Did your perceptions of Thomas and Gail shift? Is money the root of their power, or is power the root of their wealth? How does Trip Patterson's fate illustrate the class divisions within their community?

Did your perceptions of Thomas and Gail Hammond shift when more of their past was revealed? Is money the root of their power, or is power the root of their wealth?

How does Trip Patterson's fate illustrate the class divisions within their community?

I didn't know much about Gail and Thomas beyond theft that Thomas was not a sociopath like his brother, and that they were prominent wealthy citizens in town. In this case I feel money was the root of their power, and that is why the family members were so upset when Thomas showed signs of frittering away the family wealth.
I think this is why the police were so desperate to nail a suspect, and why they never even considered the wife, when statistically the spouse is the most likely killer.

Trip's fate illustrated class divisions as his death did not seem to be carefully investigated, nor was Delphi's for that matter.

This was one of the odder character arcs in the story. I'm still puzzling over Thomas' unrequited love for Virginia and why it was something Goldman wanted to include. I guess it highlights how, despite his money and success, he was not able to achieve everything he wanted. And Gail was just plain "smarmy".

My perceptions of the two did change with the reading of the will. I can only assume he left the real estate he did to Marshall and the others because he felt guilty, and Gail was obviously more concerned about making money than doing what was right.

From the beginning their wealth was a turnoff as you could just feel the power they felt entitled to. No concern for doing the right thing, and trying to use money to wipe out guilt!

Thomas was not like his unpopular family. Marshall had a good memory of Thomas so the reader trusted him. Gail was a minor character in the beginning and not until halfway through the book did I start to wonder about her intentions. For Thomas, his money gave him power, but he did not abuse it. In Gail's case, her desire for money was her downfall. Trip had to hide his feelings because he loved and was loved by the "wrong person" who was out of his class. His family and the town would never have accepted the relationship.

The only change in perception is how Gail could have been so stupid to 'fess up everything in the end. Very contrived, I'm afraid. Thomas seemed OK, an ineffectual rich good 'ol boy who had a sorry excuse for a brother. I too would have thought his adoration of Virginia would have waned over the years. He never got to first base with her, which his hot first cousin more than made up for. Gail seemed to have good reason to plug Thomas, but again, why succumb and spill the goods to Joey who she had every reason to suspect? Please. It just didn't fly at all.