The Locked Door

Is Nora Davis/Nierling a reliable narrator? How does her reliability change as the novel progresses? Is she more reliable in her adult or child chapters?

How does the novel depict the gender dynamics between the characters, such as between Nora and Brady, and Nora and Philip? How does Nora’s understanding of relationships and intimacy change over the course of the novel?

In college, Nora breaks up with Brady because of his interest in horror movies and because he’s a “fan” of her father, a serial killer. How does the novel depict true crime as a fandom?

Although she is never actually featured in the novel, Brady’s daughter Ruby plays an important role in the action of The Locked Door. How does Nora’s changing perspective on Ruby reflect her growth in the novel?

The novel explores the legacy of familial ties and their role in shaping one’s identity and sense of self. How does Nora attempt to shape her identity in contrast to her father? In what ways are Harper and Nora different or similar in how they confront these issues?

How is Marjorie characterized in the novel? What is her wider significance in the text?

How does Nora’s job as a surgeon affect her behavior and characterization? How does the novel explore the various facets of personal and professional identities and the problems of trying to maintain a certain kind of public persona?

The novel features several tropes of the horror genre, such as a black cat, torture dungeons, and an ancient, skeletal woman warning about a murderer. How does Freida McFadden use these tropes to mislead her readers?