|
Frank tells Rita that “when you belong with someone, you don’t think they’re perfect.” Do you agree with this assessment?
|
|
25
|
151
|
September 17, 2026
|
|
Christine asks Frank about Lucy, and he responds by asking where she goes on Sundays. She backs off, saying “I see your point. Friends can still have secrets.” What did you think of this? What are your thoughts about sharing secrets with friends?
|
|
17
|
110
|
September 17, 2026
|
|
Have you ever been a member of a writer’s group, and if so, in what ways did it resemble The Cloak and Dagger Club? If you were a writer, would you join such a group?
|
|
13
|
74
|
September 17, 2026
|
|
What do you think the book says about the aging process? Do you agree with the author’s point of view on getting older? In what ways does Lottie fight her age, and in what ways does she give in to it?
|
|
8
|
49
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
In considering the contrasts between the main female characters’ lifestyles, what do you think these differences reveal about class and privilege? How does wealth act as both an enabler and a barrier for different characters?
|
|
6
|
49
|
August 18, 2026
|
|
How do you feel the aftermath of WWII shaped the lives of the characters and their parents?
|
|
6
|
58
|
August 18, 2026
|
|
What surprised you most about Mary Quant’s career? Are there other businesswomen you can name who succeeded against all odds in a male-dominated field?
|
|
11
|
83
|
August 18, 2026
|
|
What is your experience with homemade clothes? Have you ever sewn your own styles, or used a pattern (Butterick or some other brand)?
|
|
28
|
262
|
August 18, 2026
|
|
Sarah Lotz has published 20 novels. In addition to those written under her own name, she's also published as S.L. Grey, Lily Herne, and Helene S. Paige. Have you read any of her other works, and if so, which ones?
|
|
14
|
77
|
September 29, 2026
|
|
What did you think of Leah? Do you feel she was Annie’s image of the perfect daughter? Do you think Niamh was justified in envying her, even though Leah’s a fictional character?
|
|
7
|
47
|
September 29, 2026
|
|
How did you explain Leah’s presence, particularly when she first appeared to Niamh? Did you have any theories? Did you consider her Annie’s “muse”?
|
|
13
|
82
|
September 29, 2026
|
|
Niamh compares her biography to Leah’s (p.22). Why do you feel Niamh was so dismissive of her own abilities?
|
|
8
|
65
|
September 29, 2026
|
|
What was your initial take on Annie’s death? Did you think it was truly an accident at any point, or were you convinced from the start that it was a murder?
|
|
16
|
107
|
September 29, 2026
|
|
Were you surprised by the murderer’s identity?
|
|
19
|
124
|
September 29, 2026
|
|
What did you think about the author's note at the end of the book? Did it impact the way you felt about the novel in any way?
|
|
13
|
107
|
September 29, 2026
|
|
Why do you suppose Niamh was so surprised – and even disbelieving – when others mentioned her parents’ belief in her talent?
|
|
10
|
67
|
September 29, 2026
|
|
Overall, what did you think of How to Kill a Crime Writer? (No spoilers in this topic, please.)
|
|
30
|
201
|
September 29, 2026
|
|
What do you think of Lottie’s relationship with Archie? Did he do the right thing by putting a tracker on her phone? Was she correct to hide his parentage from him?
|
|
16
|
103
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
What did you think about Lottie in general? Were there aspects of her character you admired, and if so, which ones?
|
|
17
|
115
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
Whenever Lottie finds herself feeling particularly down, she fantasizes about killing Glenda, someone she interacts with often at her church. What did you think about this? Is it common, in your view, to imagine the death of someone you dislike?
|
|
18
|
101
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
Overall, what did you think of The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down? (No spoilers in this thread, please!)
|
|
30
|
237
|
September 17, 2026
|
|
Detective Kelsie Harlow tells Lottie, “People don’t just vanish. Not in today’s world.” What did you make of this statement? Do you agree? Why or why not? How does technology make it harder to get away with murder these days?
|
|
11
|
72
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
Too Old for This is Samantha Downing’s sixth book. Have you read any of her novels, and if so, how does it compare to this one?
|
|
16
|
114
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
On page 128, Lottie opines that the real secret to life might be to “stop trying to clean up everybody else’s mess, and concentrate on your own.” Do you think this is accurate? Why or why not?
|
|
8
|
62
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
What other novels do you recommend that have a similar theme or flavor? Is there another author you can think of whose work is comparable?
|
|
10
|
76
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
Do you feel any of Lottie’s murders were justified, and if so, which one(s)? Which one(s) did you find the most disturbing?
|
|
14
|
112
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
Too Old for This begins with a quote from Virginia Woolf: "The older one grows the more one likes indecency" (p. 3). What do you think of the author's use of it here? How does it set the stage for the novel? Do you agree with the sentiment?
|
|
7
|
46
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
Lottie thinks to herself, “People say they want the truth, and they believe they want it, but it’s a lie…What you want, what we all want, is the story we believe in. And it’s probably a lie.” What do you think she means here? Do you feel this is true?
|
|
7
|
49
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
Which plot twist surprised you the most?
|
|
16
|
96
|
October 1, 2026
|
|
Lottie kills Plum to keep her from filming a docuseries about her. What consequences would have ensued if Plum had been allowed to proceed, in your opinion? What other options might Lottie have pursued?
|
|
16
|
85
|
October 1, 2026
|