symbolizes?"

In my personal opinion I think that the house symbolizes how cold and unloved not only the house, but the family is. Beth's mother decorated the house and it shows she only picks the stuff to keep up the appearance that they are good family and that nothing is wrong.

Good point, Mary!