This novel is likely to provoke discussion of the contemporary American scene with its shocking eruptions of violence and its fascination with serial killers. A major theme to explore is why Richie Maranville has become a psychopathic killer. A secondary issue is how various institutions could have been fooled into thinking that he should be released.

Another theme that can be explored in discussion is the nature of John Felton's naivete. Should John have been willing to help Richie in the first place; if so, should he have separated himself from Richie more quickly? Moreover, are many people as easily fooled as John is?

Finally, the question of John's imagined "heroism" in the middle portions of the novel can be debated, and the credibility of his genuinely courageous actions in the final sequence of the novel can be examined.

1. Is John Felton a credibly drawn young...