The Unquiet Dead Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Radovan Karadzic and the Bosnian Conflict and our BookBrowse Review of The Unquiet Dead.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. The original title of this book was 'An Unsafe Area.' Now that you have finished The Unquiet Dead, consider why 'An Unsafe Area' might have been an appropriate title. What themes, events or settings in the book does it speak to? Do you prefer this title to The Unquiet Dead? Why or why not?
   
2. By the end of the mystery, we learn that Inspector Khattak is certain that Christopher Drayton was pushed to his death by Imam Muharrem. However, no independent corroboration of Khattak's conclusion is offered, as Muharrem never makes a direct confession. If Inspector Khattak is correct, should he have arrested Imam Muharrem ? Has justice been served? What does the ending of the book tell us about our notions of what real justice is? br>
3. How do you interpret Mink Norman's statement to Khattak: "In Bosnia, identity is a curse. So do not pretend to know us." Why is Khattak so personally invested in the investigation? In what ways do his personal feelings cloud his judgment , and/or help illuminate some of the facts that lead to the mystery's resolution?
   

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