She Didn't See It Coming

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Which character’s emotional responses to the crisis struck you as the most realistic? Why?

2. How is She Didn’t See It Coming similar to or different from other Shari Lapena books, such as A Stranger in the House?

3. Were you surprised by the plot twists in She Didn’t See It Coming? Why or why not?

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

1. The characters often struggle with jealousy and envy. How has this dynamic affected your own life, and how did you cope?

2. Discuss how the novel portrays different emotional responses to trauma and grief. Have you ever experienced any of these responses?

3. Have you ever joined a group on social media related to crime-solving or some other kind of community surveillance?

4. Have you experienced or witnessed imbalanced parental caring responsibilities? Did you find it fair or unfair?

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

1. Lizzie’s interest in true crime is criticized explicitly by the characters in She Didn’t See It Coming and tacitly by the narrative as a whole. Do you agree with this characterization of true crime and online sleuths? What are the positives and negatives of this community?

2. Detective Jayne Salter wonders whether she can balance a demanding career with marriage and children. How does this reflect the pressures placed on women in society to “have it all”? In what other ways is this pressure depicted in the novel?

3. Alice Gardner and Paige Morgan both seek validation from the men in their lives. How does this dynamic reflect the patriarchal society of the real world?

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

1. How does the use of constantly shifting perspectives create tension and suspense in the narrative?

2. To what extent is Lizzie’s character arc realistic? How relatable is her response to her sister’s murder?

3. The murder and much of the novel’s action takes place in elegant, expensive real estate like the condominium complex and the Gardner’s large home. How do these settings relate to the theme of The Tension Between Outward Appearances and Hidden Realities?

4. How does the pressure of raising a young child impact both Sam and Bryden Frost? Are these pressures realistic and/or relatable?

5. In what ways is Sam Frost an archetypal “bad husband”? Does he seem like a realistic character?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Paige is identified as the murderer by her unique ringtone. What would be the funniest, strangest, or most embarrassing ringtones by which a murderer could be identified?

2. The novel ends on a cliffhanger. What do you imagine Alice Gardner and her husband, Derek, will do next? How might they continue to intervene in Detective Jayne Salter’s life?