Book Club Discussion Questions for Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania and our BookBrowse Review of Murder by Degrees.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. How do you read the poem now that you've read the book? What themes from the poem are represented in the case?
2. What motivates Dr. Lydia Weston in her investigation of Anna Ward's death? How do her professional and personal experiences shape her character?
3. Discuss Lydia's relationships with her students, colleagues, and the police. How do these interactions reflect the power dynamics of the time?
4. How do themes of family, loyalty, and betrayal manifest in the novel? How do they drive the plot and reveal deeper aspects of the characters?
5. How does Anna's diary develop her character? How does your perception of her change as you see more of her entries?
6. How do social class and power dynamics play a role in both the murder and the investigation?
7. What role does the setting of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania play in the narrative? How does it play in to the book's discussion of class?
8. The novel deals with themes of gender inequality. How is the commentary woven into the investigation? How do they impact the resolution?
9. How does Lydia's medical background enrich the novel?
10. In the final pages Mr. Kohler suggests that maybe "It is time for a respite from poetry." to which Lydia says "No, Mr. Kohler...never" (p. 286). What do you think is next for Lydia?

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