Book 2: Mr. Kiss and Tell

[ApathyMonger]

Out October 28.

 

 

In the second book in the New York Times bestselling mystery series, Veronica Mars is back with a case that will expose the hidden workings of one of Neptune’s most murderous locations.

 

The Neptune Grand has always been the seaside town’s ritziest hotel, despite the shady dealings and high-profile scandals that seem to follow its elite guests. When a woman claims that she was brutally assaulted in one of its rooms and left for dead by a staff member, the owners know that they have a potential powder keg on their hands. They turn to Veronica to disprove—or prove—the woman's story.

The case is a complicated mix of hard facts, mysterious occurrences, and uncooperative witnesses. The hotel refuses to turn over its reservation list and the victim won’t divulge who she was meeting that night. Add in the facts that the attack happened months ago, the victim’s memory is fuzzy, and there are holes in the hotel’s surveillance system, and Veronica has a convoluted mess on her hands. As she works to fill in the missing pieces, it becomes clear that someone is lying—but who? And why?

 

[Jediknight]

 

The Neptune Grand has always been the seaside town’s ritziest hotel, despite the shady dealings and high-profile scandals that seem to follow its elite guests. When a woman claims that she was brutally assaulted in one of its rooms and left for dead by a staff member, the owners know that they have a potential powder keg on their hands. They turn to Veronica to disprove—or prove—the woman's story.

Perhaps Veronica should go to a guy who has a knowledge of how the hotel's security system works, knows how to beat it, and has pulled off a murder there, she needs to go to Clarence Wiedman for help.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

According to Amazon, the second Veronica Mars book will be released on October 28.

 

In the second book in the New York Times bestselling mystery series, Veronica Mars is back with a case that will expose the hidden workings of one of Neptune’s most murderous locations.

The Neptune Grand has always been the seaside town’s ritziest hotel, despite the shady dealings and high-profile scandals that seem to follow its elite guests. When a woman claims that she was brutally assaulted in one of its rooms and left for dead by a staff member, the owners know that they have a potential powder keg on their hands. They turn to Veronica to disprove—or prove—the woman's story.

The case is a complicated mix of hard facts, mysterious occurrences, and uncooperative witnesses. The hotel refuses to turn over its reservation list and the victim won’t divulge who she was meeting that night. Add in the facts that the attack happened months ago, the victim’s memory is fuzzy, and there are holes in the hotel’s surveillance system, and Veronica has a convoluted mess on her hands. As she works to fill in the missing pieces, it becomes clear that someone is lying—but who? And why?

Edited July 14, 2014 by ElectricBoogaloo

[halgia]

From a backer email a few weeks ago:
 

After the first Veronica Mars novel — The Thousand Dollar Tan Line — was released, a lot of you wrote to share your thoughts. And since the book managed to hit #2 on The New York Times Bestseller List for trade paperbacks, there were a lot of thoughts. Most of them were positive and enthusiastic.

However, we also received a number of letters that went something like this:

“WHY WASN’T THERE MORE LOGAN?!?!?”

If you fell into that camp, then you’ll be pleased to know that you can expect a lot more Logan in Mr. Kiss-And-Tell, the follow up novel, which we’re on schedule to release late this year. It will take place a few months after the events of The Thousand Dollar Tan Line. And for those of you wondering about some of the unanswered questions raised in the movie — Who was responsible for *****’s murder? Who planted a gun on ******? — the book will also return to those questions.

You can find the full “official” description of the book on Amazon, where Mr. Kiss-And-Tell is available for preorder, and as we get closer to release, I’ll do my best to get an excerpt for you. Unless you’re tired of Veronica Mars.

In which case, you’re probably not reading these updates anymore.

[Whimsy]

I thought the books were all going to be also audible books with Kristen narrating (or whatever that is called.  Sorry, this is the only series I listen to rather than read)?  Does anyone know if that will be coming?

[Lisin]

I hope so! The first one was a great audio book. I haven't heard any news on this one yet though. 

