Reply To: The Searcher: What happened to Brendan?

The combination of Brendan’s inability to anticipate how his actions would impact those around him – his impulsivity- and his sharp mind for chemistry raised the hackles on the back of my neck. He was desperate to improve his life and the lives of those in his family, to dig their way out of poverty, and to be for his family what his father failed to be. He craved instant gratification and respect. Brendan was a ticking bomb waiting to explode. So I was not surprised he turned to setting up a meth lab as a means of satisfying all his needs there by signing his own death certificate. It was probably going to catch up to him sooner or later.

I am saddened by the fact that he died at the hands of Mart and his cronies. Instead of Mart and the neighboring farmers helping Brendan, taking him under his wing and giving him positive guidance, they indirectly caused his death and then covered it up. They let Brendan’s family suffer by not reporting what happened on that mountain to the authorities. When Cal uncovered Brendan’s grave and examined his body he felt that his wounds were consistent with how Mart described the accident happening. So I want to hang on to Cal’s conclusion but there is just a bit of niggling in the back of my mind that makes me still wonder just how accidental Brendan’s death really was.

Finding out Trey was in fact a girl was the biggest shock ever. I never even considered that as a possibility. Fantastic twist Tana!!!