The Life We Bury

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• The Life We Bury resonates with the contemporary fascination for true crime and grassroots investigative journalism. Did this novel remind you of any popular true crime films, documentaries, or podcasts? How well does the novel’s fictional plot hold up against true crime titles?
• Were you able to predict the identity of Crystal’s killer before it was revealed? If so, when did you figure it out? What clues gave it away? If not, do you think the author could have provided the reader with more clues?
• Discuss how Joe’s family life impacts his investigation. Did you welcome Joe’s concerns over his brother’s well-being or did it get in the way of your enjoyment of the mystery at the center of the novel? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

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

• The Life We Bury indicts the flaws of American criminal justice as it existed in 1980. What are your thoughts on the way that criminal justice is carried out today? Do you think it has improved from its depiction in the novel? What are some of the areas for further reform?
• How did Carl’s identity as a Vietnam War veteran affect your sympathy for him? Was this detail used to make him appear more or less likely to be guilty of the crimes of which he had been accused?
• Many of the novel’s characters are trying to navigate their relationship with the past, either accepting it or burying it, as the title suggests.