The Senator's Wife

The Senator’s Wife opens with a scene of Sloane, Robert, Whit, and Peg that quickly devolves into chaos, uncertainty, and the death of Robert and Peg. How did the seeds of mistrust in this scene set the tone for the rest of the novel? Why do you think the author chose to start at this point in the story and then jump ahead two years?

The character of Athena is introduced to the reader from the very beginning as someone representing themselves under a false identity, saying, “They’ll never know I haven’t worked for a charity before.” What impression did this leave you with for Athena’s true identity? At what points did your suspicions change over the course of the novel?

Between Sloane’s illness and Athena’s false identity, there is a lot of unreliable narration throughout The Senator’s Wife. Did you believe Athena was working to bring down Sloane? What was the experience of this narration like for you as a reader?

The setting of Washington, D.C. and the political world therein plays a large part in the novel. Describe the way that the author uses the setting to reveal details about the characters and the plot.

The Senator’s Wife explores a number of themes, including family, secrets, memory, privilege, and betrayal. Which theme resonated the most for you and why?

How effective was the author’s use of plot twists and red herrings? Were you able to predict certain elements of the narrative, or were you guessing until the end?

How did the side characters of Doris, Rosemary, and Madelyn impact your read of the story?

Which scene in the book stuck with you the most?

Discuss the ending of the novel. Were you surprised by the final twist? Which twist shocked you the most?