Thriller

Thriller

• Queen of Diamonds
• Dead of Midnight, The
  • Book Club Questions:
    1. The epigraph quoted at the beginning of the book is from “Adam’s Curse,” a poem that can be found in The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats (available at any good library). What are the lines in the epigraph about? How are they related to the novel?
    2. At Betty’s dinner party, and in other places in the novel, the characters discuss whether or not it’s important for the reader to know about the life or personality of the author of a book. Is that kind of information about the author important to you when you read a book? Do you want to know about the author’s life? Why or why not? How does that kind of information affect the way you read?
    3. The characters also talk about different genres of books (mysteries, biographies, romance, poetry). Do you have a favourite genre? What is it you like about that genre? Is there any genre you never read? Or any you claim you never read? Why?
    4. Many reader of mystery novels like to guess “whodunit” as they go along. Others don’t try to figure it out. Which kind of reader are you? Did you try to solve this mystery? Who did you suspect, and why?
    5. Early in the book, Morgan says that Sarah isn’t much fun. Why would Morgan have this opinion? Do you agree with Morgan? What are some of the differences between Sarah and Morgan?
    6. What are some of the similarities between The Dead of Midnight and the Midnight mysteries the characters read?
    7. Many members of Zina’s book club are scared by the books they read, even before the murders begin to occur. Yet they keep reading. Why do you think people like to be scared by books or movies?
    8. Sarah’s grandfather was inspired by the myth of Demeter and Persephone when he’s carved his statue. Do you think this myth has any significance to the themes in The Dead of Midnight?
    9. At the beginning of the novel, when the telephone line is dead, Sarah immediately believes that a pair of pinking shears has cut the line, just like in the book she was reading. When she later questions the telephone repairman, this fact is neither confirmed, nor denied. Is Sarah easily influenced? If yes, how does Sarah’s ability to be easily influenced affect her as she moves through the story? Are the pinking shears a real clue or a red herring?
    10. How does the setting of Woseley, a close-knit community in Winnipeg figure as a character in the story? Does it figure at all? Could the same story be told perhaps set in a small, rural town, rather than a neighbourhood of a larger center?
    11. Although Carolyn was apparently a talented poetry, she lived a life of poverty and obscurity. Even her own daughter seems to know very little about her poems. What do you think the author is saying about the state of poetry and its appreciation in Canada? How does the author being a poet change your understanding of The Dead of Midnight? Does it change?
    12. There is a hint of the supernatural in both The Dead of Midnight and Where Shadows Burn. How do supernatural elements, even small ones, add to the story? Do they enrich your reading? How do you interpret supernatural occurrences in the novel?
    13. What moral or ethical choices did the characters make in The Dead of Midnight? What did you think of those choices? How would you have chosen? (e.g. Morgan’s relationship with Alfred, Betty’s secrets, Dr. Allard’s dishonesty, etc.)
    14. Even though Sarah is only twenty-five, she often appears to be much older. How does Sarah’s upbringing affect who she becomes as an adult?
    15. Notions of family are explored in The Dead of Midnight. How do familial ties affect the characters and the decision they make? Are the characters in the novel largely bound by familial ties, or do they discard ties carelessly?
    16. Was Carolyn’s decision to stay on the island alone with Sarah a wise one?
    17. What is the significance of Betty’s Shepherdess figurine?
    18. The media is represented as being ruthless and tactless. Why do you think the characters in the novel confide in Cady? Do you think she got what she deserved?
    19. That makes a good mystery? Does The Dead of Midnight fulfill these requirements? For you, what is the most important part of a mystery? (i.e. Overall plot, subplots, clues, red herrings).
    20. Do you think Sarah grows and changes significantly as a character throughout the novel?
    21. Do you think The Dead of Midnight accurately reflects writing and publishing in Canada? In Winnipeg?
    22. During the book club discussions at Zina’s café, the characters often differ in their opinions of the books they read. For example, Linda looks for symbolism, Cady reads for the plot, Mark tries to spot the suthor’s mistakes, Morgan wants action, and Zina is disturbed by too much violence. Have you noticed differences like this among members in your own book club discussions? What causes these differences in the ways people read?
