Questions for discussion

1. The book begins in central Arizona, but the plot leads the main characters to Boston and back. How do the multiple settings contribute to the book? How do they affect the actions of the main characters?
2. Lyle’s relationship with his father generates both anger and guilt. What does he mean by that and how does this motivate him throughout the story? Does he have other motivations?
3. How would you describe Kate Sorensen’s role in the story? How does her approach to challenges differ from Lyle’s?
4. How important is the retro theme of Nostalgia City to the theme of the book? How do they differ? Do you think the author has an opinion about the value of celebrating or enjoying the past?
5. In the face of Lyle’s fairly obvious instability, is Kate justified in trusting him?
6. This is a mystery, but the author establishes FedPat Corporation as a likely source of criminal activity early on. Did this leave enough questions for the reader to solve? How close to the actual workings of a large insurance company, excluding perhaps murder, do you think this is? 
7. Kate uses her background in competitive athletics as inspiration to deal with crises without looking back. How does it work?
8. How does Lyle employ his “loiter and listen” strategy?  Is it effective?
9. Lyle and others make references to celebrities and events from past decades, some of which may be obscure.  Do references to people such as Vic Tanny and Jeannie C. Riley puzzle you or contribute to the setting of the story?