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Imagine nine women meeting. Tea and cake are on the coffee table. They’ve come together to share their love of books. They are friends. They trust each other. It’s a happy gathering. What could be more harmless?
Then scratch the surface and look closer.
One is lonely. One is desperate and one of them is a killer.
When the body of a woman is discovered on a Cambridge common, DCI Barrett and DI Palmer are called in to investigate. But the motive behind the crime isn’t clear… And it all leads back to a book club.
As the lies, volatile friendships and tension among the group rise to the surface, DCI Barrett and DI Palmer must work out the motive and track down a cold-blooded killer. But just when they think they are on the right track, a twist in the case throws them off course…
1. What do you think of the ladies meeting weekly for book club? Would that work for you?
2. In Chapter 2, Barbara passes a group of Asian boys that make her feel uncomfortable. Why do you think the author specified the boy’s race? Is Barbara’s reaction any different than a Canadian’s reaction passing aboriginal boys? Or an American passing African American boys?
3. When the news stated a body was found at the Common, would you have gone to see the body? Why or why not?
4. When Toni’s husband Gerald was questioned, he struggled to remember what he did the night before. Do you remember exactly what you did last night and the exact time? Would you remember if being questioned by the police (ie in a stressful situation)?
5. Toni moved in with Gerald quite quickly after meeting him, and then quit her job shortly after. How do you think that affected their relationship?
6. Why do you think Toni changed so much of Gerald’s house?
7. Why do you think it was so important for Amy & Marion to gather the book club ladies after it was announced that it was Toni who was murdered?
8. At Amy’s the day after Toni’s death, the ladies were attacking each other. Why do you think they each stayed in the book club for as long as they did?
9. Shirley considers her husband Grant useless, as he doesn’t provide enough, spends lots of time with his friends at the pub and spoils their daughter. What is your definition of a useless husband?
10. How did you react to reading how Shirley bathed Frank one of her patients?
11. Janet got pregnant as a teenager and was kicked out of her parents’ house. What would you do if your teenage daughter found herself in the same position?
12. Amy is craving red meat during her pregnancy. Those of you who have been pregnant, what did you crave?
13. Janet’s son Dean calls Shirley looking for his mom, waking her up. Would you have helped him or reacted like Shirley?
14. Maggie pulled out a chocolate sponge cake to serve the police, who came to question her. She sent the cake with the police to the police station. Is this something you would do?
15. Amy’s husband Johnny cheated on her with an ex-girlfriend. Was Amy’s reaction justified?
16. Maggie & Kim discuss ways to help Janet’s son Dean. Would you help Dean, if so how?
17. Who did you suspect was the killer?
18. In discussion with Amy & Marion, Maggie mentioned Janet was gay. Did you find this relevant to the story?
19. What other books did this remind you of?
20. What other books by Betsy Reavley have you read? How did they compare to Murder in the Book Club?
21. If you got the chance to ask the authour of this book one question what would it be?
About the author
Betsy Reavley is the author of the novels Murder at the Book Club, Carrion, The Quiet Ones, The Optician's Wife, Frailty, Pressure and Murder in the Dark.
She was born in Hammersmith, London. As a child she moved around frequently with her family, spending time in London, Provence, Tuscany, Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire.
She showed a flair for literature and writing from a young age and had a particular interest in poetry, of which she was a prolific consumer and producer.
In her early twenties she moved to Oxford, where she would eventually meet her husband. During her time in Oxford her interests turned from poetry to novels and she began to develop her own unique style of psychological thriller.
Reavley says "I think people are at their most fascinating when they are faced with life's real horrors. This is what I love to write about."
Betsy Reavley currently lives in Cambridge, with her husband, 2 children, and dogs.
You can follow her on Twitter @BetsyReavley