[Kel Varnsen]

According to Amazon, the second Veronica Mars book will be released on October 28.

 

I was looking last week and it looks like the release date was pushed back to January 2015.

[Whimsy]

I was looking last week and it looks like the release date was pushed back to January 2015.

Dang.  It was October when I pre-ordered it two weeks ago.  Now it says January.  Now I'm sad. 

[Aliconehead]

I just finished reading the newest VM Book and want to know if any one else read it and their thoughts

[Whimsy]

Reading this right now!  I'll get back to you soon... 

[scarynikki12]

I really enjoyed it.  I won't go into detail right now, to give other readers more time to finish, but I thought it was a great continuation of the series. 

 

Also, is there any news on whether Kristin will read the audio book for this one too?

[Clare]

I am pretty sure that Kristen did not do the audiobook. 

 

I really liked this book.  I thought the mystery was pretty good.  I loved that there were more from the other characters.  There is more Keith, Logan, Mac and Weevil is this story and lots of pop-ups by a lot of other favs.  Won't get into specifics yet but I also like that they seem to be setting up more stories in Neptune. 

 

Don't know if there are plans for more books but I really hope so. 

[Aliconehead]

I hope the books continue also.  If I can't have movies or tv shows at least I can keep up with my favorite characters another way.  The book does address a little a storyline that I have felt should be addressed 

Mac's switched at birth. I have always felt that this was just left with no follow through. In the books we find that Mac has kept tabs on them a little.I just hope that this is examined more in the future. I also want Madison to find out

Edited January 23, 2015 by Aliconehead

[Whimsy]

Ok.  Finished! Some thoughts, not in any particular order.

 

The first VM book I listened to on audio book while driving back and forth from Myrtle Beach (about a 16 hour trip for me).  I thoroughly enjoyed that one.  This one, while the story itself was ok I just feel like I missed something by not hearing KB do the voices.  :(  Just reading the words, but not hearing them, kind of made the tone of Logan not the same at all.  If that makes any sense.  I just didn't really feel like it was HIM that was being described.  Although, I can't really compare that much to the Thousand Dollar Tan Line since Logan was mostly absent.

 

I did like Veronica in this book (as well as the last).  I did feel like it was actually her- the one we know now from the movie and the last book.  I also liked how the book showed  how sometimes these cases take a really long time to work.  It wasn't a few weeks, it was several months. 

 

Not sure what I think about the new Sheriff.  I think half of what makes Neptune Neptune is the corrupt/bad Sherriff's department.  This is almost what makes me think that we may not be getting more books.  That seemed to wrap it up.  Not that there couldn't still be work for a PI in the town, but it just seemed a little "wrapped in a bow" finish to that struggle.  But, I will continue to read these books for as long as they write them, so I a hope I am wrong.  That was just the sense I got.

 

I loved the call-back to the pony that Veronica wanted Keith to buy her by naming her puppy Pony.  Super cute.  When I first found out the victim was Grace Manning I was kind of annoyed because I felt like it was using a past character just to use a past character (if that makes sense), but one thing that bugged me about that storyline on the show was how it was dropped.  I always wondered about poor Grace (although I had the sense that, if Don Lamb had lived, he was somewhat planning on keeping an eye on that situation).  So, I liked when Grace was telling Veronica that she thought/hoped that Veronica and Duncan were going to come back to save her, too.  It really felt like something a young child would think.  Broke my heart a little.

 

While logically it made sense for Eli to drop the lawsuit and settle- in real life I'd hold no grudges for someone who did that- I just didn't really like that he dropped it and didn't say anything to anyone before the news conference. 

 

I think that's it for now.  What did everyone else think?

[Gardencrown]

Since the book has been out since 1/20, I don't think I have to spoiler-tag anything, but mods, feel free to correct me.

