1. At the beginning of the novel, Adrian keeps tight control over his passions and emotions. Why does he do this, and what allows him to finally let those defenses fall?

2. Catherine leaves Adrian as an act of love. Had she stayed, do you think their marriage would have been successful? Would they have been happy with each other?

3. What might Jim’s life have been like had Adrian not stepped in to help fund and mold his future?

4. Bennett Chapman has been belligerent, self-centered and ill-behaved throughout most of his life. Why, then, is he so willing to believe that his wife, Elizabeth, has come back from the dead to contact him via séance? Why is he determined to follow her directives?

5.  As you read, did you believe that Mrs. Chapman was indeed appearing in spirit, or were you skeptical? At what point did you feel that perhaps this was real? Or did you still have any doubts at the end?

6. Catherine’s plan to quickly snag a wealthy husband in Newport seems rather a long-shot. What compels her to try it? What other choices were open in her situation to a woman of her social status? What were the potential outcomes to those choices?

7. Catherine obtains the key to Nicholas’s incriminating documents through uncharacteristic physical contact with him after her wedding ceremony. Do you think Adrian knew of her plan?

8. Have you ever attended a séance or received a psychic reading? If yes, what made you go and what was the experience like? If no, is this something you would ever want to do? Why or why not?