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The Fault Between Us
In this gripping new work of historical fiction from the award-winning author of Code Name Edelweiss, three sisters fight for their lives and for each other amid the danger of a cataclysmic earthquake that rips Yellowstone National Park asunder.
1959. Claire, Bridget, and Frannie Reilly were once as close as sisters can be. Though their mother left when they were young, their loving father raised them with everything they could want. But when Claire marries a handsome cowboy and settles out west, a thousand miles away, the sisters’ strong bond begins to unravel.
Claire struggles to adjust to a life utterly unlike her upbringing, and surprising revelations about her husband’s past make her wonder if she’s made a terrible mistake. With a new baby and a shoestring budget, the last thing she needs is her family’s interference.
Sensing something isn’t right, Bridget takes a temporary nursing assignment in Yellowstone, promising her father she’ll bring Claire home—with or without her husband. When Frannie, the rebellious youngest sister, is sent along in hopes it will corral her behavior, the Reilly sisters reunite on the eve of a seismic event that rips Yellowstone apart, tests their survival, and exposes the ever-widening rift in their relationship.
Based on real events of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake and inspired by true stories, The Fault Between Us is a suspenseful exploration of the bonds of sisterhood, the depths of family drama, and how hidden wounds can only heal when they’re brought into the light.
- Christian historical fiction based on fascinating historical events
- Perfect for fans of Cathy Gohlke or Susan Meissner
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
These discussion questions were provided by the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers.
Book club questions for The Fault Between Us by Stephanie Landsem
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
When Claire first met Red, his quiet nature struck her as romantic, but after they’re married, she finds it frustrating. Whenever a topic comes up that Red doesn’t want to talk about, he finds something else to do. Do you know anyone like this? Are you sometimes tempted to behave this way yourself?
Bridget tells Frannie, “God hears your prayers, even if you don’t get what you ask for.” Why does Frannie have a hard time believing this? What happens to start changing her mind?
Frannie says that when people die in accidents, like Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, it makes her think God isn’t very loving. This is an age-old question, how could a good God allow bad things to happen? Have you had to wrestle with this question in your own life?
After the mix-up with the baby formula, Frannie says she told Claire she was sorry, but Red calls her on it. Why do we sometimes feel like we’ve apologized even when we haven’t actually said the words? Why are the words important?
Red tells Frannie that growing up is mostly about doing things you don’t want to do. Do you agree? What are some of the good things about growing up? What does Frannie eventually learn about this?
Throughout the book we see ways in which Daniel Reilly is overprotective of his daughters. Why do you think he’s that way? How do each of the daughters deal with it, and what are the differences and similarities in the outcomes?
Claire tells Red she believes God created the wonders of Yellowstone to show us how much he loves us. Do you sense God’s love through the wonders of nature?
At the end of the book, the adult sisters learn that their mother had tried to contact them after she left. How might this change their perception of her leaving them? Was their father right to keep this information from them?
In the 1960s it wasn’t as easy to find people as it is today, but do you think the sisters will or should try to track down their mother after all these years? What’s the reasoning behind your answer?
In her note to readers, the author says this novel is inspired by family stories and interviews with her mother and aunts. Are there any stories in your family history that would make a good novel?
The Fault Between Us Book Club Questions PDF
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