Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Trouble in Queenstown by Delia Pitts

Book Club Discussion Questions

Print PDF

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. In the novel's first chapter, private investigator Vandy Myrick displays several distinctive personal traits that may help or hinder her investigation. What do you think of her physical toughness, her sarcasm, her teetotaling, her curiosity, and her daring willingness to plunge into untested situations?
2. What do Vandy's interactions with her bartender friend Mavis; her boss, Elissa; and her father, Evander; reveal about Vandy's upbringing and current status as the novel begins?
3. What were your first impressions of Vandy's client, Leo Hannah? How did those initial views change as the story developed? What did you think of Leo by the end of the story?
4. In what ways is the community of Queenstown itself a character in the novel? How does the community's long past remain alive in current relationships and events?
5. How do the themes of grief and resilience play throughout the sections of this book? Could you relate to the way Vandy handled loss and sorrow?
6. Fraught family dynamics are at the heart of relationships as the story unfolds. How do notions of pride, service, loyalty, parental duty, and secrets impact the families of Sam Decker, Josephine Hannah, Evander Myrick, Ingrid Ramírez, and Carlos Baca?
7. Vandy has complicated relationships with two brothers she has known since childhood, police chief Robert Sayre and nursing home attendant Keyshawn Sayre. What events cause her involvement with these men to shift as the novel unfolds? Did you sympathize with one brother more than the other?
8. Sam quotes Robert Frost's poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay," at a crucial moment in the story. What themes of the novel are touched upon by this poem?
9. Independent business owners play pivotal roles in the novel as well as in the small community of Queenstown. How do Dr. Rajaram, the pharmacist, and hairdresser Antoine Edgar impact Vandy's efforts to solve the case?
10. Racial tensions thread through the layers of this story, reflecting the ethnic makeup of Queenstown and the diversity of the cast of characters. What do we learn about the history of Queenstown that affects the current action? How does Vandy respond to minor and major instances of racial injustice as she pursues her case? Do you think the issues in Queenstown reflect wider concerns in the United States today?
11. Sam Decker is an outsider to the community, forced by circumstances to explore Queenstown's ugliest corners. Did you identify with him?
12. Vandy has a set of strong women friends. Her bartender friend Mavis Jenkins, her boss, Elissa Adesanya; and her assistant, Belle Ames; form a circle of resilience that enfolds her. Even the teenager, Ingrid Ramírez, plays a crucial role. How do they help her at crucial times? Do you relate to the support they provide for her?
13. Did you find the resolution of Vandy's case satisfying? Which characters changed the most over the course of the story? What do you hope will happen for the main characters going forward?
14. What challenges does Vandy face as the story ends? Do you think the twists in this case have helped her turn a new leaf? Do you think past habits and relationships will reemerge as she tackles future assignments?

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