In the book, Horowitz uses the technique of a novel within a novel to tell two stories simultaneously. Why do you think he chose to structure the book this way, and how do these concurrent storylines mirror one another?

By choosing to write about a bestselling mystery novelist, Horowitz is, in some ways, writing a book about himself. What purpose does this serve in the overarching plot of the novel?

In addressing the reader, Susan Ryeland breaks the fourth wall and draws the audience into the story itself. Why do you think the author chose to employ this literary device, and how does it function in the novel?