Sorry that posting has been a bit thin lately. There have been some problems going on behind the scenes relating to book publication and I’ve been struggling to keep up with everything.
Don’t worry, the books are still getting published, and you’ll still get to read them! However, I can’t really explain all the details just yet since I’m currently still trying to sort things out and would rather not go into the details until I do. Once I have things finalised on my end I’ll make a full announcement and explain everything properly, at which point things will hopefully make a bit more sense.
Thanks for the update and looking forward to hearing what it’s about. Just hope that it isn’t bad news such a delay in publication date!
A question for other IoM readers (or listeners) re: Car-Bomb Culprit
Have have just been re-playing the Will Watt reading of book#3 and realised that I have no idea what Charles is getting at regarding the bomb in the car. Stephen did tip everyone off that something was suspicious with the driver leaving the car but overall the incident looked rather clumsy as Calhoon & Joanna would have very quickly realised anyway that something was wrong as the car had no driver to take them home.
I initially just thought that it might be an Oskar “warning” to the Ashfords that they should be joining the Winged. However, Brigette’s reaction hints at an Ashford involvement, but if that was the case wouldn’t be likely to alienate Joanna’s family (I think it was under her seat)? Am I being very thick?
I intepreted that as “it was me muahahhaha”
Oh, I just love that evil chuckle!
So perhaps to test Stephen’s loyalty to House Ashford?
Who do you believe to be the target of the bomb, based on other parts of the book? 🙂 Why was that particular bomb used? Consider who benefits by the death of the person you believe to be the target.
Also consider the conversation Stephen and Charles had about house members being influenced or part of various cults.
I think I have a theory, although I could absolutely be wrong. It’s based on a number of clues that all seem to point in the same direction for me.
I’ve split them into lighter clues and heavier clues. The first few are things most readers will probably have noticed already. The later ones become increasingly spoilery, so I’ve decided not to post them unless you explicitly tell me you’d like to see them.
Lighter clues:
1. The culprit had inside information, including the driver’s phone number, as well as where and when Callhoun and Johanna’s date would take place.
2. Charles himself says, *”…this was a very carefully planned, very cautious attack.”* That suggests the person behind it is meticulous, patient, and reasonably competent. The plan seems designed to minimize the risk of exposing the perpetrator, even at the expense of maximizing the chances of success.
3. Bridget’s reaction really stood out to me. She seems to either know who did it, or at least have a very good guess. She also appears genuinely downcast, which made me wonder if the culprit is someone close to her.
Also look at the conversation and body language after Calhoun and Stephen get back to Ashford House from the gasworks battle.
There’s a character who’s making preparations for “political changes” throughout the story.
How did this character know? Figuring that out might help you solve the puzzle alongside the clues the other readers have presented in this thread.
Side note: No, you’re not thick. I had to read the book several times, before landing on a more confident reasoning as to who the culprit could be.
Yeah, I had to think about the mystery for a while too, and my final conclusion was aided by a seemingly insignificant detail in books 1 and 2.
Ohhhhhh! I would love to discuss this with you! I think I know what you are referring to 🙂
I think the bombing was planned in a way that minimized the risk of the culprit being caught. It’s true that it was somewhat clumsy, but at the same time, you can’t expect people to be vigilant all the time. Even if Calhoon and Joanna had noticed the missing driver before getting into the car, the intended effect might still have been achieved if the bomb had gone off while they were nearby. That would still have caused injuries, raised questions, and created concern—particularly in light of Calhoon’s claim as heir, which would likely have been weakened by such an attack if it had succeeded.
Like Celia mentioned, Charles also says at one point in the book that certain members of House Ashford are under the influence of other organisations or cults, which affects their motivations and interests. That makes me think there may be more than one agenda at play, rather than the attack simply being about the Ashfords themselves.
As for Charles’s implication in his final conversation with Stephen in *AJOP*, I think he is saying that Stephen is being naive. To me, that hints that Charles thinks the culprit is actually rather obvious, just someone Stephen never seriously considered because of his assumptions or because of the circumstances.
I mostly agree with your reasoning. 🙂 But iirc, the car bomb attack apparently would only have injured people who were actually inside the car… Why? Why not use a much more powerful bomb that could have taken out the front of the restaurant… and been more likely to kill Johanna and/or Calhoun?
Another weird thing is why use a bomb that might kill Calhoun, and then later try to recruit him. Typically you try to recruit someone BEFORE you kill them. Because it’s a lot harder to recruit someone after they are killed, as Alex pointed out to Richard. 😉
I recently re-read the book, and you’re right! Charles seems to think that injuries would only have occured if someone was inside the car.
I was thinking that getting hold of a stronger bomb perhaps would have increased the risk of being caught? But.. It also could have been done as in being meant as a warning only I suppose? Or to simply create unrest and nothing else.. Hmm..
This might be a spoiler, but I think the person linked to an organisation, and also behind the car bomb attack, didn’t want to recruit Callhoun at all. So it doesn’t seem likely that it was the winged.. I am thinking that it must be other organisations/cults… Hope we get to learn more about the other cults in the next book 🙂
Benedict, I am so sorry that things have been rough. I hope everything works out as smoothly as possible and to your satisfaction.
Take your time. Hope everything works out 🙂