The Clinic

From the critically acclaimed author of Black Widows comes a thriller set in a remote rehab clinic on the Pacific Northwest coast, in which the death of a woman inside prompts her sister to enter the clinic as a patient in order to find the truth. Perfect for fans of Stacy Willingham and Tarryn Fisher!

Meg works for a casino in LA, catching cheaters and popping a few too many pain pills to cope, following a far different path than her sister Haley, a famous actress. But suddenly reports surface of Haley dying at the remote rehab facility where she had been forced to go to get her addictions under control.

There are whispers of suicide, but Meg can't believe it. She decides that the best way to find out what happened to her sister is to check in herself – to investigate what really happened from the inside.

Battling her own addictions and figuring out the truth will be much more difficult than she imagined, far away from friends, family – and anyone who could help her.

These book club discussion questions are provided courtesy of Sourcebooks.

Book club questions for The Clinic by Cate Quinn

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

After Meg learns that her sister, Haley, died in rehab, she decides to enter the Clinic to find out what happened to her. What did you think about this plan? If you were in Meg’s position, would you do the same thing?

What kind of treatment are the patients of the Clinic receiving? Did you think these methods were ethical? Why or why not?

At the beginning of the story, Harry tells Meg, “Sometimes it’s the hands you don’t play that win the game.” What did he mean by this, and how might the characters use this idea throughout the story?

As soon as Meg arrives at the Clinic, things are off, not only between the patients but also among the staff. What are some of the events that take place that indicate this facility is not what it seems? While you were reading, what theories did you form about what was going on in the Clinic?

Addiction is a central component of the story. How did it make you feel to read a story from their perspectives?

The Clinic is owned by the illusive Dr. Lutz. What is Cara able to learn about him, and what does she do with the information? In the end, what do we learn Dr. Lutz was doing?

Meg and Haley had a complex relationship. What are Meg’s feelings toward her sister at the start of the story, and how did they change throughout the narrative?

Meg tells Max that it’s best to live life at “zero tilt.” What does this phrase mean, and how does it explain Meg’s ability to act emotionless? Discuss how you feel about this concept and how it might play into the themes of trauma throughout the story.

Max tells Meg, “To solve your sister’s murder, you need to solve yourself.” What does he mean by this? Was Meg able to “solve herself” and figure out the source of her and Haley’s childhood traumas?

Trauma, along with addiction, is a vital theme throughout the narrative. Discuss the ways that trauma affects each of the characters and how it impacted the events of the story.

Meg formed many theories about what might have happened to her sister, but none of them were correct. Explain the ending. What actually happened to Haley Banks, and how did you feel after learning the truth?

This book is filled with twists and turns. Which one caught you the most off guard? Were you able to predict anything that happened in the story?

The Clinic Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the The Clinic discussion questions