You Killed Me First

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. John Marrs is a widely read author of psychological thrillers. Have you read any of his other books? If so, how does this novel compare?

2. What predictions did you make about the mystery as the novel progressed? Were your guesses right or wrong? What clues prompted your ideas?

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

1. Of the three main characters, who was your favorite, and why? Conversely, which character resonated least? How did your opinion of them change over time? 

2. The desire for revenge is an important motivating factor for more than one character. Have there been instances in your life when you have felt wronged? What was the situation, and how did you respond?

3. Margot, Anna, and Liv share a complicated, largely superficial friendship. Reflect on some of your friendships. Are you able to share your deepest secrets with these people, or do you find yourself holding back? 

4. The three main characters prove to be very different people beneath their public personas. Have you ever known anyone who was not the person they pretended to be? How did you react when you realized the truth?

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

1. Margot is presented as callous and uncaring but eventually reveals a hidden maternal side. What is your opinion on the idea of a “maternal instinct”? Do you think it is innate, socialized, or a mix of the two? 

2. Anna says that it was easy to cultivate a negative perception of Margot because society is eager judge successful women harshly. How true have you observed this statement to be? What real-world examples support your stance?

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

1. Marrs employs multiple narrators and multiple timelines. Was this approach compelling or confusing to you? What other tropes did you notice, and which ones were effectively employed?

2. The Slippery Slope of Violence is demonstrated as Anna’s actions show that the desire for revenge can warp one’s personal ethics, causing violence to repeat in an endless cycle. Which are the different characters and circumstances that highlight this idea? Are there points in the story where a character could have chosen differently to break the cycle? 

3. The story is set in a suburban town populated by families and children. How does Marrs use this setting to advance the novel’s explorations of deception?

4. Anna is revealed to have heard voices in her head for years. Discuss the author’s portrayal of mental health and mental illness. Do you find his depiction of these issues to be informative, stereotypical, or a mix of both? Does the book mitigate or worsen the social stigma surrounding this topic?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Do you think this book would work better as a movie adaptation or as serialized television episodes? Who would you cast in your adaptation?

2. On the screen, music and sound greatly contribute to the mood of the story. Create a playlist for this book and include pieces of music that could serve as background music.

3. The book ends with Anna hiding in Pakistan even as she becomes a suspect for Drew and Margot’s murders in the UK. In a sequel to the book, what might happen next?

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