Broken Bayou

Research common tropes within the psychological thriller and crime fiction genres. How does the author use them, and what impact do they have on the novel’s plot, suspense structure, and characterization?

Discuss the politics of socio-economic status and class in Broken Bayou. How does class-based discrimination play a role in the trajectory of the Arceneaux family, and how does class prejudice impact relationships between Broken Bayou’s townspeople?

Discuss this novel’s depiction of addiction. Does the novel portray addiction as a result of personal choices, societal problems, or both? Are there moments you can point to in the text that demonstrate how characters like Willa understand addiction’s complex causes?

What role does setting play in this novel? What role does the rural, bayou area (and the bayou itself) play in the town’s dynamics and in the novel’s plot and thematic structure?

Research Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. Is the author’s description of Liv Arceneaux accurate? What impact does Liv’s mental health have on her children?

How does mental health impact Willa’s relationships? How does she draw strength and support from others who have experienced similar struggles? How does she seek to offer this kind of support to others?

Discuss Travis’s characterization. Can you point to early signs in the novel that he is the killer? What moments of foreshadowing cast doubt on his brother’s guilt, and how does the author use that suspense to propel the narrative?

How does the novel push against or reflect popular stereotypes about children with autism? How does it depict such children with empathy and understanding? Which moments in the text can you point to as evidence to support your claims?