The Obsession

How does Roberts structure the revelation of Anson Chaffins’s identity and motivations throughout the novel? Analyze how the author uses foreshadowing, misdirection, and gradual disclosure to build suspense while simultaneously developing the psychological profile of a killer who sees himself as both a student and competitor to Thomas David Bowes.

How do Naomi’s and Mason’s contrasting coping mechanisms—artistic expression versus analytical study—reflect broader questions about whether survivors should confront or transcend their past experiences?

How does Roberts employ romantic suspense to explore inherited trauma and identity reconstruction while balancing the genre’s requirements for external danger and romantic resolution?