Book Club: In the Woods by Tana French – Week 3
Hosted by The Book Wheel and Love at First Book
Welcome to Week 3: March 17-23 Ch 13-19
Now it’s really getting good!!!
If you’re here, you have read Ch 13-19 of In the Woods, or are currently reading it!
Please go ahead and start (or continue) the conversation! Remember to come back to continue to respond to others who comment throughout the week (and month)! Write as much or as little as you please, and don’t forget to link your own blog if you have one!
Only post about 1-19, please! Spoilers totally allowed for the book up to those chapters, but no spoilers for the remainder of the book, please! Save those for the last post.
Haven’t finished Ch 13-19 yet? Come back when you’re done and join in the conversation!
Didn’t sign up to read with us? If you’re a quick reader, sign up here or just come join us when you want to!
Thanks for reading,
rscaglione.wordpress.com 
I finished the book last night so I have only one week to finish Sarahs Key for my in person book club group. It took me longer to get through In The Woods than I thought it would but overall enjoyed the book. It definitely is starting to pick up. I look forward to seeing whateveryone thinks when they are done! so what’s in store for next month? Hope you all continue the book club!
LikeLike
Good for you! I loved Sarah’s Key and I look forward to your review of it!
LikeLike
Thanks Allison, page 6 and I’m already in despair. Looks like I’ll need a full box of kleenex to finish Sarah’s Key. But there’s a certain “je ne sais quoi” that I love about this book already.
LikeLike
Yes, Kleenex is necessary with Sarah’s Key!
LikeLike
Allison and I decided on every other month, since it is a lot of planning for everyone involved! But we have some other events and things coming up in addition to book club!
LikeLike
Sounds like a good plan, I know it’s a lot of work. Hope to participate in the next one too, I love discussing books with you all.
LikeLike
Sarah’s Key was very good!
LikeLike
I am really enjoying Sarahs’ Key even though its heart breaking and I find myself screaming at the characters in 1942 trying to help them escape.
LikeLike
Totally heartbreaking!!!
LikeLike
OMG! Lots of screaming involved!
LikeLike
FINALLY this book is beginning to pick up. I am much more excited to read this last upcoming section than I have been any of the previous one simply because things are starting to come together. To be honest, though, I still have no idea what the motive is for Katy’s killing, and if there isn’t a link between the two murders than I am going to be frustrated simply because that particular storyline was a waste of my time and not the best approach. But we shall see.
I said in last week’s post that I really hope that Cassie and Adam/Rob don’t get together and THEY DID, which is so frustrating and creepy because of all of the comments about Cassie’s childish and familial qualities.
LikeLike
I have no idea what the motive for Katy’s murder is either, and I will also be frustrated if there’s no link between the two murders.
LikeLike
I agree! But the link between the two could be staged. Like someone who knew about the old murder made it seem like this one was connected. Thoughts?
LikeLike
I think the link could have been staged. If so, who do you think could have staged that link? Jonathan Devlin, Rob/Adam, Sandra, or someone else?
LikeLike
But I hadn’t thought of that before I saw your comment.
LikeLike
It’s more likely that it’s not staged but that it’s either actually linked or some strange coincidence.
LikeLike
Well, I don’t know who would have staged it. Someone framing Devlin? It was just another crazy thought to throw out there!
And I guess the “why” would be so that people look for the “old” killer, not someone younger.
LikeLike
I would be too!
LikeLike
I just finished it, but I won’t give anything away. I hated that I was wrong about Cassie and Adam/Rob sleeping together. It has just made the book almost painful to read. I am glad the case started coming together.
LikeLike
Rob’s just such a jerk for making it all about him. Cassie was more upset that she lost Rob as a friend, not that they weren’t getting married or something!
LikeLike
Rob just turned into a complete jerk. It’s kinda explained…but he murdered their friendship. So sad!
LikeLike
I found this part very difficult also. To be such close friends and then to throw it all away – especially when it seemed that the reasons were all in his mind.
LikeLike
It was painful and especially due to his and Cassie’s relationship being so beautiful!
