A Home Reading Report Task in GED 211 3:30-4:30 Submitted to: Prof. Jocelyn Bacasmut Submitted by: Vanessa Lou P. Jagdon BSED-English March 15, 2013 Acknowledgement First of all, I would like to thank our Lord Almighty God for the knowledge that He has given to me. His gift helped me to comprehend the book/novel that I’ve read for the whole term. Secondly, a huge thanks to my ever supportive family, I mean financially and emotionally they were always present. Also, to my friends who shows great moral support while I’m doing this Home Reading Report Task.
And lastly, to Lisa Gardner, the author of “The Third Victim”, she is obviously the main reason why I chose this book since I got hooked on her story. It’s mysterious, intriguing, and psychologically thrilling. iii Table of Contents Book Cover ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ii Acknowledgement ………………………………………………………………………………………….. iii __________________________________________________________ Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………... ……………1 Analysis of the novel a. Setting... ……………………………………………………………………………………………3 b. Characters …………………………………………………………………………………………3 c. Mode ………………………………………………………………………………………………3 d.
Plot …………………………………………………………………………………………. …...... 3 i. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………. 3 ii. Rising action ………………………………………………………………………………3 iii. Climax ……………………………………………………………………………………. 3 iv. Falling action ………………………………………………………………………….. …. 4 v. Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………... 4 e. Theme …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 Refection ……………………………………………………………………………………………………... 5 Picture …………………………………………………………………………………………………………5 Summary In the small town of Bakersville, Oregon, an unthinkable and tragic crime happens. The small town was rocked when a lone gunman opens fire at the Bakersville’s K-8.
Instead of himself, Sheriff Shep O’Grady surprisingly places Officer Lorraine Connor as the primary. Once on the scene, Officer Rainie Connor saw the Computer-science Teacher Miss Melissa Avalon, with a clean shot on her head by the mass murderer. Two little girls were also killed but with multiple bullets. Much of the physical evidence is already damaged due to the chaos that occurred before Raine arrives on the scene, but more contamination follows. Rainie arrested the thirteen year old Danny O’Grady. The Sheriff's troubled and loner son is found holding the murder weapons. He confesses to the shootings.
His father further contaminates the crime scene before Raine can get him to leave. He loves his son that much, and he believes that Danny, his little boy, can’t hurt them especially his favorite Computer-Science teacher Miss Avalon. Police Officer Shep is determined that his son will not go to prison no matter what he has to do or say. But the townspeople are certain that the killer has been found and only want him punished, no matter what his age. The State sends Homicide Detective Abe Sanders, a methodical cop, to take charge of the case. FBI Special Agent Pierce Quincy leaves his dying daughter to also join the investigation.
Now the question arises; did Danny actually commit the crime although all evidence points to him or is there someone behind all this? Quincy tells Raine that he has some doubts about Danny being the killer because of the precise way the teacher was murdered. As the trio works together, the town wonders why a good little boy would do such a bad thing. Overwhelming evidence points towards the lad but some items lead to a more professional murderer yet no clear suspect surfaces. Unconsciously, they didn’t know that the real killer was just inside the town, following them, especially Officer Rainie Conner. 1
As they go deeper to the investigation, a dark secret that Rainie has been hiding for 14 years was revealed. It was the horrific death of her mother. It was suspected that Rainie killed her mother. That’s what the real mass murderer loved about Rainie, the thought that she killed her own mother and the thing that he regretted that he didn’t do it to his abusive father. Due to Detective Sanders, FBI Agent Quincy and Officer Connor’s thorough investigation, they found out that Danny is not innocent on the school shooting. He is the one who killed the two little girls, but someone influenced him to do it so.
It is the school councilor, Richard Mann. This man’s real identity is Henry Hawkins of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He only uses the name Richard Mann to get inside the school district. Quincy was able to link him to other school shooting wherein a student was a major suspect. As Quincy and Detective Sanders seek for the mass murderer, Officer Connor found herself in the woods. She was kidnapped by Henry Hawkins. He forced Rainie to admit that she killed her mom and state to him on how does it feel to take the life of her mother.
