1. The title of the novel comes from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby; Fitzgerald’s “valley of ashes” is a bleak stretch of land between New York City and the fictional West Egg. In what ways is Boulder also a “valley of ashes” in this novel, despite its altitude?
2. Almost from the outset of Valley of Ashes, we know that Madeline feels ill suited to her role as full-time mother and homemaker. Have you ever felt out-of-sorts in a life situation you had little ability to change?
3. Though Madeline is depressed, she is also extremely funny about her domestic frustrations. Is humor a defense mechanism for her? Or one of survival?
4. Have you ever worked for someone like Bittler? How did you handle a boss with that kind of personality?
5. What does the dinner scene with Dean and Cary’s Japanese colleagues tell you about the compromises that people make for the sake of business relationships? What would cross the line for you?
6. One of the book’s themes is the ongoing oppression of women, though the story takes place decades after the women’s movement was launched. Which female characters serve as inspirations? Are there any cautionary examples?
7. Did the identity of Cary’s killer surprise you? In what ways does the murderer go against type?
8. By the end of the novel, a discovery has overshadowed Madeline’s grief over the loss of a friend and the slow dissolution of her marriage. Have you ever experienced a tragedy that has thrown other losses into relief?
9. Have you read other of the author’s Madeline Dare novels? How has Madeline changed over the course of four books? What about Dean?