The Heir Apparent
Viewing comments for Chapter 20 "The DA Makes His Announcement"A family learns their father is a serial killer
20 total reviews
Comment from emmaysavage
an interesting turn of events. I am interested in the progression of this story.
hope to get to know the rest of James' family better and hope the story does not move away from them.
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2012
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an interesting turn of events. I am interested in the progression of this story.
hope to get to know the rest of James' family better and hope the story does not move away from them.
Comment Written 05-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2012
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Not to worry, the family will play a much larger role in future chapters.
Comment from CALLAHANMR
Hi Valerie:)
This is a nice transition chapter that resolves several issues such as a rental house for the family, Dad's plea bargain and sentencing. It leads nicely to the cabin. I like the fact that James will now go as an observer to help the police search the premises rather than just to there with his uncle to get away. As usual, I have some specific comments:
1. Knowing he would never again see a sunset, walk on the beach, or sit in his favorite chair and watch a movie would be its own form of hell for Dad. {My personal belief is that life in prison is a more severe punishment than execution. I mean, of course, when the prisoner is deprived of all normal social interaction; no TV, no newspapers, no visitors,etc.; not the molly coddling that some modern liberal prisons provide. Life in prison should be feared. Still even a harsh life sentence provides hope for falsely convicted innocents, who may be saved by new evidence.}
2. The shame I felt knowing closure for the families had nothing to do with the reason for my father's plea made me sick to my stomach. At that moment, I realized for the first time that Dad was already dead to me.
He had manipulated the system to get what he wanted just as he had manipulated his victims, family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Everyone had an opinion as to what the correct punishment should be, but the decision was not ours to make, and it certainly wasn't Dad's. It was up to the court to decide if he was to get the death penalty or serve life in prison. As far as I was concerned, justice had not been served. {Is justice ever served for senseless crimes? In cases like this, where there is no reasonable reason for horrible murders, how can there be a reasonable purpose for the sentence other than isolation from society?
3. "You know I have an eidetic memory. Mac could use me up there. I remember exactly what the cabin looked like the last time I was there. I could point out any changes or spot things that are different..."....I turned and walked away. The conversation was over. There was nothing Uncle Terry could say that would make me change my mind. I doubted convincing Mac would be so easy.{Nice lead in. I like this much better than your first version.}
now I am ready to visit the cabin.
Love and Irish hugs,
Roger
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2012
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Hi Valerie:)
This is a nice transition chapter that resolves several issues such as a rental house for the family, Dad's plea bargain and sentencing. It leads nicely to the cabin. I like the fact that James will now go as an observer to help the police search the premises rather than just to there with his uncle to get away. As usual, I have some specific comments:
1. Knowing he would never again see a sunset, walk on the beach, or sit in his favorite chair and watch a movie would be its own form of hell for Dad. {My personal belief is that life in prison is a more severe punishment than execution. I mean, of course, when the prisoner is deprived of all normal social interaction; no TV, no newspapers, no visitors,etc.; not the molly coddling that some modern liberal prisons provide. Life in prison should be feared. Still even a harsh life sentence provides hope for falsely convicted innocents, who may be saved by new evidence.}
2. The shame I felt knowing closure for the families had nothing to do with the reason for my father's plea made me sick to my stomach. At that moment, I realized for the first time that Dad was already dead to me.
He had manipulated the system to get what he wanted just as he had manipulated his victims, family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Everyone had an opinion as to what the correct punishment should be, but the decision was not ours to make, and it certainly wasn't Dad's. It was up to the court to decide if he was to get the death penalty or serve life in prison. As far as I was concerned, justice had not been served. {Is justice ever served for senseless crimes? In cases like this, where there is no reasonable reason for horrible murders, how can there be a reasonable purpose for the sentence other than isolation from society?
3. "You know I have an eidetic memory. Mac could use me up there. I remember exactly what the cabin looked like the last time I was there. I could point out any changes or spot things that are different..."....I turned and walked away. The conversation was over. There was nothing Uncle Terry could say that would make me change my mind. I doubted convincing Mac would be so easy.{Nice lead in. I like this much better than your first version.}
now I am ready to visit the cabin.
Love and Irish hugs,
Roger
Comment Written 05-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2012
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I am so pleased you liked this chapter. I have a large cheat sheet that helps me remember who is who, who did what, and hopefully what comes next.
Comment from RebelRose
You just never know, when you watch a news cast, how much has been edited. When James makes up his mind to do something, there's no stopping him. Great chapter.
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2012
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You just never know, when you watch a news cast, how much has been edited. When James makes up his mind to do something, there's no stopping him. Great chapter.
