THE FORGOTTEN GIRL

David Bell is a bestselling and award-winning author whose work has been translated into six languages. He’s currently an associate professor of English at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He received an MA in creative writing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a PhD in American literature and creative writing from the University of Cincinnati. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize twice. His previous novels are Cemetery Girl, The Hiding Place, and Never Come Back.

“David Bell is a natural storyteller and a superb writer. The Forgotten Girl is a mystery lover’s mystery; a quick-paced and intriguing tale of what happens when the past catches up with the present. Mr. Bell understands the hearts and minds of ordinary and not-so-ordinary people, and his keen insights add a powerful dimension to his crisp writing.”—Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“The Forgotten Girl is a tightly-woven mystery….I never felt like I had my feet under me. Bell has crafted an unforgettable story full of surprises. Don’t miss it.” —J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author

“David Bell writes spellbinding and gripping thrillers that get under your skin and refuse to let go. This is his best so far.”—Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of No Safe House

Jason and Hayden have a strained relationship, primarily due to Hayden’s struggles with addiction. Do you understand Jason’s reluctance to let Hayden back into his life? Would you let her back in?

Jason seems to realize that it was difficult for Hayden to grow up in his shadow. Do you think it’s challenging for younger siblings to establish their own identities as they grow up? Also, is there more pressure on an older sibling to set the tone in a family?

Sierra seems to be a bright, successful teenager despite the difficulties her parents have been through. Are you surprised by the bond between Sierra and her parents?

Jason and Regan were close friends—and almost dated—in high school and have recently reconnected. Do you understand the friendship they share even after all those years of not being in touch? Do you think Nora should be concerned about the time Jason spends with Regan? How would you feel if your spouse were Jason?

Jason and Nora made the choice not to have children, but when Sierra enters their lives, they find themselves reexamining that decision. Do you think Jason and Nora regret not having children? Can having their niece in their lives serve as some kind of a replacement?

Jason seems to be having something of a midlife crisis due to losing his job in New York and moving back to his hometown in Ohio. Is it unusual for someone at Jason’s stage of life to be reevaluating this way? Do you think he’s happy with the choices he’s made?

Regan tells Jason that he “hero-worshipped” Logan and didn’t see him clearly. What kind of person do you think Logan was? Is Regan correct when she says that Jason didn’t see him clearly? What do you think is the cause of some of Logan’s behavior?

Were you surprised to find out what really happened on graduation night? Are you surprised that Regan was willing to keep it a secret for so many years?

Logan’s mother knew the truth about her son—both the act of violence he committed against her as well as what he did on graduation night. Was she right to keep those things secret for so many years? Do you think she could have—or should have—done something to help her son, or were the cards too stacked against her because of the influence and power of Logan’s father?

Mr. Shaw seems like something of a distant and distracted father. Do you blame him for Logan’s behavior? Do you think he really loved his son?

Jesse Dean was responsible for Logan’s death on graduation night, and then Derrick was responsible for Jesse Dean’s death in the cabin. Do you blame these men for the acts of violence they committed? Were there extenuating circumstances in one or both of the cases? How do you view the men differently? Would you want to see them prosecuted for the things they did?

When Jason returns home at the end of the book, he seems genuinely happy to see his family, including Hayden and Sierra. Do you think he has a new appreciation for his life, one he didn’t have when the book started? Do you think he and Nora have found a way to be happy in Ohio?

Sierra turns out very different from her parents. And de-spite being siblings, Jason and Hayden take divergent paths in life. Do you attribute these differences to nature over nurture? Do you know people who turned out significantly different from other people in the same household?