Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel blends 1960s historical fiction with a modern thriller’s pacing. Was this combination effective for you, and what did the specific setting of 1966 California add to the story?

2. Elizabeth Arnott also writes historical fiction as Lizzie Pook, with books like Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter. If you’ve read her other work, how does this thriller compare in style and theme? If this was your first book by her, are you interested in exploring her other writing?

3. What was your initial reaction to the book’s high-concept premise of murderers’ wives turning into investigators? How might you compare this to other high-concept thriller novels, like The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris or Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn?

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

1. The friendship between Beverley, Elsie, and Margot is forged under intense pressure and tested by their shared history. Do you have a similar friend unit in your life, one that manifests both loyalty and tension? How do you work around the tension?

2. Which of the three protagonists is most similar to you: pragmatic Margot, meticulous Elsie, or hypervigilant Beverley? What are the biggest differences between yourself and the protagonist most like you?

3. The women learn to trust their gut feelings over the official narrative provided by law enforcement. How would you describe your trust in intuition? Do you always act on gut feelings or do you wait for evidence to validate it?

4. Beverley is intensely aware of being judged by her community and the media because of her ex-husband’s actions. Have you ever felt unfairly defined by someone else’s reputation? How did you try to regain control of your identity?

5. Beverley’s nightly ritual of barricading her door is a powerful image of her fear. Many of us have small routines we perform to feel a sense of security. What are some of the rituals you practice to reinforce your personal security?

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

1. The story is set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the rise of second-wave feminism. In what ways did this specific historical moment amplify the novel’s themes of institutional distrust and women challenging patriarchal authority?

2. What commentary does the novel offer about the relationship between women and law enforcement, both in the 1960s and today?

3. The novel focuses on the often-overlooked women connected to a killer’s crimes. How does this book contribute to or critique our modern fascination with true crime?

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

1. Beverley’s scrapbook of crime clippings is a central symbol in the novel. In what ways does its function change from a private coping mechanism to a public investigative tool as Beverley’s character develops?

2. The guide suggests the novel subverts the traditional hardboiled detective genre. What specific investigative methods did the women use that a typical male detective of the era might have overlooked?

3. What is the significance of the killer staging the murders to replicate scenes from films? Did this theatrical motif make his actions feel more or less horrifying to you?

4. Short interludes from an unnamed captive are woven throughout the story. What effect did this structural choice have on your reading experience, and how did the final reveal of the narrator’s identity impact the climax?

5. Detective Roger Greaves’s motive is ultimately revealed to be professional jealousy. Did you find this to be a compelling and believable driver for his horrific crimes?

6. The novel directly references Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. How does Roger’s character, a man hiding his violence behind a façade of normalcy, compare to other famous cinematic villains who embody a similar deception?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If the three women were to form a permanent detective agency after the events of the book, what would they call it?

2. Imagine you could add one scene to the book from the perspective of a different character outside of the protagonists’ group. Whose viewpoint would you choose and what would that scene reveal?

3. The Epilogue shows the women six months later. What do you imagine their lives look like five years after the events of the book?