June Thriller Book Club: The Only Survivors

This month’s “Thrill in the ‘Ville” club will meet on the 2nd Tuesday to chat about the new thriller The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda. The book is in stock at Main Street Reads, available at the book club 10% off discount.

As always, this event is free and open to all; you bring yourselves and we’ll bring the treats!

About the Book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and “master of suspense, Megan Miranda” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl), a thrilling mystery about a group of former classmates who reunite to mark the tenth anniversary of a tragic accident–only to have one of the survivors disappear, casting fear and suspicion on the original tragedy.

Seven hours in the past. Seven days in the present. Seven survivors remaining. Who would you save?

A decade ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennessee ravine–a tragedy that claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The nine students who managed to escape the river that night were irrevocably changed. A year later, after one of the survivors dies by suicide on the anniversary of the crash, the rest of them make a pact: to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night.

To keep one another safe.
To hold one another accountable.
Or both.

Their annual meeting place, a house on the Outer Banks, has long been a refuge. But by the tenth anniversary, Cassidy Bent has worked to distance herself from the tragedy, and from the other survivors. She’s changed her mobile number. She’s blocked the others’ email addresses. This year, she is determined to finally break ties once and for all. But on the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary attached: another survivor is gone. Now they are seven–and Cassidy finds herself hurling back toward the group, wild with grief–and suspicion.

Almost immediately, something feels off this year. Cassidy is the first to notice when Amaya, annual organizer, slips away, overwhelmed. This wouldn’t raise alarm except for the impending storm. Suddenly, they’re facing the threat of closed roads and surging waters…again. Then Amaya stops responding to her phone. After all they’ve been through, she wouldn’t willfully make them worry. Would she?

And–as they promised long ago–each survivor will do whatever he or she can do to save one another. Won’t they?

A propulsive and chilling locked-box mystery filled with the dazzling hairpin twists that are the author’s signature, The Only Survivors is New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda’s best novel yet.

Book Club Questions to Contemplate! (Includes Spoilers)

• Thrillers often challenge readers to exercise their reasoning skills and guess twists and mysteries alongside the characters. Did you successfully anticipate any parts of the plot in The Only Survivors? Which parts caught you off guard and surprised you the most? How do you feel about trying to guess twists in a thriller – does it enhance or detract from your reading experience?
• Throughout the book, references to luck and fate recur. Cassidy mentions that the survivor’s reunion house came down to luck, Amaya’s dad believed in making their own fate, and Russ asks Clara about her beliefs in fate. Do you think there is a difference between luck and fate? Which do you believe has a greater influence on the lives of the characters in this story – luck or fate? How do these concepts play out in the events of the book?
• Cassidy is initially reluctant to reunite with the survivors for the 10th year, as she feels it’s hindering her ability to move on. If you were in a similar situation, would you choose to reunite with your fellow survivors annually? Do you think it would aid in your healing process or potentially set you back, forcing you to confront emotions you’re trying to move past?
• Lies seem to beget more lies in The Only Survivors. Let’s trace the instances where characters withheld the truth or told significant lies. Which lie do you think had the most significant impact on the course of the story? If Cassidy had initially confessed to the group that she was standing in front of the bus during the accident, how do you think it would have altered the events of the story? Discuss the lies that had the greatest snowball effect.
• Guilt is a pervasive theme in the story, with Amaya feeling burdened by the guilt of the trip being her idea and Cassidy struggling with the weight of inadvertently causing the accident. How do you think these characters can navigate their guilt and find redemption? Can you relate to their feelings of guilt in any way?
• The characters in the story seem to grapple with tragedies on their own without seeking outside help. If the characters had involved the police or sought professional assistance, how do you think the story would have unfolded differently? Do you believe any of the characters deserve to face legal consequences for their actions, and if so, who and why?
• Russ, though not directly involved in the accident, experienced his own tragedy with the loss of his sister and the subsequent neglect from authorities. How do you feel about Russ and his actions in response to his circumstances? To what extent do you sympathize with him, and do you believe his actions were justified or not?
• Coping with trauma and loss can manifest in various ways for different individuals in the story. What do you think are some of the healthier ways the characters could have coped with the aftermath of the accident? If you could offer personalized advice to the remaining survivors, considering all that they have been through in the past 10 years, what would it be?
• At the end of the book, Cassidy promises to “leave the past to the past and never look back.” Do you think this is a wise decision? Should the group benefit from another reunion to confront the new truth they’ve uncovered, or should they bury it and never speak of it again? Share your opinions on whether leaving the past behind is the best approach for the characters.
• The premise of The Only Survivors revolves around a pact made by the survivors of a tragic accident. What do you think about the concept of survivor guilt and the ways in which the characters in the book cope with it? How do their actions and decisions regarding the annual reunion reflect their individual approaches to dealing with trauma?
• Cassidy, the protagonist, is determined to break ties with the other survivors after a decade of commemorating the anniversary of the accident. Why do you think Cassidy wants to distance herself from the group?
• The setting of the Outer Banks, with its looming storm and closed roads, adds to the sense of tension and urgency in the story. How does the setting contribute to the overall mood and atmosphere of the book? How does it impact the characters’ actions?
• Amaya, the annual organizer of the reunion, goes missing during the impending storm, and the other survivors become increasingly worried. How does the disappearance of Amaya affect the dynamics among the remaining characters?
• Megan Miranda is known for her hairpin twists and suspenseful storytelling. Were you able to predict the outcome of the story, or were you taken by surprise by the revelations and plot twists? How do you think the author crafted the mystery elements in the book to keep readers engaged and intrigued?
• Throughout the book, the characters grapple with the concept of saving one another, as they promised to do in their pact. What do you think this idea of saving each other means to the characters? How does it evolve and change as the story progresses?
• Let’s discuss the structure of The Only Survivors. How do the shifting time frames and points of view impact the story? Did you find Cassidy to be a reliable narrator while reading? Were there any other points of view that you distrusted or found unreliable? Explore the narrative structure and its effect on your reading experience.
• The accident occurred during a pivotal time in the characters’ lives, as they were high school seniors preparing to enter the “real world.” Do you think the accident severely altered the course of Cassidy’s life? Where do you imagine she would be if she hadn’t gone on that trip? Can you envision vastly different lives for any of the other characters? Share your thoughts on how the accident shaped their futures.
• The Only Survivors delves into the complexities of relationships among the survivors, as well as their relationships with the victim who died by suicide. How do the characters’ past and present relationships with one another shape their actions and decisions during the reunion? How do their dynamics evolve and change as the story progresses, and what do you think this says about the nature of trauma and grief in relationships?
• The book raises questions about the concept of accountability among the survivors, as well as the choices they make in the aftermath of the accident. Do you think the characters take responsibility for their actions, or do they avoid accountability? How do their actions and decisions impact the outcome of the story, and do you think they find redemption or closure by the end of the book?