Newman begins her novel with Bill’s nightmare about a plane crash. How would the pacing and tension of the novel change without this opening? What does this opening convey to the reader? Consider Bill’s actions within the dream and his reaction on waking.

Discuss the use of foreshadowing in the novel overall. For example, Bill points out how security for flight crew is less stringent than that for passengers. Why does Newman have Bill make this point? How does the foreshadowing help pull readers into the story?

Newman uses flashbacks to show connections between characters. How do the flashbacks Bill experiences show his connections to Jo and Carrie? Why is it important for the reader to understand Bill’s relationship with these characters? What other flashbacks does Newman use? For what purpose?