He got peeved when Lorraine Connor denied on exterminating her mother but, she admitted that she killed her mother’s boyfriend because he raped her. Since Hawkins got frustrated, he attempted slaying Rainie. Good thing Quincy and the other cops arrived and saved Officer Connor. Henry Hawkins committed suicide right before they caught him. He’s thinking that it is better to die that to be captured alive and devastated. Danny O’Grady was sentenced 25 years of imprisonment and Rainie Connor was removed in the service for killing Dave Duncan, the person who raped her, and buried his corpse on their lawn. “The Third Victim” Analysis of the Novel a. Setting – Bakersville, Oregon - Bakersville K-8 b. Characters – Lorraine Conner, Danny O’Grady, Shep O’Grady, FBI Agent Pierce Quincy, Detective Abe Sanders, Richard Mann/Henry Hawkins, Sandy O’Grady, Becky O’Grady, Principal VanderZanden, Officer Luke Hayes, c. Mode – Devastation, Frustration, Seeking justice, d. Plot * Introduction – In the small town of Bakersville, Oregon, an unthinkable and tragic crime happens. The small town was rocked when a lone gunman opens fire at the Bakersville’s K-8. Rising Action – The Computer-science teacher was cleanly shot on her, and two other little girls were killed with multiple bullets. Danny confessed that he did all those shootings. Officer Connor arrested him for suspicious murder for seeing him with a gun. The families of the victims were seeking justice and wants Danny O’Grady be imprisoned. * 3 Climax – Detective Sander, FBI Agent Quincy, and Officer Conner made a thorough investigation on the school shooting. And as they go further through the investigation, Officer Connor’s dark past was revealed. Fourteen years ago, Rainie was accused of killing her own mother inside their house.
Rumors were all over the town and this horrible event makes a way for the criminal to start his long term plan. His disappointment of not having the strength of taking away the life of his merciless and abusive father will soon be eased for this young woman will bring hope for his aching and bone-breaking past. * Falling action – They found out that Richard Mann, the school councilor, was the one who influenced Danny to kill those innocent little girls. They were even able to locate the origin if the killer, his real name is Henry Hawkins from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Quincy was able to link him to other school shooting wherein a student is the major suspect. * Conclusion – They made an entrapment operation to apprehend Richard Mann/Henry Hawkins, but they were too late. He was able to escape just before they arrive. When Rainie went home, she saw Hawkins in her foyer. Unnoticeably, Hawkins hit Rainie’s head and she fell down. When she finally woke up, she just saw herself in the woods. Hawkins forced Rainie to tell him that she really killed her own mother, but Rainie denied it that caused Henry Hawkins to finally kill her. Fortunately, Agent Quincy and his fellow cops arrived and saved Rainie.
But it’s too late for Henry Hawkins, he committed suicide before he got caught. e. Theme – Mystery ; Psychological 4 Reflection Through this book, I learned that possible things might have happened, whether it is bad or good. All we have to do is to accept it whole heartedly and move on. Go over with our lives and leave the wicked past behind. There’s nothing we can do to change on what’s already done, but all we can do is to live with it and learn to love it. God gave us life to live, so enjoy it and live life to the fullest. It is not necessary to forget the past, but only those that are needed to be and worth the change.
Yes, we’re not perfect and we need to accept the fact that we’re only humans. We get hurt, and ironically most of the time, but it doesn’t mean that you have all the rights to destroy others lives or let them experience the life that you’ve been living. On the first place, it is your choice to live an unpleasant life. Learn to stop blaming others for someone’s fault. Make use of your time for your own, not for the others. Time heals all wounds, but scars don’t. These scars can’t be left on the past, but are the ones that we need to face for us to live with a peaceful mind and a strong heart. 5