I made this argument in class and I stand by my belief that it would have been a lot more interesting a read had Patrick actually killed Zachrary Lundt. I know it was argued in class that this would have been out of character, but the scary thing is, that this would have been true to real life.

What some people don't realize is that there are people who are so twisted out of their normal character by life's tragedies that they often do behave in a manner which they would never think themselves capable of.

I consider that possibility to be rather realisitic, but I guess the book is ok the way it is.