Thank you for choosing All June Left Behind for your book club. I’m happy to join you for your discussion. There is no higher honour for a writer than to be invited into your circle. Having been to many book clubs, I always enjoy the insightful discussion and often find I learn more from you than you do from me. Please feel free to contact me should you wish.
- Ray is a complicated yet lovable character. What are your thoughts about his life choices and their impact on his family? Do Ray’s actions or his personality reverberate through the lives of his children, Kent and Ryla?
- Grief and love are consistent themes throughout All June Left Behind. How do different characters cope with these emotions? If you could give any character advice about how to process their grief, who would it be and what would you tell them?
- April is a pivotal character in the story. What do you think her adult relationship would have been like with her sister, June? While Ray has his own perspective about it, do you think he is right?
- How would you describe the dynamic between Ray and Fan? Do their strengths and weaknesses shape the investigation into June’s murder?
- June’s teenage choices provide long-kept secrets which shape the plot of the story. Have you ever experienced the effects of a family secret or read true stories about the long-term effects of inherited secrets on family members?
- As defined by the World Health Organization, ageism refers to stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age. Does Ray experience ageism in the novel? How do you think Ray perceives himself and how do you think others perceive him?
- Investigating crime requires multiple tools and resources. Which do you think are most effective for detectives and police? Which do you think are most effective for amateur sleuths? If you were going to investigate a cold case, what tools and resources would you want at your fingertips to support your work?
- What do you think is next for Ray? Take a virtual travel journey to Ontario, Canada. Can you locate Mitchell, which is part of Perth County? What about London, home of the Knights? Check out Woodbridge, which is north-west of Toronto. Click on images and visit these new places.