2. Law enforcement officials thought the murder at the Kennedy Center could have been a mistake. Who did they suspect was the real target of the attack?

3. When does Cross learn about Jill's death?

4. Who does the Truth School principal watch the news with at her home?

5. After the Kennedy Center killing, where do investigators begin to search for suspects?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the President decide to honor all of his scheduled appearances? Is this vanity or valor, and why?

2. What does Jack's killing of the general and his son show about his character?

3. Discuss when the investigator realizes the plan and his reaction.

4. Why does the Secret Service continue moving the President through the tunnel against the investigator's advice?

5. Why does the Truth School killer want to talk with the investigator?

6. What do investigators discover when they go to the message board subscriber's home? What does their finding imply?

7. Why do Jack and Jill get another person to act as hit man in one of their murders?

8. Where is Roosevelt Military Academy located? Name two reasons it is important to this novel.

9. Why is the general's son a threat to Jack?

10. What is the theme of the Truth School killer, and how does it explain his motive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss foreshadowing and its importance in writing mystery or suspense novels. Select three memorable instances of foreshadowing from this story and write about them in detail. Why did those five instances stay on your mind?