Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Radiant Heat by Sarah-Jane Collins

1. Alison seems to be carrying a lot of guilt about things outside of her control. Why do you think she is so affected by Simone? Is it really about their shared past, or is something else also going on?
2. Alison dismisses Billy's feelings for her once and for all by telling him he needs to love someone "enough, but not too much." What do you think she means by this? And why do you think it's so important to her?
3. Place and landscape are very much characters in this book, with Alison's quest taking her thousands of miles from home and back again. Does the setting of Radiant Heat add something to the narrative, and if so, what do you think it brings?
4. Alison seems to constantly be making the wrong decision or acting impulsively, which leads to more complications. What are some of Alison's choices that frustrated you, and why?
5. Did it surprise you to learn the truth about Meg? Why do you think she renewed her friendship with Alison, given the circumstances?
6. Alison isn't an easy person to like or to understand sometimes, but Sal has endless patience for her. Why do you think these women have such a strong bond? Is it just Sal's connection to Alison's parents or something more?
7. Chris Waters and Malcolm King are both journalists, and through Alison's memories, we get a sense of how her father worked and how much he loved the job. Do you think Alison is more willing to work with Chris because of her father? If not, why does she agree to help him?
8. Chris tells Alison: "Not every man wants something from you." Alison doesn't agree. Do you think she is just being cynical, or is there truth in her position?
9. Radiant Heat is a story about grief, trauma, and survival. How does the mystery Alison is trying to unravel feed into those themes? Do you think the mystery she's attempting to solve or her state of mind matters more?
10. Do you think that Alison did the right thing with what Simone entrusted to her, or did she just do the selfish thing? Can those two ultimately be the same thing?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Berkley Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.