Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day

1. Agatha Christie kicks off the novel by showing us the formal announcement of war against Germany from Greenway's kitchen, and then becomes just another character—a cameo, rather—in a novel told by many points of view. Did you find yourself wanting to hear more from Agatha? Why or why not?
2. Bridget Kelly says early on in the book that she "doesn't have the Blitz spirit." How does this manifest itself for her? Can you relate, given recent real worldwide events? What kind of Blitz survivor might you have been?
3. At Greenway, Gigi is taken with the idea of staying in Agatha Christie's home but Bridey isn't moved. Beyond the fact that she can't allow herself to feel much at all, why might the two young women have differing reactions to this turn of events? How would you feel to find out you were staying in the Queen of Crime's house?
4. Greenway is a beautiful, gentle holiday home and a playground for the children, but also a site of war and conflict. Discuss the estate through its contradictions as a place of leisure and retreat and also of battle.
5. Death at Greenway's mystery revolves and resolves around issues of identity. As Mr. Scaldwell opines at one point: "Times like this, things went slippery." What do the multiple habitants of Greenway think of identity and who one might become during slippery times? How does Bridey use this to her own advantage—and why?
6. Death at Greenway uses historical detail researched by the author but also threads fictional story throughout. Are you more interested in the story, knowing it is based somewhat on history? Did you read the Author's Note before or after the novel itself? Why did you make that choice?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of William Morrow. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.