I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home Reading Guide

1. The administrators at Sheldon Oaks were aware of Carol's history. Were you surprised they weren't more cautious about allowing her to move in? Do you think they should have said anything to the current residents?
2. Carol sometimes thinks that "all she'd really done was swap one institution for another." Do you agree with her? What's your experience been like with senior living facilities?
3. Do you think Carol was naïve to believe she could keep her identity secret?
4. If you lived at Sheldon Oaks how do you think you would have reacted, learning a serial killer was also a resident, particularly after a suspicious death occurred?
5. Several times Carol seems tempted to bump off one of the residents, but then decides she is no longer really interested in her former "hobby." What do you suppose changed for her, and why?
6. What did you think of the author's choice to make the lead investigator a mass murderer recently released from prison? Did you agree with Carol that she was uniquely qualified to investigate the murder?
7. What was your theory about who killed Desmond and why? Did your opinion change over the course of the novel?
8. Were you surprised when you learned the identity of the murder, or when the motive became apparent?
9. Who was your favorite character, and why?
10. Margaret was a politician who became Home Secretary, but her career ended because of a hot-mic moment on a morning show. What's your opinion about programs like This Morning? Do you watch any of them? What role do they fill?
11. Margaret felt that her life got much better once she left politics. "Freed from ambition, she had the space to be, to her own astonishment, happy, and being happy gave her the space to be a nicer person." What did you think of this transformation? Have you ever felt something similar in your own life?
12. Catherine thinks to herself that while she might fall in love with Geoffrey, it could never be the same as it was with her former spouse, Nigel. "She was too old; he was too old. The older you got, the more distinct you got." What's your opinion about second romances, particularly those that occur later in life?
13. Catherine snoops and finds Carol's diary, which contains disturbing information about her past. Yet, she chooses to remain friends with her, eventually trusting her completely. Why do you suppose this is? Do you think you could have stayed friends with Carol after learning such details?
14. Geoffrey learns about manscaping and attempts the grooming technique (injuring himself in the process). Is there a modern trend that you find surprising?
15. Geoffrey mourns the loss of his identity, feeling "irrelevant." "Old ladies, at least they were still in charge of the grandchildren's birthday cards," he thinks. Do you believe it's true that women have more of a place in society as they age than men do? Why or why not?
16. What surprised you the most about the plot? Did you detect any "red herrings"?
17. Carol insists on having a dénouement, where she exposes the guilty party/parties. Why do you suppose this was so important to her?
18. The author, Fergus Craig, has written another series, this one starring Detective Roger LeCarre. Have you read any books in this series, and if so, how do they compare with I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home?
19. To what audience would you recommend I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
20. Overall, what did you think of I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home? (No spoilers, please!)

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.