Feinstein relies heavily on dialogue to reveal traits about the characters and the main elements of the mystery. Think about how the conversations help the reader understand what’s happening but not to the extent that they ruin the mystery. How would the story read if the narrator explained the mystery instead? Is it more suspenseful to learn things through the characters’ interactions or from an all-knowing, faceless narrator?

Stevie and Susan Carol come to the Final Four with several rosy illusions about college basketball. Their experiences with the blackmailers jar them and leave them somewhat cynical. Is there something like college basketball in your life that seemed fantastic but turned out to be very flawed? Compare and contrast their learning experiences with a personal eye-opening experience.

The story takes place in 2005, but technology plays a key role. Stevie and Susan Carol use email, cell phones, and MapQuest to write and to help them solve the mystery. Consider how the mystery might unfold differently if it had taken place 15 years later, with smartphones and social media. How might advancements in technology make solving the mystery more or less difficult?