When the story opens, Mick Stranahan, in self-defense, stabs an unknown assailant who is trying to shoot him at his stilt house. Why does he not call the police? Is he afraid that this will generate even more unwelcome publicity as to his whereabouts, or is there something in his past that makes him suspicious of the police department from which he was forced to resign? Discuss the ramifications of Stranahan's actions.

In the original investigation into the disappearance of Victoria Barletta, both Stranahan and Gavigan miss the significance of the fact that a tree trimmer and his wood chipper were on the scene. What is the justification, four years later, of this being missed in the first investigation? Discuss whether this is the result of hindsight and whether an attempt on the life of one of the investigators changes the whole picture.

Among...