The Lake of Lost Girls

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual harassment.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel employs a dual timeline structure, alternating between Jess’s experiences in 1998 and Lindsey’s investigation in the present day. What impact did this narrative approach have on your understanding of the characters and their motivations?

2. The Lake of Lost Girls combines elements of mystery, psychological thriller, and domestic noir. In what ways does this novel compare to other works by Katharine Greene or to other thrillers, like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl or Paula Hawkins’s The Girl on the Train?

3. Which twist or revelation in the novel surprised you most, and why?

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

1. Consider a time when you felt defined by a single event or relationship in your life, similar to how Lindsey feels defined by her missing sister. How did you cope with the situation?

2. The novel portrays different ways characters process grief and trauma. Which character’s response felt most authentic or understandable to you, and why?

3. What kind of secrets do you think are most destructive to families or relationships, and why?

4. Jess’s discovery of her father’s infidelity fundamentally changes her character and worldview. Have you ever seen a traumatic revelation impact someone similarly?

5. Have you ever found yourself unable to let go of an unanswered question or unresolved situation, similar to Ryan’s decades-long obsession with Jess’s disappearance? Why do you think humans often struggle with uncertainty?

6. What are your thoughts on the popularity of true crime media that transforms real tragedies into entertainment?

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

1. Do you see parallels between Southern State University’s protection of Dr. Daniels and real-world institutional responses to allegations of misconduct?

2. In what ways does the “town-gown” divide in Mt. Randall reflect similar tensions in communities with significant educational or socioeconomic differences? What are some of the effects of such divides?

3. How has the rise of social media and true crime content changed society’s relationship with stories about violent crimes and victims?

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

1. Which example of the novel’s appearance versus reality theme did you find most compelling, and why?

2. What psychological insights do the novel’s “hidden spaces” reveal about the characters’ compartmentalization of trauma?

3. What deeper meanings do the novel’s key objects (Jess’s blanket, the Tiffany ring, the paddleboat) convey about memory and attachment?

4. How does this novel’s use of multiple perspectives compare to Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies, which also uses shifting viewpoints to gradually reveal hidden truths?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. What ethical guidelines would you establish if you were creating a true crime podcast about the events in the novel?

2. Imagine Lindsey’s life five years after the events of the book. What kind of person has she become?

3. Write a brief journal entry from Cara Fadley’s perspective after learning the complete truth about her husband and daughter.

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