Model Murder (Conrad) - Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
1. What makes Alicia unique as a character? What do you think her passions are? How do your own passions manifest in your life?

2. What do you think drives Alicia in her quest to find the murderer? Why does she choose to get so embroiled in the investigation?

3. How do you feel Alicia’s Anglo-Italian background influences her personality and decisions? How are the other characters influenced by her multi-cultural heritage?

4. In what ways can you relate to having a multi-cultural background or perspective, or do you know someone who does? How is this useful?

5. What did you think about Ivano’s character and Alicia’s feelings towards him? How do your feelings towards him change as the plot unfolds?

6. How did you feel about the character of Cesare and Alicia’s relationship with him?

7. How do you feel about the character of Alex and Alicia’s involvement with him?

8. How did you feel about Alicia’s interaction with the police?

9. What do you think about Alicia’s relationships with women in her personal life? Did you suspect that any of her “friends” might turn out to have something to do with Tammy’s murder?

10. What do you think about Teresa’s character and Alicia’s professional relationship with her? How do your feelings towards her change as the plot unfolds?

11, Did you suspect any of Alicia’s co-workers might be the murderer or have something to do with the murder?

12. What do you think the author wishes to portray about the nature of sleazy clubs and law firms?

13. What insight does this book give you into the working life of a young female lawyer?

14. How do you feel about the action leading up to Tammy’s murder? Did you wonder how the story was going to develop or why certain characters were being introduced in the way they were at a specific point in the plot?

15. How did you feel about Alicia’s elderly neighbour Dorothy, and what happens to her?

16. How were the references to opera and Shakespeare relevant to plot and character?

17. What was your reaction when the identity of the murderer was revealed?

18. What does the novel tell you about good and evil and the distinction between them?

19. What part do you feel Fate plays in the story?

20. How do you feel about the way language and culture is portrayed? Did you learn anything new about Italian or Australian culture? If you are American, did you learn anything new about British language or food?"

21. A Model Murder is the first book of a trilogy. Certain characters appear in the remaining parts of the trilogy. Which characters do you envisage returning, which characters would you like to see return and how would you like Alicia’s relationship with those characters to develop?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

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