Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Sinners Anonymous fits squarely into the dark mafia romance subgenre, complete with a morally gray antihero and high-stakes danger. Did the novel meet, challenge, or change your expectations for this type of story?

2. This book is the first in a popular series and by an author known for the East Coast Devils books. As an introduction to Somme Sketcher’s world, did it make you want to continue with the series or explore her other work? Why or why not?

3. What was the most shocking or memorable scene for you? Consider moments of violence, betrayal, or intimacy. Why do you think that particular moment has stayed with you after finishing the book?

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

1. Rory often resorts to small acts of rebellion, like scratching a watch or stealing a necklace, to feel a sense of agency in a world that controls her. What did you make of these moments of subtle defiance? How might you react in her circumstances?

2. Angelo operates by his own strict, personal code of ethics, punishing those he deems sinners while committing violent acts himself. Do you find his form of vigilante justice compelling or disturbing within the context of the novel? What does it suggest about the nature of morality when traditional systems fail?

3. How did you feel about the concept of the Sinners Anonymous hotline as a place for psychological release? Do you think the act of confessing, even to an anonymous machine, holds inherent value for a person carrying a heavy burden?

4. Rory’s connection to the Devil’s Preserve is tied to her identity and her father’s memory. Has a specific place ever played a crucial role in shaping who you are or how you relate to your family? What is it about certain locations that can hold so much personal meaning?

5. The relationship between Rory and Angelo is built on a foundation of control, secrets, and a dangerous, undeniable attraction. What aspects of their dynamic did you find most compelling as it evolved?

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

1. How does the novel’s depiction of the Cosa Nostra’s rigid hierarchy and codes of honor, like omertà, influence your understanding of the characters’ motivations? Does this real-world context make their choices feel more inevitable or more shocking?

2. What do you think explains the massive popularity of the dark romance genre on social media platforms like TikTok? Why might themes of morally ambiguous antiheroes and transactional relationships in high-stakes settings resonate so strongly with modern readers?

3. How does the portrayal of the mafia in Sinners Anonymous compare to depictions in classic works like Mario Puzo’s The Godfather? Do you feel this novel presents the organized crime lifestyle in a more romanticized or critical light?

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

1. The theme of confession is central to the story. In what ways does the novel subvert the traditional purpose of confession, transforming it from a path to redemption into a system for surveillance and a currency for power?

2. What is the significance of the cliff at Devil’s Dip? How does this location transform from a symbol of Rory’s despair and potential death into a site of Angelo’s justice and their shared future?

3. How does the recurring act of sudden, brutal violence function in the narrative? Does it serve primarily establish anything about the characters or reinforce the moral ambiguity of the Visconti world?

4. What is the importance of the bird motif in relation to Rory’s character? How does her knowledge of birds and Angelo’s “Magpie” nickname for her reflect her desires and internal struggles?

5. Why do you think the author chose to narrate Rory’s story in the first person while presenting Angelo’s in the third person? How did this structural choice affect the story’s dramatic irony and your connection to each character?

6. Angelo’s character arc centers on his internal conflict between the legitimate life he built in London and his “Vicious” nature. Do you believe his return to Devil’s Dip represents a failure to change or an acceptance of his true self? Ultimately, does the novel suggest that one’s core identities are inescapable?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The Sinners Anonymous hotline modernizes the confessional for a dark purpose. If you were to design a similar anonymous system intended for a different, more constructive purpose, what would its function be?

2. Imagine you could advise Rory at the very beginning of the book, right after she makes her desperate deal with Alberto. What alternate plan would you suggest for protecting her father and the Devil’s Preserve?

3. The abandoned Saint Pius Church is a key setting where sacred rituals are replaced with profane acts of “atonement.” If you were to redesign this space for a new purpose in Devil’s Dip, what would it become?