Book Club Discussion Questions
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Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
These are original discussion questions written by BookBrowse.
- What was your first impression of the two main characters, Aubrey Merritt and Olivia Blunt?
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What did you think of the research Olivia did on Merritt before interviewing for the position of assistant?
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Merritt tells Olivia that "Truly good people…tend to assume other people are just like them…It's a dangerous state of affairs for them." (p.22). Olivia replies that that's a dark way of looking at things. Which of these characters do you agree with?
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What did you think of Olivia's relationship with Trevor? Why do you feel she forgot about his opening, and kept putting off calling his mother?
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Although Merritt works closely with the local police department, she doesn't share everything, out of concern that once they have a suspect, they focus too much on that person, becoming "blind to all the evidence that points a different way." (p. 77). What do you think about her opinion here? Is she correct?
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Merritt sometimes is very harsh with the people she's interviewing but at other times she fawns. What were your thoughts as she spoke to the various suspects? What was your opinion of her investigative style in general? Is there another fictional detective she reminds you of?
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Olivia enjoys The Wild Goose Resort but thinks that if she had the money, she likely wouldn't spend it at a place like that, instead traveling to the Azores or the Amalfi Coast. (pp 139-140). What about you? Would you spend time at the resort? What would be your ideal vacation if you had the funds available?
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One of the "Purple Hat Ladies" believes that Vicki would hide the fact that she was depressed because she'd be ashamed of the fact. (p. 141) Do you feel that she's correct and that there's a stigma associated with depression? Do you think this has changed over the years?
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Merritt and Olivia have a disagreement about sexism in the workplace. (pp 162-163). Merritt states that the problem with Olivia's generation is that they "expect things to be easy." Olivia replies, "No, not easy. Fair." Merritt thinks she's naïve. What did you think of this debate? Do you agree with one woman over the other?
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Olivia is considerably more empathetic than Merritt, and asks herself, "Must I always suspect the absolute worst of a person?" (p. 240). Merritt obviously does. Do you think this trait is required to be an effective investigator, or is it something that develops with experience?
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Scott tells Merritt, "[W]hen you're the black sheep of the family, everyone is quick to judge. They made up their minds about you long ago. You're in a hole you can't get out of, no matter what you do." (p. 278). What did you think of his statement here? Do you feel he's correct in general, or was this specific to his own circumstances?
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After Pia's visit in Chapter 35, Olivia decides to take action on her own. What did you think of her decision here? What might you have done in her place?
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Who did you suspect of the crime? Did your opinion about the guilty party change over the course of the novel?
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When Vicki's murderer is revealed, Olivia asks Merritt if she doesn't feel bad for that person, if only a little. (p. 375) What about you? Did you feel bad for the killer at all?
What plot point surprised you? What red herrings did you detect?
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Olivia expects to be fired any minute, and in truth Merritt doesn't seem very supportive. What did you think of Olivia as a detective? What strengths did you see, and what weaknesses? Do you think she was, indeed, "just okay"? Do you agree with Merritt's "final grade of C plus"? (p.378)
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What do you think of the author's choice to use first person narration, and to set the plot entirely from Olivia's point of view? How might the book have been different if it had included Merritt's perspective, or if the novel had been written in the third person?
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Liza Tully is the pseudonym for Elisabeth Brink, who also writes dark thrillers under the name Elisabeth Elo, as well as literary fiction under Elisabeth Panttaja Brink. Have you read any of her other novels?
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To what audience would you recommend The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
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Overall, what did you think of The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant? (No spoilers, please!)
Character List-
Aubrey Merritt, a famous detective.
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Olivia Blunt, a newly hired assistant.
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Trevor, her fiancé and a budding actor.
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Victoria ("Vicki") Summersworth, a wealthy widow and the murder victim.
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Warren Summersworth, Vicki's deceased husband.
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Neil Summersworth, Warren's oldest son by his first marriage, head of the family's corporation, Kingfisher.
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Lauren Summerswoth, Warren's daughter by his first marriage, owner of her own line of skincare products.
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Scott Summersworth, Warren and Vicki's son and manager of the Wild Goose Resort, one of the family's investments.
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Haley Summersworth, Warren and Vicki's daughter.
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Robin Tucci, Victoria's long-time personal assistant.
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Pat Tucci, Robin's mother.
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Pia Valente, Victoria's housekeeper.
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Arthur Doyle, CFO of Kingfisher.
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Detective Jim Clemmons, the local police presence in charge of the murder.
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Officer Grout, his unsympathetic assistant.
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Berkley Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
