Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon

1. The Cloak and Dagger Club is a fair-play, Golden Age-style mystery, which gives readers th clues they need to solve the crime. What reveals surprised you, and which, if any, did you guess correctly? Did you pick up on any pivotal clues along the way?
2. When Lucy receives Horace's mysterious invitation to the Cloak and Dagger Club, she decides to go, despite knowing Frank would be there. If you were in her shoes, would you have made the same choice?
3. The Cloak and Dagger Club includes excerpts from each of the main characters' books. Which was your favorite? Do the types of stories each character writes tell you something about them?
4. As club president, Horace can be generous and friendly when he wants to be, but is also incredibly selfish and manipulative. Why does Horace act the way he does? Do you think he ever cared about Frank and the other club members, or were his motives always self-interested?
5. The Cloak and Dagger Club references many Golden Age crime authors and classic mysteries. Have you read any mystery novels from this period? Did you notice any parallels?
6. Lucy steps outside of her comfort zone to investigate Horace's murder. How did she change and evolve over the course of the investigation? What were your thoughts on Lucy and Frank as a sleuthing duo?
7. Due to the laws of the 1930s, Jonathan and Graham are forced to hide their true relationship. How has our world changed or not changed since then regarding acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community?
8. Frank tells Rita that "when you belong with someone, you don't think they're perfect." Do you agree with this assessment?
9. Lucy and Frank's first relationship ended due to his rising fame, but they are able to reconnect through their investigation. What growing did they have to do to overcome the relationship issues they experienced in the past? Do you believe the events of the story will help make them a stronger couple?
10. In the epilogue, Lucy and Graham share a moment of silent understanding. What did you make of Lucy's decision to conceal Graham's secret? Would you have made the same choice?
11. What other more recently written mysteries do you recommend that have a similar theme or flavor? Is there another modern author you can think of whose work is comparable?
12. To what audience would you recommend The Cloak and Dagger Club?
13. Overall, what did you think of The Cloak and Dagger Club? (No spoilers in this topic, 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.