READERS GUIDE

Reader’s Guide
The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss
Discussion Questions:


1.         Who do you think is to blame for the attack fifteen years ago, or was it simply an accident? To what extent does the behavior of each member of the family—Danielle, Grace, their mother, and even their father—influence the events that occurred?

2.         In the first outline of The Night Hunter, it was Danielle and Grace’s father who was the conservationist, and in the first draft this was changed to be their mother. Does Elizabeth’s being a woman change your perception of her as a conservationist and as a parent? Do you think you would be more forgiving of her actions if she were a man?

3.         The Night Hunter is told through interwoven past and present timelines in which key moments from Danielle’s childhood ground the events of the present day. Did the past timeline change your view on Danielle’s credibility as a first-person narrator? How do Danielle’s memories contrast with the whispers Danielle hears of her mother throughout the present-day storyline, which seem to suggest gentler and more generous moments they shared together?

4.         What is Danielle’s perception of Grace at the beginning of the novel? Do you think it’s accurate? How might this have been informed by Danielle’s guilt over what happened? And how does her perception change by the end?

5.         Who is more similar to their mother, Grace or Danielle? Danielle worries that she’s inherited her mother’s worst traits, but did she inherit any of her positive ones? What traits do they share with their father?

6.         How are Danielle and Elliot’s relationship dynamics influenced by their childhoods? Why do you think he chose not to propose before the trip? Do you think he was going to?

7.         In chapter 7, Danielle thinks, “It’s such a natural thing, so childishly instinctive, to pull against wherever our parents take us.” How does Danielle’s appreciation of the bush evolve across the flashbacks and through the present-day chapters? Does it make sense, given that terrible things happen to them?

8.         Danielle has a strong sense of respect for the wilderness and the animals. Do you agree with her choice not to blame the animals when their natural behaviors lead to death for her friends? Should wild animals be punished when they act according to their instincts?

9.         Conservation efforts often come at the expense of economic growth and profit, and this tension is exacerbated by the high value of rhino horn. How does the risk of poaching put pressure on both conservation efforts and the growth of the communities surrounding the wildlife parks? What are the benefits and drawbacks of Elizabeth’s controversial approach?

10.       What did you think about the ending? Was the identity of the killer(s) a surprise? What about their motivation?