Reading Group Discussion Questions

• Swansboro, a small town in eastern, North Carolina is the setting for the novel. How does this setting help Julie and Mike fall in love? How does it hinder it? How does the setting enhance the danger imposed by Richard? How does it hinder it? Could this type of story have happened anywhere? Why or why not?
• Julie, at the beginning of the novel, has recently suffered through the loss of her husband. He has, however, provided her with Singer, a Great Dane, who arrived unexpectedly as a gift on Christmas Eve. Would this have helped you heal in the same situation, or would it have had the opposite effect? Is there anything else her deceased husband could have given her that would have meant more? In chapter one, the novel opens four years later. Julie has moved on with her life, at least in part. Is she really doing okay, or is it more of an act? Is four years long enough to grieve, or is it too long?
• Mike Harris is in love with Julie as the story opens, but Julie is hesitant to reciprocate the feelings because she thinks of him as not only a friend, but because he’d been her deceased husband’s best friend and the best man in her wedding. Does Mike feel guilt in the same way that Julie does? Why or why not? Is this something that’s likely to happen in real people’s lives? If you were Julie, how would you feel? Would you be willing to risk the friendship?
• The novel has many minor characters, including Mabel, Andrea, Henry and Emma. What role does each of these characters play in the lives of Julie and Mike? Why were they included in the novel? Of these four characters, who was the most important to the story? Who was the least important? Why?
• Richard Franklin goes out on a couple of dates with Julie before she decides that it isn’t working out between them. Her reason is simply that it didn’t seem to “click” even though she had a good time on her dates. Is this realistic? Did Julie suspect anything amiss with Richard, or was it that she didn’t want to lead him on? How would you have reacted to receiving unexpected gifts and notes on your doorstep after the first and second dates? Has this ever happened to you?
• Richard becomes obsessive about Julie, despite the fact that he barely knows her. Is this more or less frightening than knowing someone for years before obsession sets in? Is this realistic? How much, if any, of this was Julie’s fault? How would you react in a situation like this? Is Richard a psychopath or a sociopath, or both?
• Jennifer Romanello doesn’t appear as a character until halfway through the story, yet she becomes one of the major characters by the end. Could the author have written her character into the story earlier in the narrative? Why or why not? Would the novel have benefited from further characterizations about her, such as additional information about her past and current situation? Her partner is Pete Gandy, who is portrayed as a less-than-competent officer. How does this help or hinder the telling of the story? Why or why not?
• In the latter half of the novel, the pace of the novel quickens dramatically as the story shifts from a love-story to thriller. Did you notice this change as it was happening? When did you realize Richard was dangerous? Did you have any idea how far his obsession would lead? Was the ending a surprise? In what ways?
• Singer was portrayed as having almost human qualities at times. Was he actually more human, or was that simply the way Julie perceived him? What other roles did Singer play in the novel? Could the novel have been as effective without Singer? Why or why not?
• Was Singer a Guardian Angel?