Heart of Glass

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel opens with the discovery of a severed foot, a detail rooted in a real-life Pacific Northwest phenomenon. How did knowing this was based on a real occurrence shape your initial experience with the mystery? Did it make the story feel more grounded or more sensational to you?

2. Hillier sets this story in Seaside, the same fictional town from her earlier novel Wonderland (2015). If you’ve read Wonderland, how did your prior knowledge of the town’s troubled history affect your reading of Heart of Glass? If this was your first visit to Seaside, what was your impression of the town and its secrets?

3. Which storyline captured your attention more, the 25-year-old cold case of Lorelei Glass’s murder or the present-day investigation into the disappearances of the reality stars? How effectively do you think the author wove these two mysteries together?

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

1. Barb Bonifacio feels trapped by her past, living in her childhood hometown and unable to pursue her dream of becoming a novelist. Think about the dreams or ambitions you had when you were younger. How have they evolved, and in what ways has your past shaped the path you’ve taken in your own life?

2. Cole Lennox completely reinvents herself, changing her name and fabricating a new background to escape her traumatic youth. When you think about your own identity, which parts feel essential, and which parts have you reshaped over time?

3. Barb secretly writes for the gossip blog Reality Bitch, having become what her therapist calls an “addicted hate-watcher” (51). What’s your own perspective on reality TV and celebrity gossip? Why do you think we are often so fascinated by the public and private lives of famous people?

4. How does the complicated friendship between Barb and Cole, full of resentment, guilt, and deep-seated loyalty, compare to long-term friendships in your own life? What do you think it takes for a friendship to survive shared trauma and years of distance?

5. Seaside is a town where everyone’s history is intertwined and the local economy depends on protecting a certain image. Have you ever been part of a small, close-knit community, whether it’s a town, a school, or a workplace? What role do shared secrets and collective memory play in such communities?

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

1. The novel uses the fictional show Trophy Wives to explore the cultural impact of reality TV. In what ways does the book critique the transformation of real people into characters for public consumption? Do you feel that its portrayal of the hollowness of fame is accurate in today’s media landscape?

2. What does the novel suggest about our culture’s fascination with true crime? Think about the docuseries Criminal Confessions and its role in the story. How does it explore the ethics of turning real-life tragedy into entertainment?

3. The theme of Power as a Shield for Abuse is illustrated through characters like Daniel Hawksfield and Jordan Lennox. How does the story explore the ways that social status, wealth, and authority can protect abusers? Where do you see similar dynamics at play in society today?

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

1. The narrative alternates between the present-day investigation and flashbacks to the summer of 2001. How did this structure affect your reading experience and your understanding of the characters’ motivations? Did it create suspense, or did you find it disruptive?

2. How does the Wonderland amusement park function as more than just a setting in the novel? What does it symbolize about the town of Seaside and the internal lives of characters like Barb and Cole?

3. The Polaroid camera is a recurring motif used first by Marty Kieswetter and later by Owen Stark. What do you think the novel is saying about the act of watching and being watched? How does the private, predatory nature of the Polaroid photos contrast with the public exposure of reality TV?

4. Barb and Cole serve as foils for each other, each dealing with their shared trauma in opposite ways. How do their contrasting journeys illuminate the book’s main themes about confronting the past?

5. Which plot twist surprised you the most? Was it the revelation of Alice Chu’s involvement, the truth about what happened to Lorelei, or another turn of events? Do you feel the twists were well earned and effectively foreshadowed?

6. The story of a female journalist returning to her secretive hometown to confront a buried trauma shares some DNA with other thrillers, like Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects (2006). How does Heart of Glass use or subvert the tropes of this “hometown gothic” subgenre?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were casting a film adaptation of Heart of Glass, who would you choose to play the key roles of Barb, Cole, Alice, and Detective Cameron Wallace? What qualities do those actors have that would make them perfect for these parts?

2. Imagine you’re the producer of the Criminal Confessions docuseries. Create a pitch for a follow-up season based on one of the following: a series on Daniel Hawksfield’s long-hidden crimes, an investigation into the partnership of Alice and Owen, or a profile of Kylie Kahl’s survival and recovery.

3. At the end of the novel, Barb has finally finished her own book. What do you imagine her novel is about? Do you think she wrote a fictionalized account of the events in Seaside, or did she find the freedom to tell a completely different kind of story?