Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did Dead in the Water’s unrelenting suspense, dark tone, and moments of graphic violence sit with you?

2. Did you find it disturbing to inhabit the mind of Damon, particularly as he began to unravel psychologically? Why or why not?

3. How does this book compare to other works by John Marrs you may have read, like The Good Samaritan, or to other books in the psychological thriller genre?

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

1. The book delves into the dangers of focusing on or uncovering the past. Do you feel that it is important to uncover past events, or do you feel it is better to leave such things alone? Do you agree with the book’s premise that the past can never be entirely left behind?

2. As Damon recovers his memories of his childhood, they help him understand his past and impact his behavior in the present. How have your own childhood experiences shaped you as an adult? Which memories remain particularly important to you?

3. Damon feels compelled to hold onto his relationship with Melissa even after their divorce, stunting both his own and her relationships. Have you ever felt unable to distance yourself from someone even after the relationship ended? Did you find Damon and Melissa’s relationship dynamics relatable?

4. Helena, Ralf, and Dr. Fernandez-Jones have acted unethically and even illegally in an attempt to protect and help Damon. Have you or someone you know ever once tried to bend rules for the sake of a good cause? What were the results?

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

1. The story raises complex questions about mental illness, trauma, and death. What do you think the book communicates about the relationship between these things? Does it handle them responsibly?

2. Damon’s behavior is often especially possessive and dangerous toward women. How does the novel reflect current discourses around misogyny and violence against women?

3. How does Dead in the Water address the responsibilities of parents (or would-be parents)? Do you feel that it sets reasonable expectations for parents and how they treat their children?

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

1. How does Marrs use shifting perspectives and other literary techniques to create suspense or mystery?

2. Analyze how the novel examines the nature of family, both biological family and found family. What does the novel suggest about the strengths and limitations of these bonds?

3. Damon is not the only character who is forced to reckon with his memories and their unreliability. How do secondary characters like Helena contribute to the theme of The Unreliability of Memory?

4. Consider the role of different forms of communication and media in the text (e.g., tapes, news stories, messages, emails, online forums). How do these various forms of communication impact the novel in terms of plot, characterization, and/or the illumination of key themes and ideas?

5. How are Laura and Damon different from or similar to one another? What is Laura’s wider role and significance in the text?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Design a symbolic object or small memorial for all of Damon’s victims. What materials and forms would you use to represent their lives? How would you portray their lost futures as Damon imagines them at the end of the novel?

2. Who would you cast in a film or television adaptation of Dead in the Water? What kind of visual language (color, setting, costumes, etc.) would best represent the mood of the book?