    23. What is your opinion of Detectives Kayla Petrovitch and Vishnu Maharaj? Are they typical murder-mystery sleuths? Do they make any mistakes?
    24. Many of the characters spread gossip (both true and false) in this novel. Some characters are very concerned that this kind of talk might ruin their reputations. What role does gossip play in the murders and in the unraveling of the mystery?
    25. What do you think of the marriages and other romantic relationships in this novel? Does Sarah make good choices in her partners? What about Carolyn, Betty, Peter, Larry, and Morgan? What role does romance play in this novel?
• Kornukopia
• Monitor, The
• Crown Fire
• Macaws of Death
  • Book Club Questions:
    1. How does the rainforest setting figure as a character in Macaws of Death? Discuss its influence on the narrative.
    2. In a movie version of Macaws of Death, who do you think should play what roles? Why?
    3. After Robyn arrives in Costa Rica, she experiences a certain amount of culture shock. Does this affect her judgement? In what ways?
    4. Each part of the book begins with a quote. How is each one related to its associated section? Do you think the quotes are appropriate? Why or why not?
    5. Wildlife trafficking in an important element in the novel’s plot. Who does Robyn suspect of trafficking and why? Is trafficking a real clue to the murderer’s identity, or is it a red herring?
    6. Discuss the role of food in the author’s writing. Why do you think food is so important to Robyn?
    7. There are two ‘perfume bunnies’ in the novel. What role do they play?
    8. Robyn’s love life is a little confused, but by the end of the book, she arrives at a decision. Do you agree with her choice? Why or why not?
    9. Dan and Viviana both warn Robyn about the dangers of a tropical rainforest, yet there are several instances when Robyn forgets their advice. Discuss these scenes and the reasons for her carelessness. What are the consequences of her actions?
    10. There are two kinds of mysteries: stand-alones and series with a continuing character. Which do you prefer? Why? Could Macaws of Death stand on its own?
    11. Do you think Robyn grows as a character during the course of the novel? What new things did you learn about her in Macaws of Death?
    12. Do you think Robyn is a good field scientist? Why or why not?
    13. Discuss the leadership conflict at Danta. Is Andres a good person to head the project? Why or why not? Who else might make a good leader? Why?
    14. In what way do gender roles and politics play a part in the novel? What is Robyn’s way of dealing with this? Is it effective?
    15. In the beginning of the novel, Robyn tells Kelt that she has never visited a tropical rainforest before. Have you ever been to a jungle? If you haven’t, would you want to after reading Macaws of Death? Why or why not?
    16. What makes a good thriller? Does Macaws of Death meet these requirements? For you, what is the most important part of a mystery (i.e. plot, subplots, clues, red herrings etc.)?
    17. The subject of ecotourism comes up several times in the novel. Do you think Liz’s concerns about it are justified? Why or why not?
    18. While researching the book, the author went to Costa Rica and spent some time at a biological research station in the jungle. Did you feel that Macaws of Death was the result of first-person experience? In what way? Do you think the book could have been written without this experience?
    19. Did you feel that you learned something about wildlife trafficking and rainforest preservation from Macaws of Death? Do you think the book deals effectively with these topics?
    20. Robyn and Viviana are both women scientists. In what other ways are they similar? How are they dissimilar?
    21. Did you try to guess ‘whodunit’? Who did you suspect? Why? Were you surprised by the ending?
    22. Robyn is both a field scientist and an environmentalist. Do you think there is conflict between the two? In what way?
    23. Robyn is apprehensive about snakes even before she arrives in Costa Rica. Is her anxiety justified? Do you think she overcomes her fears? How do you feel about snakes?
    24. What other novels can you think of in which the characters enter a dark jungle only to confront the worst of humanity. Do you think Macaws of Death is an effective addition to this subgenre? Why or why not?
    25. By the end of the book, Robyn is far from ‘civilization’ both physically and psychologically. Discuss.
• Case of the Reluctant Agent, The
• Polar Circus
• Sticks and Stones

  How dangerous can words be?

• Dying by Degrees
• Chronicles of the Lost Years
• Red Heron, The
• Hoot to Kill