Book Club Discussion Questions
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
- What made Mrs. Plansky vulnerable to cybercrime? On the flip side, what gives
her the strength to take on her thieves—with far more success than the authorities
achieved? What traits make her the ideal sleuth?
- What were your first impressions of Dinu? How did your opinion of him shift
throughout the novel, including the revelation about why he made the second call?
- As Mrs. Plansky cares for her cantankerous dad (Chandler Banning) and recalls
her mom's final moments, what do we discover about her relationship with her
parents? How did they shape her expectations for herself as a mother and wife?
- Dinu was born into the tragic legacies of his parents and the cruelty of Uncle
Dragomir. Nina and Jack were born into a stable, loving family. What does this
tale of two families say about nature versus nurture in determining a person's
outcomes in life? Are Mrs. Plansky's grandchildren more like their parents or their
grandparents?
- What do Annika and Tassa mean to Dinu at various points in his life? How do
both women attempt to ensure their own survival?
- We meet Norm through Mrs. Plansky's memories of him. What does she miss
about him the most? What aspects of her life before marriage is she able to reclaim
when she goes to battle against the scammers?
- Dinu is successful because he pays attention to details in his research of American
culture. What does he understand about his targets that no amount of coaching
from Professor Bogdan can fulfill? What are the most significant distinctions he
discovers between American and Romanian culture?
- Max's card identifies him as a "journalist, author, seeker of the truth." Why is he
the perfect ally for Mrs. Plansky? And why are journalists vital in a quest for the
truth?
- Discuss the moment when Mrs. Plansky realizes her financial security has been
shattered. As she makes a personal inventory, what does she realize about the truly
valuable parts of her life? If you were to experience a similar situation at that stage of
life, what would be the most difficult possession to part with, and what would be the
most challenging lifestyle change to make?
- If you were Mrs. Plansky, would you agree to fund your children's risky startups
(such as Nina and Matt/Matty/Matthew's Love and the Caribbean, or the cold-chain
partnership touted by Jack and his buddies)? How do requests for money usually
play out in your family?
- What do you predict for Mrs. Plansky's tennis date with Kev? What makes them
a good match (on and off the court)?
- Spencer Quinn is a prolific author of multiple series, including the beloved
Chet and Bernie series featuring a special bond between a detective and his dog.
What is distinctive about Quinn's approach to crime stoppers and storytelling?
In what ways does Mrs. Plansky's journey beautifully balance a serious topic with
laugh-out-loud humor?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Forge Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
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