 

My verdict on this book? Good but not great. The "mystery" was largely solved pretty early on -- it was just a matter of catching the bastard. I'm willing to believe that a PI might truly be in the position of having to assemble enough evidence against the criminal like Veronica does here, but it made for a slightly less exciting book. I never had an "OMG!!!!" moment like I did in the last book with regard to Liane making an appearance.

 

But it was good overall. Loved Mac. Loved Wallace. Loved the Keith and Veronica vibe (of course). I really, really don't think the books are ending because there seems like there is WAY unfinished business between Keith and the new Sheriff, and of course between Veronica and Logan and possibly Leo. Logan's military career is still largely something I have to take on faith in the sense that it arrived as a fait accompli in the movie and has continued so in the books. I would like to see Veronica and Logan actually work together a bit more -- right now it seems like their respective destinies keep them apart rather than bring them together. I love them together (Piz who?), but I need the books to make them a more compelling couple that doesn't rely on all the good faith I had built up in the TV series. I would like to see them move forward as a couple, 'cause while Leo is a super-duper nice guy, he's not Logan. I want the books to show me why and how Veronica and Logan could be a real thing in the future.

 

It was good to see Grace Manning, in the sense that she had escaped her batshit family, albeit not in the best way. Personally, I think that the books are raising the stakes in terms of needing to see Duncan and "baby" Lily (who would be, like 12???)...the books have the advantage that they're not tied to the particular actor (bless his heart), so I'd like them to mine that particular goldmine in the future.

 

Basically, I just want more Veronica. Please.:)))

[scarynikki12]

I think that the books are raising the stakes in terms of needing to see Duncan and "baby" Lily

 

I agree and wouldn't be surprised if we learn more about them in the next book or two.  In fact, my head canon is that Logan has secretly been in contact with Duncan and has seen both him and Lilly a few times over the years since he joined the military.  I don't know that we'll see them return to the US but maybe Veronica gets a case that takes her to Canada or Mexico and runs into them.  I do expect we'll see them again since RT won't have to worry about actor availability and loved the character.

[swtrgrl]

Loved the first book. Loved this one, too.

 

I'm glad that Logan was given the opportunity to really explain to Veronica what the Navy means to him and WHY. That scene where he lays it all on the line for her was a goldmine of Logan emotion/vulnerability (I would kill to see JD knock that scene out of the park; as you know he would). I'm a sucked for the layered villian/bad boy type. 

 

I've always liked Leo and never disliked he and Veronica but wow, I hope they don't go there for future books. 

 

I love your ideas about a possible future Duncan/lilLilly connection. 

[halgia]

Just finished. The main thing bugging me right now? They got the year wrong! Veronica was class of '06 in high school, movie was at her ten year reunion so '16, then they say "last December" was 2012. What the fuck.

Overall, I liked it fine. Not following up at all on Grace was probably the thing that bugged me the most from the show, so I agree it's good that we see she kind of turned out okay, though of course they can't really keep having the main victim of the inciting crime keep have some deep connection to Veronica in future books.

I'm a little worried that the super-close election was a way for them to back out on it if they want to keep a Lamb in office....

I'd also be okay with her dumping Logan for Leo, but not super thrilled with her agonizing about it for a while if that's what happens.

The one obligatory check-in with Hunter and Lianne was probably about right. And yeah, the Duncan/Lilly reminder at the end seems like a it could easily be a setup for them showing up in the next book.

Also: does Veronica know that Duncan had Aaron Echols murdered? That popped in my head when she was all reluctant to go with the outside-the-law violent reaction.

[Slovenly Muse]

I definitely think there's something shady going on with this new sheriff. The way Keith remembers things, like it doesn't quite sit right with him, really got under my skin throughout this book. I was wondering if maybe the drugs she had her brother arrested for weren't his at all, but hers, and she set up her own brother to take the fall for her?

 

In any case, I get the feeling that even with Lamb out of office, the sheriff's department is not likely to be cleaned up any time soon! (His absence might even be temporary, brought back after her failed term, who knows?)

