Never Lie

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Were you surprised by the revelation in the final chapters that Ethan was responsible for his mother’s death and that Tricia killed Adrienne? Did the discovery cause you to reevaluate your prior experience of the novel?
• How does this novel compare to other Freida McFadden novels you’ve read, such as The Inmate or The Housemaid? Was this mystery more or less surprising? If this was your first time reading McFadden, what other writers would you compare her to, and why?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• The novel contains graphic depictions of self-harm and emotional abuse. Did you find these scenes difficult to read? Did they ring true for you?
• Nearly all of the characters in this novel are violent and manipulative. Did you find any of the characters compelling or sympathetic? If so, why? 
• The horror of the novel is partially drawn from the claustrophobia that comes of being confined in a strange place. Have you ever had to quarantine or spend an extended period of time in a home that was not your own? How did you react?
• Tricia believes that two people can only keep a secret if one of them is dead—in other words, that sharing a secret is not truly possible. Do you agree? Why or why not?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

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

• How does the novel reflect contemporary conversations about mental health care and the role of therapy? Is Adrienne presented as a good doctor, and what ramifications does this have?
• Consider the way characters like Adrienne and Tricia weaponize gender norms. Beyond showing such norms to be social constructs, what commentary does this depiction offer—e.g., on the relationship between gender and power? 

4. Literary Analysis

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

• How does the novel compare to others in the “country house mystery” genre, such as Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None? What is the effect of setting the entire novel in one location?
• How does the upstate house act as a symbol of trauma and secrecy? Why do Tricia and Ethan both feel compelled to return to the house?
• How did the novel’s structure—interweaving past and present timelines with excerpts from therapy transcripts—affect your reading experience? How does it support the work’s overall meaning?
• How does the slow revelation of details reflect the novel’s interest in the theme of secrecy in relationships? 

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• If you were producing an adaptation of this novel, whom would you cast in the roles of Tricia and Ethan?
• Adrienne’s portrait is an important symbol in the novel. Based on descriptions of the portrait and what you know of Adrienne, either sketch this portrait yourself or use an AI tool to create an image of what the portrait might look like.
• Imagine a sequel to Never Lie. Do you think that Tricia will kill Ethan after the events of this novel?  

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