Beyond curiosity, what are some of Lizzie’s motivations for agreeing to meet with Rebecca after more than a decade of estrangement? How do the circumstances of Lizzie’s life prime her to become invested in the mystery of the murder?

Discuss the use of nicknames (such as “Kiki” or “Bex”). How do nicknames signal different identities?

The location of the hotel and Rebecca’s ranch is left purposefully vague; no specific state or nearby city is ever named. What is the purpose of this ambiguous setting?

Rebecca’s eldest daughter, Alice, receives more narrative attention and characterization than any of the other children. What role does Alice play in the story? How does she heighten the stakes of the suspense?

After the murder, rumors circulate that an unspecified part of Grayson’s body was cut off and left in the freezer. What is the function of this gruesome detail? What is the impact of the confirmation that Veronica did indeed sever his hand?

Discuss the role of danger and risk in the novel by analyzing a scene, such as the storm in the desert, or the scene where Lizzie must climb out of the bathroom window. Is the experience of danger shown to have any beneficial effects?

Rebecca hopes to secure recorded confessions from Grayson and Marsden but fails to do so (necessitating the staged confrontation between the two men). Why was she unsuccessful? Does Rebecca overestimate herself when she concocts elaborate plans?

What roles do idealizations of animals and nature play in the tradwife and homesteading lifestyle content depicted in the novel? Why are goats, chickens, and other animals that would play highly practical roles in a working farm anthropomorphized as part of content creation?