[bettername2come]

I think I liked the previous book more, but this one wasn't bad. I liked Logan's backstory (Dick was worried about him! Dick!) and the fact that he was there. Pony. Wallace's role in the case. Weevil choosing family. Lamb's out! Lizzie Manning turned out okay. Norris Clayton cameo. Veronica unable to make jokes about Don Lamb because he'd died in the line of duty. Everyone drinking together to celebrate Weevil's release. Mac's been tracking her biological family. Cliff. Veronica having a subscription to that escort site from when they tracked down that escort for Mac's future boyfriend in season 3. Inga references.

 

Things that made me yell at the page:

Aurora's just in counseling? What?! She wanted to murder Veronica!

Some random couple being mentioned at the end like I'm supposed to know who they are. Who the heck are Lisa and Lindsey?

Timeline screwups. 

The possibility of Leo/Veronica. No. No. No. I love Leo. If I stumbled into the VM universe tomorrow, I'd go directly for for Detective Leo. But no. Don't mess with LoVe. Don't even reference messing with LoVe. Not after all they've been through. No.

[halgia]

Some random couple being mentioned at the end like I'm supposed to know who they are. Who the heck are Lisa and Lindsey?

Yeah, I had no idea who they are, and they don't seem to be on marsinvestigations.net's list either. Anyone?

[MeganT]

Lisa was Weevil's lawyer, sounded like Lindsey was her randomly-showing-up wife.  Incidentally, if Lisa is any kind of lawyer, she advised Weevil to take that settlement that Keith and Veronica were so pissed about.  Best interests of justice, no. Best interest of her client? Most definitely. Veronica's going to need to get the frak over that.

I'm curious about this new sheriff--and what this might mean for Mars Investigations.  If she was such a big Keith fan, is Keith going back to the department? Does that mean that Sacks's death will be thoroughly investigated, for a change from every crime occuring in Neptune since 2003?  I had the same question about the drugs/setup of the brother, though. And I'm having some difficulty with the timeline--the Keith/Vinnie special election was spring of 2007, assume reunion was actually in January 2014 when the movie came out, last book was spring break of 2014, this book then would be August-ish 2014 to early 2015? So the terms were realigned so Vinnie served four years, then Dan Lamb (which, no) served four years, then this Marcia was elected? That's weird.  Not out of the question--legal structure of unincorporated counties in California, land of the weird election laws, is beyond me, but it's still weird.

[GraceAnne]

Just finished the audio book and I have to say, big difference not having Kristen Bell as the narrator.
I also agree I could have used a little more of an “ Ahh Ha!” moment in the ending.
While I love Leo and I love Logan, I don’t enjoy the possibility of Veronica dick-ing (ha) around with both of them.  I hope that’s not a continued theme if there is third book.

[halgia]

And I'm having some difficulty with the timeline--the Keith/Vinnie special election was spring of 2007, assume reunion was actually in January 2014 when the movie came out, last book was spring break of 2014, this book then would be August-ish 2014 to early 2015? So the terms were realigned so Vinnie served four years, then Dan Lamb (which, no) served four years, then this Marcia was elected? That's weird.

Veronica was supposed to be class of '06 at Neptune High (so says my sticker from the Kickstarter, anyway), and the movie definitely said it was her 10-year reunion, so the movie should be 2016. Since spring break happened a few month later, it must have been a January reunion, which in the thread for the last book Lisin assured me is sometimes a thing, so then this book would be summer 2016. 

 

Also I don't think this book actually spanned six months? I thought it was only a month or so.

[scarynikki12]

I agree, once Veronica takes the case the book itself encompasses a bit more than a month.  It takes place about six months after the first, though Grace's rape occurred maybe a week before the girl goes missing in the first book.  It's even mentioned that Grace's rape received almost no attention due to everything that happened in the first book. So, it's understandable that there's some confusion, as the crime Veronica investigates actually takes place before book 1, even if she doesn't learn about it until six months have gone by. 

 

I think we're just supposed to ignore what year it's supposed to be, or the editor meant to change the dates and forgot before going to print.

