Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Holdout by Graham Moore

1. While you were reading the book, did you ever doubt that Maya voted the wrong way in the case against Bobby Nock?
2. Were you surprised by the ending to Bobby and Jessica's story? At any point, did you have suspicions that the book would end this way? What did you think might happen?
3. What do you think The Holdout says about the American justice system at large? Did it make you believe that just justice can still be served, or did it cause you to have doubts?
4. Discuss the docuseries that gets the group back together. What does this say about the performative nature of the law? How would you feel if you had been one of the members of the jury?
5. How does Maya's past help her in her career as a defense attorney? Does it hinder her in any way?
6. Maya and Rick aren't the only ones affected by the case. Discuss how the other jurors' lives were forever changed by their involvement.
7. Maya's parents stand by her side when the allegations come out against her. How does that support help Maya throughout the course of the narrative?
8. Jessica's mother makes questionable choices towards the end of the book. Can you empathize with or make sense of her actions? What would you have done in her position?

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