2D

How can we account for McLean seeing the markings on the floor, as Miss Baird said he shouldn't have been able to see those markings?

McLean seems to have some physic powers that he is not aware of.

I thought at times this was heading into the supernatural. McLean may have some physic ability...who knows?

I agree with Carol, there is a distinct feeling of the supernatural at play here.
If Tony's forebear was involved with the girl's killing, and some occult ritual was carried out, then I'm thinking Tony might have inherited something at the genetic level?
Not what I was expecting from the book, so may be barking up the wrong tree...

Definitely a strong supernatural element coming through in the book. This is the only thing that can explain him seeing these lines.

Why not explain to the reader why Tony should not have been able to see the lines?
Why was Emma not curious as to how he could see them?

>6 Sergeirocks: Agreed, something missing in the writing here. Just side stepped what she had done to show the lines up.

I agree....some sort of paranormal element.

>6 Sergeirocks: and >7 Andrew-theQM: I agree -- that seems to be a loose end that should have been discussed more

>5 Andrew-theQM: >6 Sergeirocks: >7 Andrew-theQM: >8 Olivermagnus: >9 bhabeck: James Oswald wrote fantasy books before this one...maybe he forgot what genre he was writing:) Sounds like it's approaching "boat time".

>10 Carol420: I was thinking as well that some of his other writing genre is bleeding into this story. Rather not what I expected.

>10 Carol420: Oh goodness! Is this the earliest in a book the boat started filling up?

I wonder if he's being "shown" things. Like someone/something is leading him to things and showing him things the naked eye can't see?

Definitely a supernatural element. Don't forget the message he heard on his answer machine.

An alternate thought is someone is using the same hypnosis/voodoo on Tony as was used on Smythe's "killer".

>13 bluebird_: I hadn't thought of that, but that makes so much sense!!!!

In another book I read last year there were also seemingly supernatural elements and hallucinations, they were induced by drugs which were blown in the person's face.