[ApathyMonger]

Just finished. The main thing bugging me right now? They got the year wrong! Veronica was class of '06 in high school, movie was at her ten year reunion so '16, then they say "last December" was 2012. What the fuck.

 

I think that might have been a typo, because earlier in the book it mentions 2013 as being two years ago, when the attack in Tucson took place.

 

Another one was that when Veronica is remembering reporting her rape, she says Dan Lamb instead of Don.

Edited February 7, 2015 by ApathyMonger

[bettername2come]

Another one was that when Veronica is remembering reporting her rape, she says Dan Lamb instead of Don.

 

WHAT?!?! How did I miss that? How did the editors, when Don is specifically mentioned in the book? 

 

*frantically runs off to check book*

[ApathyMonger]

WHAT?!?! How did I miss that? How did the editors, when Don is specifically mentioned in the book? 

 

*frantically runs off to check book*

 

P73, but I was misremembering, it was when she was talking about finding Grace in the closet in S2, not the rape.

[Whimsy]

I noticed the typo too and it seriously annoyed me. That was the one good thing Don did, at least give him the proper credit!

[Aliconehead]

I noticed it too  It annoyed me also.  

[hiccup]

Despite that one Don/Dan typo, and one other complaint, that I will get into, I loved this book!  I thought it was a good storyline and I too was glad to see Grace Manning.  I really felt like I was watching the tv show, with how the characters came alive and all their mannerisms were exactly as they were on the show.  I did miss Vinnie Van Lowe.  His ridiculousness should be in every book.  Oh also, we need more Dick!

 

I really liked Logan explaining what led him to the Navy.  One question, the teacher who helped him, have we met that teacher before?  I can’t recall.  I love that Veronica and Logan have a dog, it fits perfectly with Veronica and well, Kristen Bell also. 

 

The only thing I did not like was the tease of possibly exploring more of Leo and Veronica.  I love the Leo character and do want him in all the books, but I do not want him and Veronica together.  While I understand that the restlessness with Logan being deployed is characteristic of Veronica as a teenager, she’s an adult now and needs to be able to navigate difficulties in a relationship, without thinking the grass may be greener on the other side.  Basically, I want Veronica and Logan together forever and eventually I want them married and having little LoVe babies.

 

For future books (please let there be more books), I hope they introduce love interests for Keith, Wallace, and Mac.  

Edited February 13, 2015 by hiccup

[Kel Varnsen]

I finished reading it earlier this week. I liked it. It was weird that she basically figured out who the rapist was pretty much half way through the book. I was totally waiting for a big twist where it was revealed to be someone else in one of the last chapters (like in the other book and the show I guess I am just conditioned to expect that). But thinking about it this is probably how more real detective work happens. You get a suspect based on your experience and some evidence, then you gather more and more evidence against them and build your case.

 

The only small nitpick I had was with Weevil's story. It said he lost his auto shop because the 09'ers stopped bringing their Bentleys and other high end luxury cars. Except I would doubt that the super rich would even bring those kind of cars to Weevil in the first place. More likely they would be bringing them to factory trained techs at the place where they bought them. Now I had no problem with the shop going under, because if it was a small business with Weevil as the boss and no really good 2nd in command, and he is away at court all the time, then yea he would lose money. But not because the rich people choose not to go there.

 

I also just looked at my comments from the first book and I realized that we still don't really have any kind of resolution for who killed Sacks and tried to kill Keith. Yes Lamb lost the election, but it looks to me like he had another cop killed. Shouldn't that be a bigger deal? 

Edited April 15, 2015 by Kel Varnsen

[Eneya]

I was laughing out loud to the Don/Dan Lamb brothers. One idiot... fine... but two? It sounds like a comedy duo.

I... still don't feel Veronika and her voice unfortunately, read the book on one sitting and wasn't interested with Logan as a marine... I get why there is logic charavter wise... but I always imagined him being something else, a writer, a journalist... it was... hmmm.

