The Good Samaritan

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel’s dual-narrator structure is a convention John Marrs shares with authors like Gillian Flynn in Gone Girl. How did alternating perspectives between Laura and Ryan shape your reading experience? Did you find yourself siding with one character over the other, and did that allegiance shift as the story unfolded?

2. What was your reaction to the Epilogue, which shifts to Effie’s perspective? Did you find her decision to seek revenge on her mother a satisfying conclusion, or did it leave you with a sense of unease?

3. How did the book’s unrelenting suspense and dark tone sit with you? Which character’s mind, Laura or Ryan’s, did you find more disturbing to inhabit, and why?

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

1. The book delves into the nature of trust in the world of anonymous digital communication. What makes someone trustworthy, in your opinion, and does your criteria differ for anonymous interactions?

2. Ryan’s profound grief quickly hardens into a quest for revenge. How did you feel about his transformation from a victim to a manipulator? Can you think of a time when a powerful emotion gave you a singular sense of purpose or drive?

3. Laura’s tendency to rewrite her past is a core element of her character. In what small ways have you seen others reframe their memories to make a difficult situation easier to accept?

4. What do you consider a healthy “anchor” in life, something that provides stability and purpose?

5. Effie’s journey is one of the most tragic in the book, as she is manipulated by both Ryan and her own mother. How did you react to the ways she was used as a pawn in their war? What do you think of the choices she makes to survive and eventually fight back?

6. Tony seems trapped by his knowledge of Laura’s past and his desire to protect his children. What responsibility, if any, do you think he had to stop Laura sooner?

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

1. How does the novel serve as a commentary on the potential dangers within anonymous support systems like the End of the Line helpline? In an age where many people seek help online, what questions does the story raise about accountability and safety?

2. The story raises complex questions about mental illness, trauma, and abuse. What do you think the book communicates about the relationships between these things? Does it handle them responsibly?

3. What does the novel suggest about the power of social media and digital information to destroy a person’s reputation? How do the characters’ use of doctored evidence and fake profiles reflect real-world concerns about online “cancel culture” and misinformation?

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

1. How does John Marrs use the shifting perspectives of Laura and Ryan to build suspense and manipulate your allegiance as a reader? Was there a specific moment where you felt your sympathy for Ryan begin to erode as he adopted Laura’s manipulative tactics?

2. While Laura recasts her past to avoid guilt, Ryan creates a new identity, “Steven,” to shape his future. What does this contrast reveal about their motivations, as well as the theme of Rewriting Reality to Reconcile Trauma?

3. What role does the telephone play in Laura and Ryan’s plans, respectively? How does this central symbol reflect the distance between each character’s persona and their true self?

4. In the end, Effie is preparing her own revenge. Does her plan feel like a form of justice, or does it signal that she is simply becoming her mother? What might the author be suggesting about the nature of inherited trauma?

5. How does Laura justify her actions as merciful or necessary? What stylistic techniques or literary devices contribute to this effect?

6. Laura is an effective villain who manipulates from a position of supposed care. How does her style of anonymous, psychological predation compare to the control exerted by other famous literary antagonists, such as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. You’re tasked with designing a public awareness campaign inspired by the novel, warning about the potential dangers of online manipulation. What key message would you focus on, and who would be your target audience—vulnerable individuals, helpline organizations, or the general public?

2. Design a symbolic object or small memorial for all of Laura’s victims, including Charlotte, Nate, and Janine. What materials and forms would you use to represent their stolen lives and the novel’s themes of betrayal and lost hope?