Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The first section of the novel features a relentless highway chase. Was this high-octane opening effective in building suspense? How did it shape your expectations for the rest of the story?

2. Have you read Noelle W. Ihli’s other bestselling thrillers, Ask for Andrea or Gray After Dark? If so, what similarities in style or theme did you notice?

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

1. Olivia’s anxiety and knowledge of true crime become essential survival skills. Have you ever had a strong gut feeling about a situation that others brushed aside? How did you handle the situation? Does Olivia’s experience affirm the importance of trusting your own instincts?

2. The dynamic between Olivia and Laura completely inverts, with the anxious Olivia becoming Laura’s protector. Have you ever experienced a friendship in which a crisis forced you or a friend to step into an unexpected role? How did this shift change the friendship itself?

3. What is your own relationship with true-crime media (e.g., podcasts or documentaries)? How realistic is the author’s portrayal of this genre?

4. Which act of loyalty between Olivia and Laura did you find to be the most dramatic, and why?

5. The story is set in 2006, when rudimentary flip phones and poor service were constant struggles for tech users. How well do these details translate to a more modern era? If the novel were set in the present day, what new technological flaws might the author choose to exploit?

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

1. The novel directly critiques the systemic misogyny found in some fraternity cultures. What solutions (if any) does the novel offer for the real-world issue of campus violence?

2. Beyond the campus setting, where else in modern society do you see the “dehumanizing logic” described in the book, where individuals or groups are objectified or treated as commodities?

3. The guide mentions that fraternity members often close ranks to protect their own, creating a culture of impunity, and this story explores the consequences of such corrupt loyalty. What other real-world institutions or groups encourage a similar code of silence that enables harmful behavior?

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

1. How does the evolving meaning of the color red amplify the novel’s critique of systemic misogyny?

2. What does Tony’s decision to kill Kyle reveal about the dynamics of complicity?

4. How do the settings in the novel serve as physical manifestations of the characters’ terror?

5. The novel’s structure shifts from a fast-paced chase to a tense psychological standoff. How does the author achieve this change in pacing? Analyze the author’s strategic use of syntax and figurative language, as well as the actions of the captives and the body language of the attackers.

6. Within the broader conflict of the two men’s attack, how does Olivia and Laura’s friendship shift and change as they struggle to survive? What key moments mark these psychological shifts?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Olivia’s decision to hide in the back of the truck represents a massive gamble. If you were in her shoes at that moment, what might you have done? What factors would have influenced your choice?

2. Imagine that you are putting together a “survivor’s guide” inspired by Olivia’s ordeal. What are three key pieces of advice, both practical and psychological, would you include, and why?

3. The old Volvo is described as an “indestructible monstrosity” that becomes a flawed protector. If you were to design a movie poster for Run on Red, how would you visually represent the Volvo to capture its symbolic importance?