LikeLike
OK now we’re cooking!
I’m glad to see all the plot threads picking up the pace (the old murder, the new murder, and the land use/motorway deal), but now I’m wondering if there’s any link between them or if that was just meant to confuse us. Adam/Rob’s night in the wood was intense but stopped short of revealing the murderer, which was frustrating — is that one going to be solved or not? And like Allison, I was really annoyed that Adam/Rob and Cassie got together — not surprisingly it’s really messed up their relationship.
But I’m really eager now to push through to the end of the book so I think I will do so!
LikeLike
I think we can all sigh a breath of relief now that something is actually happening and beginning to make sense!
LikeLike
I am eager to read the rest of the book too!
LikeLike
I wasn’t surprised they hooked up but I was mad at how immature Rob was after!!!! I can’t wait to finish the book already!
LikeLike
yea really, as unpredictable as the book was. Rob’s immature reaction to the one night stand was totally predictable. C’mon, can’t a male character have a different reaction than letting it get strange? I mean really, did he think he’s all that? Cassie can’t just want a one night stand? Who said she wanted a deep, meaningful relationship? Kind of annoying, but then again…predictable.
LikeLike
You said it!
Predictable but so annoying. I mean, Cassie’s not a typical girl. Rob’s just full of himself.
LikeLike
What a perfect spot to end this section’s reading. Wow! I’m really getting excited now! Of course, I am now thinking that one of the people who had the key is the murderer. But is that too simple, or does the author have a twist coming? Hmmm…
I’m not to sure what to make of Cassie explaining her relationship with the psychopath. Maybe it was to make us think that Rob/Adam is not a psychopath because Cassie would recognize it if he was. Maybe it was just to explain why Cassie never graduated from the University. For some reason the fact that she didn’t keeps coming up. Or maybe it’s for some other reason or for no reason at all.
Like Allison and Laura, I am not happy that Rob and Cassie hooked up. The sad thing is that if Rob wasn’t so screwed up, they might have a chance at a lasting relationship. Yes, one of them would probably have to change jobs or departments, but that would be doable. Rob’s mental health, however, is not something they could easily overcome if at all. He obviously doesn’t think he’s good enough for anyone, even for the murderer who took Peter and Jamie. He says so at the end of Chapter 18. “Sometimes I think about the sly, flickering line that separates being spared from being rejected. Sometimes I think of the ancient gods who demanded that their sacrifices be fearless and without blemish, and I wonder whether, whoever or whatever took Peter and Jamie away, it decided I wasn’t good enough.” How sad for Rob.
And still, I have to say, what’s up with Rosalind? Her meeting with Rob at his request was SO creepy! I understand, especially at her age, how she could be attracted to him, but it’s beyond that to me. It seems to me to be a very unhealthy attraction.
LikeLike
Maybe Rosalind had a thing with the guy with the key to the shed and they took out Katy because she was jealous? I honestly have NO idea what is going.
LikeLike
Good idea, Allison. Maybe so.
LikeLike
Rob is a sad character and really disappointed that he and Cassie hooked up. I don’t really have a good mental picture of what Rob looks like since he doesn’t describe himself much. I am not sure what Cassie or Rosalind see in him.
LikeLike
Oh boy, we are getting far fetched with ALL of our ideas!
LikeLike
Good question, Allison 😉
LikeLike
Kendra, I felt so sad for Rob when he said that!!!! How lonely must you be to feel sad that you’re not taken (and possibly murdered) while your friends are?
I could see how she’s attracted to him because he (SEEMS) to be stable, handsome, older. . . blah blah. But him being kind of attracted to her is creeping me out.
LikeLike
I thought that point where you realize he feels like he wasn’t good enough was very insightful. But I still feel like the way he is treating Cassie is just selfish. This book has a lot of interesting parallelism which I will point out after everyone finishes. It’s very interesting.
LikeLike
Yes, I finally got going and can’t wait now to find out more. Not sure what chapter I am on because I can’t follow the chapters on the kindle version I have. 😉
I am not liking Rob very much at the moment. Think he will redeem himself? I found Cassie’s story about the ‘psychopath’ to be a little off. Not sure what to make of it. What exactly does it add to the story?
