Yes, it is perplexing.
And I am not sure if Amanda perhaps initially rented the place, and returned to the US, and then came back in September, or just moved right in in August (I only have a limited Google preview of the book).
One other thing I was wondering about:
In the Murder Wiki, there is a section about staging not only the break in and burglary, but of someone returning to the cottage and moving Meredith's body after death, and cutting the bra and pushing up the shirt, to simulate a sexual attack.
I have been reading about staged crime scenes, and it turns out that many crime scenes have both a staged burglary and a staged sexual assault (eg a husband strangles his wife during an argument; then stages things to look as if a burglar broke in, ransacked the place, discovered the wife alone, and attempted a rape).
The question is, as Guede clearly assaulted Meredith (his DNA found on her tampon, and inside her) why would staging of a sex crime be presumed? Can anyone who believes in guilt address this; what the basic premise of a staging of sexual assault after an actual sex assault would be ? (my friend Otto or anyone else?) TIA--would be most appreciated. ETA: I know we have been over the logistics; I just want to grasp the premise better if I can.....