Nobody's Fool

Sami compares Talia’s experience of being tricked by Archie and Thomas to Sami’s own experience of being scammed by Buzz and Anna. How are these two situations similar? What methods do both pairs use to convince their “marks” of a false reality? Are there important ethical differences between these two instances of deception?

Sami and his students must conduct their investigations into Victoria’s kidnapping and Tad Grayson’s shootings outside of official channels. Explore the civilian techniques they employ to reach their goals. What does the text say about the efficacy of private versus public investigations?

Sami is emotionally connected to both cases he investigates, and he has a personal stake in the justice each investigation produces. How does Sami’s personal connection to Victoria and Tad’s cases both help and hinder his investigation?

Sami often describes the intense wealth stratification in New York City. Explore how the characters’ varying degrees of wealth impacts how they behave and their freedom of movement.

Explore the motif of disguises and its connection to deception. What are both the physical and abstract components of these disguises? Are disguises only employed for nefarious purposes?

Several characters try to make amends for past wrongs in the present day by completely altering their behavior. Do these transformations serve as a form of justice for the crimes or wrongdoings committed? What makes the different characters’ atonements more or less effective?

Sami claims that getting married and having a child has completely changed his life. What impact does Sami’s new family status have on his decision making in the text?

Consider the unique elements of Sami’s first-person narration, like his voice and direct address to the reader. How do these elements influence your experience of the mystery? Is Sami a reliable or unreliable narrator?