Obviously I have more questions than answers right now.
LikeLike
I’m not sure what to make of Cassie’s psychopath story either, and I am very curious to find out what signifigance, if any, it has.
LikeLike
I believe the story, though. I think Cassie was telling the truth. Otherwise, no one is very redeemable in this story. I felt like Cassie told the story as a way to open up and share more with us and Rob about herself, which shows more depth to their relationship.
LikeLike
I do think the significance is that she opened up in a way that she never has, though there where hints that what she said would be important later.
LikeLike
Like with identifying psychopaths?
LikeLike
Yep!
LikeLike
Maybe the story was just a lead in to something else? Or maybe she’s the psychopath and she’s projecting? I have no idea!
LikeLike
Boo to Cassie being psychopath! She’s the only one we all like!
LikeLike
DID YOU JUST BOO ME?!
LikeLike
Lol, I think she did 🙂 Although the clinical definition of psychopath that Cassie describes could be true for many of the characters.
LikeLike
Hahaha! I boo’ed the THOUGHT. Not the Allison. 😉
LikeLike
heehee, nice save. 🙂
LikeLike
And Tanya, good insight on psychopaths!
LikeLike
I think Rosalind is the psychopath!!
LikeLike
I finished the book yesterday so it’s really fun to read everyone’s guesses but it’s also driving me a little crazy because I can’t comment without spoilers! Looking forward to the next phase of discussion.
LikeLike
Lol! Lets just say I know more than what I lead on 😉 almost done with the book, I’m on 90%
LikeLike
I finished it, too! I couldn’t help it! (Plus I had a flight and a long layover) But I wrote first when I hadn’t finished.
LikeLike
I think the biggest challenge being a book reviewer is not.giving.spoilers. Seriously? Dying to talk about the ending and patience is not my virtue. 🙂
LikeLike
I agree! That’s why I write out my comments as I finish each section. I was really on track before, but I flew, and you know how it is flying. . . it was just so easy to finish then!
LikeLike
I also couldn’t help but finish the book, I had to know how the 2 murders were linked and the motivation behind Katy’s murder. I won’t say anything about what I thought about the book.. yet.
LikeLike
Agreed….well I like Sam too!
LikeLike
Now I’m thinking I might be wrong with my previous thoughts. I’m not surprised about the whole Rob sleeping with Cassie thing, but I am kind of surprised about him blowing her off afterwards so much. What makes him think he’s so amazing that she can’t stand to be without him?
But he eventually had that good insight about how Cassie’s attitude, loss of weight, etc, was probably due more to the fact that she lost Rob as a friend, not the whole lover thing.
I’m enjoying the book more because things are starting to get going a little. I think the book itself is just a slower paced book, which is what’s throwing some of us off.
I actually really like Sam. He’s very noble, and he wants to do what’s right, even if it is tough. I don’t know what he actually will end up doing, though! Time will tell!
LikeLike
Rebecca, I really like Sam too. I’ve been wondering why Sam’s boss told him to ignore what he found out about the phone call involving his uncle and if Sam would do so or not. We will find out soon!
LikeLike
I know that the boss did it for Sam’s own good and because his uncle is a powerful man. But I love Sam’s innocence and his want to do right, no matter what he ends up doing.
LikeLike
I’m upset that them sleeping together had to become such a hoopla, not so much the act itself.
LikeLike
Haha! Kendra and I were chatting about that, and we both thought there should have been SOME sleeping together details! Like a little more than, “we kissed. the next morning. . . “
LikeLike
Yeah! I mentioned to Rebecca that it didn’t have to be another Fifty Shades of Gray, but some details would have been nice. She said it should be more like Ten Shades of Gray. 🙂 What a funny girl she is!
LikeLike
Hahaha! That made me laugh out loud. . . my husband probably thinks I’m crazy now for laughing at the computer.
LikeLike
Don’t worry, Rebecca. Your husband already knows all about you. Hehehe! It’s all good. 😉
LikeLike
Too true!
