The Heiress

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• The Heiress is a psychological thriller. How does it compare to other books by Hawkins, or the work of other psychological thriller authors like Lucy Foley, Lisa Unger, or Liv Constantine?
• Consider your reaction to characters like Ruby, Jules, and Cam. Which characters did you connect with or find sympathetic? Were there any characters whom you disliked or disapproved of? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• Discuss the novel’s exploration of the concept of goodness. Did the story’s heroes and ending challenge your concept of a “good person”?
• How did the novel’s treatment of family resonate with you? Did you find any truths about family in the novel or, conversely, any perspectives you would dispute?
• In the novel, Cam revisits his past and finds a disparity between his memory and reality. Discuss the ways that perspective and memory play a role in personal history. How confident are you that your memories are accurate? How important to you is it that they are?
• Jules insists that her love with Cam was real despite the fact that their meeting was arranged. What is Jules’s definition of love? Do you agree or disagree with her? Why? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context

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

• Cam and Jules come from very different backgrounds, and class is a motivating factor for Jules throughout the novel. What does the novel have to say about class? Does it capture class dynamics in the contemporary US accurately? 
• Consider the novel’s depiction of abusive behavior. Where does it suggest such behavior originates? Given this, what interventions might help curb the problem of abuse?

4. Literary Analysis

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

• Discuss Hawkins’s use of Gothic conventions in The Heiress. How did she use Gothic references to amplify the meaning of the novel? Did she subvert or challenge Gothic convention in any way?
• Consider the importance of perspective in the story. How does Hawkins use changing perspectives to create the tension, suspense, and plot twists characteristic of a psychological thriller?
• Analyze Ruby’s character arc throughout the novel. How does Ruby change? How does your perspective on her change throughout the story, and why?
• Ashby House is almost a character itself. Discuss the role the house and its grounds play in the book’s narrative and thematic development.
• Discuss Hawkins’s use of imagery throughout the novel, including her use of color. Consider how it deepens the thematic meaning of the story. 

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Imagine a soundtrack for this book. Make a playlist that assigns particular songs to pivotal scenes. Why did you choose these pieces? What is the mood you wish to convey, and why?
• The Heiress is a Gothic story in a modern context. Rewrite a chapter, changing the setting to the late 18th or early 19th century, reflecting Gothic classics like The Castle of Otranto and Jane Eyre. After writing, consider how the change in setting changed the story and which elements remained the same. Did you learn anything surprising about the story?

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