ATTENTION BOOK CLUBS:
Looking to liven up your monthly get-togethers? Penny enjoys connecting with readers by appearing at Book Club Meetings either by Skyping or, if feasible, in person. If you are interested, contact her by email on the Contact Tab.

Discussion Questions for The Empty Chair:

1. Who chose the title for the group and why?
2. What was your favorite passage or scene?
3. Was there a particular twist that bothered you?
4. Does the way the author depicted the setting make you want to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands?
5. Which character would you like to meet? What would you say to them?
6. Did you catch the paranormal twists in the story?
7. How does this book compare to other mysteries you have read?
8. In a movie version, who would you like to see play Olivia and Colton?
9. Do you think Olivia should have allowed herself to fall for Colton?
10. How do you feel about the ending?

Discussion Questions for Over the Edge:

1. What was your initial reaction to the book?
2. Have you read the previous novel, The Empty Chair ~ Murder in the Caribbean, that leads up to this one? If so, did the story wrap up as you had expected? Did it go in an unexpected direction? What was unexpected?
3. What other mysteries have you read that were similar to this one?
4. If you could speak to Olivia, what would you say to her?
5. In the movie version, which actors would you like to see play the key roles? Olivia? Colton? Captain Barnes? What about minor characters like Wilkes, Anastasia, Cichetti, Ethan, and the cigarette-smoking hotel manager?
6. If you could insert yourself into the novel, which character would you like to be—one that’s already in the story or someone new?
7. Does anything in the book remind you of your own life? An event? A particular challenge?
8. What character could you relate to the most? The least? What was it about either one that resonated with you?
9. Did any of the characters remind you of someone you know?
10. If Olivia’s father hadn’t had health challenges and ultimately pass away, do you think Olivia would have been able to make a go at rebuilding her mother’s bungalow?
11. How would the story have been different if Colton had been on the island when Olivia arrived? Would her connection with Cichetti in the art gallery and her newspaper assignment to take photos at Wilkes’ villa have been strong enough to pull her into the murder investigation like she was?
12. Should Olivia have taken the offer to housesit for Wilkes?
13. Given the obstacles Olivia faced, do you think she should have attempted to rebuild her mother’s bungalow?
14. Could the story have taken place anywhere else besides the sultry setting of the Virgin Islands?
15. If there was one question you’d like to ask the author, what is it?
16. What did you think of the ending?
17. Would you read other books by this author?

Discussion Questions for Murder on the Precipice:

1. Who chose the title for the group and why?
2. Even though the setting is a fictitious town, would you like to visit if you could?
3. What other books did this one remind you of?
4. Which character would you like to meet? What would you say to them?
5. What artist would you select to illustrate the scenes in this book?
6. How does this book compare to other mysteries you have read?
7. In a movie version, who would you like to see play Elizabeth and Kurt?
8. If you could insert yourself into the book as one of the characters, which one would it be? Why?
9. Does the book remind you of your own life? An event? A person?
10. Would you read another book by this author?

Discussion Questions for Murder beyond the Precipice:

1. What was your initial reaction to the book?
2. This story was set in the actual town of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Have you ever visited? If not, would you like to? If so, did the author bring you back to a fond memory?
3. Is there a particular twist that you didn’t see coming?
4. Do any of the characters remind you of someone you know? Someone you like? Dislike?
5. What songs does the story make you think of?
6. How does this book compare to other mysteries you have read?
7. In a movie version, who would you like to see play Elizabeth, Lucretia, and Jonathon?
8. If you could insert yourself into the book as one of the characters, which one would it be? Why?
9. Does the book remind you of your own life? An event? A person?
10. If you got a chance to as the author one question, what would it be?

Discussion Questions for Murder Returns to the Precipice:

1. What was your initial reaction to the book?
2. Have you read the previous two Precipice novels leading up to this one? If so, did the story wrap up as you had expected? What was surprising and what else would you have liked to have seen happen?
3. What other mysteries have you read that were similar to this one?
4. If you could speak to Elizabeth, what would you say to her?
5. In a movie version, which actors would you like to see play the key roles? Elizabeth? Kurt? Deputy Austin? Rashelle? What about minor characters like Mrs. Leibowitz, the cat man, and Eli Hunter?
6. If you could insert yourself into the novel, which character would you like to be–one that’s already in the story or someone new?
7. Does anything in the book remind you of your own life? An event? A particular challenge?
8. What character could you relate to the most? The least? What was it about either one that resonated with you?
9. Did any of the characters remind you of someone you know?
10. If Kurt’s father hadn’t had health challenges, do you think they would have reconciled?
11. How would the story have been different if Elizabeth’s grandmother Amelia were still alive?
12. Given the obstacles Elizabeth faced, do you think her strength and determination would have been enough to enable her to carry on her grandmother’s legacy as innkeeper if Kurt hadn’t been by her side?
13. Could the story have taken place anywhere else besides the rocky coast of Maine?
14. If there is one question you’d like to ask the author, what is it?
15. What did you think of the ending?
16. Would you read other books by this author?

© 2021 Penny Goetjen