Bog Queen Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Bog Bodies: The Jutland Queen and The Lindow Woman and our BookBrowse Review of Bog Queen.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Bog Queen begins with a voice that is not human. How did you understand this voice? And how did it combine with the discovery of a body in the next scene—a trope of the murder mystery or police procedural—to set up your expectations about what was to follow?
2. By trying to shield young Agnes from the truth about death, her father arguably made her more afraid. How did his intentions backfire? How did watching the house finch decompose transform Agnes's fear into fascination and even reverence? Why did this moment become so pivotal in her life?
3. What events led Agnes to take the posting in Manchester? Do you think this was a good choice for her life or a bad one? Why?

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