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Back Never Look Back Save as PDF
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Eight
  11. Nine
  12. Ten
  13. Eleven
  14. Twelve
  15. Thirteen
  16. Fourteen
  17. Fifteen
  18. Sixteen
  19. Seventeen
  20. Eighteen
  21. Nineteen
  22. Twenty
  23. Twenty-One
  24. Twenty-Two
  25. Twenty-Three
  26. Twenty-Four
  27. Twenty-Five
  28. Twenty-Six
  29. Twenty-Seven
  30. Twenty-Eight
  31. Twenty-Nine
  32. Thirty
  33. Thirty-One
  34. Thirty-Two
  35. Thirty-Three
  36. Thirty-Four
  37. Thirty-Five
  38. Thirty-Six
  39. Thirty-Seven
  40. Thirty-Eight
  41. Thirty-Nine
  42. Forty
  43. Forty-One
  44. Forty-Two
  45. Forty-Three
  46. Acknowledgments
  47. P.S. Insights, Interviews & More . . .*
  48. About the Author
  49. About the Book
  50. Also by Alison Gaylin
  51. About the Publisher

Serial (Season One): The mother of them all. I’ll be the first to admit that Serial doesn’t always deliver on its promises. I personally found the structure to be a bit meandering, with a letdown of an ending, and I would have preferred a bit more focus on the victim. But listening to it (and I did, every week, when it was first released by This American Life) may be one of the most addictive experiences I’ve ever had. Producer Sarah Koenig’s growing obsession with Adnan Syed—who was convicted for the 1999 murder of his onetime girlfriend Hae Min Lee—is contagious, to say the least. And if you’re wondering why true crime podcasts have become so popular, look no further than the first episode. image

Reading Group Guide

  1. Never Look Back begins with a letter written by April to her future daughter, and her story is told exclusively through those letters. Why do you think the author decided to use this device?
  2. We are introduced to many principal characters in this novel. What were your initial impressions of them, and did they change by the end of the book?
  3. What were your reactions to April’s participation in the Inland Empire murders, especially after reading the letters? Do you believe she was as guilty as Gabriel?
  4. Gabriel repeatedly assures April that he loves her. Do you think there ever was any love between them?
  5. What are your thoughts on Robin’s marriage? Did you feel confident about it from the beginning and, if so, how did that change as the story progressed?
  6. Early in the book, we find out Quentin’s aunt is a victim of the killings, creating a personal interest in the Cooper and LeRoy murders for Quentin. In Chapter 14, more information is revealed about his childhood and relationship with his mother. Do you think Quentin’s motive behind the podcast stems from his childhood experiences in a deeper way than he sets it out to be?
  7. What was your reaction to Quentin’s last text message to Robin? Were you taken aback by it?
  8. What do you make of Quentin’s ultimate fate—did you find it surprising?
  9. In Chapter 23, April and Gabriel run into the cops. How did you feel during this scene?
  10. Did the identity of the killer surprise you?
  11. A lot is revealed at the end of the book. What were your feelings about the conclusion? Did you find the ending satisfying?
  12. The book was, in many ways, centered around the idea of family. What do you think it says about that theme—and did you find the message hopeful in any way? image

Also by Alison Gaylin

If I Die Tonight

What Remains of Me

Trashed

Heartless

Reality Ends Here

The Brenna Spector Series

And She Was

Into the Dark

Stay With Me

Samantha Leiffer novels

Hide Your Eyes

You Kill Me

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About the Publisher

Australia

HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.

Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street

Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Canada