Introduction

New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winner Matt Goldman's A Good Family is a gripping, emotional thrill ride about the secrets hidden underneath a picture-perfect neighborhood.

Katie Kuhlmann's marriage is falling apart. But she has a secure job, her children are healthy, and her house, a new construction in the prestigious Country Club neighborhood of Edina, Minnesota, is beautiful. She can almost ignore the way her husband, Jack, has been acting--constantly checking his phone, not going to work, disappearing from the house only to show up again without explanation.

Tension in the Kuhlmann house only gets worse when Adam "Bagman" Ross, a mutual friend from college, happens to be in the neighborhood and in need of a place to stay. Jack is quick to welcome him into the sanctity of their home, but Jack's strange behavior only gets worse, and Katie fears their new guest is also harboring a dark secret. As she begins to uncover the truth, she realizes that something is terribly wrong--and she must race to protect her family as danger closes in.

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Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. The neighborhood Katie and her family live in is
the picture of suburban bliss—down to the name
Country Club. What is it about suburbia that makes
such a compelling setting for a thriller? Does it make
you feel safe or suspicious to have neighbors who are
hyper-aware of your comings and goings?

2. The Kuhlmanns live in an impressive home in
Country Club. At the end of chapter 1, we learn
“Proud is not the word to describe how Katie felt
about the house. Better words would be undeserving,
embarrassed, ashamed even because Katie Kuhlmann
did not grow up with wealth.” Why would Katie have
such discomfort living in a well-appointed house?
How does this affect Katie’s view of what “home”
means?

3. Katie is the survivor of her family’s tragic history
losing her parents and her young brothers. How does
that shape her definition of family as an adult? Does
that history lead to her holding on to things or
making choices she may not have otherwise?


4. Katie puts herself in danger to try to decipher Jack’s strange behavior, hiding in the
basement closet, for example. Did you agree with the risky choices she made? Would you
have made similar decisions if you were in that situation?

5. Katie and her friends are rattled at the announcement of Terri’s divorce. Why does the
dissolution of someone else’s marriage have such a jarring effect on others in the community?

6. When Katie learns that Jack is being investigated by The Wall Street Journal for falsifying
data, she stays by his side, while suspecting he wasn’t being entirely honest with her. What
would you do in her situation? Do you think she made a wise choice?

7. Between his affair and his misdeeds with fabricated data, Jack betrayed Katie in numerous
ways. Did he ever have a chance of redemption? What do you consider the biggest betrayal?

8. Considering how Jack is betraying Katie, how did you feel about her sneaking around to
meet with Noah? Their initial affair was an emotional one. Was Katie justified engaging with
Noah?

9. Noah’s reappearance in Katie’s life is so perfect, it almost seems too good to be true. When
you found out it was set up by Sandra, did it change how you felt about their relationship? Is
her happy ending with him what Katie deserves? Did you find it satisfying?

10. In his final moments, we learn that
Bagman was the one who was interested in
Katie on the night she met Jack. How would
his story have changed if they had gotten
together? How would hers? How did you
feel about his presence in their home?

11. What does the novel reveal about the
meaning of family? How does it define what
a “good family” is?

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