Did you suspect at any point that Sean might have been involved in the deaths?

Did you suspect at any point that Sean might have been involved in either (or both) of the deaths of Bronte and Gabby? Why or why not, do you think?

I did suspect Sean early on, but was still riveted to the story as it played out. I was not surprised, but was engaged until the end.

I really did not suspect this for most of the book.

I did not suspect Sean was involved or played any role in the deaths. This was a genuine surprise and made me look back and re-read certain parts of the book.

No. I was kept guessing until it was revealed. Maybe a clue was in Sean's relationship to Liam, but I didn't suspect him at that point.

I suspected a lot of people. :)

I did not at all suspect Sean and all the pieces make sense looking back. Even though I didn't suspect it, it still didn't feel shocking to me. It was a surprise sure but I wasn't blown away by that surprise if that makes sense.

Harper's gift is that she has you suspecting almost everyone! I love the fact that it has been very difficult for me to guess the culprits in all of her novels. So, no, I didn't suspect Sean specifically any more than I suspected the other characters!

I did not suspect him. I actually didn't really suspect any of them. Im rereading the book because I feel like Sean's involvement came out of nowhere. I certainly missed the clues if there were any.

PKH - I think I felt kind of similar! Sean's role in the book seemed so minimal and then his confession came out of nowhere for me and didn't click in right away. I know this is another post topic but I wonder if it has to do with Sean seeming like a "good guy" for most of the book and the book's concept of toxic masculinity and how it plays into the story.

I really did not suspect Sean at any point. I did suspect a lot of others. I was hopeful that Kieran was a reliable narrator as I did not want it to be him. I kept wondering how the bag got on the boat and how Finn fit in with the whole thing. People kept saying that Finn was not the great guy that Kieran remembered. I wondered how the torn up garden fitted into the whole plot. Lots to think about!

As another reader - I had to go back and reread parts of the book - I never suspectd Sean!!

Sean being the one responsible was a complete surprise to me. What he did leaving Gabby behind was horrible but certainly didn't connect him with Bronte. I suspected others but not Sean.

Sean was THE only character I never suspected. I'm certain this had to do with the way he was described- -as the one member of the guy group who didn't actively or aggressively pursue young women. He was seemingly respectful at parties and always the "friend", never taking advantage of the drunkenness of other partygoers. He didn't even approve of the vandalism of the caves and only very reluctantly added his name after constant needling. I think the one other important detail that led me away from him was Sean's willingness to not blame Kieran for the death of his brother. He was quick to reassure Kieran that he knew the deaths of Toby and Finn were accidental. Hindsight leads me to believe that is how he viewed his actions in the cave with Gabby at the time-accidental. By granting Kieran grace, he could apply the same to his own actions.

I suspected everyone at some point, so there was really no surprise when Sean was revealed.

I think one of the most engaging features of Jane Harper's writing is her ability to make it nearly impossible to figure out who is the guilty party in her novels. Liam and Brian were the first characters she put on the hot spot, and because of that, I knew they weren't guilty, but even Olivia's mother was hinted at with her planting the bookbags and attempting to take her own life. It could have been anyone, and that is so compelling, what keeps us reading - until we finally have an answer. In this case, we had to wait a very long time, and Sean seemed the least likely to be the guilty party with his "good guy" demeanor, the one who never took advantage or was out of line, settled and supporting friends and finding success until....

Not at all! Liam first, the angry young man! Couldn't find motive though unless accidental, resisting advances perhaps. Then, of course Brian, one of the last to see her alive along with his dementia. Thought of George, the writer, creating another mystery perhaps. Ash and Sean as suspects did not enter my mind. The prologue really threw me off!!

Not at all! I was “afraid” it was going to be Brian!

I did not suspect Sean. He seemed to be the solid local boy who made a life for himself after the earlier tragedy. In retrospect it makes sense. But I was blindsided by the way the story played out.

I did but only because I suspect everyone when reading Harper's books.

I did not suspect Sean to the point that I had to go back and re-read sections. I thought it felt a little left field. I may have missed something, though. Kieran kept having a nagging thought throughout the book that he couldn't quite grasp. He was looking at two pictures of Finn and Toby that were slightly different and that is what solidified the thought in his mind...but what was it that had been bugging him? That the picture of Sean's name on the cave walls was different than the one he knew Sean had carved? I will probably re-read this entire book just so I have keep Sean in mind and see how parts might read differently.

bestsyh, I did go back and reread the entire book. I know I noticed some differences ONLY because I knew the whole story this time around. I think that knowledge allowed me to read into certain sections that I wouldn't have otherwise. It STILL seems so unlikely to me that it could have been Sean!

I didn’t suspect Sean. The ending surprised me!

Absolutely not one bit. Even though I suspected it would be someone from the town and not an "outsider", I was still shocked that it was Sean.

Clues were well hidden, as Harper is so good at doing. It took me a long time to suspect anyone, and especially Sean. I did feel early on that Sean was not getting his due in the book - he seemed to be just an outlier of the original group, which made me suspect that there would be more to come.