Hidden Bodies

Joe lives a superficial existence—a curated persona of articulate, concerned kindness—that allows him to avoid detection. This charade is analogous to the lives that many people portray on social media, where they can choose exactly how much of their lives other people are allowed to see. Why, then, does Joe see social media as such a negative for society?

Various characters throughout the novel are obsessed with the concept of fame, being near famous people, and becoming famous themselves. How is Forty’s relationship with fame different than Henderson’s? How do these two men differ from someone like Delilah, who came to LA to succeed in Hollywood?

People who go to LA to succeed in Hollywood are chasing aspirations. Joe goes to Hollywood to hunt Amy. Why does Joe treat aspirations as if they are both a sickness and a poison? Discuss what Joe portrays as the predatory nature of LA, and how aspirations make it possible for people like Delilah to meet their destruction.

When Joe kills Henderson and Delilah, the violence is brutal and shocking. However, even while providing the grisly details of the murders, Joe relates their deaths in an affectless manner, reflecting his emotional detachment to the crimes. He justifies their deaths to himself as acts of mercy. Why does Joe believe that he is sparing Delilah and Henderson more pain?

When Joe kills, he is decisive, brutal, and leaves little room for error. Why, then, does he leave the scene of Forty’s attempted murder before ensuring that he is actually dead? Do you believe he actually wanted Forty to die? Discuss.

Joe is a unique, fully-realized character, which is a testament to the author’s use of voice. As a result, the reader only experiences the story from Joe’s viewpoint as an unreliable narrator. Describe how Joe’s distinct tone changes the reader’s understanding of the events in the novel.

Joe is still incarcerated when the novel ends, but he is convinced that he will be set free, reunite with Love, and raise their baby with her. Does Joe have any reason to be optimistic, or is he being naïve about his chances? Given what you know about Joe, would you prefer that he remain imprisoned, or would you let him out simply to enjoy more of his story?

Many of the relationships in Hidden Bodies have an unsavory or dysfunctional element to them. Love and Forty are siblings, but they have an unhealthy dynamic. None of Joe’s relationships are based on real feelings or reality. Amy preys on Joe’s infatuation with her so that she can steal from him. Delilah has a transactional relationship with nearly everyone she encounters in the novel. In your view, what is the most stable relationship in the novel, and why?