Thank you so much for picking Vanishing Hour for your book club! It’s always an honor when book lovers choose to spend their time with my stories.
Vanishing Hour is the story of Ava Burch, who moves to West Texas with her search-and-rescue dog, Huck, and teams up with a detective investigating a string of mysterious disappearances in the ruggedly beautiful terrain near Big Bend. While researching this project, I learned about search-and-rescue dogs and the amazing work they do in some of the most remote corners of our state and national parks. These dogs and their handlers brave all sorts of hazards to track down hikers and tourists who find themselves in trouble. Unlike my husband, I didn’t grow up around dogs, but when we adopted a sweet Weimaraner, Julie, I quickly became a dog lover. Julie was my faithful companion as I wrote this story, napping at my feet and nudging me out of my chair for walks every day. I hope you will enjoy Vanishing Hour ! I love to hear from readers, so please drop me a line if you would like a batch of Vanishing Hour bookmarks for your group. You can reach me at laura@lauragriffin.com.* Thank you again for selecting Vanishing Hour and happy reading!
*Please be advised that PRH does not own or control this email address and Laura Griffin’s privacy practices may differ from our own.
1.
Ava said she moved to Cuervo because the town was a “legal desert” and she wanted to practice law there. What do you think were her other reasons?
2.
Ava had a strained relationship with her father. Why do you think she wanted to adopt Huck? How has Huck helped her deal with her father’s death?
3.
Many small towns near national parks have experienced a population boom in recent years. Do you think the influx of people is positive or negative for such places? Have you seen a place you know experience such a transformation?
4.
5.
Whitehorse Ranch lures people from all over the country. What factors do you think make it possible for the ranch to convince people to believe in their healing techniques? How does social media play a role? Do you think the ranch is cultlike, or do you think they are simply practicing alternative medicine? A theme of predators, “the human kind,” runs throughout the story. Which people are being preyed upon besides the first victim in the story? In what ways are those people vulnerable?
6.
How does the author use setting to create suspense and a sense of danger, both inside and outside the park? Which types of threats are more powerful in the story: natural or manmade?
7.
Grant has a reputation for leaving someone at the altar. Do you think this makes him untrustworthy? Do you believe Ava’s wariness toward men is justified?
8.
Do you think Ava and Grant’s relationship has what it takes to last?
9.
How did your opinion of Jenna shift throughout the story? Do you feel sympathy for her situation or not?
10. Ava and her sister have very different
reactions to their father’s death. Do you agree with the idea that people grieve in different ways? Do you think Jenna is grieving?
11. Ava
says that sometimes she feels like Cuervo is where she was meant to live, and other times she feels like she “landed on the moon.” Do you think you could ever live in a place like Cuervo?