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About the The World's Greatest Detective & Her Just OK Asst category
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2
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40
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July 21, 2026
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Overall, what did you think of The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant? (No spoilers, please!)
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31
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259
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July 21, 2026
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What did you think of Olivia’s relationship with Trevor? Why do you feel she forgot about his opening, and kept putting off calling his mother?
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20
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142
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July 21, 2026
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Merritt tells Olivia that “Truly good people…tend to assume other people are just like them…It’s a dangerous state of affairs for them.” (p.22). Olivia replies that that’s a dark way of looking at things. Which of these characters do you agree with?
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19
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106
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July 21, 2026
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One of the “Purple Hat Ladies” believes that Vicki would hide the fact that she was depressed because she’d be ashamed.(p. 141) Do you feel that she’s correct, that there’s a stigma associated with depression? Do you think this has changed over time?
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19
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129
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July 21, 2026
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Olivia enjoys the resort but thinks that if she had the money, she likely wouldn’t spend it at a place like that. (pp 139-140). What about you? Would you spend time at the resort? What would be your ideal vacation if you had the funds available?
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18
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126
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July 21, 2026
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What was your first impression of the two main characters, Aubrey Merritt and Olivia Blunt?
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17
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119
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July 21, 2026
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When Vicki’s murderer is revealed, Olivia asks Merritt if she doesn’t feel bad for that person, if only a little. (p. 375) What about you? Did you feel bad for the killer at all?
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17
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130
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July 21, 2026
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Olivia is more empathetic than Merritt, and asks herself, “Must I always suspect the absolute worst of a person?” (p. 240). Do you think this trait is required to be an effective investigator, or is it something that develops with experience?
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16
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113
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July 21, 2026
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What did you think of the research Olivia did on Merritt before interviewing for the position of assistant?
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16
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114
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July 21, 2026
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Who did you suspect of the crime? Did your opinion about the guilty party change over the course of the novel?
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15
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103
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July 21, 2026
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What do you think of the author’s choice to use first-person narration, setting the plot entirely from Olivia’s perspective? What might have been different if it had included other perspectives, or if the novel had been written in the third person?
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14
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76
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July 21, 2026
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To what audience would you recommend The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
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14
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106
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July 21, 2026
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Merritt and Olivia have a disagreement about sexism in the workplace. (pp 162-163). Merritt feels the problem with Olivia’s generation is that they “expect things to be easy.” Olivia replies, “No, not easy. Fair.” What did you think of this debate?
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13
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85
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July 21, 2026
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After Pia’s visit in Chapter 35, Olivia decides to take action on her own. What did you think of her decision here? What might you have done in her place?
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13
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101
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July 21, 2026
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Liza Tully is the pseudonym for Elisabeth Brink, who also writes dark thrillers under the name Elisabeth Elo, as well as literary fiction under Elisabeth Panttaja Brink. Have you read any of her other novels?
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12
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71
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July 21, 2026
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Olivia expects to be fired any minute, and in truth Merritt doesn’t seem very supportive. What did you think of Olivia as a detective? What strengths did you see, and what weaknesses? Do you agree with Merritt’s “final grade of C plus”? (p.378)
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9
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47
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July 21, 2026
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Merritt is sometimes harsh with those she’s interviewing but at other times she fawns. What were your thoughts as she spoke to suspects? What was your opinion of her investigative style? Is there another fictional detective she reminds you of?
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9
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63
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July 21, 2026
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Merritt doesn’t share everything with the police. She feels that once they have a suspect they become “blind to all the evidence that points a different way.” (p. 77). What do you think about her opinion here? Is she correct?
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8
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42
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July 21, 2026
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What plot point surprised you? What red herrings did you detect?
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7
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68
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July 21, 2026
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Scott tells Merritt, “[W]hen you’re the black sheep of the family, everyone is quick to judge.” (p. 278). What did you think of his statement here? Do you feel he’s correct in general, or was this specific to his own circumstances?
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6
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30
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July 21, 2026
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The World's Greatest Detective Character List
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1
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31
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July 21, 2026
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