Book Club Corner

Discussion Guide

Please be aware that this guide contains spoilers. Scroll down for more.

Behind Closed Doors

*Psychological Thriller*

When did you first begin to suspect that something about Jack and Grace’s marriage was off?
Did you ever think that Grace might be an unreliable narrator and that she might be making everything up? If so, at what point in the story?
Jack’s true nature and intentions are revealed early on. Did you find this effective? Did you think it lessened or heightened the suspense?
Our understanding of Jack’s character changes considerably over the course of the book. Were you at all duped by him, in the beginning? Or did he seem too good to be true? Do you think it’s possible to hide your real self so well from everyone around you?
How did Jack’s backstory affect your feelings about his character, if at all?
We’ve all wondered at some point what might be going on behind closed doors in lives of our friends, coworkers, and neighbours. Have you ever been in Esther’s position, where you thought something wasn’t quite right? Did you find her actions believable? Why or why not?
None of Jack and Grace’s other friends or colleagues seem to think anything is wrong, and everyone Grace tries to reach out to readily believes Jack’s explanations. Do you think that is because we are inclined to see the best in people? Or to believe men over women? Or perhaps to believe the least extreme situation?
What do you think of Millie's role in the story? Did you find her character effective/

Please be aware that this guide contains spoilers.

On the way to The Breakdown’s big reveals, B. A. Paris throws many false trails toward the reader. What red herrings in particular had you convinced?
From the moment Cass drives away from the woman in the stopped car, she feels immense regret that only grows the more she learns. In the beginning, she keeps returning to the feeling that she should have helped Jane that first rainy night - but is that true? Does your group feel Cass had a moral imperative to help a pulled-over car on a stormy night, or did she do the reasonable thing in driving on?
How did the setting of The Breakdown - a quiet, secluded home - affect your expectations of what was to come? How do you think it affected Cass?
On Friday, July 24th, Cass asks herself, “was it manners that prevented Jane from closing her window hurriedly and driving off?” How do societal expectations effect people - particularly the women - in this novel?
Cass describes her relationship with Rachel as being closer to sisterhood than friendship. Do you think that is true? How do you think Rachel would describe their relationship?
On Tuesday, September 29th, Cass thinks, “I don’t know who to trust, not even myself.” How does trust - both self-trust and trust in others - propel this novel?
In 2022, Merriam Webster chose “gaslighting” as their word of the year, though it’s played a large role in psychological thrillers for much longer - The Breakdown itself was first published in 2017. Defined as: “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one’s own advantage,” why do you think gaslighting has so recently surged in the popular consciousness? And why, do you think, has it been such an important part of thrillers and suspense novels?
Casting call! Who would you cast to play Cass in the movie? What about Matthew and Rachel?

Please be aware that this guide contains spoilers.

Were you surprised when you realized that Finn’s point of view would play a major role in Bring Me Back? Did you find yourself more likely to trust his perspective, or Layla’s? Why?
The Russian nesting dolls come to stand for a number of things over the course of the novel; what were some of those metaphors? Which resonated with you most?
Everyone knows the saying “a dog is a man’s best friend” - how does Peggy fit into this story?
Which sister you think was actually a better fit for Finn? Why do you think he seemed to prefer Layla?
Before the big reveal, what did you think was the most likely theory for Layla’s disappearance and seeming reappearance?
How did the final twist change your understanding of the story that came before? Did any particular moments stick out when all of the information was at your disposal?
The novel ends with the words, “If I had truly loved Layla, surely I would have known her anywhere.” Do you think that is necessarily true? Can love outlast any change, see through any disguise?
Casting call! Who would you cast to play Finn in the movie? What about Ellen and Layla?

Please be aware that this guide contains spoilers.

When did you first start to suspect that Marnie wouldn’t make it to Livia’s party? When did you first guess why not?
Intergenerational relationships play a large role in this novel. Mothers and fathers, sons and daughters. Which relationships most closely mirror one another? How does Marnie’s relationship with Rob upend not only these close relationships, but the generation divide that’s necessarily a part of them?
Despite Marnie’s final fate - and the statue her father planned to carve for her - The Dilemma makes it clear that she was no angel. Does her affair change the way you see her? How does it complicate the narrative?
Throughout The Dilemma, there are multiple instances of two people having a conversation, or overhearing one, in which they believe they’re on the same page, but in reality are talking about entirely different things. How does the idea of communication - and miscommunication - play into the themes of the novel as a whole?
In the first pages Livia says that “Once she’s back, everything will change and we’ll no longer be able to live the lovely life we’ve been living” and there’s an echo of that statement near the end: “I wanted to be able to carry on living the life I was living.” This must be a devastating thought for Livia to look back on - how did reading it affect you? Do you agree with Livia’s guilt in this moment, for thinking that in the first place?
In the end, the secret about Rob and Marnie’s affair remains hidden from almost everyone. What does the revelation of one of the novel’s huge secrets and the subsequent continued confidentiality of the affair say about the nature of secrets? Do you think the choice they made is ultimately more helpful or more hurtful?
Can you understand the choice Adam made? Do you agree with Livia’s decision to forgive him? Put yourself in their shoes. Would you have made Adam’s choice? Could you have forgiven a loved one for making that same choice?
In Adam’s chapter that runs from 6-7pm, he is preparing to tell Livia what has happened to Marnie when he thinks instead, “these might be her last few moments of happiness.” Ultimately, do you think the choice Adam made to keep this secret was brave, or selfish?

