Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel is built around a dual-timeline narrative, alternating between Annie’s present-day investigation and Frances’s diary from 1967. How did this structure affect your reading experience and your ability to piece together the mystery?

2. How does this novel’s modern take on the cozy mystery, with its focus on a historical cold case, compare to other books you’ve read in the genre, such as Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club series?

3. What was your reaction to the final reveal of Eric Foyle as the killer for both the 1961 and present-day crimes? Did you find the resolution satisfying?

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

1. Frances dedicates her life to trying to outsmart a prediction about her future. Have you ever felt that a particular expectation, from yourself or others, has shaped your choices?

2. The novel distinguishes between a “collector of secrets,” like Frances, and a “solver of crimes,” like Annie (186). Do you see yourself as more of a collector of stories and memories, or as someone who prefers to analyze and find solutions?

3. Perrin uses various settings in the novel, including the central setting of Gravesdown Hall, which Annie struggles to settle into. Have you ever been in a place that held conflicting emotions for you, feeling like both a sanctuary and a source of unease?

4. Archie and Birdy keep devastating secrets for decades, believing they are acting out of loyalty. When do you think it is justifiable to keep a secret for someone else, and at what point does it become harmful?

5. What did you think of Peony Lane’s decision to reinvent herself by changing her name from Ellen Jones? Can a person truly create a new identity and leave their past behind?

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

1. The 1960s flashbacks highlight how Edmund Gravesdown’s aristocratic status protected him from facing consequences for his crimes. How do these historical power imbalances reflect similar situations in the present day?

2. Peony and Eric’s vigilantism raises complex questions about justice. How did you feel about their decision to take the law into their own hands when the official system failed to hold a powerful man accountable? What are some current real-world examples of this phenomenon?

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

1. What is the significance of Peony Lane’s fortunes? How do characters like Frances, Annie, Archie, and Peony each represent a different response to the idea of a foretold destiny?

2. The story explores different kinds of family, from Annie’s fraught relationship with her mother to the fierce, complicated loyalty between the Foyle brothers. What does the novel suggest about the meaning of family and the obligations that come with it?

3. How does Kristen Perrin use the dual-timeline structure to explore the connections between the past and the present?

4. Eric Foyle is an antagonist whose motivations are rooted in a desire for justice. How does the novel trace his evolution from a vigilante to a murderer, and did you feel any sympathy for him by the end?

5. How do Frances’s archive and diaries function in the story to explore the tension between objective truth and subjective memory?

6. For those who have read How to Solve Your Own Murder, how does this sequel build upon the first book’s foundation, particularly in developing the legacy of Frances and Annie’s role as her successor?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. You now possess Frances’s entire archive of village secrets, organized alphabetically by type of secret. What new system would you use to organize the files, and which resident’s secret would you choose to investigate further?

2. Peony Lane’s fortunes act as catalysts for the plot. Create a new, cryptic fortune for a character who didn’t receive one, like Detective Crane or Saxon Gravesdown, that hints at their future beyond this story.

3. The solarium is transformed from a crime scene into a place of celebration, reflecting Annie’s journey. Redesign another room in Gravesdown Hall to symbolize her new legacy. What would the room look like and what purpose would it serve?