1.     When The Other Mothers begins, Jo Fournier is struggling to deal with cumulative PTSD. How does that impact the way she investigates Nicole’s death? Do you think it helps, or hinders? Why?

2.     How does this case impact Jo Fournier’s PTSD? Does it help her process her grief and trauma, or does it interfere with that? Why?

3.     Every parent wants to do the best for their child, but it can be hard to know what’s best. Molly believed she was doing the best thing for Shauna—was she right? Would a different course of action have made any difference or been better for her daughter? Does that even matter when Shauna was a threat to others? What would you have done if Shauna were your daughter?

4.     One of the book’s themes is the ability to trust, both other people and ourselves. Some of the characters trust too much, and some don’t trust enough. How did each of these play a role in Nicole’s death?

5.     Both Jo’s and Sophie’s opinions of each other are challenged through the course of the book. How does this case force each of them to step into one another’s shoes? How does that change their relationship?

6.     Another of the book’s themes is the danger of keeping secrets. Gia, Molly, and Karen all have secrets they’re desperate to keep. When we’re unwilling to tell the truth to those closest to us, that can be a red flag that we’re lying to ourselves, too. Is that true for any of these three women? How would their outcomes have been different if they’d been honest with themselves and others?

7.     For the first three books in the series, we’ve seen Jo shy away from committed relationships with men. In book four, her relationship with Matt seems to go in a different direction. Why? How does this relate to the investigation of Nicole’s death?

8.     Related to (7), in previous books, Jo’s relationship with men has been very physical. What is the significance of Jo spending the night at Matt’s house without having sex with him?

9.     Molly, Gia, Karen, and Jo all have a hobby that allows them to work through their stress (glass blowing, kintsugi, jewelry-making/metalwork, target practice). How are each woman’s personality and struggles reflected in their hobbies?

10. Thankfully, children who murder are rare—but they do exist. How do you feel about the law preventing Shauna from being prosecuted for her murders because of her age? How should her needs be balanced with society’s?

11. Family dynamics are like a net—when any one person shifts, the entire system shifts around them. As the book closes, Jo texts Matt to come join her family for dessert. What causes her to do this when she’s been so resistant in the past? What changes on the part of her family allow her to take this hesitant step? What shifts of her own allowed her family to shift?

12. Bob Arnett is the one person that Jo trusts without hesitation. How does that relationship, and his actions, help her to adjust her relationships with her family and with Matt?