Trace the appearance of food in the novel, from Matt’s adobo to Edward’s champurrado to Jason’s fast-food tacos. How does Hillier use food to explore the distinctions between the characters and their motivations?

Examine the narrative techniques Hillier employs, such as flashbacks and internal monologues, to make Edward Shank a compelling and terrifying figure.

Discuss the significance of the Shank family home and Matt’s restaurant, Adobo, as primary settings for the novel’s most violent and revealing moments. How does the use of these domestic spaces amplify the novel’s themes?

How does Hillier’s use of multiple perspectives, including Edward, Matt, Sam, and even Sanchez, create dramatic irony and heighten suspense for the reader?

How does Edward Shank manipulate the historical context of the 1970s-80s Pacific Northwest serial killer panic to build his career and conceal his crimes?

Explore the novel’s critique of the true-crime genre through the character of Samantha Marquez. How does her journey from writer to survivor of the violence she documents comment on the ethical complexities of the genre?

Analyze Edward’s attempts to gain Matt as an ally throughout the novel. What strategies does he use, and why is he invested in this idea?

Compare the two main law enforcement figures in the novel, Edward Shank and Detective Robert Sanchez. How do their methods differ, and what moral philosophy underpins their respective approaches to and ideas about law enforcement?