You seem to have a much better understanding of Renner than I do, so I'm interested to hear more. If I understand correctly, you believe he doesn't have bombshell information to explain the purpose of Maura's drive that night? Do you think he'll hold this lead over our heads in order to increase book sales? Wouldn't he have to delay the release date to make a major revision like that?
I know that I've come off as a Renner apologist in the last few pages, but I'm genuinely curious to know what you think. It seems like he would really piss off his reader base if he takes the route I think you're suggesting. As far as I know, Renner doesn't have a track record of withholding substantial information, which is a major reason that I want his book to succeed. I won't be so supportive if he starts toying with us to increase book sales.
I often come across as a Renner apologist too. I actually support the guy. In the beginning I was totally blown away by his blog and his incisive questions about the case. I thought it was really cool that he was sort of making his book a collaborative effort. It has been very interesting seeing this unfold soon after it unfolds for the author. I applaud Renner for really putting it out there and doing something totally different in the genre of true "crime" (still up for debate). I read his book on Amy Mihaljevik and I enjoyed it.
There are some things that have happened in the past couple of years, however, which have put me off him a bit. First, he has put some things on the blog without any sources that I find distasteful, like Maura being in orgies. This information may be true. However, he will make a post about this and not cite his source, which makes it seem sort of slimy. Now had the book come out a month after that post, I would feel differently. But here has been a rather salacious item about Maura and it has just been "hanging" out there for about two years. Now the family has said that Renner and internet sleuths are mean, but if a person new to the case came across that post right away, isn't that sort of the conclusion they would draw? The post was perhaps meant to titillate and grab the interest of potential book readers, but I think it ultimately will alienate people more than anything.
Then he says his book, which we were promised for years would be about Maura, is actually about himself and his experience researching this case. This is not the book we were promised and by inserting himself in the story, I think he once more cheapened the case. The reaction to the new book concept was overwhelmingly negative. No one liked Renner's announcement. He censored negative criticism and acted like we were all just not getting it. So here is an author who gets something any other author would kill for: a ready-made, free focus group. He should have gone back to the drawing board with the book idea. Instead, he publishes it knowing that this is not the book his readers want nor thought they would get. I cannot not believe that Renner, a perfectly respectable though by know means massively successful writer, would not take this unique opportunity and truly run with it.
Finally we have today's little charade. For the second time, Renner has promised a big announcement and not delivered. The first one I can forgive, but this one? Seriously Renner, grow some and post what you know already. If you do not have the fortitude to follow through with it, then do not post the "big announcement Friday!" post. It's immature and rude. Once more, he has cheapened the project as it were.
So for those reasons I am no longer holding my breath regarding the quality of the final book.