The Night We Lost Him

Consider the quotes about architecture that open each section of the book. How are they connected to one another? How do they inform each part of the novel?

In the Prologue, Liam Noone keeps “playing the moments back on an unforgiving loop: the moments he is trying to return to, to relive. The first moment at eighteen, then at twenty and twenty-six and thirty-seven and forty-five. Fifty-eight. Sixty-one. Sixty-eight.” (page 3) The years of each of the novel’s flashbacks coincide with these moments Liam recalls. How does that enhance the importance of these flashbacks?

How would you describe the relationship dynamic between Nora and Sam? Consider how Nora and Sam’s past and present interactions shape their investigation into their father’s death.

What role does the setting of Carpinteria, California, play in the narrative? How do the locations like Windbreak, Ditmas Park, and other key settings influence the story?

The character of Liam Samuel Noone is full of complexity. What are your thoughts on his life choices and their impact on his family? Unpack Liam’s motivations and how his actions reverberate through the lives of two of his children, Nora and Sam.

The novel frequently shifts between past and present. How does this narrative structure affect your understanding of the story? How do the flashbacks to Liam’s past contribute to the unfolding mystery?

Themes of grief and love often intersect throughout The Night We Lost Him. How do different characters cope with these emotions? Can you identify with any of the characters’ different means of coping? Discuss the varying ways in which characters like Nora, Sam, and others process their grief.

Cece Salinger is a pivotal character in the story. What do you think about her relationship with Liam and her influence on the plot? Discuss Cece’s motivations and her impact on the events surrounding Liam’s death.

In the novel, Liam recalls Cory saying: “Fidelity is who you tell your stories to.” (page 130) What do you think she means by this? How does this idea speak to the different relationships in the novel?

The reverberations of Cory’s true identity can be felt by every character in the novel. How did this long-kept secret shape the characters and their actions? Have you ever experienced the effects of family secrets? Consider the roles of inherited secrets and their long-term effects on family members.

Were you familiar with neuroarchitecture before reading about Nora’s profession? How does this career influence her approach to solving the mystery? Discuss how Nora’s skills and perspectives as an architect play into her investigation.

In a flashback, Cory recalls a writer once saying that his stories are “a love letter to one person.” (page 229) Do you think this is true? Do you think The Night We Lost Him is a love letter from Nora to her father? Share your thoughts surrounding the fates of the characters. What do you think is next for Nora?