The Reappearance of Rachel Price

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of emotional abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you find it compelling that the novel shifts from mystery to family drama? If you’ve read Jackson’s other works, such as A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or As Good as Dead, how did this approach compare?

2. At what point in the story did you begin to suspect Charlie’s true nature?

3. Did the revelation that Carter is Rachel’s biological daughter enhance your understanding of the family dynamics portrayed throughout the narrative?

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

1. What strategies have you developed to cope with uncertainty or fear of loss in your own life, similar to Bel’s habit of collecting stolen items?

2. When have you experienced a situation where you had to reevaluate your trust in someone you deeply believed in?

3. What signs might help someone recognize when they’re being manipulated through gaslighting techniques like those Charlie used on Bel?

4. Describe a time when your intuition led you to an important truth that logic or appearances initially contradicted.

5. What parallels do you see between Bel’s fear of abandonment and your own experiences with attachment or separation?

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

1. In what ways does the documentary framing device in the novel critique or reinforce our society’s fascination with true crime stories?

2. The novel portrays various forms of psychological manipulation through the Price family. What insights does this provide for you about recognizing similar patterns in real relationships?

3. The novel creates distinctions between different types of deception based on the motivation of those doing the lying. What commentary does this provide about truth-telling in the real world?

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

1. What purpose do Bel’s recurring references to her “gut” serve in the narrative?

2. How do Rachel and Charlie’s characters gradually shift throughout the novel? How does the book call attention to these personality changes?

3. Which symbolic object in the novel (the baby sock, Santa mug, or Bel’s stolen items) resonated most strongly with you and why?

4. Memory functions as both a plot device and a thematic element throughout the story. What significance does this have for the novel’s exploration of truth and identity?

5. What roles do supporting characters such as Ash play in Bel’s character development?

6. Why is Bel’s first-person perspective particularly effective for this type of mystery story? What would be lost if the novel were written from a third-person perspective?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were producing the final cut of Ramsay’s documentary, what ethical considerations would guide your decisions?

2. Write the first paragraph of a letter from Bel to her younger self, incorporating the most important insights she gained through her journey.

3. Imagine a conversation between Bel, Rachel, and Carter five years after the events of the book. What would they say to each other? What would they leave unsaid?

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