Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the pacing of Run Away? Did it feel more like a fast-paced thriller or a family drama, and how effectively do you think Coben blended those elements?

2. Coben often features ordinary people whose lives are upended by secrets. How does Simon’s journey in this novel compare to protagonists you might have encountered in his other works, like Tell No One or Fool Me Once?

3. Which of the novel’s many twists and revelations had the biggest impact on you? Why do you think that particular development was so surprising or powerful?

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

1. Can you recall a time when you formed a strong opinion about a public event based on limited information, only to learn that the full story was more complicated? What does Simon’s experience with the viral video reveal about the gap between perception and reality in our digital age?

2. Ingrid and Simon initially disagree on how to handle Paige’s addiction. What do you think is the best way to help someone you care about while also recognizing that lasting change has to come from within? 

3. The novel explores how the rise of consumer DNA testing can uncover unexpected family connections and hidden histories. Has the growing availability of this technology changed the way you think about family, identity, or the stories that are passed down through generations? Why or why not?

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

1. What does the Greene family’s story reveal about the reach of the opioid crisis in the late 2010s? How does the novel use their wealth and status to challenge common stereotypes about addiction?

2. In what ways does the book’s depiction of Simon’s public shaming reflect our current social-media landscape? Do you think the phenomenon of “viral vigilantism” has changed since the book was published?

3. Investigative genetic genealogy drives the book’s mystery. Beyond solving crimes, what broader ethical questions does the novel raise about a world where our genetic information is so easily accessible through commercial databases?

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

1. How does the recurring symbol of Strawberry Fields evolve throughout the story? What does its evolution throughout the novel reveal about the Greene family’s journey?

2. Ingrid is a pediatrician who dedicates her life to healing children, yet she commits a brutal murder. How does the novel use this deep contrast in her character to explore the theme of moral compromise?

3. How did the narrative’s shift between the perspectives of Simon, Elena, and the assassins Ash and Dee Dee impact the story’s suspense and your understanding of the central conspiracy?

4. What is the significance of the contrast between Ash, the detached professional killer, and Dee Dee, the cult member? What does their partnership suggest about the nature of manipulation and evil?

5. The character of Elena brings a classic hard-boiled detective element to the story. How does her methodical approach compare to other famous fictional detectives you’ve read, and does her ultimate fate serve as a commentary on the genre itself?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were casting a film adaptation of Run Away, who would you choose for the roles of Simon, Ingrid, and the formidable lawyer Hester? What qualities make them the right fit for these characters?

2. Imagine you’re a journalist writing a follow-up story a year after the events of the novel conclude. What questions would you most want to ask the Greene family, and what angle would you take for your article?

3. Imagine an alternate ending where Simon tells Ingrid the whole truth about Aaron’s identity. How do you think that conversation would unfold, and how would it change their relationship and the family’s future?