1. What are the residents of Cwm Coed’s complaints about The Shore and vice versa? Do you think the two communities could have been bridged? Was the New Year’s party the right tactic? Did you see any other attempts to make peace throughout the book?

2. How does the author play with structure and timeline in the novel? What was the effect of the mirrored scenes in the second half?

3. How did the chapters documenting Rhys’ final months shape your understanding of the rest of the story?

4. Compare Ffion’s and Leo’s investigative techniques. Are their strategies shaped more by personality or jurisdiction? Who is the better detective?

5. Why does Leo struggle to address his supervisor’s myriad inappropriate comments? Why do Rhys, Jonty and Crouch all disguise their bad behavior with humor?

6. Who was your leading suspect throughout the book and why?

7. What was Rhys’ original vision for The Shore? If he were able to secure backing for that concept, how do you think the events of the book would be different?

8. Why didn’t Ffion consider her encounter with Rhys to be rape until she discussed it with Leo? How does the “asking for it” narrative prevent people who have been assaulted from seeking help, even when help is desperately needed?

9. How would you describe the true murderer’s motive? How does Ffion handle the truth? What do you think you would have done in her position?