Harvest Season

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. This story blends dark comedy, graphic violence, and intense romance. How did you find this mix of tones? Did you feel the humor effectively balanced the darker elements, or did it sometimes feel jarring to you?

2. Harvest Season is the second book in The Seasons of Carnage series. How did you feel this installment built upon the world and character dynamics established in Tourist Season? Did the shift from an enemies-to-lovers conflict to a partnership against external threats feel like a satisfying progression?

3. Think about Sheriff Yates’s secret identity as the villain, La Plume, a twist revealed in the epilogue of Tourist Season. How did you enjoy the structure of Harvest Season, which includes interludes from his perspective to reveal his actions as an antagonist? Did you enjoy having knowledge that the protagonists didn’t?

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

1. Harper’s loyalty to Arthur is a powerful force in her life, keeping her in Cape Carnage despite the immense danger. Think about a time you’ve felt a deep sense of loyalty to someone. How does that feeling shape your decisions, and how did you relate to Harper’s choice to stay by Arthur’s side?

2. Nolan arrives in town with a completely wrong idea about who Harper is, which fuels his initial mission. Have you ever had a first impression of someone that turned out to be entirely mistaken? How did your perspective change as you got to know them better?

3. The secret “toenitiation” ritual at the Murder Mash Barn Dance is a bizarre test of belonging. What does this tradition suggest about the nature of community in Cape Carnage? Think about the groups or communities you belong to. What kinds of shared experiences create a true sense of belonging?

4. Harper’s chessboard is a private, controlled space that helps her manage her trauma. Do you have a personal ritual, hobby, or place that you turn to when you need to find a sense of order or peace in a chaotic world?

5. Lukas and Harper have very different ideas about the best way to care for Arthur as his Alzheimer’s progresses. Reflect on a time you’ve seen well-meaning people disagree on the right way to support a loved one. What makes these situations so challenging to navigate?

6. For Harper, Cape Carnage is a sanctuary, while Nolan initially sees it as a cage. What do you think makes a place feel like home? How can one person’s safe haven be perceived as another’s trap?

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

1. The novel critiques the true-crime phenomenon through the Sleuthseekers, who are portrayed as ignorant and ill-intentioned. Where do you think the line is between responsible public interest in a case and harmful “morbid tourism”? How has the rise of social media affected this dynamic in the real world?

2. Characters like Arthur and Nolan turn to vigilantism because they feel the official justice system has failed them. In what ways does the novel explore the appeal of taking justice into one’s own hands? Where do you see similar frustrations with established systems in our society today?

3. Harper creates an entirely new identity to escape the public scrutiny that followed her escape from Harvey Mead. What does her story suggest about how our culture often treats survivors of trauma, particularly in the age of constant media coverage?

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

1. How does the recurring motif of gardening shape the novel’s themes? Consider the topiaries, the use of murder victims as compost, and Arthur’s award-winning gardens. How do these elements explore the connection between life, death, and control?

2. What is the significance of the chessboard in Harper’s cottage? How does it serve as a symbol for her psychological state, and how does its meaning evolve as Nolan and then Sheriff Yates interact with the pieces?

3. The novel features several different kinds of killers. Compare the motivations of Harper, Nolan, and Arthur with the cold, artistic philosophy of Sheriff Yates. What do these distinctions reveal about the book’s exploration of violence and morality?

4. Cape Carnage is a setting full of dark humor and strange traditions. How does the town compare to other memorable literary settings with a similar “secrets under the surface” dynamic, like the one in Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects? What makes Cape Carnage’s atmosphere unique?

5. How did the interludes from Sheriff Yates’s point of view contribute to the novel’s themes, motifs, and narrative tension?

6. How do local side characters like Lukas, Maya, and “the Bobs” contribute to the novel’s underlying message about the important of community? How does Lukas and Maya’s protection of Harper against the Sleuthseekers, despite not knowing her for long, align with the moral code that Harper and Arthur use when selecting tourists to kill?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’re designing a new attraction for the Taste of Terror festival. What would your booth or activity be called, and how would it reflect the unique, macabre spirit of Cape Carnage?

2. If you were casting a film adaptation of Harvest Season, who would you choose to play Harper, Nolan, and Sheriff Yates? What qualities would you look for in the actors to capture the complexity of these characters?

3. The book ends on a major cliffhanger, with Yates declaring that Autumn Bower will be the one to kill Nolan. What do you predict will happen in the next book? What is Harper’s state of mind, and what will be her first move?