What visual elements does the author use to distinguish Tony from Kyle? How do these details foreshadow the inherent differences between the two men? (Or conversely, how does the author indicate that the two men’s worldviews are essentially the same?)

Much of the novel’s premise relies upon the level of technology that was available in 2006. Would the crux of the crisis be as credible if the novel were set in the present moment? Why or why not?

Analyze the recurrence of the color red in different contexts. How does this motif highlight the hidden violence of systemic misogyny? What aspects of the novel subvert this more negative interpretation?

Identify at least three instances in which Laura and Olivia act in a way that contradicts the established conventions of contemporary thrillers. How does Olivia’s hyperawareness of true crime serve as a metafictional commentary on the genre?

Analyze the women’s conversation in the vehicle, prior to the car chase. What elements of foreshadowing dominate this scene, and how do the two characters either conform to or break free from this behavioral baseline as the novel progresses?

How accurate is the novel’s portrayal of the culture surrounding university fraternities and “Greek life”? To what extent does the novel rely upon (or subvert) common stereotypes?

What do the defective old Volvo and the modern, fragile cell phones suggest about the nature of safety, technology, and human ingenuity?

The novel is told exclusively from Olivia’s first-person perspective. Does Olivia ever show signs of unreliability as a narrator? Why or why not? How do her narrative quirks create suspense?