The All Good Books group will discuss Allen Eskens’ novel The Life We Bury this Thursday, September 17, 2020 at 7 PM on Zoom.

Possible discussion questions follow:

  1. How would you summarize “The Life We Bury” to a friend without giving away the ending or other important events?
  2. Would you have interviewed a murderer as Joe Talbert did? Why or why not?
  3. How would you describe the main characters in the book? Joe Talbert, Carl Iverson, L. Nash, Jeremy Naylor, Kathy Nelson, Mary Lorngren, Grandpa Bill, Crystal Hagen, Dan Lockwood, Doug Lockwood, Max Rupert, Andy Fisher.
  4. As you read the novel, did you find the characters unique or stereotypes? Believable or implausible? Was the plot believable, predictable, unexpected, or implausible?
  5. Were there concepts, ideas, people or events in the book that you researched further beyond what was indicated in the novel? Did you look up any of the following? The Innocence Project, Pascal’s gambit, Occam’s razor, Dying declaration, Jeffrey Dahmer, the Donner party, Romanesque Revival, or BOLO?
  6. In a conversation between Joe Talbert and Carl Iverson the question of “killing” vs. “murdering“ is raised. Is there a difference?
  7. What did you think the novel’s title indicated about the story and its characters? Whose was the life that was buried and what was buried?
  8. Was there an event or happening in the novel that “stuck with you” or was particularly memorable?
  9. Is guilt a character in the novel? Explain your response.
  10. Why do you think Carl Iverson watched the girl next door so closely? Is his motivation ever explained in the novel?
  11. What is Hillview Manor? How is it described? Does that description match your experiences?
  12. Would you read another murder mystery by Allen Eskens? Explain.
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