This Is Why We Lied

Choose two or three of the novel’s characters, and investigate Karin Slaughter’s depiction of the facades that people build versus their true nature.

Slaughter’s novels often feature graphic imagery and description. What is the effect of this technique on the narrative?

Throughout the novel, Will struggles with the desire to punish Dave, rooted in his history with him. Discuss the novel’s exploration of the concept of justice through Will’s struggle to keep his personal feelings out of the investigation.

The novel features complicated relationships between Mercy and almost everyone in her life, including Dave, Jon, Christopher, and Delilah. Choose one of these relationships and explore how Slaughter represents it throughout the novel. Does it evolve or change? What is Slaughter saying about this relationship?

Trace the development of Will and Sara’s relationship throughout the novel. How do they negotiate their new married status in a professional context? What choices do they make that set the tone for their marriage?

Discuss Slaughter’s structural choices in the novel, including point-of-view and time shifts. How does she use this structure to gradually reveal the truths of the mystery and the McAlpine family?

Dave is central to both Mercy’s and Will’s lives. Analyze Slaughter’s development of Dave’s character. How does she build a three-dimensional picture of an unsympathetic character?

The novel addresses the topic of motherhood from several different perspectives. How does it represent mothers over the range of characters? What might it be saying about motherhood and mothers?