Book #9: The Couple Next Door, Sheri Lapena

About the book: 

A chilling 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, baby Cora goes missing. Suspicion immediately focuses 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. Anne and Marco each discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they’ve kept for years.

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

Group Discussion Questions: 

• Did you like the book? Why or why not? 
• There is a sequel to this book, is it something everyone would be interested in reading? (we could plan it for January 2021) 
• If you got the chance to ask the author of this book one question, what would it be?
• What is the title, “The Couple Next Door,” meant to suggest? 
• This book is told from multiple points of view. Was it well done? Was it effective? Why or why not?
• The author wrote this story in present tense. Do you think the story being told in present tense hurt/helped with the suspense? 
• It’s challenging to keep suspense readers at the edge of their seat, but not drag out the twist so long that they get antsy or feel manipulated. Do you think the author did a good job of setting the right pace for the plot to move along? Did you like the pacing of this book? Too fast, too slow, or just right? 
• 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? 
• Do you think that mothers put undue pressure on themselves to be seen as “Good Moms?” Do you think that some women’s need to be seen as “A Good Mom” can cause them to fail to get help when they need it? Is trying to be a “good mom” a contributing factor in this book? 
• The theme of leaving a child alone is a hot-button topic in the media. These incidents have inspired outrage in some, and understanding in others who can relate to making decisions that, in hindsight, were the worst possible decisions. How do you think the author was able to make Anne and Marco sympathetic enough that readers would empathize with them? 
• The press hound Anne and Marco, camping outside their door and assaulting them with questions. Do you think this type of media hype is justified in the name of “news”? Does excessive news coverage provide any type of benefit? 
• How do you think Anne’s postpartum depression effected the book? 
• When the Contis get the first ransom, they decide not to involve the police. What would you do in that situation? 
• At one point, Anne doesn’t know if she killed her own child. Do you believe she’s capable of that? Why or why not? How horrible would it be not to know something like that? 
• Of all the people involved in the kidnapping, who do you think was the most guilty? The least? 
• 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? 
• What did you think about the ending of the book?