**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Why do you think that the author chose to open the book with a description of Lockwood Manor delivered by Lucy? What do we immediately learn about the house—and the Lockwood family—in the Prologue? How does this opening set the atmosphere for the story and introduce the major themes of the book?
Who is Hetty Cartwright and why is she sent to Lockwood Manor? How is she received when she arrives? What is remarkable about the position that she holds, and why does she feel that she has to prove herself before the conclusion of the war? What accounts for her rapid promotion? Why did she think previously that the position was “forever beyond [her]” (6)?
Explore genre. What classic features of gothic literature does the book possess? How do these features help to reveal or otherwise support the major themes of the novel? Where and how does the book diverge from other traditional gothic literature that you have encountered? Likewise, the book is set during World War II—does this make it a war story? How does the book compare to other so-called war stories set during this time period? How does it set itself apart?
Hetty wonders: “How was a child meant to be, how was a mother?” (9). Does the book ever answer this question? Consider depictions of motherhood in the book. What was Hetty’s adoptive mother like? And Lucy’s mother? How does the author present these two figures? What kind of portrait of childhood is offered in the text?
More broadly, what does the book reveal about societal conventions and expectations for women at the time in which the book is set? Do the female characters meet or defy these expectations? What did Hetty’s adoptive mother want her to do, and how did she react to Hetty studying zoology at Oxford? Would you say that these conventions and expectations for women have changed much today? Why or why not?
In her novel Healey revisits the trope of the “madwoman” that has appeared throughout literature of the past. How does her treatment of this trope extend the conversation and challenge this motif? How, for instance, did your impression of Lucy and her mother shift by the book’s end? Are the women simply inexplicably hysterical, as Major Lockwood might suggest? What message(s) did you feel the book ultimately presented around mental illness? Discuss.
How does the author use suspense to create a heightened sense of psychological drama? How does Healey create and maintain a feeling of tension throughout the book? How does the house function as a central player to this? Consider both the literal and figurative use of “haunting” in the story. What are some of the things the characters fear? Are their fears ultimately legitimate or would you say that they are unfounded?
Evaluate the use of animals as a major symbol in the book. What might the animals represent? How do they help to create a dialogue around the notions of hunting, stalking, and prey, for example? What might they suggest about other subjects that the book addresses, such as freedom, the nature of man, and man’s desire for control over nature? Why isn’t Hetty surprised that the animals are ultimately “reclaimed”? What does she mean when she says, “We played God all the time at the museum” (8)?
Why do you think that Hetty and Lucy formed such a fast connection? Were you surprised by their relationship? Why or why not? What do the two women share in common? What obstacles are they faced with in the house, and what are they most concerned about, especially when it comes to postwar life?
Were you surprised by the conclusion of the book? What really happened to Lucy’s mother and grandmother? Who or what was haunting Lucy and Lockwood Manor? Does Hetty ever learn who or what is responsible for the moved, missing, and damaged animals? Who would you say is ultimately responsible for the demise of Lockwood Manor?
What becomes of Hetty and of Lucy once the house is destroyed? What does the destruction of the house give to Lucy that she might not have possessed otherwise? Do you think that Hetty and Lucy will be successful in their postwar lives? Why or why not? What final message might the book offer about love?