Comment Written 05-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2012
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Thanks. I am so pleased you liked this one.
Comment from Cranial Thinker
So mind riveting and absolutely nerve shakingly interesting,
that I sat on the edge of my chair holding my breath becoming dizzy having to remind myself to breathe so I would
not pass out....The decision that was agreed upon did nothing to help out the innoscent family members of the Mathews surviving their father's craziness and in my opion
nothing in assisting the families that where directly effected in closure of anykind as I feel just as James did
and his uncle Terry....Please keep on writing my friend....Cranial Thinker
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2012
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So mind riveting and absolutely nerve shakingly interesting,
that I sat on the edge of my chair holding my breath becoming dizzy having to remind myself to breathe so I would
not pass out....The decision that was agreed upon did nothing to help out the innoscent family members of the Mathews surviving their father's craziness and in my opion
nothing in assisting the families that where directly effected in closure of anykind as I feel just as James did
and his uncle Terry....Please keep on writing my friend....Cranial Thinker
Comment Written 04-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2012
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Thank you for your high regards for my work. I am so pleased you are enjoying this.
Comment from Alaskastory
'The DA Makes His Announcement' is a well done chapter. Also, I look forward to James' visit to the cabin. Only some details I recall from your first draft. It is great fun to be re-reading this novel with your revisions, Sasha.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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'The DA Makes His Announcement' is a well done chapter. Also, I look forward to James' visit to the cabin. Only some details I recall from your first draft. It is great fun to be re-reading this novel with your revisions, Sasha.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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After this, I will NEVER do a rewrite again. What a pain in the neck. I am so pleased you are enjoying this with all the changes. There are many more to come.
Comment from Showboat
Hey Sasha,
Really cool chapter.
Y'know, I really like the way James has come onto his own in the last several chapters. As the reader, we really don't expect much from Charlie, and with Susan in hospital, she's out of sight, as it were. But James - yes, very good. I like the way you keep him vulnerable ... IQ be damned, he's still just a youngster.
Excellent,
Hugs,
Gayle
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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Hey Sasha,
Really cool chapter.
Y'know, I really like the way James has come onto his own in the last several chapters. As the reader, we really don't expect much from Charlie, and with Susan in hospital, she's out of sight, as it were. But James - yes, very good. I like the way you keep him vulnerable ... IQ be damned, he's still just a youngster.
Excellent,
Hugs,
Gayle
Comment Written 03-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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I knew a kid that had an IQ of 190. He was beyond brilliant, but had a very hard time dealing with kids his own age. He turned out alright. He is now a well-known physicist at the UW.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Once again you have done a wonderful job with emotion and descriptions.
she would never admit it because I knew she loved Mom dearly. (adverb by the verb it's describing. dearly loved Mom)
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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Once again you have done a wonderful job with emotion and descriptions.
she would never admit it because I knew she loved Mom dearly. (adverb by the verb it's describing. dearly loved Mom)
Comment Written 03-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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Thanks for catching that. I will make the change.
Comment from words
Another great chapter.
One thing, I have been wondering about, however, is how is the family supporting itself now? The father is no longer working ... attorneys for capital crimes are very expensive ....
Hotels and rental property do not come cheap ... just wondering.
Hugs, d
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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Another great chapter.
One thing, I have been wondering about, however, is how is the family supporting itself now? The father is no longer working ... attorneys for capital crimes are very expensive ....
Hotels and rental property do not come cheap ... just wondering.
Hugs, d
Comment Written 03-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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In the first chapter I mention that Martha's family is quite wealthy. So money, fortunately, is not a problem.
Comment from InterestingRon
Hi Smurphy
You are writing these chapters at a furious rate.
No complaints - I look forward to my daily James fix.
Last time we had the dreadful reporters - now the legal crowd. I don't know how James can take the strain.
A good write, as always.
Ron
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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Hi Smurphy
You are writing these chapters at a furious rate.
No complaints - I look forward to my daily James fix.
Last time we had the dreadful reporters - now the legal crowd. I don't know how James can take the strain.
A good write, as always.
Ron
Comment Written 03-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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Glad you liked this one. Yes, I am running on adrenaline and may need to take a day or two off to let my brain rest.
Comment from Margaret Snowdon
It seems James is not just
a highly intelligent young
man but a very determined one,
who intends to do what he wants
to do whatever anyone else has
to say.
A very well-written chapter, Sasha.
Margaret
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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It seems James is not just
a highly intelligent young
man but a very determined one,
who intends to do what he wants
to do whatever anyone else has
to say.
A very well-written chapter, Sasha.
Margaret
Comment Written 03-Mar-2012
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2012
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Thanks. I am so pleased you liked this one.