Readers Place

About the Book

Detective Karin Schaeffer was a happily married mother in New York when her life was shattered by a serial killer. The cops call Martin Price JPP – Just Plain Psycho – because of the brutality of his attacks. To the press and the public, however, he is known as The Domino Killer because he systematically murders whole families, leaving a trail of dominoes as numerical clues to the next victim. After Price murdered Karin’s husband and daughter, she attempted suicide. Now he has escaped prison and is on his way to find her…And Karin wants to die.

When Price finally strikes, she almost lets him take her life but comes to her senses when she realises he won’t stop with her – he will go on to hunt other members of her family. She fights back, and barely escapes with her life. With the help of her former partner and close friend, Mac, she struggles to overcome despair and save her remaining loved ones. But no sooner is Price locked away than they are confronted with the revelation that he does not work alone. Then Karin’s young niece disappears…

Starting Points for Discussion

• To what degree is this a novel about the human psyche?

• Do you like the character of Karin Schaeffer as a character? How rounded is she?

• How effectively does the novel portray its main protagonist as a victim? What evidence exists to highlight Schaeffer’s role reversal from submissive to assertive throughout You Are Next?

• What techniques are used to enable the reader to empathise with Karin?

• In the novel Karin spends much time lost in thought or daydreaming. How does this add to the story?

• How effective is the use of the dominoes in the story?

• Karin spends much time remembering her past. How are the ‘flashback’ scenes created? How well do they fit with the novel’s ‘present’?

• How does Karin and Mac’s relationship develop over the course of the novel?

• Re-read chapter three. How does Lief build suspense in this chapter? What is the significance of JPP’s kiss in the kitchen?

• “My mind was here one minute, there the next. And my soul was simply up for grabs.” How is Karin’s conflict portrayed? Is it effective?

• Is Mac the novel’s natural hero, opposite Karin’s heroine?

• Karin’s memories of the past are primarily nostalgic. How does this sit with her tormented present? What do we learn of Karin’s relationships with Jackson and Cece?

• The character of Susanna is pivotal to the plot, but what effect does the character have on Karin’s state of mind?

• During the novel Karin rarely lives in one place. How does this add to the feeling of uncertainty that pervades?

• Is the character of JPP portrayed as a justly terrifying literary serial killer?

• What clues are there as to JPP’s state of mind?

• “I looked into his eyes and recognized a human being.” Is it important that Karin never intentionally takes her chances to exact revenge upon JPP and Christa? How does this differentiate her from the two murderers?

• In what ways does the ComicsCon chapter arouse the reader’s excitement? Explain the symbolism of this moment
  in the novel.

• How does Karin’s guilt manifest itself throughout?

• Look again at chapter nineteen. How original is this final dramatic scene? What literary plot devices can you find in this chapter?

• How well do you think You Are Next could be transferred to the silver screen?

• The character of Christa is introduced to the novel quite late on. How well rounded is her character as a result?

• Is she as threatening/scary/intense as the reader requires? If not, why not?

• Did you find Susanna’s survival and the portrayal of Christa in the basement as credible? How would you have concluded the novel, if differently?

• Look again at the last chapter of the novel. How has Katia Lief’s style of writing changed? What clues are there as to the state of Schaeffer’s mind two years on?

• How significant is it that Mac bears such severe scars?

• Is it a satisfying ending?

Suggested Further Reading

• Evil at Heart ~ Chelsea Cain
• No Second Chance ~ Harlan Coben
• The Next Accident ~ Lisa Gardner
• 206 Bones ~ Kathy Reichs
• You Can’t Hide ~ Karen Rose
• Skin Privilege ~ Karin Slaughter