Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel opens with a Prologue that jumps ahead to the violent invasion of the Bohemia. How did this flash-forward shape your expectations and reading experience? In what ways did the story’s journey to that climax surprise you or unfold as you predicted?

2. How did you feel about the novel’s focus on domestic tensions within a single building compared to the global scope often found in thrillers? If you’ve read other Pavone novels like The Expats (2012), how did this book’s social commentary and focus on class compare to his earlier work?

3. Did the book work for you more as a suspenseful crime story or as a social critique? Which elements felt more compelling to you: the mechanics of the robbery and murder mystery, or the satirical examination of wealth, class, and political division?

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

1. Chicky presents a different version of himself in each setting he enters. Have you ever felt the need to present a version of yourself at work, at home, or with different groups of people that was different from what you were experiencing outside those settings?

2. What do you think about the moral compromises Emily Longworth makes to escape her marriage, from embezzling funds to committing murder? Can you understand the desperation that led her to these actions, even if you don’t agree with them? By contrast, do you agree with Emily’s actions?

3. Julian Sonnenberg is plagued by a sense of professional and personal irrelevance, feeling “washed out by time” (40) in the face of his failing marriage and health crisis. Which aspects of his anxieties felt particularly relatable or insightful to you? How do his experiences exemplify the paradigm of the “mid-life crisis?”

4. Olek and DeMarquis both make key choices to protect Chicky and Emily, prioritizing personal loyalty over their duties or the law. Think about a time you’ve witnessed or experienced a powerful act of loyalty. What do you think motivates these characters’ choices, and what does the novel say about where true allegiances lie?

5. How does the novel’s use of uniforms reflect the ways characters perform different social roles? Chicky’s doorman uniform, for example, signals his position in the class hierarchy. Think about a time when an outfit or uniform made you feel either empowered or confined in a particular role.

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

1. How does the contentious co-op board meeting reflect current trends in public discourse? Where do you see similar dynamics playing out today, where political identity makes it difficult for people to find common ground on shared problems?

2. The novel dramatizes New York City’s extreme wealth gap through the Billionaires’ Row setting and the contrast between the lives of the staff and residents. What was your reaction to this portrayal of economic disparity, and how does the story connect this inequality to the social unrest and violence that unfolds?

3. The story uses the microcosm of an apartment building to critique modern American society. How does this compare to other works that explore class and wealth in a specific setting, such as Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities (1987)? What is gained by focusing the social commentary within such a confined space?

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

1. The narrative follows three main point-of-view characters: Chicky, Emily, and Julian. Who did you consider to be the true protagonist of the story, and why? How did shifting between their perspectives shape your understanding of the central conflicts?

2. What significance does the Bohemia apartment building hold? How does it contrast with the other living spaces of the characters, like Chicky’s apartment or Emily’s studio?

3. What different roles do guns and body armor play for characters like Chicky, Whit, and Emily? Compare these perspectives to minor characters, like Olek or DeMarquis.

4. In what ways does fine art function as a commodity, a status symbol, or a source of genuine connection for different characters like Emily, Whit, and Julian?

5. How does the novel’s structure, which builds toward the violent confrontation from the Prologue, affect the story’s pacing and suspense? Did you find this sense of fatalism effective in building tension?

6. Whit Longworth is the primary antagonist, but the guide suggests the villain in a social thriller is often society itself. To what extent did you see Whit as the main villain versus a product of a corrupt system? Who or what did you feel was the true antagonist of the novel?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were casting a film adaptation of The Doorman, who would you choose to play Chicky, Emily, Julian, and Whit? Which specific scene do you think would be the most challenging to bring to the screen effectively?

2. Imagine the story continued after the final chapter. What do you think Chicky does with his newfound wealth and freedom? How does Emily’s life change now that she is free from Whit but must live with the secret of his murder?

3. If you could add one more point-of-view character to the novel, who would you choose? Would it be Zaire, Olek, or Jennifer Sonnenberg? What unique insights might their perspective add to the story’s social commentary?