The mystery was interesting but the whole feel of the series is like almost every other story out there. If it wasn't Veronika, I'd have folded on page 15.

[auntiemel]

I listened to the audiobook, and although I generally enjoy Rebecca Lowman as a narrator, I found her voice to be pitched too low and her cadence too slow to fit with the Veronica Mars story. I think someone like Suzy Jackson (http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_search_tseft?advsearchKeywords=suzy+jackson) would have been a much better casting choice!

[Affogato]

On ‎4‎/‎25‎/‎2015 at 7:14 AM, Eneya said:

I was laughing out loud to the Don/Dan Lamb brothers. One idiot... fine... but two? It sounds like a comedy duo.

I... still don't feel Veronika and her voice unfortunately, read the book on one sitting and wasn't interested with Logan as a marine... I get why there is logic charavter wise... but I always imagined him being something else, a writer, a journalist... it was... hmmm.

The mystery was interesting but the whole feel of the series is like almost every other story out there. If it wasn't Veronika, I'd have folded on page 15.

Yeah, I don't see rereading them over and over and over, but I thought they were really consistent with the characters and well thought out.

The Don/Dan Lamb thing was just odd, though.

Writers are known for developing substance abuse issues, you work alone and when you go out to find people, bars are an obvious venue. Also he tended to skew off when he was brooding, burn things (tapes, pools). I thought writer had 'dead in three years' written all over it for Logan.

[Affogato]

On ‎4‎/‎15‎/‎2015 at 7:18 AM, Kel Varnsen said:

 

I also just looked at my comments from the first book and I realized that we still don't really have any kind of resolution for who killed Sacks and tried to kill Keith. Yes Lamb lost the election, but it looks to me like he had another cop killed. Shouldn't that be a bigger deal? 

I'm guessing that is a job for, if it happens, the miniseries. Maybe the resolution will uncover some nest of scorpions and Keith can contemplate retiring and Veronica and Mac can contemplate their futures.

[marshmallows]

I just listened to this book on audible last month. It was not the same without Kristen's narration, but I still enjoyed it.

The overall mystery was pretty good. I'm glad we got to revisit Grace Manning. The way they left that story in s2 was unsatisfying and always something I hoped they would touch on again so I am glad that they did.  This story was a lot slower and had less of a surprise element than the first book had, but I was okay with that because we finally got back into the skeeziness that was going on with the Sheriff's department. I still want solid answers on Keith's attempted murder and Sach's actual murder. I'm sure Rob Thomas left this open in case there is another book or movie (which I so hope there will be.)

 

Loved, loved, loved that we got more backstory on Logan's reasoning for going into the Navy (and just more Logan in general because I find him to be one of the most fascinating characters to ever be written.)  The fact that he fell of the rails and overdosed twice after Veronica left, was very fitting and true to character.  He had a lot of terrible things happen to him and he also created a lot of terrible situations for himself. He also never knew how to handle it because no one ever truly loved him except Veronica- so when she left it makes sense that he would lose it.  I like that he saved himself from his own fate by joining the military- it was exactly the kind of structure and discipline he always needed and also a good outlet for his anger, as well as gaining support system that he never really had before.  

 

Ugh, I just beg of you RT, please do not do another freaking triangle if you continue the books. I love Leo and think he is a great ally for Veronica (and would have been a better fit for the love triangle in the movie, but you went with Piz so w/e lol), but we do not need another triangle.  If you must break them up, please come up with a more original reason than another triangle.  I would find it way more compelling if somehow Logan got injured and just the thought of losing him put a serious strain on their relationship and Veronica breaks up with him because she just can't stand the thought of losing him... and of course have them get back together before it's over. I know the book's are basically from Veronica's POV, so of course we hear thoughts in her head, and her thoughts about Leo vs. Logan are completely normal thoughts, but please just leave it at thoughts... 

[TeeVee329]

On ‎3‎/‎2‎/‎2017 at 3:05 PM, marshmallows said:

I'm glad we got to revisit Grace Manning.

