Book Club Questions: The Magpies
Has your book club read The Magpies, my novel about neighbours from hell? Would you like to suggest it to them?
I’ve pulled together a list of questions and possible discussion points that might help you. If you can think of any more great questions, please leave a comment – or let me know what your book group thought of my novel.
SPOILER ALERT:
Do not read these questions if you haven’t already read The Magpies because they contain major spoilers regarding the plot and the characters, including the ending.
1.
Have you ever had a bad experience with neighbours? What did you/would you do if you did? Would you move house?
2.
How would you have tackled the hoax calls, complaints, letters, dead creatures and spying?
3.
If you were Jamie, what would you have done when Kirsty gave him an ultimatum?
4.
What do you think was Lucy and Chris’s motivation to terrorise their neighbours Jamie and Kirsty?
5.
How would you react if your friend had been involved in such an accident like Paul was? How would you cope with any personality changes?
6.
How would you feel if you received letters like the ones sent to Jamie and Kirsty from Lucy and Chris? Would you write back?
7.
Do you think the police, including PC Dodds and PC Sutton, could’ve done more to help Jamie and Kirsty, especially as the previous tenant Letitia had made a complaint? Do you think the law should be changed regarding nuisance neighbours?
8.
Do you have any phobias like Kirsty’s of spiders? What are they? What would you/do you do when faced with them?
9.
What are your thoughts on Jamie paying someone to hurt Chris/Lucy?
10.
If you had had a near death experience like Paul did on the go-karting track, what would do with your life?
11.
Do you think Jamie was right to quit his job when Chris joined as a manager?
12.
Should Jamie and Kirsty have told their neighbours Mary, Brian and Linda about Lucy and Chris’s behaviour sooner than they did?