Book Club Discussion Questions

For Perishing Hill by Lelia A. Piet

Dive into the secrets, storms, and long-simmering regrets at the heart of this coastal domestic suspense. These prompts are spoiler-conscious and designed to spark meaningful group conversation.

Discussion Prompts

How did the stormy setting of Ocracoke Island influence your reading experience?
 Did the physical isolation mirror or amplify the characters’ emotional states?

Alyce gathers everyone at Dune Dweller with the hope of learning about her parents.
 Do you believe her intentions were pure, or were other motivations at play?

The novel explores how past choices haunt the present.
 Which character do you think is most defined by guilt or denial?

There’s a strong sense of “roles” each person plays in the group.
 Did those roles shift as the story progressed? Who surprised you most?

Secrets unravel gradually throughout the novel.
 Which revelation impacted you most, and did it change how you viewed the characters?

Storms and power outages force the group into tight quarters.
 How did the physical confinement intensify tensions and truths?

Rosey is a complicated, polarizing figure.
 What was your reaction to her influence on the group, especially Alyce?

Family, found and fractured, is a major theme.
 What does Perishing Hill suggest about the difference between chosen and inherited families?

The lighthouse, the dunes, and the sea are more than just backdrop.
 How does the author use setting to reflect or deepen the psychological suspense?

The story spans years of buried pain and betrayal.
 Do you think forgiveness is/was truly possible for these characters—or just survival?

Power dynamics and emotional manipulation play a central role.
 Who holds the most power at the start of the novel? Who holds it at the end?

How did your understanding of the title Perishing Hill evolve as you read?
 What does it mean to you now?

If you could ask the author one question about a character’s motivation or backstory, what would it be?