Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your first impressions of this book? Was it engaging to read? Why or why not?

2. How does Aaron’s character change over time? Which details about his life tend to “humanize” him amidst the broader investigation?

3. Compare this book to The Dry and Exiles. What other similarities do you find between this and the other novels in the series?

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

1. What elements of the women’s predicament in the wild provoked a strong emotional response in you? Why?

2. How does the novel’s depiction of financial fraud and corporate greed speak to your own personal and professional ethics? 

3. Examine the novel’s depiction of various parent-child relationships. Which conflicts or dynamics remind you of parent-child relationships that you have encountered in real life? 

4. Do you agree with the state police, who assert that financial crimes are not as severe as violent crimes, or do you agree with Agent Falk, who argues the opposite? Explain your answer.