Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the novel’s blend of a high-stakes, technological thriller with an intimate family drama? Did you find one aspect more compelling than the other, and how well do you think the two storylines were balanced?

2. Many readers know Louise Penny for her character-focused Chief Inspector Gamache series. How did The Last Mandarin, with its global thriller pace, compare to what you might have expected from her writing? What elements felt distinctly “Louise Penny,” similar to earlier works like Still Life and How the Light Gets In, and which felt like a departure for you?

3. The plot is full of major revelations, from the identity of “Tank Man” to the true mastermind behind Pangu. Which twist surprised you the most, and how did it change your perspective on the characters or the story?

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

1. Alice’s expertise as a food blogger becomes an important tool for solving parts of the conspiracy. Can you think of a skill or passion in your own life that might seem ordinary but could provide a unique way of understanding a complex situation?

2. Vivien Li and Liu Tongzheng make extreme sacrifices and keep monumental secrets, believing they are protecting their family. Have you ever kept a secret to protect someone you love? Do you feel that this was the right choice?

3. The relationship between Alice and her mother, Vivien, is strained by a lifetime of unspoken history and emotional distance. Think about a relationship in your life that has been shaped by different generational experiences or values. What does this story suggest about bridging such divides?

4. Kai-wen responds to his trauma by retreating into a life of peace, while his sister Vivien dedicates her life to fighting the regime that wronged them. Which of these responses is closest to your own approach to personal injustice? Does your response work for you?

5. Throughout much of the novel, Alice struggles with feeling overshadowed by her famous parents. Have you ever felt the need to define your identity separately from your family’s or community’s expectations? How did Alice’s journey to find her own agency resonate with you?

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

1. The story is deeply rooted in the trauma of China’s Cultural Revolution and the Tiananmen Square protests. How did experiencing these historical events through the personal memories and motivations of the characters affect your understanding of their lasting impact?

2. The novel depicts a world destabilized by cyberattacks, disinformation, and the weaponization of everyday technology. In what ways do Pangu’s tactics of “cognitive hacking” and exploiting global supply chains mirror real-world anxieties about technology and national security today?

3. Auntie Gugu’s radical ideology is born from a desire to avenge historical grievances and restore a romanticized, imperial past. What does her character suggest about the ways that unresolved national trauma can fuel modern extremism?

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

1. Alice Li undergoes a significant transformation over the course of the novel. What key moments or decisions do you see as the major turning points in her development from a resentful daughter into a capable hero?

2. What significance does the recurring motif of coconut buns hold in the story? How does it evolve from a personal symbol of family memory into a critical clue that drives the entire investigation?

3. The novel presents two powerful, contrasting symbols in the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang and the idea of Peach Blossom Spring. How do these two concepts represent competing visions for China’s identity and its future?

4. The secret script Nüshu is used by Pangu as the basis for its unbreakable code. How does the novel create irony by turning a historical tool of female subversion and connection into a modern instrument of mass destruction and authoritarian aspirations?

5. Liu Tongzheng allows his family to believe he is dead for decades to maintain his deep cover. What does his character reveal about the moral compromises required to fight a totalitarian regime from within? Does his ultimate goal make his deception justifiable?

6. Pangu establishes its high-tech headquarters inside the ancient, booby-trapped tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. How does this setting compare to the use of historical locations in other thrillers you may have read, like Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code? What makes the tomb in this novel an effective symbol?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to design a movie poster for The Last Mandarin, what central image or symbol would you choose to represent the core conflict of the story? Who would you feature most prominently?

2. Imagine you could have dinner with one character from the novel after the events of the book have settled. Who would you choose, and what is the first question you would ask them?

3. The story concludes with a quiet family scene, but many deep wounds remain. What do you imagine a conversation between Liu Tongzheng and his son, Kevin, would sound like, now that Kevin knows his father is alive?