The Father She Went to Find by Carter Wilson

 This was amazing!

The main character becomes a savant by trauma - never heard of that.  That's an interested condition, though.  You remember EVERYTHING from the day of your accident until this very second.  How mind numbing.  It can definitely be useful but difficult.  I mean, there are definitely some things we need to forget to protect ourselves, don't you think?

Besides this psychological phenomenon we have all kinds of fun in this book.  From missing fathers, random road trips, meet-cutes, strange coincidences, drug cartels meet mob bosses, rogue cops, clandestine agencies, I mean the list goes on and on and on.  

There's just no knowing where this genius will find herself next.  All I can say is she took me for a ride, and I didn't stop gasping until it ended!  And even then ... 

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Discussion questions (taken from the back of the book; Poisoned Pen Press, 2024 (c))

1. Our main character is a savant and can remember everything.  How does this ability affect her?  If you had the ability to remember everything, how do you think you'd feel and why?
2. Penny's father left her after her accident.  What does he send her once a year on her birthday, and what made her 21st birthday different?  How did you feel when Penny received this card?  Would you have reacted the same way?
3. Penny sets out on a road trip to find her father, as well as the clues they buried all those years ago in their final moments together.  Why is this a risk for her?  Would you have done the same thing?
4. Penny and her father "talk" in her head.  What are these conversations like, and how do they change throughout the narrative?  Why do you think Penny feels the need to have these conversations?
5. Sebastian tells Penny, "You recall everything but know nothing."  What does he mean by this?  How does the idea of recalling versus knowing play a role in Penny's character transformation?
6. Travis and Penny begin to travel with a woman named Fia.  Why are the Snakeskin Boys after her, and what is the reason they decide to all travel west?
7. In an emotional ending, Penny is finally able to "find" her father.  What does she learn about him?  How did you feel when this was revealed?
8. List your cast of characters!

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

 Is he the man of your dreams or your worst nightmare?

OK - this one was an interesting and deviating tale!

I absolutely disliked Kevin and everything he was about.  However, I am more weirded out by the "boyfriend" from the very beginning.  I mean, who watches a girl bleed profusely from her face and does not offer to get help!  That thought stuck with me throughout the whole book.  

What about you?

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Discussion Questions

(taken from the back of the book - Poisoned Pen Press 2024 Book of the Month version - October 2024)

1. Compare Sydney and Bonnie's approach to dating.  What are the pros and cons of using dating apps?  Have you ever used one?
2. Is Slug a good person?  Why do you think he and Tom stick together?
3. After Bonnie's murder, it becomes apparent to Jake that a serial killer is on the loose.  What is the killer's MO? Who do they seem to target, and why?
4. Why does Alison hate Tom so much? Are her feelings justified?
5. Count the ways Tom seems like a perfect boyfriend.  In what ways does he seem ... not so perfect? 
6. Sydney can't help but feel unsettled around Randy.  Why is that?
7. Consider Tom's mother's choice to protect her son, though she suspects he's guilty of something terrible.  Do you think she made the right decision?  What would you have done in her position?
8. This story is told between two perspectives and timelines.  Did this make the read more suspenseful?  Were you able to predict any of the twists?
9. What do you think happened to Kevin?  Do you think he deserved it?
10. Discuss Sydney's future.  Then, discuss Tom's future.  Do you think each are happy?

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert

 What a psychologist's dream, this book!  This book has all kinds of psychoses, I don't even know where to begin!  

Dissociative identity disorder (multiple personalities) is a good place to begin.  The author put a twist on this already difficult to believe and understand mental health condition and had one of the characters envelop other characters' personalities.  Is that actually a thing or what this character just a "good actor"?  The argument in the book (and real life) is that the child lived through such trauma, his brain created these personalities to cope with the stress.  Do you think it helped?

Other issues that arise are cultism and how it breeds and cultivates, psychosis that leads one to kill and entice others to follow your lead and kill for you (Charles Manson ring a bell?).  The story also shows us what childhood neglect can lead to (i.e., kidnapping and psychotic violent breaks).  We even have a touch of substance abuse in the mix.

The story has many plot lines and stories weaved into the mix and it can get too confusing.  Often, I found myself wanting it to "get to the point."  But that it did.  I truly enjoyed reading this and personally am thrilled with the outcome.  Can't wait to discuss.

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Discussion Questions

1. The book begins with the public execution of "Father Silence."  What went wrong during the execution and how that play into the entire story?
2. Tess Claiborne's parents are brutally murdered, but the story is more heavily centered on the kidnapping of her daughter at the same time.  Do you think it was important to murder Tess's parents, given the plot, or could they have just created the mystery around Julia's kidnapping?  What added plot quality was there to include the double murder?
3. There are several relationships highlighted among the story's heroes.  Discuss the dynamics between the relationships of Justin, Tess, Danny, and Eliza.
4. There were several events leading up to the arrest of Father Silence.  What role did Tess play in the entire night?  Why do you think she repressed many of the memories of that night?
5. Julia, despite her parent's weaknesses, is a strong character throughout the story.  Do you think she will be able to keep her resiliency after experiencing this trauma?
6. There were many religious elements included within the story.  What role do you think Catholicism played and why do you believe the author included such as strong influence?
7. Do you believe that Benjamin would ever hurt "his" children?  Did you find his ending tragic?
8. Who do you believe was the main antagonist? How did you feel about the end for them?
9. Do you believe Noah actually suffered from dissociative identity disorder, or was he just a good actor?
10. What do you think is in the future for any and all of the characters?