Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Dave originally intended The Last Thing He Told Me to be a standalone novel. Do you think The First Time I Saw Him worked well as a continuation of the story, or do you feel the story should have ended earlier?

2. Much like The Expats by Chris Pavone, The First Time I Saw Him is a globe-trotting adventure that challenges a female protagonist to investigate the hidden secrets of her marriage. How does this novel compare to others you’ve read in the thriller genre?

3. How did you feel about Hannah Hall as a protagonist? Do you think she should have played a more active role in the conflict?

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

1. The book proposes that people should strive for purpose instead of joy. What do you consider your purpose in life? Do you find that purpose has the power to console you when times are hard?

2. Have you ever felt that your life was shaped by experiences in your past? How did you respond to that feeling?

3. Are some people beyond forgiveness? What are your personal requisites for forgiving someone who has done you a great wrong? Does Owen fulfill your criteria?

4. Do you think it is possible to find or return to normalcy in the wake of great trauma? What experiences or observations have contributed to that belief?

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

1. How does the novel reckon with the moral question of Nicholas’s collaboration with the Organization? Is he merely fulfilling the Organization’s right to legal counsel and the principle of “innocent until proven guilty,” or is he actively contributing to criminal activity over the years he chooses to keep the syndicate as a client?

2. The novel frequently refers to the philosophical and cultural ideas of German nihilist Friedrich Nietzsche. Do you think the novel espouses a nihilistic perspective? Or does it reject nihilism in favor of an alternative point of view?

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

1. Compare and contrast the characters of Hannah and Quinn. How does Quinn measure up as an antagonist to Hannah as a protagonist?

2. Evaluate Dave’s use of cliffhangers and plot twists to drive and sustain tension throughout the novel. Did you find the chapter endings effective in getting you to read on?

3. How does the novel’s international setting escalate the narrative action? Did it raise the stakes to move the novel outside of the United States? Why or why not?

4. Dave alludes to the Odyssey via Owen’s character arc. Do you see any other traces of the Greek epic in the novel—for instance, in Nicholas and Frank’s storylines?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Make your own version of Owen’s flash drive. Choose a location that is special to you and assemble a collection of photos that contain secret messages and clues pointing to that location. How did you decide which photos would help others figure out your location?

2. Do you think Hannah’s story definitively ends with this novel? What areas might a prospective third novel in the series explore?