The Good Daughter

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. If you’ve ready any of Slaughter’s other thrillers, such as False Witness, how do they compare to The Good Daughter?

2. Let’s talk about the big reveal. Were you surprised that Judith killed her husband? If not, what clues helped you predict this plot twist?

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

1. Sam eventually reconciles with Rusty. Have you ever reunited with someone after time apart? What led you to reconnect, and what did this experience teach you?

2. Rusty pressures Charlie to keep a secret for decades. Have you ever felt like you had to hide the truth? How did you handle this situation?

3. Even though Sam and Charlie are at odds with one another, they work together to help Kelly. Share a story about a time when you did the right thing even though it was difficult. 

4. The sisters’ love for one another is the novel’s emotional core. Within your own life, who is someone whose love has shaped who you are?

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

1. The novel exposes The Flaws in the Criminal Justice System. How does the story depict the ways this system favors people? Where do you see this issue in society today?

2. How does the novel contribute to contemporary discussions of police brutality? What solutions, if any, does this story offer to this problem?

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

1. How does the author portray Sam and Charlie as foil characters, and how does this authorial decision shape the novel’s exploration of the Lingering Impact of Violence and Trauma?

2. Discuss how Slaughter uses specific structural techniques and literary devices to build suspense. Provide evidence from the text.

3. How does the author use the symbol of boxes to represent repression? How does this symbol evolve throughout the novel?

4. Slaughter makes biblical and literary allusions throughout the novel. How do these references develop the story’s characters and the author’s ethical arguments?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If Rusty wrote a letter to one of his daughters after he was fatally wounded, what do you think he would say, and how might this message impact the recipient?

2. Imagine that you’re a journalist writing an article about Kelly’s trial and conviction. What lessons would you want the people of Pikeville to take from these events?