The Night We Lost Him

Liam Noone, an influential businessman with a complicated personal life, is found dead on his estate. As his children gather and discuss the situation, they begin to suspect that foul play may be involved. Did he slip off the cliff, or was he pushed?

I loved this book; it's fast-paced, engaging, and I enjoyed all the characters. It was a great experience to listen to it on audio, and the narration was fantastic. I've listened to several books narrated by Julia Whelan and have enjoyed them all. She truly brings the story to life.

The blend of family drama, mystery, and suspense is perfection. It's an ideal summer book and makes a great escape.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"Drama, mystery, and intrigue" (PureWow) unfold in this instant bestseller about estranged siblings chasing a fifty-year-old secret that shaped their father's mysterious life in this "propulsive thriller" (Oprah Daily) and "moving family drama" (People).

Liam Noone was many things to many people. To the public, he was a self-made hotel magnate. To his three ex-wives, a loving if distant man who kept his families carefully separated. To Nora, he was a father who often loved her from afar - notably from a cliffside cottage perched above the California coast, from which he fell to his death.

Authorities rule it accidental, but Nora and her estranged brother Sam suspect otherwise. As they form an uneasy alliance to unravel the mystery, they uncover a secret that changes everything.

With Laura Dave's trademark blend of mystery, suspense, and evocative family drama, The Night We Lost Him is a riveting story with a heartbreaking twist you'll never see coming.

1. Consider the quotes about architecture that open each section of the book. How do they inform each part of the novel?

2. The years of each flashback align with Liam's key memories. How does that structure affect your understanding of the story?

3. How would you describe the relationship dynamic between Nora and Sam?

4. What role does the setting of Carpinteria, California play? How do places like Windbreak shape the story?

5. What are your thoughts on Liam Noone's life choices? How do they impact his children?

6. How do the novel's past/present shifts affect pacing and tension?

7. Grief and love are deeply woven into this novel. Which characters' responses resonated with you most?

8. What do you make of Cece Salinger's motivations and her influence on the story?

9. "Fidelity is who you tell your stories to." What do you think Cory meant by this?

10. How does the revelation about Cory reshape the novel's events?

11. Were you familiar with neuroarchitecture before reading? How does it connect to Nora's investigation?

12. What do you think the future holds for Nora? Was this story a love letter to her father?