No One Can Know: A Novel

How do Emma, JJ, and Daphne’s points of view differ, and how are they the same? What does each perspective contribute to the novel? How might the novel be different if it only used one sister’s point of view?

In what ways does Gabriel serve as Nathan’s foil? What does the novel suggest about their differing representations of masculinity and patriarchy?

In what ways does the novel use techniques and tropes of the murder mystery genre to build suspense? Discuss the author’s use of any three such tropes, such as the unreliable narrator, a character with memory lapse, red herrings, or misdirection.

What is the role of the Palmer home in the plot? How does the home itself represent the dynamics of the Palmer family? In what ways does the use of the house link to Gothic literature?

Why does Emma feel that “once you were tainted, you were never clean” (123)? In what ways does Emma continue to face social isolation and judgement for her parents’ murders, and how does that isolation inform her behavior? Support your answer with examples from the book.

Daphne states that “everything I’ve done was to protect us” (281). Does the novel suggest that Daphne’s rationale for murder is justified? Argue for or against this position, supporting your argument with examples from the text.

In what ways does JJ’s character arc represent the complex relationship between trauma and memory? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

For what reasons does Irene shoot herself in the chest? What does this act suggest about domestic abuse in the novel? To what extent, if any, does it represent redemption for Irene?