And I liked how they touched back on Mac being baby swapped with her bio dad being one of the suspects, and that touching off a bunch of emotions for her.  The book using the show's rich history in that way was really cool to me.

[Jessie monster]

I really liked that Weevil took the settlement and how pissed the Mars' were about it. That Money-Always-Wins is very noir and appropriate for this world. Nice note of Weevil sending her a picture of him at the beach with his kid, because Justice doesn't mean much when you can't feed your family.

[Hanahope]

So after finally tracking down a copy of this book, I'm on chapter 21.  I've always assumed that "Neptune" stood in for one of the rich coastal cities in SoCal, near San Diego.  But I just read how Veronica got from Santa Antia Racetrack to her office in Neptune in 14 minutes.  In what universe is Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia (inland, east of Los Angeles) even remotely close to being only 14 minutes from the pacific coast?  It would take at least an hour, even with only light traffic, and that's for one of the Los Angeles coastal cities, it would be at least 90-120 minutes to get closer to San Diego.  I have to assume that the race track was actually Del Mar, which is down along the southern coast, closer to San Diego.

But other than that glaring error, pretty good book.  I wasn't surprised at the ending to the mystery.  I thought it contained a bit extra filler with Logan's story, but I guess they wanted to include him as more than just window dressing.  The new sherrif is curious, I wonder if the new show will follow up on these stories.

Edited August 29, 2018 by Hanahope

[Sharna Pax]

I just read this, and I enjoyed it, but my general feeling was that it would have been much better as an actual TV show. It definitely confirms my feeling that people who write dialogue aren’t necessarily all that good at doing narration, or even at conveying how the dialogue is supposed to sound when it’s within the narrative. There were a lot of exchanges, especially between Veronica and Keith, that I could tell would play as lively, witty banter on the show, but that seemed a bit labored on the page. I had to really picture the actors delivering the lines for it to work.

I had mixed feelings about all the Logan drama – oh, who am I kidding? I loved it. I am a sucker for that poor tortured psychotic jackass puppy. But it did strike me that Rob Thomas is much better at making things subtle onscreen than on the page. I would much rather have had to tease out all the nuances of the current Veronica/Logan dynamic, rather than just being handed them on a platter. Like, Logan being nervous around the puppy because he comes from a cycle of abuse and he’s afraid he’ll hurt it? If that were coming through onscreen, with nothing but Jason Dohring’s body language to convey it, I would eat that shit up with a spoon. When I’ve got Rob Thomas yelling LOOK AT THE TALL BEAUTIFUL MAN WHO’S AFRAID OF THE TINY PUPPY!!! in my ear every two sentences, it gets a little fanficcy for my tastes. Still kind of loved it though. Like I said, I am a sucker. Also, I assume this means that if LoVe start talking about having kids we’re in store for some more Logan Angst, which is always fun.

And while I’m on the topic of Logan – I don’t mean to scare you guys, but did anyone else start to worry that Rob Thomas might be thinking about killing him off? He’s so very perfect these days, there’s not a lot of places for his character to go. And he’s had this whole redemption arc, so it would be extra tragic if he died now, and Veronica’s whole origin story involves losing people she loves, so I could totally see the writers going there. I hope not, but I’m worried.

[Affogato]

On ‎2‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 10:42 PM, Sharna Pax said:

I just read this, and I enjoyed it, but my general feeling was that it would have been much better as an actual TV show. It definitely confirms my feeling that people who write dialogue aren’t necessarily all that good at doing narration, or even at conveying how the dialogue is supposed to sound when it’s within the narrative. There were a lot of exchanges, especially between Veronica and Keith, that I could tell would play as lively, witty banter on the show, but that seemed a bit labored on the page. I had to really picture the actors delivering the lines for it to work.

