The Wrong Daughter

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your initial expectations for the story after reading the Prologue’s description of Olivia’s abduction? How did the novel either meet or subvert those expectations as the plot unfolded?

2. Dandy Smith is known for thrillers focusing on complex female relationships, like her debut, One Small Mistake (2021). How does The Wrong Daughter compare to other psychological thrillers you’ve read, particularly in portraying the complexities of sisterhood and friendship between women?

3. Which of the novel’s twists, from Oscar’s true motives to Heath’s identity as Gideon, did you find the most shocking? How did this particular revelation change your view of the story or characters?

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

1. Caitlin gives up her dream of being an artist to pursue a more stable teaching career, largely to placate her mother. Have you ever felt pressure to make a major life choice to meet the expectations or emotional needs of your family?

2. What does the novel suggest about trusting your intuition, especially when everyone around you is questioning your perception of reality? Can you think of a time you had to rely on your gut feeling, even when it went against what others believed?

3. Olivia’s return tests and ultimately fractures the friendship between Caitlin and Florence. What do you consider essential for your friendships to survive a major, life-altering event?

4. Survivor’s guilt plays out in the lives of Caitlin and her parents, shaping their behavior and making them vulnerable to manipulation. Have you ever experienced or witnessed this dynamic? If so, how did you overcome it?

5. Olivia’s return forces every character to confront a past they thought was settled. Has the return of a friend or family member ever led you to reexamine past events?

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

1. Jaycee Dugard’s memoir, A Stolen Life (2011), highlights the difficulties of reunification after abduction. What does the Ardens’ fraught experience after Olivia’s return reflect about society’s expectations for how trauma survivors and their families should heal?

2. Heath’s plan hinges on his ability to portray Caitlin as an unstable, attention-seeking woman. How does the novel critique the way society sometimes dismisses women’s concerns or intuition by labeling them overly emotional or paranoid?

3. What commentary does the book offer on the public’s fascination with true-crime stories? How do characters like Oscar, the media, and even the townspeople transform the Ardens’ private tragedy into a form of entertainment?

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

1. The novel’s dual-timeline structure alternates between Caitlin’s “Summer” and Elinor’s “Winter.” How did this narrative choice build suspense and foreshadow the story’s tragic conclusion?

2. Blossom Hill House and Ledbury Hall are crucial backdrops. How do they function as more than just settings, reflecting the psychological states of the characters who inhabit them?

3. Heath and Elinor’s relationship darkly mirrors the bond between Caitlin and Olivia. In what ways do these sibling dynamics explore similar ideas of love, codependency, and control, and how do they diverge toward very different conclusions?

4. Olivia is both a target of violence and an accomplice. How does her journey from an idealized memory to a traumatized manipulator complicate typical “victim” portrayals in fiction?

5. Discuss the recurring motif of Venetian masks. Beyond hiding an identity, what do the masks symbolize about deception, trauma, and the nature of evil in the story?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine designing a memorial in the wildflower meadow to honor Olivia’s life. What form would it take, and what elements would you include to represent the complexities of her story and her relationship with Caitlin?

2. Imagine that you could create a “found object” box for one of the main characters that reveals their hidden self. Who would the box belong to (Bryony, Florence, or Clara), and what five objects would be inside? What story would these items tell?

3. Write a postcard from Caitlin to her parents from the first stop on her six-month journey. What does she say about her travels, and what does she share about her process of healing and remembering Olivia?