A Flicker in the Dark

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What were your initial thoughts on Chloe’s character and her career as a psychologist, given her traumatic family history? How does her profession shape her approach to the events in the story? 
• How did you feel about the novel’s use of flashbacks and memories to reveal details of Chloe’s past? Did this narrative technique enhance the suspense for you? Why or why not? 
• Chloe’s relationships with her family, especially her brother, Cooper, and her fiancé, Daniel, are central to the novel. What was your impression of these relationships, and how did they impact your view of Chloe’s reliability as a narrator? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Chloe’s journey is deeply affected by her childhood trauma. To what extent do you feel it’s possible to move beyond a difficult upbringing? How have you formed that opinion?
• Chloe uses coping mechanisms such as her career, alcohol, and medication to control her fears. Have you ever relied on specific routines or behaviors to manage stress or anxiety? If so, how do you see these methods either helping or hindering your personal growth?
• Chloe learns to rely on her intuition as she faces the truth about her family. How often do you trust your intuition when making difficult choices? Do you find it to be an accurate guide? 
• Chloe’s deceased friend Lena represents strength and resilience for her. Is there something from your past whose memory inspires you to be strong or resilient? How do they continue to influence you today? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Crime thrillers like A Flicker in the Dark often depict violence against women. How do you think this choice reflects or critiques real-world issues regarding gendered violence? What impact might this have on readers’ understanding of violence against women? 
• Chloe’s unreliability as a narrator, which is compounded by her use of alcohol and medication, raises questions about mental health and trauma. How do you think Chloe’s portrayal as a struggling survivor of trauma reflects societal attitudes toward mental health? Do you see any risks or benefits in this representation? 
• In setting A Flicker in the Dark in Louisiana, Willingham draws on cultural and regional elements specific to the American South. What unique Southern social dynamics or historical events might be relevant to Chloe’s story?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• How does Chloe’s childhood home reflect or symbolize her psychological state throughout the novel? In what ways do the physical decay of the home and its haunting memories mirror Chloe’s struggles with her past? 
• Willingham uses the motif of darkness to reflect Chloe’s inner fears and her struggle for control. How does Chloe’s fear of darkness drive her decisions, and how is it significant to her journey toward self-discovery? 
• Discuss how Willingham establishes Chloe’s unreliability as a narrator. How does this narrative choice affect the reader’s perception of Chloe and the suspense in the novel? 
• How does Willingham use Chloe’s relationships with her family members to highlight her struggle between fear and trust? Consider how her relationships with her mother, father, and brother influence her understanding of safety and control. 
• The woods behind Chloe’s childhood home serve as both a literal and figurative representation of her trauma. How does the imagery of the woods contribute to the tone of the novel and reflect Chloe’s journey toward facing her fears? 
• How does the novel’s genre shape the development of Chloe’s character and her pursuit of the truth? What elements of the crime thriller genre does Willingham use to heighten the tension and draw attention to Chloe’s internal and external struggles? 

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Design a symbolic “memory box” for Chloe. Choose five objects to represent key events or themes from her life and explain how each item reflects her psychological state and past. 
• Create a playlist of songs that capture the mood, suspense, and themes of the novel. For each song, explain how it relates to Chloe’s journey, her struggles with trust, or the unsettling mysteries in her life. 
• Write a letter from Chloe to her 12-year-old self, offering advice and reflections based on her perspective at the end of the novel. How would Chloe encourage herself to confront her trauma and find inner strength? 

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