BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GUIDES

A Model Murder (Alicia Allen Investigates, Book 1)

Questions for Discussion 

1. What makes Alicia unique as a character? What do you think her passions are? How do your own passions manifest in your life?

2 . What do you think drives Alicia in her quest to find the murderer? Why does she choose to get so embroiled in the investigation?

3. How do you feel Alicia’s Anglo-Italian background influences her personality and decisions? How are the other characters influenced by her multi-cultural heritage?

4. In what ways can you relate to having a multi-cultural background or perspective, or do you know someone who does? How is this useful?

5. What did you think about Ivano’s character and Alicia’s feelings towards him? How do your feelings towards him change as the plot unfolds?

6. How did you feel about the character of Cesare and Alicia’s relationship with him?

7. How do you feel about the character of Alex and Alicia’s involvement with him?

8. How did you feel about Alicia’s interaction with the police?

9. What do you think about Alicia’s relationships with women in her personal life? Did you suspect that any of her “friends” might turn out to have something to do with Tammy’s murder?

10. What do you think about Teresa’s character and Alicia’s professional relationship with her? How do your feelings towards her change as the plot unfolds?

11. Did you suspect any of Alicia’s co-workers might be the murderer or have something to do with the murder?

12. What do you think the author wishes to portray about the nature of sleazy clubs and law firms?

13. What insight does this book give you into the working life of a young female lawyer?

14. How do you feel about the action leading up to Tammy’s murder? Did you wonder how the story was going to develop or why certain characters were being introduced in the way they were at a specific point in the plot?

15. How did you feel about Alicia’s elderly neighbour Dorothy, and what happens to her?

16. How were the references to opera and Shakespeare relevant to plot and character? 

17. What was your reaction when the identity of the murderer was revealed?

18. What does the novel tell you about good and evil and the distinction between them?

19. How do you feel about the way language and culture is portrayed? Did you learn anything new about Italian or Australian culture? If you are American, did you learn anything new about British language or food?"

20. A Model Murder is Part 1 of a trilogy. Certain characters appear in the remaining parts of the trilogy. Which characters do you envisage returning, which characters would you like to see return and how would you like Alicia’s relationship with those characters to develop?P

Wilful Murder (Alicia Allen Investigates, Book 2)

Questions for Discussion

1.  What is your opinion of the bitter family feuds and inheritance issues as they are depicted in “Wilful Murder”?

2. In what ways can you relate to the concept of hostile and greedy relatives and toxic family ties?

3. Since “Wilful Murder” is Book 2 of the Alicia Allen Investigates Trilogy, did it strike you as a “stand-alone” mystery tale, or would you suggest readers read Book 1, “A Model Murder,” first? What is the reason for your answer? 

4. What do you see as Alicia Allen’s strengths and weaknesses as a lawyer/detective?

5. Do you agree with Alex that Alicia’s feeling of obligation to do the best for her clients goes too far sometimes?

6. What do you think about Alicia’s on/off relationship with Alex? Why do you think Alicia pushes him away when it is evident she is so attracted to him?

7. How does Alicia compare with the other female characters? What did you think about her relationships with other women in the story?

8. What’s your reaction to how Alicia handles authority figures?

9. How do you feel about the action that leads up to Drew’s murder? Did it surprise you? How did you think the story was going to develop?

10. How did you feel about Alicia’s heiress-client Isabelle, and what happens to her? Did you feel sympathy or empathy for her at the beginning? Did those feelings change? If so, how?

11. How did you feel about the way the “backstory” (past events told by various characters) was presented? Did it slow the action down, confuse you, or make you curious to learn more?

12. Most of the violent scenes are not shown to the reader. News of the deaths or “accidents” are relayed by “messenger.” How did you feel about this?

13. In what ways did the action being set in London and Australia (with murders taking place across different time zones and locations) help or hurt your enjoyment of this story?

14. What was your reaction when the identity of the murderer was revealed? What, if any, clues were you able to spot?

15. What role, if any, do you feel Fate plays in the story?

16. How do you feel about the way language and culture is portrayed? Did you learn anything new about Italian or Australian culture? If you are American, did you learn anything new about British and Australian language or food?

17. If you have read “A Model Murder” (Book 1), how did you feel about some characters in that book not reappearing or playing a bigger role in “Wilful Murder” (Book 2)? Please discuss why you were or were not disappointed?

18. Which characters would you like to see return to Book 3 (“Murder in Hand”)? If you have read “A Model Murder,” are there any characters there that you would like to reappear in the last book of the Trilogy?

19. Regarding Alicia and Alex’s on again/off again relationship, were you as interested in what happens with them romantically as you were in their solving the crime crime together? Why or why not?

Murder in Hand (Alicia Allen Investigates, Book 3)

Questions for Discussion

1. How much do you feel Alicia’s Italian background and the “importance of family” influence her attitude in her personal dealings with the people she meets?

2. How did you feel about Alicia’s reaction to Fabio’s plight? Could you relate to it or not? Why?

3. What insight does Murder in Hand give you into legal family arrangements?

4. What makes Alicia a strong female protagonist?

5. How did you feel about the introduction of Alicia’s Uncle Vico and his input? Does knowing more about Alicia’s family background influence how you think about her?

6. How did you feel about the development of Alicia’s relationship with Alex and his involvement in the mystery?

7. What do you think about the way Italian opera is used to advance the plot?

8. How do you feel about the way Italian culture and influence are portrayed in the book?

9. What’s your reaction to how Alicia stands up to dominant male lawyers?

10. What do you think about Alicia Allen’s reaction to Olivia’s situation? What, if anything, does it reveal about Alicia as a person?

11. How do you feel about Alicia’s determination to reach the truth whatever the consequences?

12. For readers of Alicia Allen Investigates Books 1 & 2: Would you recommend that readers read the first two books in order to enjoy/follow Alicia’s investigations in Book 3; or did you feel that Book 3 could be a “stand alone” mystery? If yes, why?

13. For readers of Alicia Allen investigates Books 1 & 2: How did you feel about returning characters? Were there characters you would like to have learned more about?

14. How did you feel about how details of the murders in the book were revealed to you?

15. What’s your reaction to the climatic action near the end in terms of dramatic tension and setting? Were you surprised by anything or did you “see it coming”?

16. What, if anything, struck you about the investigation process? Was it difficult or easy to follow? Did it seem realistic or far-fetched? Did you notice any red herrings?

17. Would you like Alicia to return and, if so, how do you envisage a future of crime solving with Alex? What do you think might happen if Alicia gets pregnant after they are married?