All Her Fault

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you think of the premise of the book? Did the story develop the way you expected it to, or were you surprised by the twists?

2. If you watched the television adaptation of All Her Fault, how does its interpretation of the work compare to the text itself? Did you prefer the show or the book?

3. How did All Her Fault compare to other domestic thrillers you may have read? How is it different or similar to other works in the genre?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. How did you feel at the opening of the book when Marissa Irvine cannot find her son, Milo? Have you ever found yourself in an unexpected situation that worried or unnerved you? How did your reactions compare to Marissa’s?

2. Jenny and Marissa speak of the pressures they feel as working mothers, with many judging them more harshly than the fathers in the families. Have you ever felt judged as a parent or in some other role due to your gender? 

3. Jenny is shocked to discover the harsh online discourse surrounding Milo’s disappearance. What is your own relationship with social media and online news coverage? Do you engage in such speculative discussions about ongoing criminal cases, or do you prefer to avoid them?

4. The novel toys with the idea that people are not always what they appear to be to others. Have you ever experienced a situation where your initial impressions of a person later proved to be incorrect or misleading? What happened, and what did you learn from that experience?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel speaks to some of the issues surrounding wealth inequality in modern Dublin. In what ways does wealth inequality impact your own society and/or community? How does the book’s subject matter reflect, or contribute to, current debates on this topic?

2. The novel provides a subtle critique of true crime media and tabloid media. How does the novel engage with some of the current controversies surrounding the consumption of true crime media?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the use of shifting perspectives in All Her Fault impact the narrative? 

2. Analyze the use of time in the novel, such as the flashbacks and the way the narrative sometimes “doubles back” to certain scenes to depict them again from a different character’s point of view. How does time function in the text, both as a narrative device and as a wider commentary on the influence of the past on the present?

3. As the novel’s title implies, the narrative is often focused on gender dynamics and the impact of gender roles. How do the different female characters in the text—Marissa, Adeline, Irene, Jenny, and/or Carrie— conceive of gender roles? How do they reinforce, or push back against, gendered expectations?

4. Consider the role of safety and danger in the text. How does the novel interrogate these concepts? How does it seek to undermine assumptions about what—or who—is truly safe or dangerous?

5. Compare and contrast Peter Irvine and Richie Kennedy. How are the men different or similar in terms of their characterization and/or roles in the text?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Carrie enjoys writing poetry. Write a poem from Carrie’s perspective to Marissa explaining her actions. Alternatively, write a poem from Marissa’s perspective to Carrie.

2. Carrie is a fan of bands like The Cure, New Order, and The Smiths. Using this as a jumping-off point, create a playlist where each song represents one character in the novel.