Twenty Years Later

What is Avery’s specialty as a journalist? What kinds of stories does she focus on, and how does Victoria Ford’s case fit into her repertoire?

Why is Walt hiding in Jamaica? How did his experience with Meghan lead him to leave the United States, and how does his experience with Avery bring him back?

Avery notes that the video of Victoria and Cameron does not prove violence. Why then does it convince the early investigators of Victoria’s guilt? How do perceptions of sexuality and bondage influence the investigation?

Avery insists on finding the truth, but she also wants to prove Victoria’s innocence. In the end, she does not reveal that Victoria is still alive. What does this reveal about Avery’s journalistic ethics? Is she fulfilling her responsibilities as a journalist?

Two motivations in the novel are ratings and convictions, with journalists looking to draw in an audience and law enforcement looking to imprison a perpetrator. How do these goals conflict and overlap in the novel? Who wants which goal, and how do they work together?

How did Garth’s crime impact Avery’s life when he was initially investigated, and how has Garth affected both Avery and Christopher’s lives by the end of the novel?

Maggie Greenwald represents a critical flaw in the criminal justice system. What is that flaw, and how did Maggie exploit it? What was Maggie’s goal in getting more convictions, and why is having convictions as a measure of success unethical?

Why does Walt refuse to plant the listening devices in Avery’s hotel room? How does his refusal ultimately influence his and Avery’s relationship, and what is the significance of the listening devices when reviewing Avery and Walt’s past traumas?