I had mixed feelings about all the Logan drama – oh, who am I kidding? I loved it. I am a sucker for that poor tortured psychotic jackass puppy. But it did strike me that Rob Thomas is much better at making things subtle onscreen than on the page. I would much rather have had to tease out all the nuances of the current Veronica/Logan dynamic, rather than just being handed them on a platter. Like, Logan being nervous around the puppy because he comes from a cycle of abuse and he’s afraid he’ll hurt it? If that were coming through onscreen, with nothing but Jason Dohring’s body language to convey it, I would eat that shit up with a spoon. When I’ve got Rob Thomas yelling LOOK AT THE TALL BEAUTIFUL MAN WHO’S AFRAID OF THE TINY PUPPY!!! in my ear every two sentences, it gets a little fanficcy for my tastes. Still kind of loved it though. Like I said, I am a sucker. Also, I assume this means that if LoVe start talking about having kids we’re in store for some more Logan Angst, which is always fun.

And while I’m on the topic of Logan – I don’t mean to scare you guys, but did anyone else start to worry that Rob Thomas might be thinking about killing him off? He’s so very perfect these days, there’s not a lot of places for his character to go. And he’s had this whole redemption arc, so it would be extra tragic if he died now, and Veronica’s whole origin story involves losing people she loves, so I could totally see the writers going there. I hope not, but I’m worried.

I think the books are a way to tie off the loose ends in veronica's story and set her up for the revival (or the rest of her life?). TDTL answers the question 'did Veronica want to see her mother again? Does she miss the mothering she didn't get? " and the answer is 'no'. Then, because Veronica wants to know her half brother, Veronica is stuck with having to develop a relationship with her mother. So there are potential storylines there. Veronica and Keith are working together as separate but equal partners and don't know much about each other's business. So Keith has let go of micromanaging her. Still he doesn't want her to know the things he is doing and there is a huge storyline there, where she stumbles into his work by accident and the two of them work together. I wonder if this doesn't happen in the revival?

I don't think Logan really gets an arc, though. I think he got a paragraph of backstory, written before the movie, which allows his many many fans to think he has won at life and yet leaves him with no continuing storylines of his own. All of his loose ends tied off, off stage. He isn't completely a cardboard standee. We do see his hesitancy with Veronica, his nervousness about commitment. He has also clearly learned to stop before he says something he may regret. In season 3 he breaks up with 'veronica because she doesn't pick up a phone call, in MKAT he runs to deployment because she doesn't come to the funeral on the first day. He runs, both times but handles the situation differently, so he still has things to fix about himself and things to learn about relationships. He is not perfect but we see how he is going to handle things. No tension, not a lot of storyline.

When he suggests to 'veronica that they get a puppy I thought more of the alcoholic's anonymous thing where you get a pet to see if you can handle a relationship with a human. Or people in general getting a pet to see if they can handle kids. I also thought that Veronica needs someone to drag her out of her work into her real life, so this is a big step for him, paying enough attention to her (and not to her reactions to him) to do something like this.  His discomfort with the puppy show me he hasn't been around children or puppies much, which actually tells me he hasn't been around his co workers at the Navy much, since they seem to be family people. Hmmm. More ways he isn't perfect. But not just, or even mostly, the fear of being like his dad.

In short, they won't kill him because it will cost them viewers, since he is the main draw for a lot of people, but they have gone to some effort to make sure he remains in the background in a fairly limited role (Veronica's love interest).If they  killing him would mean the revival would be about him. You'd have to see Veronica's reactions, there would be a funeral--way too much. I suspect he will show up in the first two episodes, spend a lot of time naked, he'll have a friendly relationship with Keith or/and Wallace, maybe he'll have a birthday or a promotion. Maybe even the possibility of a job that will allow him to stay with Veronica, but that will be a real change of career paths. Then he'll go on a training mission and come back at the end of the show for a couple of episodes.

If I had to bet they will be married. Mac may have joined the fbi, since she won't be in the show. Veronica will be thinking about joining her there, since she is closing in on the cut off age for special agents. Keith will be thinking about retiring. One or the other may be positioned to run for Mayor. So I suspect the angst will be from the Mars position.