Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What expectations did the book’s title create for you prior to reading? In what ways were your expectations met or not met? What seems to be the purpose of the novel’s title in retrospect?
• The members of the Cunningham family are brought together by Aunt Katherine, who designs the ski trip as a family reunion. What expectations does this create for the book? How does the trope of a family reunion lend itself to the novel’s conflict?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• With which character did you sympathize the most? Are some of the “murders” more excusable or justifiable than others?
• Betrayal and forgiveness are key aspects of the novel. Are there actions or behaviors that are not forgivable, in your opinion? 
• Righting past wrongs is a goal many of the characters strive for. If you could learn about your future mistakes, would you want to? Do you think the knowledge alone would change your actions, or does learning only come of experiencing the consequences of a mistake firsthand?
• The notion of what it means to be a “true Cunningham” impacts many characters.