Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

The first thirteen chapters:
Chapters GRaCeFULLY:September 5th through Facebook:September 15
The first poster(s) please post a short summary to guide the discussion.

Well this segment was a bit difficult to define, I really wish publishers provided discrete numbers for chapters even when the titles are names identifying the person or type of conversation as they are here.
We start with gRaCeFULLY September 5th - which is some sort of gossipy newsletter and eavesdrop on a text exchange between Amelia and Ben, an exchange where Ben is explaining how he came out as gay.

Kate October 24 From an intense meeting with a client of her law firm, Kate is called out to her daughter Amelia's exclusive school to pick her up from being suspended. Limited details on the phone lead her to worry about what could be going on, Amelia is a good student who never gets in trouble. What is happening with this out of character situation, and why are the police and ambulances at the school. Whose booted feet are lying on the ground? this segment really started building up a feeling of dread as I read and Kate neared the school finally after a horrendous amount of traffic, I couldn't help wondering if the delay was a factor in any of the events

gRaCeFULLY September 12 more gossip and innuendos. I recommend reading these gRaCeFULLY sections again, I am getting a lot more out of them in hindsight, this is one of the times that the out of order revelations are especially confusing to recap

Amelia September 14 Sophomore year, walking to school in New York City, Amelia and Sylvia discuss boys, and life, they have been best friends for years, but boys and events are pulling them apart. This dialogue really rings true to me.

Kate September 5 1997 Kate finding out that she is pregnant while she is in law school after a "summer of bad decisions".

Kate November 24 Kate goes back to work after four weeks off and after climbing the walls alone. Her reflections on motherhood are tinged with guilt and panic on how she is going to survive without Amelia, they were very close, the opposite of Kate's relationship with her own mother, Gretchen.
Kate starts going further off the rails when she received texts about Amelia not killing herself and attacking Kate - all anonymously sent and starting Kate on a path she had shied away from, finding out the truth and pushing back at the police and their investigation.

We end with Amelia September 14 Amelia, getting invited to a meeting in the park after school to potentially join a group of girls called the Magpies. Amelia knows this is probably a bad idea, but she is curious and intrigued by one of the members, and wonders why they selected her.

This is one very strange story. It has me thinking all different things. I think a school like that you expect certain types if groups. Kind of being back in the old days. Not one of those types of groups being one of the so called outsiders. Knowing not to trust and thing that anyone in those groups say.
I'm liking this his book so far.
Again what is it with these books that don't have regular chapter number headings.
The in between newsletter or Facebook bits if you want to call them seem like they would be important.

DJ it's very good to see you picking up the book. I really liked it. The Facebook and newsletter snippets between named chapters were used by the author to change point of view and to divide segments of the book. I didn't realize it at first so didn't group the chapters for conversation to take full advantage of that. I found out that it is a good idea to pay attention to the content of those filler details.
Looking forward to your comments!

I just ordered it from the library - I'm hoping it's in soon!

That is good to hear, Jill. I am looking forward to your comments!
Jill wrote: "I just ordered it from the library - I'm hoping it's in soon!"

I am finally getting to this book, and am about halfway throught. I agree about the confusing organization, Ann, and it's even worse with listening to it. I saw your chapter headings but as I rarely remember a heading once I'm past it, can't use it to help. Plus the way it jumps back and forth in time and in voice (which isn't a bad thing, just makes it harder to keep track) I'm never quite sure. But I figure now I can start reading the threads and posting.

There was not much suspense for me, but certainly dread, as Kate got the call and started making her way to the school. Given the premise of the book I knew things were not going to end well with this excursion. But I kept imagining the horror that Kate was about to be immersed in, and that added to the dread.

Ann wrote: "Well this segment was a bit difficult to define, I really wish publishers provided discrete numbers for chapters even when the titles are names identifying the person or type of conversation as the..."

I also agree with Ann about the Gracefully sections being important. I already have my theory about who the author is. I finally went to Amazon to use their "Look Inside" feature to remind myself of two things. (1) on what date did Amanda die (October 24) and (2) whether she had ever met Ben F2F and if not how he came to be in her life (he applied to the same Princeton summer program she did and he asked for a list of the names of others who had applied, and he contacted her. They have not met.

Anyway, I read the first Gracefully post and wish I could flip through to re-read the others, but at this point I will just pay more attention when they appear.

Thanks, Ann for the summaries. SO helpful with this kind of book, especially coming in after everyone else has finished.

Carol: this is a book that really stuck with me and I am glad to see your comments. I remember the feeling of dread from this first segment particularly.
I can relate to Kate in many ways in the situations in which she finds herself - stuck in traffic and challenged between work and home situations that both require her attention. Looking back today I still get chills.

Ann, glad to hear you enjoyed it. I have to confess I spent the first section of the book thinking "I am never going to read another book about a teen's death or involvement in death." It brought back memories of The Secret Place and others like that, and I've realized that I just don't enjoy spending that much time in a teenager's world, LOL.

We'll see if I have the same opinion when I finish.

Carol: yes, I wholehearted agree with not always loving a story from a teenage point of view. I suppose those that do resonate with my own experiences or observed experienced are easier to get into. I look forward to your thoughts at the end too!

Kate's isolation and cadre of mostly work related friends is sometimes typical I think (sadly) when someone like a high powered lawyer works as much as Kate. The friends pre-work or outside of work tend to fade away.
Kate really needed friends.