QUESTIONS FOR BOOKCLUBS
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The Pale Horse
- Is it possible that the abuse and psychological damage Trish Montgomery suffered as a child was sufficient cause for her to commit murder?
- If Trish Montgomery already knew or suspected that her husband had been unfaithful, why did she do nothing about it until she received a letter confirming his infidelity? Why would the receipt of a Dear Jane letter trigger such a strong reaction in her?
- Is being psychologically and sexually abused as a child a justifiable defence for committing murder?
- What in her background or psyche could have led Trish Montgomery to become a serial killer? How could she kill people she had no personal connection with? How could she get a thrill from not only planning but also committing multiple murders? What might have been going on in her mind as she did so?
- Does Larry Potter’s decision to initiate his own investigation into the murder of Clement Montgomery, in an effort to prove Trish’s innocence, ring true? Is it reasonable for Larry to have potentially placed his new wife’s murder enquiry and career at risk to help Trish? Would anyone risk jeopardizing their marriage to a person they loved to help a friend?
- What about Geoffrey Brown. Could his feelings for Trish Montgomery have been strong enough for him to kill on her behalf? What sort of inner conflict might Brown have felt as he and Trish planned Hall’s murder, and he carried it out?
- If she was a serial killer, could Trish have achieved a sufficient post-murder high after planning Hall’s murder and then listening to Brown’s cut-by-cut description of the event?
- Is Larry’s relationship with Jenna realistic? Would he keep aspects of his efforts to prove Trish’s innocence a secret from his wife? Would Jenna have made a conscious decision not to question Larry about his actions?
- Would Larry put himself at risk of physical harm in his quest to prove Trish’s innocence?
- Would the near death of Larry and the lasting physical scars he was left with be sufficient to stop Trish from killing again, if she was in fact the murderer, and her actions had led to Larry’s injuries?
Revelation of the Black Horse
- Biblical scholars have postulated that the scales carried by the rider of the black horse in Revelation represent famine or justice. Which do you believe applies to Revelation of the Black Horse?
- Is it feasible that the love Martha Henry feels for her Westie, and is beginning to feel for Adam Carlson, is a strong enough force to quell her demons? Is she capable of finding happiness through love?
- Could Adam Carlson and Martha Henry’s relationship endure over the long term, given Martha’s past and the secrets she is unable to share with him?
- Is the UK justice system correct in considering that temporary insanity, whether stemming from sexual abuse suffered as a child or another source, is sufficient grounds for a murderer to be awarded an absolute discharge by the court?
- Can scripture ever be used to justify illegal actions, such as stoning an adulteress or applying the sword of righteousness to a person’s neck?
- Is Thelma Weller a believable character? Is her religious zealotry a ruse, or could she actually believe that the scriptures justify her actions?
- The trial by one’s peers or judge alone system of justice used in Canada and the UK requires guilt to be proved beyond the shadow of a doubt before an individual can be convicted of committing a crime. Is it a fair system? Did Timothy Linquist receive a fair trial?
- Did Judge Mark’s err when she allowed the defence to call Dr. Clifton Bishop in Timothy Linquist’s murder trial, given that his research had not been subjected to vigorous peer review?
- Will Larry Potter and Jenna Lawson’s mutual decision to inform the DI investigating the Weller murder of Martha Henry’s past have an impact on their marriage? What prompted them to do it?
