Introduction

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Shari Lapena’s new thriller, AN UNWANTED GUEST, is available now!

“The twists come as fast [as] you can turn the pages.” —People

“Provocative and shocking.” —Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of Find Her

“I read this novel at one sitting, absolutely riveted by the storyline.  The suspense was beautifully rendered and unrelenting!” —Sue Grafton, New York Times bestselling author of X

It all started at a dinner party. . .

A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbors—a twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. . .

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night, when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately lands on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.

Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they've kept for years. 

What follows is the nerve-racking unraveling of a family—a chilling tale of  deception, duplicity, and unfaithfulness that will keep you breathless until the final shocking twist.

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Discussion Questions

1. Imagine yourself in Anne’s position—would you have left your infant at home while going next door for dinner? Do you believe Anne is a good mother? How do you define that?

2. Why does Anne stay with Marco, even after everything she’s learned? Would you? Is it possible to build trust again after that type of betrayal?

3. Marco and Richard hate each other. How would each describe the other? Thinking about the way the story ends, how accurate are their opinions?

4. Rasbach says “It’s much easier to make money if you don’t care who you hurt. If you have scruples, it’s much harder to get rich” (p.284). Do you agree?

5. The press hound Anne and Marco, camping outside their door and assaulting them with questions. Do you think these kinds of media circuses are justified in the name of “news”?

6. At one point, Anne thinks that she killed her own child. Why? Do you believe she’s capable of that?

7. What was your reaction to the last line of the novel? What did Anne do? What will happen next for Anne and Marco?

8. What is the title of the novel meant to suggest?

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by michellemcintyre408 (see profile) 05/20/18

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