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1. The book opens with Rowan
Caine’s desperate plea for help from prison. If you received this letter
as Mr. Wrexham, would you keep reading? Is there anything she could say
that would persuade you to represent her?
2. Rowan describes the Elincourt estate in detail when she visits for
her interview. What is your first impression of the house? What aspects
were appealing or unappealing to you?
3. The interview with Sandra is standard but revealing. What do we learn
about Rowan as she tries to come up with the perfect answers? Would you
say Rowan is trustworthy? What do you learn about Sandra during this
initial interaction?
4. Maddie, the second oldest girl, has an unexpected reaction to Rowan’s
departure and makes a terrifying proclamation: "Don’t come here. It’s
not safe" (p. 74). After everything Rowan saw and learned in the
previous twenty-four hours, should she have heeded Maddie’s warning?
Would you have listened to Maddie?
5. Rowan has a very negative first impression of Bill Elincourt and
their relationship only gets worse from there. Why is her initial
reaction so strong? How would you handle the ensuing harassment by an
employer?
6. Sandra and Bill leave Rowan on her first day with the kids and she
struggles to reign them all in. Discuss the kids’ behavior and how
Sandra’s constant check-ins affect Rowan’s authority in the house. Look
specifically at the interactions on page 131 and 158.
7. Rowan believes she is finally building a relationship with Maddie and
Ellie when they show her their secret garden. But when their malicious
intent is exposed, Rowan, Maddie, and Ellie all react intensely.
Describe each of their reactions and the emotions behind them.
8. After the house goes haywire in the middle of the night, Rowan is
sleep-deprived, on edge, and paranoid, and she jumps to several rash
conclusions. Are these thoughts reasonable possibilities or delusions
based in fear? Imagine how you might respond in her situation.
9. The Elincourts’ housekeeper, Jean McKenzie, immediately dislikes
Rowan, but it seems to run deeper than their negative first encounter.
Why? Could Jean be the one tormenting Rowan at night, as she suspects?
10. Rowan is deeply disturbed by the girl in Maddie’s drawing. "Tears
were streaming down her face, her mouth was open in a despairing wail,
and there were red scribbles of blood on her face and on her dress" (p.
228). What do you think it represents? Do you think Rowan should have
addressed this directly?
11. When Jack and Rowan break into the attic, it is much worse than they
expected. Discuss their ensuing conversation. What answers does Rowan
have now and what questions remain? How do you think the doll head came
to be in Rowan’s lap?
12. Rowan’s opinion of Jack changes repeatedly in her short time at
Heatherbrae. He began as her confidant, became her lead suspect, and
finally seemed to earn her trust. Do you think he is trustworthy? Why or
why not?
13. We finally learn who Rachel Gerhardt is and of her personal
connection to the family. Were there any clues that led you to suspect
this before the big reveal? Do you believe Rachel’s version of events as
she explains them to Mr. Wrexham?
14. In the last chapter, the truth of what happened to Maddie is finally
revealed. How does Ellie’s letter align with Rachel’s retelling of that
night? What, if any, questions remain?
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