LikeLike
And oops! That should have been Grey, not Gray. I swear I should have been an editor. Too bad I didn’t self edit quickly enough to catch that error before I posted it. Sigh.
LikeLike
I wasn’t surprised that Cassie and Adam/Rob ended up sleeping together, I almost anticipated it. However I’m extremely annoyed with him for acting the way he did afterwards. Just blowing her off without giving an explanation why. He was also way too arrogant to read too much into what Rosalind said. Lightbulb moment for him when he actually realise that maybe its because she lost him as a friend, not because she is in love with him or because he rejected her. What a …
I’m reallly enjoying the book, its starting to pick up pace. Not sure where I am, but I’m somewhere in week 4’s scope and I don’t particularly remember where I was suppose to end (it’s difficult to go back to chapters because of the kindle version I am using), but I now know who the killer is. However I don’t know what the motive is yet, I have my speculations. I think Rosalind is involved or she knows who is! That’s the only thing I can speculate about now. I’m also not so sure about Margaret and Jonathan!
LikeLike
No matter what Rob’s problem is, he treated Cassie extremely poorly after they hooked up. I agree with you, Melinda. He is being an …
This week’s section ended with them finding the murder scene in the finds shed on the archaeological dig site using the black-light to see the blood. I hope that helps you gauge where you are in the book.
I don’t know who the murderer is yet, but I have a theory I’m thinking about. Rosalind, Margaret, and Jonathan are all very fishy too!
LikeLike
While taking your issues out on someone else is never an excuse, he could atleast have given her an excuse/reason for why he did. She had to drag it out of him, and then he had it ALL WRONG to begin with. Arrogant and self-centered!
Oh yes I remember now. I’m almost done with the book. One twisted story! Rosalind is the worst of them all
LikeLike
Men! At least some of them 😉
The last part about Rosalind in this section was when she met with Rob at his request. Her attraction to him seems very unhealthy. Their meeting was SO creepy to me!
LikeLike
I don’t think she is attracted to him AT ALL. She seems like the type who use men to get what she wants. We will all learn soon enough whether that is true or not.
LikeLike
Rosalind is gross. I am also grossed out that Rob likes her. She’s creepy and something is seriously wrong there!
LikeLike
Their relationship is totatally inappropriate. And she is very creepy. Here is a nice parallelism: Sam and Rob. They both are around Cassie. They both like her. Rob can’t handle the change in their relationship. Sam? We’ll see!
LikeLike
Oh I know what you are trying to say!!!! 😉
LikeLike
Me too 😉
LikeLike
I think I made that a little confusing. The parallelism is Sam and Cassie as compared to Peter and Jamie. Sorry!
LikeLike
Ooooooooh, like losing friends! I thought you meant the thing that happens later on!
LikeLike
Well, that too. 🙂 I love trying to have non-spoiler conversations! 😉
LikeLike
I don’t remember where the author mentions this, but twice she reminds the reader of the fact that children view the world differently than us. Cassie tells us about the marbles, and the locket comes up later. I think that it is interesting cause I’m thinking this could be really important to understanding this story.
LikeLike
Good point! That’s also interesting since Rob was a child when Peter and Jamie disappeared. And it parallels what Kendra mentioned about how Rob felt almost not good enough for not being taken with them. That’s an innocent, immature way to think of things, but it’s a kid way. Like WHYYYYYY didn’t I get to do that, tooooo?? (said all whiny, like a kid).
LikeLike
Exactly!!!
LikeLike
I finally got caught up and have read all of the comments. It totally made me mad the way Rob treated Cassie after they slept together. He was having a breakdown so I’m not that surprised, but he is just getting worse. It just a matter of time before the shit hits the fan for Rob/Adam.
The only other comment I want to make is that if any more pennies drop we might end up with a nickel.
LikeLike
What does that mean?
LikeLike
Pingback: Book Club: In the Woods by Tana French – Sign Up & Start Up | Love at First Book
Pingback: In the Woods by Tana French – Book 85 | Love at First Book