Please be aware that this guide contains spoilers.

The Therapist’s prologue closes with a Henry David Thoreau quote: “Happiness is like a buttery; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softy on your shoulder.” How does this quote relate to the rest of the novel?
The Circle itself plays a large role in The Therapist: a gated, tight-knit community of twelve families could, at times, be a difficult place to live. Would you consider living in an estate like The Circle? Was conflict of some kind - if not necessarily to this extent - almost inevitable?
In Chapter Two, Leo says to Alice, “We’re fine on our own. We don’t need anyone else.” Alice continues to dwell on this statement; do you think this “us against the world” mentality can be romantic? Healthy? How does your understanding of this statement change as you learn more about their relationship?
Alice offers multiple reasons for not revealing to friends that Thomas Grainger was the one to tell her about the murder - seemingly harmless white lies that eventually build to a nearly deadly resolution. Do you buy in to her reasoning? Putting yourself in her shoes, what would you do differently?
In Chapter 13, Alice reveals that her older sister Nina named her after Alice in Wonderland. How are the two Alice’s similar? Different? What about the two Ninas in this novel?
Early in the novel, Alice admits that she can’t bring herself to like her new home, and later, in Chapter 17, she thinks, “it’s not easy living with Nina’s ghost.” Though, ultimately, real people are responsible for the deaths that occur, how do ghosts and hauntings permeate The Therapist?
The “Past” interstitials play out almost on repeat—until the last two when things abruptly take a turn. What effect do you think the author was trying to create with this technique?
In one of the final reveals, we learn the truth behind Alice’s sister’s death. Were you surprised by this information? How did it change your understanding of Alice’s motivations and reactions?

Please be aware that this guide contains spoilers.

The novel is called The Prisoner. How do you think the theme of imprisonment comes out throughout the story, beyond Amelie’s literal imprisonment?
What would you have done in Amelie’s situation in the “Present” sections of the book? How did you feel about the way she handled her kidnapping?
The lack of light in Amelie’s cell is a fear tactic being used by her kidnappers, but what other reasons might the author have for keeping their heroine in a state of darkness for so much of the novel? Do you see any parallels to Amelie’s past, or her mental state?
How does the introduction of Carolyn, and the kindness she both displays and represents, add to your understanding of Amelie’s character? To the novel as a whole?
Ned’s proposal to Carolyn, the “fake marriage,” is a common romantic comedy trope. How did it make you feel to see it used in this genre, instead?
Were you surprised by the revelations regarding Ned’s character? Why or why not?
Stockholm Syndrome is defined in the Encyclopaedia Britannica as “a psychological response wherein a captive begins to identify closely with his or her captors, as well as with their agenda and demands.” Time to play armchair psychologist: do you think Amelie is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome? Why or why not?
In Chapter 11, Amelie says, “on paper, my own life has changed from nightmare to fairy tale in a matter of weeks.” How is the idea of a fairy tale life threaded throughout The Prisoner? Are there any fairy tales in particular the story reminds you of?

Please be aware that this guide contains spoilers.

If you were Iris and Gabriel, at what point do you think you would lose your patience with Laure as your houseguest? Do you think Iris was harsh in her frustrations towards Laure, or too weak in letting her take over their lives?
How did you feel about Gabriel’s decision to lie to Charlie’s mother? Was it wrong for him to deny Charlie’s final wish, or a compassionate act to ease the pain of a grieving mother? What would you have done in that same situation?
At what point, if at all, did you begin to question the nature of Esme and Joseph’s relationship? Did you share Iris’ suspicions, or were you convinced in Esme and Hugh’s happiness together?
It’s not rare to feel romantically curious about another person while in a relationship, but how did Iris’ feelings towards Joseph influence how you thought of her marriage to Gabriel?
How do you think Beth’s presence in the family home impacted Iris and Gabriel’s already strained relationship? Did their behaviour towards Beth change how you saw them as individual characters?
Everyone in the story has secrets they want to protect. But who did you think was the most manipulative? And who did you most empathise with?
How did Joseph’s backstory affect your feelings about his character, if at all?
Did you see the ending coming, and how much did it surprise you?