Yeah I also struggled with Kieran as a female lead. She was supposed to be brilliant, fierce, independent, but she never acted like it. Apart from her insight in the beginning where she realized that stealing a diamond is a
bad idea, the point where she saved the girl on the train tracks, and the part where she cracked the bad guy over the head, she didn’t have much merit. She needed to be escorted everywhere. She immediately caved to the suggestion of the agents or of her brothers. She was scared to talk to journalists who were on her side. And her inner monologue was obnoxious. You could make an argument that she was at least somewhat strong until she started her relationship with Craig, and then she became useless. Which seems even worse. Being strong/independent and having a boyfriend are not mutually exclusive.
Also, yeah, this book totally wouldn’t pass the Bechdel Test.
I would have loved to see at least one other strong female character as a support or a friend to Kieran, but instead we got Julie, who was dumb enough to steal a diamond and basically disappeared towards the end, Ms. Mannerly, who was a bad guy, and one of Julie’s bosses, who had like all of 3 lines.
Whimsical - I loved your ending. I’d read your book.
